Training Systems for Second-year Production of Fall-planted Strawberries

Abstract

Abstract Certified, fresh-dug plants of ‘Apollo’ and ‘Earlibelle’ strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were set in single plant rows on 23 Sept., 7 Oct., 21 Oct., and 5 Nov. 1982 at in-row spacings of 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30 cm. After harvest in 1983, plants were mowed and maintained as hill rows or mowed or not mowed for conversion to matted rows. Crown number, leaves, inflorescences and flowers per crown, fruit size, and fruit number and yield were determined in Spring 1984. Mowing had no effect on yields of matted rows, which, except from the 23 Sept. set plants, were higher than hill rows. Hill rows produced larger fruit than matted rows, but the latter had higher fruit numbers and averaged 57 % more crowns per unit area. The 23 Sept. hill row yields were higher than later plantings, but original planting date had no effect on matted row yields. Fruit number of the three later plantings of both training systems and hill row yields decreased as plant spacing increased. ‘Apollo’ had higher yields and individual yield component values than ‘Earlibelle’ in both training systems.