ISHS Acta Horticulturae 659: VII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Production, Pest Management and Global Competition
FIELD TUNNELS PERMIT EXTENDED SEASON HARVEST OF SMALL FRUITS IN CALIFORNIA |
| Author: | M. Gaskell |
| Keywords: | raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, field tunnel production, off-season production |
| Abstract:
Traditional US domestic production of fresh market raspberries and blackberries has been concentrated during the period from late April to September with off-season fruit being supplied by volume from Guatemala, Chile, and Mexico. The contra cyclical winter season market offers small fruit growers markedly higher prices and California growers have sought techniques to extend their harvest season. Recent innovations are allowing growers to combine primocane-fruiting (PF) raspberry cultivars with economical field scale tunnels to produce raspberries year around in mild, coastal production areas of California. In the typical production cycle, canes of proprietary or public PF raspberry cultivars are planted in fumigated beds on 2.5 m. centers with drip irrigation. Plants begin to fruit on primocanes in approximately five months and harvest continues for three to five months depending upon the season. Following cessation of harvest, plants may be initially pruned at a height of 1-1.5 m to encourage lateral branching or pruned to the soil surface to renew the planting. Harvest will continue again following a three to four month recovery period. Field trials are also evaluating the potential for using similar techniques for off-season production of PF blackberries and Southern Highbush blueberries. | |
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