Low Tunnel Strawberry Production 2013 : USDA ARS

Strawberry Production Season Extension Using Low Tunnels

- Kim Lewers, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD

PowerPoint Presentation

•• Extend season all summer... longer with frost protection

•• Excellent quality, no Botrytis fruit rot, no powdery mildew, no angular leafspot

•• Plant dormant bare-root plants available from nursery in March

•• Option to cover tunnels with bird netting

•• Anthracnose controls: resistant cultivar some day, drop tunnel sides, fungicides

Tunnels (no frost protection)	Amount	Cost
3/16" Stainless steel rods	50 12 ft pieces 3/16	$164
5' T-posts for ends	two	$14
Spring tensioners for ends	two	$11
Reusable costs for one 200-ft tunnel		$188
Clear poly plastic 12' x 240'	one 240 ft roll	$130
"Stoppers" (HD 100 SIDR 15 PE 3408 CS-100 PSI PR water at 73?F	100'	$30
Tyrite 9600-170 polypropylene baler twine	50 x 15' pieces = 750'	$3
Per planting costs for one 200-ft tunnel		$163
Total for one 200-ft tunnel		$351

Frost protection	Amount	Cost
misters	20	$53
1 1/2 ft 3/4 in pvc to raise misters	20	$36
Reusable costs for one 200-ft tunnel		$89
blue-stripe mister line	200 ft	$42
Per planting costs for one 200-ft tunnel		$42
Total for one 200-ft tunnel		$131

Bird and fox protection	Amount	Cost
bird netting	3/4" 14' x 200' cut in half	$61