Comparison of Winter Strawberry Production in a Commercial Heated High Tunnel versus a University Greenhouse

For the past 4 years, the University of Nebraska strawberry team has developed low cost, sustainable methods for farmers and growers to produce strawberries in a greenhouse during the winter. This past year, this growing system involving 5 cultivars was transferred to a commercial grower’s heated high tunnel for the winter of 2013-14.  The goal is a scale up to a farm-size demonstration that will potentially expand marketing opportunities into the winter season.  Our fall/winter results indicate that over 6 weeks during October and November, our grower’s plants have produced 130 pounds of strawberries with 124.24 pounds marketable.  UNL’s production system which has about 25% of the number of plants as the commercial grower had produced 22.84 pounds with 19.25 pounds rated as marketable.  Berry production peaked in late November/early December and demand for the grower’s berries exceeded supply.   Data collected on water usage reflected sustainability in that less than 17 gallons per day (UNL) and 20 gallons per day for the grower were being used.  However, extremely low temperatures and frigid winds have caused fuel usage at both sites to soar.  How different and similar the two sites are in terms of total water and fuel usage, environmental parameters of soil moisture and temperature and light levels as well as total berry production over the 6-7 month growing season will be presented.