1. Environmental Hurdles in East Tennessee Jeff Martin, Master’s Candidate Crops Group- University of Tennessee

2. Background on Strawberry Production in High Tunnels Strawberry plants under high tunnels were not only better established, but also produced higher yields and quality than open field plants (Kadir et al., 2006). Early yields increased inside high tunnels when compared with those from open fields. Strawberry total marketable yields maximized inside high tunnels in comparison with open fields (Salam-Donoso et al., 2010). Producing strawberries in the fall and following spring using high tunnels resulted in higher yields than those grown in the open field (Fernandez and Ballington, 2003). Tomatoes grown in high tunnels contained significantly higher levels of lycopene, sugars and red color (Wszelaki and Rogers, 2009).

3. Background Six varieties – Season one varieties differ from season two – Marketability of fruits – Reasons for unmarketability Quality measurements – Soluble Solids – Titratable Acidity – Color – Firmness – Environmental problems causing limited progress

4. Season 1- Strawberry Varieties Spring- Day Neutral – Albion – Seascape – San Andreas Fall- June Bearing – Strawberry Festival – Sweet Charlie – Chandler 28 plants per variety Planted staggered in a double row 1’ apart High tunnels planted March 23, 2010 Open field planted April 22, 2010

5. TN Weather Conditions Spring and Fall – Extreme temperature fluctuations – Heavy rains – Strong winds – Late frost date Summer – Hot and dry Winter – Cold and wet

6. Season 1 Issues Spring planting Too hot, too fast Poor pollination Limited production Small plants

7. Season 1

8. Season 1- Yields Marketable Yield/Plot (lbs) Unmarketable Yield/Plot (lbs) Variety High Tunnels Open Field High Tunnels Open Field Albion1.56b0.07b0.18b0.2b Seascape2.31a0.59a0.46a0.36a San Andreas1.12b0.03b0.37a0.19b LSD (.05)0.690.100.200.08

9. Season 2 Adjustments Fall planting Winter plant protection Supplemental pollination Earlier harvests Increased production

10. Season 2- Plant Establishment Late fall planting – Plug plants Albion, LCN, Strawberry Festival October 8, 2010 – Bare-root plants Albion, San Andreas, Chandler October 29, 2010

11. Season 2- Number of Plants per Plot VarietyHigh TunnelsOpen Field Albion (B)25.5a27.75 a Albion (P)26.5a27.25ab Chandler (B)26.0a25.25 b LCN (P)11.5c22.5 c San Andreas (B)26.75a27.75 a Strawberry Festival (P)20.0b25.75ab LSD (0.05)4.42.2

12. Season 2- Overwintering Open Field – Agribon AG-30 and AG-19 row cover High Tunnel – No row cover

13. Season 2- Preliminary Yields Marketable Yield/Plot (lbs) Marketable Yield/Plant (lbs) Unmarketable Yield/Plant (lbs) Variety High Tunnels Open Field High Tunnels Open Field High Tunnels Open Field Albion (B)4.3 d1.5b0.2 d0.1bc0.5 c0.2 c Albion (P)10.9 ab4.9a0.4 b0.2 a1.2abc1.2ab Chandler (B)8.6abc1.7b0.3bc0.1 b1.7 a0.5 c LCN (P)5.2 cd1.4b0.4 b0.1 c0.3 c0.7bc San Andreas (B)7.1bcd1.8b0.3cd0.1bc0.6 bc0.3 c Strawberry Festival (P)11.9 a3.6a0.6 a0.1ab1.6 ab1.5 a LSD (0.05)3.91.60.130.071.040.54

14. Season 2- Reasons for Unmarketability % Poor Pollination (by weight) % Pest Damage (by weight) % Leather Rot (by weight) Variety High Tunnels Open Field High Tunnels Open Field High Tunnels Open Field Albion (B)2472269 14 Albion (P)46651952922 Chandler (B)466719 2910 LCN (P)7290169170 San Andreas (B)387118153514 Strawberry Festival (P)718427415

15. Season 2- Pollination One hive per high tunnel Six week replacement rotation Koppert Class C Hive

16. Season 2- Improvements Higher yields Vigorous plants Improved pollination Earlier harvests

17. Season 2- Hail Damage

19. Season 2 Open Field- before and after

20. Season 3 Adjustments Early to mid-September planting Heavier row cover – Ag-50 and Ag-30 Replenish bumble bee hives after 4 weeks and utilize in open field Examine quality differences – Late fall/early winter and spring/summer – Color, firmness, sugars, acidity, post-harvest

21. Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers Debra Inglis and Carol Miles (Project Directors) 1 ; Andrew Corbin, Ana Espinola-Arredondo, Annabel Kirschner, Karen Leonas, Tom Marsh and Tom Walters 1 ; Doug Hayes, Bobby Jones, Jaehoon Lee, Larry Wadsworth and Annette Wszelaki 2 ; Eric Belasco and Jennifer Moore-Kucera 3 ; Russ Wallace 4 ; and, Marian Brodhagen 5 12 5 SCRI Grant Award No. 2009-51181-05897 4 3

22. Questions?