Field Evaluation of Establishment Methods and Intensive Management Practices for Strawberries

Abstract

Abstract Field experiments were conducted to determine differences in vegetative development and fruit production of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. in response to high-density planting vs. spaced-runner bed establishment, fruiting of high-density plantings in the establishment year, spring vs. summer planting of dormant crowns, and removal of stolons in excess of those required for a specific plant density. Yields did not differ significantly between spring-planted plots established exclusively with densely planted dormant crowns (11 plants per m2) and those established under a spaced-runner system using 4 stolons per mother plant to achieve the same final plant density. In spring-set, high-planting-density plots, fruit production in the planting year was low and had no effect on vegetative development or 2nd-year yields. Summer planting resulted in high mortality rates for 2 of 3 cultivars. By October, surviving summer-planted crowns had numbers of leaves and branch crowns per plant equivalent to those planted in spring. Reduced stolon production in summer plantings resulted in poor establishment of spaced-runner beds, but had no effect on dense-planted beds. Summer planting reduced yields in both high-density and spaced-runner beds compared to spring planting. Successful bed establishment in the summer is dependent on cultivar and planting density. Removal of stolons increased yields and promoted further stolon initiation in spring plantings, but had no effect on summer plantings.