This high tunnel strawberry cultivar trial has compared 9 cultivars using 3 replications of each cultivar. Objectives are to evaluate potential cultivars of strawberry for their suitability under high tunnel production in a southern Ohio growing season. The plots are located at the Ohio State University Piketon Research & extension Center in Piketon, Ohio. Data was analyzed by SAS statistical software.
METHODS:
Planting: Sweet Charlie, Camerosa and Chandler plots were planted September 3, 1998. Jewel and Northeaster plots were planted on September 24, 1998 and Delmarvel, Earliglow, Allstar and Mohawk plots were planted September 25, 1998. All plots were hand planted. All plants were plug grown plants.
Spacing:
Rows spacing was approximately five feet apart. Double rows of plants spaced 18 inches between double rows with plants set on plastic mulch covered raised beds. Plants were set at 12 inch spacing between each plant in the row, 14 plants per plot.. The beds have drip tube irrigation under the plastic mulch.Soil Type: Doles Silt Loam
Fertilizer:
Plants were fertilized with Peters 9-52-10 starter solution soon after planting
Weed Control: Hand weeded as necessary.
Pest Management: Row covers were installed throughout the winter
to reduce deer damage to the plants when the tunnel was opened for ventilation.RESULTS:
There was average fruit set and yield throughout the harvest season. Harvest yield and quality attributes were collected and observed. The cultivar Chandler had the largest total production per acre for the season at 11,431 pounds per acre with an average berry weight of 9.0927 grams. The cultivar Camarosa had the largest average berry weight for the season at 10.9188 grams. With field research and demonstration trials similar to this, high tunnel strawberry crops can fit into the production and marketing scheme for Southern Ohio growers. The growing season and average daily heat units seem adequate to produce high quality high tunnel strawberry crop.
High tunnel strawberry evaluations and field trials will continue at the Ohio State University Piketon Research & Extension Center in 2000. Growers are invited to visit the many fruit and vegetable trials that are being performed for personal observations throughout the season.
Table 1.
Yields and Quality comparisons from replicated High Tunnel Strawberry Production trials in southern Ohio: Ohio State University Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 1999|
No. of Fruit |
Ave. Fruit |
Largest |
No. of Fruit |
|||
|
VARIETY |
LBS/ACRE |
per Acre |
Wt. (g) |
Yield/Plant (g) |
Fruit's Wt.(g) |
per plant |
|
Chandler |
11431 |
574583 |
9.0927 |
298.6 |
19.505 |
32.833 |
|
Camarosa |
10088 |
422500 |
10.9188 |
263.52 |
23.894 |
24.143 |
|
Northeaster |
5571 |
297500 |
8.6221 |
145.52 |
16.403 |
17.000 |
|
Sweet Charlie |
5271 |
275833 |
8.6934 |
137.69 |
13.849 |
15.762 |
|
Jewel |
4151 |
219583 |
8.6089 |
108.43 |
15.259 |
12.548 |
|
Allstar |
3392 |
189167 |
8.2373 |
88.62 |
14.803 |
10.810 |
|
Delmarvel |
3041 |
162500 |
8.5783 |
79.43 |
13.755 |
9.286 |
|
Earliglow |
2727 |
160417 |
7.773 |
71.24 |
11.164 |
9.167 |
|
Mohawk |
2150 |
126667 |
7.802 |
56.17 |
11.657 |
7.238 |
|
LSD |
1787 |
74527 |
1.5037 |
46.695 |
3.0776 |
4.259 |
Table 2. Rainfall amounts and average high and low temperatures for the 1999 season: Ohio State University Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 1999
|
|
1999 Weather Summary @ Piketon, Ohio |
|||||
|
Ave. High Temp |
Avg Temp |
Normal Ave Temp |
Avg Low Temp |
Total Precipitation |
Normal Precipitation |
|
|
January |
45 |
34.6 |
30.8 |
24.3 |
4.7 |
3.1 |
|
February |
49.1 |
37.6 |
33.4 |
27.3 |
3.34 |
2.1 |
|
March |
50.4 |
38.7 |
41.9 |
26.1 |
1.85 |
4.5 |
|
April |
68.7 |
56.4 |
52.6 |
44.2 |
2.11 |
3.2 |
|
May |
78.6 |
63.9 |
61.7 |
48.4 |
1.37 |
4.5 |
|
June |
85.1 |
72.5 |
72.4 |
59.9 |
1.15 |
3.9 |
|
July |
92.5 |
79.1 |
75.9 |
66.4 |
3.82 |
4 |
|
August |
84.8 |
71.7 |
74.1 |
59.7 |
5.42 |
2.7 |
|
September |
78 |
62.2 |
65.1 |
47.1 |
0.87 |
1.9 |
|
October |
68.5 |
53.3 |
54.2 |
40.4 |
2.44 |
1.9 |
|
November |
60.5 |
47.3 |
42.6 |
35.1 |
2.22 |
3 |
|
December |
46 |
35.9 |
36.2 |
26.1 |
3.1 |
2.1 |
|
1999 |
67.1 |
54.3 |
53.4 |
42.1 |
32.4 |
37.1 |
