In this presentation you will learn about growing strawberries, blackberries, and grapes in high tunnels with practical considerations and recommendations based on the latest research from the University of Arkansas. Luke Freeman will provide an overview of the benefits of growing fruit crops in high tunnels, how to select the right high tunnel design and fruit cultivar, crop care, pests and diseases of concern, and the economics of high tunnel fruit. Dr. Garcia will share findings from her high tunnel grape research, with specific recommendations for growing table grapes successfully in high tunnels in the south. Presenters: Luke Freeman, NCAT/ATTRA (Arkansas) Dr. Elena Garcia, University of Arkansas (Arkansas) Presented at the 2020 Southern SAWG Conference in Little Rock on January 25, 2020.

1. Southern SAWG
Little Rock, AR – Jan 25, 2020
Growing Fruit in
High Tunnels
Presenters Luke Freeman, NCAT/ATTRA
Dr. Elena Garcia, Univ. of Arkansas

2. SARE High Tunnel Grape Project
2

3. U of A High Tunnel Fruit Research
3
Dr. Curt Rom,
Horticulture
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
Heather Friedrich
Jason McAfee
Luke Freeman
Dr. M. Elena Garcia,
Horticulture
• Strawberries
• Grapes
David Dickey
Susan Alman
Karlee Pruitt
Jose Hernandez
Dr. Donn Johnson,
Entomology
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Grapes
Barbara Lewis

4. 1. Why grow fruit in tunnels?
2. High tunnel selection and
management
3. Fruit crop management
1. Brambles
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. HT Grape research
results
Outline
4

5. 5
• Season extension, off-season production
• Reduced moisture on foliage
• Increased growth rates
• Exclude insect pests
 Higher quality fruit and increased yield
Why grow fruit in tunnels?

6. 6
Does it pay?
Risk management
• Controlled environment
• Protection against weather
• No rainy days
Premium prices
• Early produce
• Higher quality fruit
• Organic practices

7. Breakeven analysis (L. Jett, WVU)
• $1.28/lb ($1.53/qt) producing at 1 lb/plant
Net returns for 1,000 sq. ft. (includes HT fixed cost for 1/3 of year)
Strawberry HT economics
7
Price/lb 1.25 lbs/plant 1.5 lbs/plant
$4 $2,208 $2,817
$6 $3,833 $4,767
Price/lb 1.25 lbs/plant 1.5 lbs/plant
$4 $2.31 $2.92
$6 $3.93 $4.87
Net returns per sq. ft. (without cost of HT)
HT cost (sq. ft.)
• $2.25 - $5.00
NRCS Cost Share
• $3.73/sq ft

8. 8
What kind of fruit should you grow?

9. What kind of High Tunnel do you need?
9

10. • passively heated and ventilated
• plastic-covered structures
• provide an intermediate level
of environmental protection
and control
What is a high tunnel?
10

11. 11
Quonset Gothic Multi-bay
High tunnel types
• Designed for snow loads
• More susceptible to
wind damage
• More space next to side
walls
• More expensive
• Aka “hoop houses”
• Least expensive
• Can handle strong wind
• Can’t handle snow loads
• Best for large-scale
production
• Can accommodate trees
• Good equipment access
• Can’t handle snow or high
winds (plastic removed)
• High cost, but lower price per
sq. ft.

12. 12
• Multiple crops/year
• Crop rotation
• Easier use of cover crops
• Prevent disease buildup
and soil quality decline
Moveable high tunnels
Photo from Paul Wiediger
Au Naturel Farm
Pipe skid tunnel from
Small Farm Tools
Rimol Rolling Thunder 20 x 72
$7,965 base price, $5.53/sq ft

13. What tunnel to choose?
13
Brambles Strawberries Grapes

14. Where should you site your tunnel?
14
Photo from Curt Rom, University of Arkansas

15. 15
 Level ground
 Good soil
 Ample sunlight
 Good drainage
 Irrigation access
 Equipment access
Site Selection
Photos by Luke Freeman, University of Arkansas

16. How do you manage temperature?
16

17. 17
High tunnel temperature control
Sunrise Mid-Day Sunset Sunrise
30o
50o
80o
Field
Tunnel
Tunnel with Heat
Conservation/Addition
Ventilation
Frost
Protection
Diagram by Curt Rom, University of Arkansas

18. 18
 A single layer of poly provides one hardiness zone of protection
 More protection may be needed
Frost protection
Tunnels-in-tunnels
Burners
Blankets
Photos by Luke Freeman,
University of Arkansas

19. Jan. 29
Jan. 13
Damage
crown
Covered with row covers
Crown
damage
Crown
damage
Covered with row covers

20. Inside HT under covers - Mid-Feb
2014
Outside under covers – Mid-Feb
2014

21. 21
Ventilation methods:
1. Manually rolled side walls
2. Roll-up side walls
3. Drop-down side walls
• Requires constant monitoring
• Temps can spike rapidly with sun
Photo by Jason McAfee, University of Arkansas

22. 22
Temperature for brambles
• Ideal temp for growth: 55 – 80oF
• HT rules of thumb
• Over 50oF and sunny OPEN
• Under 50oF and overcast KEEP CLOSED
• Under 50oF and sunny MONITOR
Photos by Luke Freeman, University of Arkansas

23. 23
Temperature modification
• Misting system – evaporative cooling
• Shading (50% shade)
– Lowered blackberry yield
– Increased raspberry yield by 30%
Photo by Jason McAfee,
University of ArkansasPhoto by Luke Freeman, University of Arkansas

24. Managing pests in the high tunnel
24

25. 25
Weed management
• Weed barrier
• Clean cultivation
• Eliminate encroachment
Photos by Luke Freeman, University of Arkansas

26. 26
Insect pests
• Screening for exclusion
– Very effective control for
Spotted Wing Drosophila
– Increased temps
– Decreased air flow
• Releasing beneficials
– Ladybugs, lacewings
• Common Pests
– Aphids
– Whiteflies
– Mites
50% shade cloth screen.
Photo by Dr. A. Majumdar, Alabama
Cooperative Extension.
Photos by Luke Freeman,
University of Arkansas

27. 27
Don’t forget about pollination!

28. 28
High Tunnel Fruit Crops

29. 29
Strawberries
• Yield increase
• 1.5 - 3 X field
• 1.25 to 1.5 lbs/plant
• Early-season production
• 3-4 weeks before field
• Winter production possible
with day-neutral cultivars
• Higher quality fruit
• Less crop loss from rain
• Fewer pesticide applications

30. 30
Strawberry production system
High Input = High Output
• Annual production
• Plugs planted in Sept.
• Raised beds with plastic mulch
• Landscape fabric between rows
• Drip irrigation
• Fertigation
• Row cover for frost protection
• Harvest April – May
• As early as Jan in warm winter with
day-neutral cultivars

31. Strawberry Cultivars for HT Production
June-bearing
• Chandler*
• Camarosa
Day-neutral
• Strawberry Festival*
• Albion
• Elyana
Photos by Elena Garcia, U of A

32. 0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
Albion Elyana Radiance Festival
Yield(lb/ac)
Cultivar
Results:
Fayetteville – cultivars differ in yield

33. Results: Cultivar yields over time
by location
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
Yield(g)
Harvest Date
Radiance
Fayetteville
Hope
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
Yield(g)
Harvest Date
Albion
Fayetteville
Hope
Excessive numbers of spider
mites per leaf caused drop in yield
and early end to production in
Hope

34. 34
Strawberry soil management
Nutrition
• 120 lbs N per acre
• 60 lbs N pre-plant
• 60 lbs N injected in-season
• Fertigation using fertilizer injector
• In-season fertilization based on
petiole testing
Cover Crops
• Can provide some of pre-plant
fertility if including legumes
• Biofumigant mustards can be used as
soil treatment
• Solarization and/or mustard seed
meal can be very effective
Photo by Elena Garcia, U of A

35. Soil pH and EC
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.2
6.4
3-Oct 22-Nov 11-Jan 2-Mar 21-Apr 10-Jun
SoilpH(1:2water)
0.0 kg N/ha/day 1.1 kg N/ha/day 1.7 kg N/ha/day 2.2 kg N/ha/day
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
3-Oct 22-Nov 11-Jan 2-Mar 21-Apr 10-Jun
SoilEC(ummohs/L)
0.0 kg N/ha/day 1.1 kg N/ha/day 1.7 kg N/ha/day 2.2 kg N/ha/day

36. 36
Strawberry pest management
High tunnel pests
• Aphids
• Spider mites
• Crickets
• Rodents
Bio-controls
• Ladybugs
• Predatory mites
Diseases
• Botrytis gray mold
• Powdery mildew
Aphids. Photo from hos.ufl.edu
Spider mites.
Cricket damage on strawberry.
Photo from fruit.cornell.edu
Botrytis gray mold.

37. 37
Brambles in high tunnels
• Increased yield 1.5-2 X
• Summer heat an issue for
raspberries, PF blackberries
• Larger berry size, higher quality
• Floricane blackberries 30% larger
• Less damaged fruit from rain
and sunscald
Photos by Luke Freeman, U of A

38. 38
Bramble production system
• HT + Field for full season production
• Floricane-fruiting cultivars (May-June)
• UA thornless: Natchez, Arapaho, Ouachita
• Primocane-fruiting cultivars (Sept-Nov)
• Prime-Ark® 45 (thorny)
• Prime-Ark® Traveler (thornless)
• Single-cropped
• Brambles trellised in HT
• Weed barrier
• Side-dressed fertilizer
Photos by Luke Freeman, U of A

39. 39
Potential total berry harvest season
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Growing Season
Harvest Seasons
Tunnels may extend the summer harvest season from
4-6 weeks during summer to 16-20 weeks during the year
}
Traditional Season
Early Tunnel
Crop
Early Tunnel
Crop
(Rom, 2013)

40. 40
Bramble pest management
High tunnel pests
• Aphids
• Spider mites
• Broad mites (new)
• Spotted Wing Drosophila
• Stink bugs
• June beetles
Bio-controls
• Ladybugs
• Predatory mites
Diseases
• Botrytis gray mold
• Phytophthora root rot
Aphids on blackberry. Photo by Donn Johnson,
U of A.Broad mite damage to blackberry.
Photo by Donn Johnson, U of A.
Green June beetle on blackberry. University of Kentucky
Botrytis on raspberry. Photo by
P.R. Bristow, apsnet.org

41. Harvest, marketable grade, and estimated marketable yield
of three floricane fruiting blackberries, 2008 (Study 1).
Cultivar
Total Harvest (lb) Marketable Yield (lb)
Tunnel Field Differ
ence
Tunnel Field Differe
nce
Arapaho 4.40 4.00 0.40 1.57 1.53 0.04
Navaho 19.85 14.66 5.19 13.32 10.12 3.2
Ouachita 12.75 10.97 1.78 8.41 7.53 0.86
ns
avg. 12.33 9.88 6.93 5.79

42. 42
High tunnel grapes at U of A

43. U.S. Production
• California with an
ideal grape growing
climate, holds 90% of
U.S. grape production
– Decreasing
percentage, due to
drought and extreme
weather event
• Other production
areas: Washington (5%)
New York (2%)
Michigan (<1%)
Pennsylvania (<1%)

44. Importance
• Eastern regions of the
U.S. require high
levels of input
– Due to biotic and
abiotic challenges
• Mid South US region
climate issues
(Arkansas included):
– Hot summers
– High humidity
– Depending on the
area: cold winters

45. Arkansas Grape Production
• During 2015
– 700 acres under grape production
– 3,000,000 lbs. (1,360,777 kg.)
– Total value $1,143,000
(Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2017 Summary, USDA. June
2018)

46. Field production in Arkansas
• No protection from environmental conditions
– Fruit cracking can occur if it rains near or
during harvest
• Increased chemical inputs (depending on
season and location)
– 8 or more fungicide applications
– 5 or more insecticide application
• Important pests
– Grape Berry Moth (Paralobesia viteana)
– Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)
– Black Rot (Guignardia bidwellii)
– Powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator)

47. Overall project objectives
• Determine feasibility for table grapes
production in high tunnels
• Determine effect of canopy management on
marketable attributes for table grapes in high
tunnels
• Expand outreach efforts for high tunnel table
grapes

48. Cultivars
• V. vinifera L. x V. labrusca L.
• University of Arkansas Breeding Program
releases
– Dr. James Moore and Dr. John Clark
• Cultivars: Faith, Gratitude and Jupiter
– Planted in Spring 2014 as bare-root plants
Faith Gratitude Jupiter

49. Trellis Systems Line Drawings
GD
C
High
Cordon

50. Results: HT production in 2015
• 2015
• Year after planting

51. Results: HT production in 2017

52. Comparison
Table 3. Table grape yield per vine at the Fruit Research Station
(Clarksville), established in 2007 (Clark and Moore, 2013).
Cultivar Total Yield Per Vine (lbs.)
2009 2010 2011
Faith 13.6 22.7 9.5
Hope 16.8 25.0 21.3

53. 2018 Fayetteville data
Table 4. 2018 Fayetteville Harvest Data
Cultivar Total
Yield
(lbs.)z
# Clusters
Per Vinez
Weight of
5 Clusters
(lbs.)z
Faith 26.45b 66.7b 2.56b
Gratitude 21.83b 29.4c 5.77a
Jupiter 46.06a 89.7a 3.03b
Trellis
MDHCE 41.23a 74.1a 3.62a
GDC 22.49b 43.8b 4.05a
MDHCW 32.63ab 67.9a 3.49a
Z Means with different letter(s) for each attribute are
significantly different (p>0,05) using Tukey’s Honesty
Significant Differences

54. HT Grape Resources
54
youtube.com/NCATATTRA

55. 55
High Tunnel Manufacturers
Ledgewood Farm Greenhouse
Frames
Rte 171
Moultonboro, NH 03254
603-476-8829
Rimol Greenhouse Systems Inc.
Northpoint Industrial Park
40 Londonderry Turnpike
Hooksett, NH 03106
877-746-6544
Greenhouse Supply Inc.
12 Acme Road, Suite 212
Brewer, ME 04412
800-696-8511
Haygrove Tunnels
694 Kraybill Church Road
Mount Joy, PA 17552
1-866-HAYGROVE
717-492-4955
harry.edwards@haygrove.com
Farm Tek
1440 Field of Dreams Way
Dyersville, IA 52040
1-800-327-6835
Walker Bros, Inc.
105 Porchtown Rd
Pittsgrove NJ,08318
856-358-6493
Tunnel Tech
1925 Windham Rd. 19
La Salette, Ontario N0E 1H0
519-582-4424
Four Season Tools
9615 Grand View Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64137
816-444-7330
steve@smallfarmtools.com
Other high tunnel suppliers
M. Leonard (Piqua,Ohio)
Atlas Greenhouse Systems, Inc. (Alapaha,Georgia)
Conley’s Greenhouse Mfg. (Montclair, California)
CropKing, Inc. (Seville, Ohio)
GothicArch Greenhouses(Mobile, Alabama)
Grow-ItGreenhouse (West Haven, Connecticut)
Hoop House Greenhouse Kits (Mashpee, Massachusetts)
Hummert International(Earth City, Missouri)
InternationalGreenhouse Company (Georgetown,
Illinois)
Jaderloon (Irmo, South Carolina)
Keeler Glasgow (Hartford,Michigan)
Ludy Greenhouses(New Madison, Ohio)
Poly-TexInc. (Castlerock,Minnesota)
Speedling Inc. (Sun City, Florida)
Stuppy GreenhouseMfg. (KansasCity, Missouri)
Turner Greenhouses(Goldsboro,North Carolina)
XS Smith (Eatontown,New Jersey)
Zimmerman’s Welding (Versailles,Missouri) 573-378-
4770

56. 56
Additional Resources
• https://cars.uark.edu/ourwork/Specialty-
Crop-Production-and-
Marketing/hightunnelorganic_fi.aspx
• http://hightunnels.cals.cornell.edu/
• http://www.sare.org/Learning-
Center/Topic-Rooms/High-Tunnels-and-
Other-Season-Extension-Techniques
• http://hightunnels.org/
• www.tunnelberries.org

57. Questions?
Luke Freeman
lukef@ncat.org
479-442-9824
M. Elena Garcia
megarcia@uark.edu
www.slideshare.net/lfreeman89/
ATTRA Hotline
1-800-346-9140
Attra.ncat.org