Volume
62
Issue
4
DOI
10.34068/joe.62.04.19
Abstract
Strawberries are among the most consumed fruits in the U.S. and demand for locally grown fruit is high. Although most production in Minnesota is dominated by June-bearers, new techniques for growing day-neutral strawberries are becoming increasingly prevalent. These techniques include in-ground plasticulture and soilless tabletop production, and growers are generally advised to remove stolons (runners) from day-neutral plants. There is relatively little information available to confirm that this practice, and its attendant labor increase, is a necessity in soilless tabletop production. This study’s objective was to determine whether this practice is necessary to maximize yield and fruit quality, using the day-neutral Fragaria xananassa cultivar ‘Cabrillo’. Plants in the runner removal treatment had significantly higher yields for both fruit weight and fruit number than plants without runner removal. We, therefore, recommend that growers remove runners periodically from day-neutral strawberry plants grown in outdoor soilless tabletop systems to achieve economically viable yields.
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Recommended Citation
Fessler, K., Hoover, E. E., & Anderson, N. O. (2024). Impact of Stolon Removal on Yield and Fruit Quality of Day-Neutral Fragaria X ananassa “Cabrillo” Grown in Outdoor Soilless Conditions. The Journal of Extension, 62(4), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.62.04.19
