Tree Fruit Production in Minnesota High Tunnels Tunnel Fruit... · Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels Terrance T. Nennich Extension Professor/ Emeritus . Fruit

Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels

Terrance T. Nennich Extension Professor/ Emeritus

Fruit and Vegetable Production.

© 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

High Tunnel Research Sites in Minnesota

Experiment Stations Grower Cooperators





Project Funding

• Northwest Minnesota Sustainable Regional Partnership

• Northwest Minnesota Foundtion


Tree fruit utilized in this research Project

• Apples

• Plums

• Cherries


Rational

• Tree fruits stay dormant in northern Minnesota for 7+ months ( late September until May)

• It takes a lot of energy to keep trees alive during dormancy

• The later in the dormancy period the weaker the tree.

• Northern Minnesota receives winter temperature (-40) high winds, ice, snow.


Reasoning/Question

• Few plantings of tree fruit remain productive year after year in Northern Minnesota

• It is the winds, constant motion, ice on branches, winter rains, melting snow and cold temperatures that take out the trees and not the cold temperatures alone.

• Will high tunnels also control scab and other diseases for organic production?



Procedure

• In 2010 a additional high tunnel ( 30 x 72 ) was built next to the two present high tunnels, which will be used for tree fruit.

• Planted in the spring of 2011.


Soil preparation

• Soil and mulch was added

• Soil was sub soiled 18 to 24 ft deep.

• Soil test taken and soil fertilized accordingly


Fertilization

• Pre plant – May need lime – Apply enough fertility to bring to high level – Add compost – Fertilization through drip line. – Leaf analysis


pH and High Tunnel Fruit Production • You must have a precise knowledge of your

pH when dealing with fruit production in high tunnels. Fruit is much more sensitive then vegetables

• Strawberries < then 6.5 • Blueberries < then 5.


Planting Distance

• All trees were planted in – Eight foot wide rows

– Trees were three about in the rows

– Tall spindle system was used. – Some varieties should planted as close as a ft

apart in the row






Planting Stock

• Apples – Honeycrisp on Bud 9 rootstock – Zestar on bud 9 rootstock. – The right rootstock is everything – In Minnesota Bud 9 and M 26 – Row 1, Honeycrisp – Row 2, Zestar









Planting Stock

• Cherries – Carmine Jewel – Crimson Passion.

– Strawberries and Raspberries on the outside

rows.




Planting Stock

Plums Pipestone Compus Cherry Plums Sapalta Toka Gracious







High Tunnel Small Fruit Production



High Tunnel Strawberry Production

• Treated as a annual crop • Planted in April • Harvested August until Late October Evie 2 Albion 1 /34 to 2 ½ pounds per plant








Raspberry Production in high tunnels

• Use fall bearing varieties

– Autumn Britten – Polona – Caroline – Himbo Top –





Blackberry Production in High Tunnels

• Prime Jim

• Prim Jan

• Developed by the University of Arkansas \ • Dr. John Clark






Insects

• Spider Mites – Like hot and dry – Monitor and control – Insecticides – Predatory mites


Blueberry production in high Tunnels

• Soil must be amended if needed • St cloud • Superior • Northcountry • Northblue



Blueberry Production

• Bring soil down to a pH of at least 4.5 • ( Our Ph started at 6.8) • Dig out soil in and replace with low pH soil. • Add acid compost • Sphagnum Moss


Honeyberries

• Do well in high tunnels – Use Canadian Varieties

– For detailed information contact – Honeyberry Farms near Bagley


Varieties

• Honeyberry Tundra Borealis




Grapes



Concerns

• Pollination , Honeycrisp and Zestar bloom to far apart. Need to add in a couple of crab apple trees

• Many bees become disortinated under plactic

• Some years may be too cold for natural pollinators

• We will use Bumble bees



Enhancing Production & Quality with Bumblebees in High Tunnels



Organic Production

• No leaf diseases • No scab • Leaves were thicker • No mites



Questions

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Documents

Tree Fruit Production in Minnesota High Tunnels Tunnel Fruit... · Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels Terrance T. Nennich Extension Professor/ Emeritus . Fruit