Season extension of day-neutral strawberries in Western Oregon
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Erica Chernoh
Assistant Professor (Practice)
OSU Extension Service, Lane County
Eugene
Abstract
This trial (2021-2023), conducted at Oregon State University’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center, evaluated the growth and production of day-neutral strawberries developed under low and high tunnels to expand the harvest season and potential for fresh market production in Western Oregon. The trial evaluated two cultivars (‘Albion’ and ‘Seascape’) grown under low tunnel, high tunnel, and low tunnel under high tunnel (double tunnel) compared to open field (control). In the fall of 2021, the first planting of bare-root strawberries was established, followed by a second planting in spring 2022. Plants were grown in raised beds with plastic mulch and two drip lines per row. The field was maintained using standard industry practices for day-neutral cultivars and organic production practices. Fruit was harvested twice per week at 75% or greater ripeness, then sorted into marketable fruit and cull. Data collection included air temperature, yield (total, marketable, and cull), fruit quality (average weight and brix), crown diameter, and runner production. Results from the 2022 season show that low tunnels significantly raised the total marketable yield (1,013 g/plant) compared to double tunnel (794 g/plant), high tunnel (783 g/plant), and open field (732 g/plant). ‘Albion’ produced a significantly higher marketable yield for the total season compared to ‘Seascape’ (890 and 771 g/plant, respectively). In the fall harvest season, ‘Albion’ significantly increased yields compared to ‘Seascape’ (346 and 244 g/plant marketable yield, respectively). Fusarium spp. was detected in the southwest corner of the high tunnel in the late summer and fall of 2022 and later spread to other parts of the field, which impacted 2023 results. While there were no significant differences in total marketable yield between tunnel treatments in 2023, the results showed that low tunnels, high tunnel, and double tunnel treatments produced significantly less cull compared to open beds (72, 64, 63, and 113 g/plant, respectively). The results of this trial demonstrated tunnel production can increase the total and marketable yield of day-neutral cultivars and extend the harvest season, providing Oregon’s strawberry producers with an opportunity to harvest and sell a crop outside the traditional harvest season.
Authors: Erica Chernoh, Joussy Hidrobo
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Erica Chernoh Assistant Professor (Practice), Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon, 97402
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Joussy Hidrobo Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture, Oregon, 97331