An article from Redagrícola, a technical publication on agriculture in Chile, tells an almost unbelievable story. A greenhouse with a retractable roof with a plantation of cherry trees in pots. Yes, you read that right, in pots. It is a commercial orchard developed thanks to a large investment and which poses a series of productive challenges to its owners.
The Hungarians were undoubtedly at the forefront of cherry cultivation. In the heart of Europe, 80 km south of Budapest, the capital of Hungary, perhaps the most futuristic cherry orchard on the planet was built, with the most modern technology that allows different varieties of cherry to be grown in pots under a greenhouse.
Its installation per hectare had a cost close to US$500,000, a large investment originated by the initiative of its owner, who after losing 95% of his field in 2015 due to a storm, decided to make a productive change and proposed to grow in pots.
Why in pots?
It all began with the experience of a New Zealand farmer who grew cherries in bags in an area close to sea level. After harvesting, he would move the plants to a mountainous area at 2,000 meters above sea level for the winter break, and then move them back to near the sea. This story reached the ears of Peter Kelemen, advisor to the owner of the Hungarian farm, who investigated the subject further and coined it, despite the economic reluctance to cultivate this way, in order to obtain a high-quality fruit.
After this, and overcoming the economic obstacles thanks to the European Union subsidy for 50% of the total cost, the project was able to be carried out between the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, including all kinds of technology: light management system, heating equipment, relative humidity control system, localized irrigation system, coconut fiber substrate and more, under a greenhouse with a retractable ventilation system on the roof. "We do not have the experience or professionalism of cherry producers in the USA or Chile, but over time we have been developing and learning about new management and technology," explains Kelemen.
Three varieties are grown under this real plastic capsule: Nimba, Royal Tioga and Royal Bailey, installed in April 2020 on 1 ha, with the aim of having earlier harvests than outdoors and putting quality fruit on the market sooner than expected. This may be possible because, under greenhouse conditions, there is a much more uniform orchard and higher quality fruit, achieving calibres between 28 and 30 mm, and even more.
As for plant nutrition, they receive advice from a Dutch consultant, as well as with pruning the orchard, where they are testing the 'permanent renewal system', breaking branches instead of cutting them and working with trees without an axis, a more evolved system that they are also testing.
For this year, the producers in charge of the orchard have projected productions of 3 t/ha, which could increase even further. For the next campaign, it is expected to be completely different, since the forecasts speak of a yield of around 15-25 t/ha and from then on, everything indicates that the production levels will remain high. Depending on how the crop behaves in the next three seasons, the production surface could be increased and include two or three more hectares.
