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Greenhouse day-neutral strawberries show promise


DEBORAH HENDERSON


Day-neutral strawberries growing in the Haygrove Tunnel greenhouse at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.


Three cultivars undergo trials in Kwantlen study to determine how well they would performin the off season.


By Judie Steeves O


ff-season greenhouse production of day-neutral strawberries is feasible in B.C. and at other northern latitudes, according to trials completed recently at the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley.


The idea was to study strawberry crop production and management under controlled greenhouse conditions and to evaluate the different varieties to see which were more suitable for protected cultivation.


As well, researchers attempted to produce the fruit using a more environmentally-sustainable production system and tried to optimize environmental conditions to produce the most highly-marketable fruit.


Three strawberry cultivars were tested: Albion, Seascape (which are already favourite day-neutral varieties in B.C.) and Evie II, a favourite strawberry of growers in Britain, where protected tunnel


culture production has replaced imported strawberries in the domestic market.


Researcher Andres Torres found that under the environmental conditions used for the study, Seascape was very prone to diseases such as powdery mildew, while Albion was most tolerant. He noted that use of bumble bees as flower pollinators enhanced pollination and thus fruit evenness and quality, so he recommended using them with higher plant density.


Torres strongly recommended higher plant density to maximize the efficient use of greenhouse area, after testing two different plant densities. Albion had the lowest productivity, but the highest fruit quality, sugar content and flavour.


It was also extremely hardy when transporting and handling and there was less bruising. Evie II had the lowest fruit quality and poorest flavour, but it is esthetically-pleasing, with shiny fruit.


“Our volunteer taste testers were not fooled by the pretty Evie II; they asked for Albion or Seascape,” commented Torres.


It was determined that Evie II had the highest number of crowns per plant, followed by Seascape and Albion.


Seascape had the highest number of flower clusters per plant, followed by Evie II and Albion, but Albion had the lowest number of flowers per plant.


Andres Torres


They were tested in six different types of soil media composed of cocopeat coarse, cocopeat fine, peat moss, rice hulls, compost and worm castings. It was found that the compost media had the highest water holding capacity, along with worm castings, and less frequent


British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2013 11


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