Out-of-soil cultivation of organic long cane raspberries

Description

The out-of-soil cultivation of organic raspberries holds great market potential for Canadian berry growers. However, in order to address the attendant phytosanitary issues, research into cropping methods must be carried out and technologies adapted before the practice can be successfully implemented across Canada. The project will be carried out over a four-year period on experimental and on-farm plots that replicate conditions found in commercial facilities, which will facilitate the eventual transfer of knowledge to potential users. The first two activities to be undertaken will seek to boost the profitability of organic raspberry growing by scaling back costly bio-pesticide applications through the development of beneficial organism and sterile insect release practices. The proposed experiments reflect an approach based on the pooling of different types of knowledge rather than reliance on experiments conducted in isolation. The final two activities will seek to make the best use of organic nutrition for out-of-soil long cane raspberry production by optimizing a number of variables related to soil health, i.e., soil substrates, fertilization, and soil volume. This project directly addresses the needs of Canadian producers interested in growing out-of-soil organic raspberries in high tunnels in a profitable and competitive manner with a view to selling their product locally or to large retail chains.

Objective(s)

• Develop a profitable organic production protocol for the out-of-soil cultivation of long cane Tulameen raspberries in high tunnels.
• Develop cost-effective methods to control mites.
• Fine tune the release of sterile Drosophila.
• Assess various organic substrates and pot volumes.
• Develop an organic fertilization protocol.