Small Fruit Test Plots in the Gatineau Valley

Carlos Baez, M.Sc., Agronomist

The rendez-vous agroalimentairede l’Outaouais 2010

Joint initiative between the Outaouais MAPAQ and the GV CLD

Presentation Plan

IntroductionWeatherIntroduction of new technologies New small fruit test plots

Part I

CherrySaskatoon Berry

Part II

Fall-fruiting raspberrySeasonal adjusted strawberryHaskap

Part I

History of completed trials 2008 - 2009Conclusion

Introduction

Mandate to test the implantation of new productions and to introduce new technologies

in the Upper-Gatineau

Study :Physical profile : soils, altitude, relief, etc.Climate process :T, PHZ (plant hardiness zones), CHU (corn heat unit), snowpack.Marketing possibilities Trials of cultivars 2008 - 2011

04080

120160200240

Gatineau Chelsea Low Wright Maniwaki BarrageMercier

Mètres (m)

100 à 230 m

Grand-Remous

Altitude

The Upper-Gatineau

Plant Hardiness Zones

North MRC zone 3aCentre MRC zone 3bSouth MRC zone 4a

- 45 to -39 °C

-39 to -35 °C-35 to -29 °C

-29 to -23 °C

- 45 °C

Gatineau ValleySnow Cover (1971- 2000)

janv. févr. mars avr.nov. déc.

0

20

40

60

Snow (cm)

Shawville Maniwaki Wright

When the T is -30 °C, 30 cm of snow is enough to keep the T at the soil surface under the freezing point (Laplante, 2003)

Source : Environnement Canada

Introduction of New Technologies

Hilling Drip line Plastic mulch

Tension meterHigh tunnels Floating cover

2009

Saskatoon BerrySK CherryHaskap

Blueberry

New Small Fruit

Fall-fruiting raspberry Seasonally adjusted strawberry

Fall-fruiting raspberry under tunnels 2009 - 2011

Cultivars :1. Pathfinder2. Autumn Bliss3. Polana4. Héritage5. Autumn Britten

November 9, 2009

November 9, 2009

Fertigation and double drip lineProvide fruit from the first year

Provide off season fruitPremium price

Out of Season Strawberries

May 2009

Cultivars :1. Jewell (frigo)2. Brunswick (frigo)3. Seascape (plug plants)

October, 2009

Double drip lineDouble rowsFertigation

Floating cover

Haskap Berries

Zone 2a (-45 ºC)

(aka honeyberries)

Haskap Berries

Width : 1,0 to 1,5 m

1,5 to 1,8 m

1. Berry Blue (P)2. Blue Belle3. Ognennyi4. Tomichka5. Dimka6. Zolushka7. Tundra8. Borealis9. 9-1510. 9-9111. 9-92

Cultivars :

6 enterprises from GV

Haskap Berries

August 8, 2008 June 23, 2009

0,2 m

0,8 m

Grows very quickly

Planting : 19/6/08

Dimka

Haskap Berries

1 to 1,5 m

3 to 6 m

pH 5 to 7,5

Haskap Berries

October 26, 2009

1 m

26 octobre 2009August 13, 2008

Berry Blue

Haskap Berries

Potential yield :3rd year: 1 kg/plant 6th year: 4 to 7 kg/plant

Flowering in May (-7 ºC)

Possibility of mechanized harvest

Mid-June harvest

Easy pickingLong and cylindrical fruit 2,5 x 0,6 cm

Market to develop:Handpicking or kiosk sale (fresh fruit)Transformation

Properties :Rich in antioxidantContent + anthocyaninVit.C 40-70mg/100g

Haskap Berries

Taste the blueberrymid-sweet, mid-sour?

Large variety of uses :