How Do You Grow Blackberries In High Tunnels?
Growers who raise blackberries in high tunnels in colder climates extend and increase both late fall and early spring production. High tunnels keep frost from blackberries, reduce pests and disease and increase size and yield, according to Cornell University. They offer a middle ground between field crops and permanent greenhouses. High tunnels are less expensive than greenhouses and protect less hardy varieties. Blackberries grown in plastic covered tunnels are often sweeter than outside-grown berries. Tunnels can make the difference between no crop and harvesting 25,000 pounds per acre. Protect blackberries inside a peak roofed or semicircle-shaped high tunnel. This produces a significant improvement in yield and berry size over outdoor grown plants, Cornell data shows. Keep wind and rain off blackberries to reduce stress, extend the harvest and increase shelf life. High tunnels add from three to four weeks of frost-free growing to each end of the growing season, according to Cornell
