Locations SW Ontario harvests more berries the 1 st year after planting (they can plant earlier) The cool summer weather in New Liskeard results in fruiting over the whole second season Higher temperatures in SW Ontario result in earlier spring harvest but no berries mid-summer (too hot)

High Tunnels

Modify the climate on a field scale Extend the growing season in spring and fall (depending on when covered)

High Tunnels Increase air and soil temperature Protect fruit from rain Affect disease and insect populations Low cost compared to a greenhouse

High Tunnels 3-bay high tunnel (30 m x 24 m) installed in New Liskeard Aug 2010 with funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC)

New Liskeard High Tunnel Sides covered at all times Roof vented for summer months & closed in early spring and late fall Doors closed if < 4 °C

High tunnel not covered until mid-August 2010

Seascape in Cedar Springs

Overwintering Standard in New Liskeard – Straw mulch with a floating row cover on top Overwinter Trial 1.No winter cover 2.Heavy row cover removed at blossom (when there are 3-4 open blossoms per plot) 3.Straw + heavy cover

Days to 1 st harvest 2011 Albion Seascape

Effect of winter cover on yield in 2011 No winter cover x environment or winter cover x cultivar interactions b a a b ab

What would I do as a grower? Grow Seascape, some Albion and try Portola Grow outside and in a high tunnel both on black mulch Plant early with the best plants possible and pick blossoms for 4 weeks Overwinter 2 ways move the picking peaks & reduce risk More research – runner removal, more over-wintering treatments, etc

Other Potential Crops for High Tunnels Fall-bearing –Autumn Britten –Joan J –Polka Summer-bearing –Nova –Prelude

Vegetable Crops Single high tunnels More rapid temperature fluctuations Higher temperatures Limited frost protection Multi-bay high tunnels Lower cost per unit area Large enough for field equipment Higher temperatures than outside but not as high as single tunnels 4 °C frost protection

Cool Season Vegetable Crops Often grown in single span high tunnels (hoop houses) University of Saskatchewan research has shown you can get more crops of lettuce in a hoop house than in a multi-bay high tunnel Temperatures in the mid- summer may be too hot for these crops Floating row covers often used inside the hoop house for frost protection

Warm Season Vegetable Crops Can extend the growing season in hoop houses and multi-bay tunnels Higher temperatures accelerate growth and increase yields of some crops Improved quality

Disadvantages: cost plastic installation and handling wind!! high tunnel management soil management and crop rotation water runoff heat stress/excessive temperatures spider mites and powdery mildew

Sources of Information Strawberry and Raspberry Research in northern Ontario: Becky Hughes University of Guelph, NLARS PO Box 6007, 340 Armstrong St New Liskeard ON P0J 1P Fax Production Information: s/hort/berry.html Agricultural Information Contact Centre: or

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Acknowledgements Funding for the research trials at NLARS came from: Ontario Berry Growers Association (OBGA) CanAdvance, AAC Farm Innovation Program, AAC Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture (AAFC) OMAFRA/University of Guelph Partnership