Effect of summer planting time on strawberry productivity and quality

Production of strawberry in Serbia is based on June bearing cultivars established in open fields during summer using cold stored (frigo) plants or bare root transplants.
In this paper, we investigated effects of different summer planting dates of June-bearing strawberry cultivars ‘Alba’ and ‘Joly’. Frigo plants were planted on open field on eight planting dates begging from July 15 up to September 2, 2016. 3×20 plants per planting date and cultivar were planted in double rows on raised beds covered with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation.
Plant mortality, number of crowns, flower trusses, and flowers were counted in spring time next year.
The fruits were harvested at intervals of 2 to 7 days depending on cultivar and ripening rate.
Yield plant^‑1, fruit weight, firmness, colour, total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) were determined in laboratory.
Late planting dates increased mortality levels of ‘Alba’ plants, while this effect was significantly less present with ‘Joly’ plants.
Number of crowns was significantly homogenous with ‘Joly’ than with ‘Alba’. Number of flower trusses plant^‑1 in the ‘Joly’ cultivar steadily decreased with planting date delay, while in ‘Alba’ plants planting in first half of August induced a sharp increase in number of trusses.
Yield was significantly higher in ‘Alba’ then with ‘Joly’ with highest yields recorded for ‘Alba’ plants planted on August 5 (466.9 g plant^‑1; 1.87 kg m^‑2) and ‘Joly’ plants planted on July 29 (186.2 g plant^‑1; 0.74 kg m^‑2). Fruit quality was also affected by planting date and cultivar.
The results confirmed significant effect of planting date on strawberry productivity and quality, but the level of this effect proved to be cultivar specific.
Planting time delay can increase productivity and quality up to mid-August with ‘Alba’ and with ‘Joly’ by end of July, but any planting beyond this date results in significant yield decrease.

IX International Strawberry Symposium

N. Magazin, M. Apić, B. Milić, M. Miodragović, J. Kalajd¿ić, G. Popara

June bearing, flower, yield, fruit, firmness

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1309.43