This document provides an overview of organic high tunnel bramble and vegetable production. It discusses Scenic Valley Farms' high tunnel designs and crop management practices. Key points include their use of high tunnels for producing blackberries, raspberries, tomatoes, and other crops. Details are provided on soil preparation, irrigation, trellising, pruning, winterization, and intercropping strategies. Harvest yields, market potential, and estimated revenues from high tunnel crops are also summarized.

1. - Organic High Tunnel Bramble Production &
Vegetable Interplanting Feb 2 2012

2. Overview
• Scenic Valley Farm
• Scenic Valley Green Energy
• High Tunnel Construction and Comparison
• Bramble Spacing, Varieties & Nutritional Value
• Soil Preparation
• Irrigation and Fertigation Systems
• Trellis System
• Bramble Management & Fruiting Period
• Growth Characteristics & Winterization
• Market Potential & Blackberry Economics
• Intercropping
• SHARE Farm
• Payback

3. Scenic Valley Farms
• Designs and manages high tunnels, climate
control systems, and solar thermal heating
technology
• Five high tunnels in Minnesota and
Wisconsin
• Produces organically certified tomatoes,
peppers, blackberries, raspberries, herbs,
and leafy green produce
• Decades of agriculture and engineering
experience

4. Scenic Valley Green Energy
• Solid, long-term investment
• Generate income from electricity
• Promote sustainability by reducing C02 emissions
• Gain energy independence and protection from
volatile electricity prices
• Offset tax liabilities
Affordable,
Clean Energy from
Small Wind Turbines for
Homes, Farms,
Businesses, Public
Facilities and Investors

5. Bramble Spacing and Varieties
• Spacing in High Tunnel
• Four rows per 30’ wide tunnel
• Each row 7’ apart and 4 ½’ from side walls
• Brambles 3’ apart with 132 plants per 30’x96’
tunnel
• Bramble Varieties
• Primocane (thorny) – Prime Jim and Jan
• Floricane (thornless) Arapaho, Apache, Natchez,
Navaho, Chester, Triple Crown, Ouachita, Doyle

6. Blackberry Nutritional Value
• Healthiest food that rank highest in antioxidants- American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition (2006)
• Blackberry extract is a rich source of Anthocyanins
• Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds
related to the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits.
• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
• Fruits produce these compounds to protect themselves from UV
damage
• The good: Very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Good
source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Folate, Magnesium,
Potassium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber,
Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese.
The bad: A large portion of the calories comes from sugars. But
they’re GOOD TASTING !!!!

7. Soil Preparation
• Composted ½ mushroom
compost and ½ dairy
manure
• Mixed one wheelbarrow
per ten foot of row and
tilled into soil
• Perform soil nutrient
analysis
• Mulched around plants
with mushroom compost
or woodchips

8. Irrigation System
• Installed drip irrigation
• Emitters within 8” on either side of
bramble
• Each emitter releases ½ gallon per
hour.
• Semi automated system
• Sensor and controller provide 6
zones with 6 irrigation times per
zone
• Sensor provides moisture content
(%), soil temperature, and EC
• Irrigation cycle suspended above
pre-set soil moisture content
• Irrigated in 1.5 hour cycles at 7 am
and 6 pm
• Irrigation increased to three 1.5
hour cycles during fruiting

9. Fertigation System
• Installed EZ Flow (1 gallon) inline fertigation
system
• Applied organic liquid fertilizer containing fish
• Fish Aqua – OMRI approved
• Discovered fish emulsion based fertilizer clogs
emitters
• Drip tape not clogged by emulsion but emitters too
close = wasted water and fertilizer
• Install drip tape future high tunnels
• Plan to fertigate one time per week
• Perform soil analysis beginning and end of season,
leaf analysis during growing season

10. Weed Management
• Three Techniques Employed:
1.Wood chips, saw dust
2.Layer of cardboard boxes and
wood chips
3.Mushroom compost, straw
4.Black polyester material (14-
24 mil) in 3’ and 6’ wide
sections
5. One mil black plastic within
rows - tomatoes
• Polyester generally most
effective and least labor
intensive

12. Trellis System
• Modified V/T system with
bottom “T” 36” and top
“T”66” above ground
• Run two strands of wire at tip
of each crossbar
• Alternative: 4x4 non treated
posts that are notched. Insert
2x4 “T”s
• Space posts 10’ apart
• Year 1 canes tied to one side
of the strand and will bear
fruit in year 2
• Fruit bearing year 2 canes will
be pruned to ground to make
room for the year 3
primocanes.

14. Bramble Management
• Pruned Prime Jim and Jan to ground in winter.
• Tip when new canes reach five feet in summer
• New blossom supporting laterals appear within
weeks
• Continual pruning generates new blossoms
• Secure floricanes to two wires. Tip at 5’. Cut 4’
laterals back to 18” and secure to two wires.
• Prune to ground as soon as done bearing

15. Fruiting Period
• Primocanes
• Fruiting began early August
• Blackberries averaged 6-15 grams
• Temperatures over 100° F hindered drupelet
formation
• Brambles consumed large amounts of water
• Difficult to harvest berries at optimal ripeness due to
softness
• Thorns required gloves and heavy flannel shirt
• Last harvest on Nov 18th (turned off supplemental
heat)
• Numerous berries and blossoms still remained
on plant
• Total yield from 12x40’ tunnel = 100 pounds
• Thornless Floricanes
– All bore some fruit
– Rabbits girdled canes on new first year growth.
Reduce production by 50%
– HT1 Readstown fruited June 15th to August 6th
– HT1 Rosemount fruited August 1st to September 7th
– HT1 Readstown = 12 cases (one case = 12 5.6 oz
clams)
– HT1 Rosemount =10 cases
– Yield lower than expected for 2nd yr canes
– 2nd year primocanes 20 times lateral growth as first
year
– Natchez largest, sweetest and most berries by
volume

16. Fruiting Period
The blackberries on November 14th

17. Growth Characteristics
• Brambles not shaded in Wisconsin 
• studier canes
• experienced faster growth
• developed more laterals
• Higher blossom counts and yields on
primocanes in west vs. east end of high tunnel
due to two extra hours of direct sunlight
• Better growth on root stock vs. culture stock
• Inconsistent growth of same variety frequently
observed

18. Winterization
• Winter Protection 
• Installed thermostatically controlled
170,000 BTU propane heater that fires at
5° F and deactivates at 9 ° F (minimum
temperatures of zone 7b climate)
• Forcing dormancy is lengthy process due to
elevated temperatures and snow
insulation
• Pest Issues
• Rabbits girdled floricanes over several days
• Trapped the critter but would have
destroyed crop in two weeks or less
• Rabbits avoided primocane variety
• Final irrigation cycle on November 7th
• Heavily watered previous week
• No moisture over winter is a concern
• Elevated February temperatures may promote
premature budding.
• Ventilated conventional high tunnel thru
the use of exhaust fans and monitor signs
of budding
• Cooled solar thermal high tunnel with fans

19. Market Potential
• Wholesale MSP food brokers usually pay $7-8/lb.
organic June 1 thru Nov. 30
– Potential Dealers: Sun Belle Inc, Bergin Fruit and Nut
Company, Organic Valley Farms, J & J Distribution
• Direct Market
– Supermarkets/Retail Outlets
– Grocer Cooperatives
– Restaurants
– Farmers Market’s ≈ $3.50 a half pint (6 oz)
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
• Value Added Products (e.g. jams, jellies, pies, candies)
• Schools and Universities

20. Economics- Blackberries
Expense Income
High tunnel (30’x96’) , not including installation $8000
Irrigation and controller, trellis, fertigation tank $1400
Blackberry plants, tomatoes, spinach $400
End walls, side boards, door hardware, screws $800
Motorized rollup sides w/thermostat $900
Heater w/thermostat $350
Ventilation & Circulation w/thermostat $650
Plastic mulch $300
Income (2000#s per tunnel* at $8/organic 16000
blackberries pound - wholesale)
Total $12800 $3200
*production levels reached in year four

21. Future Tasks
• Submitted SARE proposal to research
methods to extend the season into
September and October
– Install shade cloth
– Use various mulches
– Adapt pruning methods

22. Intercropping
• Intercropping is the practice of growing two
or more crops in proximity
• Important not to have crops competing with
each other for physical space, nutrients, water,
or sunlight
• SVF – blackberries, raspberries, strawberries,
tomatoes, peppers, melons, eggplant, herbs
• Blackberries do not generate significant
revenue until third growing season

23. Irrigation Layouts
Tunnel 1. This tunnel is 30’x96’ planted with four
This tunnel is 30’x96’, three zones (Zone A(rows # 2,3,4) rows of blackberries on one zone and three rows of
Zone B (row #1) Zone C (row #5) , one EZ flow constant tomatoes on another zone with one EZ flow constant
pressure fertigation tank pressure fertigation tank
Tunnel 2(solar thermal).This tunnel is 30’x96’ planted with
blackberries, tomatoes and peppers, three zones(one each
for red, purple and green rows) , one EZ flow constant
pressure fertigation tank.

24. May 18th May 18th
High tunnel 1 High tunnel 1
June 12th June 12th

25. June 24th High tunnel 2 July 3rd High tunnel 1

26. July 3
High tunnel 2
High tunnel 1

27. July 24th
High tunnel 2

28. Oct 1st July 21th
High tunnel 3 High tunnel 2
Nov 15th
High tunnel 3
Heirloom tomatoes &
Basil

29. Dec 31stst
High tunnel 2 (solar thermal)
15 varieties of spinach, lettuce, Asian
greens, bok choi planted the middle of
October

30. Boosting Produce Yields
SVF Weekly Determinate Tomato Harvest (2011)
• Yields
4 typically 200-
300% higher
3.5 in high
tunnels
3
Our organic
Average marketable lbs per plant
SVF High Tunnels •
2.5 determinate
tomato yields
2
in 2011 = 20+
Total = 19.5 lbs per
1.5 plant lbs per plant
in solar
1 thermal HT
• Established
0.5
goal of 25-30
0 lbs/plant in
7/15/2011 8/15/2011 9/15/2011 10/15/2011 2012

31. Boosting High Tunnel Revenue
30x96’ high
tunnel
Organic
All Berries + Berries + Wholesale
berries Tomatoes Tomatoes Pricing (MSP)
+ Blackberry=$8/#
Peppers Tomato=$2.25/#
(red) Red
Pepper=$3.5/#
Revenue yr 1 $0 $0+ $0+ Green
$8775 $8775+ Pepper=$2/#
$7280
Revenue yr 2 $900 $900+ $900+
$4400 $4400+
2080
Revenue yr 3 $10500 $10500+ $10500+
$0 $0+
$0

32. Sustainable High Tunnel Agriculture + Renewable
Energy (SHARE-d) High Tunnels

33. Sustainable Agriculture. Clean Energy.
• Joint venture high tunnel greenhouses
• Environmentally and financially sustainable
• Provides reliable supply of locally grown, organic
produce
• Excess produce sold on the open market
• Harvest fruits and vegetables at optimum ripeness and
flavor
• Increases yields and extends the growing season
• Merges the technologies to earn a rapid return on
investment

34. Environmental Management System (EMS)
• Inexpensive climate control
system for high tunnels
• User monitors and controls the
climate from touch screen PLC,
laptop, or Smartphone
• Ventilation, irrigation, and
heating are monitored and
controlled on-site or remotely
• SVF awarded $100,000 USDA Small
Business Innovation Research
Grant
• Testing at SVF high tunnels in both
Minnesota and Wisconsin
• Expected operational date: March
2011
• Potential SBIR Phase II
Commercialization Grant in 2013

35. Solar Thermal Heating
• Qualifies for 30
percent Federal
Investment Tax Credit
• Reduces active
income tax liability
• Solar panels collect heated air
• Fans circulate heated air below
ground
• Warms soil and air temperatures
• Extends growing season to allow
for additional crops and harvests
• Reduces propane fuel usage and
greenhouse gas emissions

36. Data Logger Conclusions
• Double poly layer raises night time air temps ≈ 7 F
• Solar thermal with double layer raises night time air
temps ≈ 20 F
• Solar thermal soil temp reached 55F by March 15th
• Tomato Planting Schedule
• Outside May 23
• Conventional HT April 10 - some heat
• Solar Thermal HT March 15 – some heat
• Final Tomato Harvest Dates
• Outside Sept 23
• Conventional HT Oct 23 – some heat
• Solar Thermal HT Nov 24 – some heat

37. Estimated Return on Investment
Solar Thermal High Tunnel

38. Contact Us
Erik Gundacker
(563) 650-3654
gun@usinternet.com
Craig Gundacker
(612) 961-3871
cegundacker@scenicvalleyfarms.com
www.scenicvalleyfarms.com