The development of LED applications in horticulture has continued to transform our understanding of farming. Delphy, a Dutch company, has recently conducted research on growing raspberries and blackberries with LED lighting, aiming to harvest them during winter.

Delphy started its first trial of growing raspberries and blackberries with LED lighting last November, and the fresh blackberries were ready to be harvested since March of 2018. The experiment indicated that blackberries can be cultivated with LED lighting together with minimal natural light.

(Image: Delphy)

With the previous experiences, researchers at the Delphy Improvement Center has begun a new project to plant the long-preserved, cooled blackberry plants in September 11th with the aim to harvest the fruits in December. The LED lighting systems utilized in the research center were provided by Signify.

The project was supported by the Glasshouse as Energy Source programme and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. It intends to investigate the effect of indoor lighting and light intensity in combination with day length on ripening, as well as to develop "a future-oriented, energy-efficient new growing concept for winter-cultivated blackberry," according to the Dutch company.