Fruit and vegetable farming

Integrated pest management, growing guides, greenhouse management, best practices for harvesting and storage, and marketing advice for Minnesota commercial fruit and vegetable growers.

Get help with pest and disease problems

Features

Growing cold climate grapes: Vineyard management

Free, web-based curriculum on growing cold-hardy grapes in Minnesota.

Small-scale hydroponics

Hydroponic gardening is space-efficient and takes less water than gardening in soil. Growing in water also means no weeds. With artificial lighting, you can grow hydroponically all year long in Minnesota.

Farm food safety training

These educational opportunities are for small to medium-sized fruit and vegetable farms, but any farmer or gardener is welcome to attend.

Fruit

Growing guides

Guides for commercial growers of fruits in cold climates

Growing safe food

On-farm food safety, GAPs audits, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Raspberry farming in Minnesota

Planting, growing and marketing raspberries in Minnesota

Strawberry farming in Minnesota

Planting, growing and marketing strawberries in Minnesota

Fruits hardy to Minnesota

Research on UMN breeding programs and lists of fruits currently available and proven hardy in Minnesota

Minnesota Fruit

Connecting and informing fruit growers across Minnesota

Vegetables

Disease management

Vegetable plant diseases

Growing guides

Guides for commercial growers of fruits and vegetables in cold climates

Growing safe food

On-farm food safety, GAPs audits, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Production systems

Deep Winter Greenhouses

We support Deep Winter Greenhouse research and outreach across the state. Find information and construction documents for building these passive-solar greenhouses.

Minnesota high tunnel production manual

Risk management, structures, the high tunnel environment, cultural practices, crop production, crops, and finances for growing in high tunnels in Minnesota (PDF)

Managing a farm

Business, finance, safety and systems for ag producers and small farms

Small farms

Information on running a one- to 40-acre farm

Supply chains

We work to build the relationships that bring University crop research to farmers, markets and, ultimately, dinner plates.

Nutrient management and soil health

For specialty crops

Cover crops and soil health

Cover crop selection, reducing tillage

Nutrient management

Maintaining soil fertility in organic fruit and vegetable crop systems, nutrient cycling

Soil and foliar testing

Soil testing for fruit and vegetable growers, interpreting a soil test, foliar testing in fruit and vegetable crops

Pest management

Diagnose plant problems

Diagnostic tools to help diagnose a plant problem or identify a weed or insect

Disease management

Vegetable plant diseases

Fruit and vegetable insects

Insects, spiders and other bugs that particularly help, harm or feed on fruits and vegetables in the home garden

FruitEdge

Timely, objective information on fruit integrated pest management in the Midwest

Pesticide safety and certification

Pesticide education and resources for certified and licensed applicators, those seeking certification, and other professionals

VegEdge

Timely, objective information on vegetable crop integrated pest management in the Midwest

News

The Fruit and Vegetable News blog has regular updates for growers

March 10, 2023

How Minnesota’s fertilizer tonnage fee helps farmers, the economy and our environment

AFREC is tasked with improving fertilizer efficiency, farm profitability, and Minnesota’s environment through soil fertility research, technology development and education.

February 28, 2023

Thinking about growing Brandywine tomatoes, burpless cucumbers, daikon radishes, Chinese cabbage or purple eggplant this year? Check out the Minnesota Master Gardener seed trial results before buying seeds.