The harvest season may not have ended yet; it is time to plan for the new planting. This article summarizes options for planting materials and considerations for plasticulture-grown strawberries in the region. Purchasing plug plants Plug plants are like vegetable transplants with actively growing root systems. Plug plants are much easier to establish than bare-root…Read more about Plug? Bare-root? What Other Options for Plasticulture Strawberry Planting? [Read More]
Wenjing Guan
Growing strawberries under high tunnels can extend the harvest season, provide protection against rain, frost, and disease, and improve overall yield and fruit marketability. Pest pressure, however, can be higher on protected culture strawberry compared to the open field. This is especially true for small, soft-bodied pests such as spider mites, aphids, and thrips. Even…Read more about Research Update: Insect Pest Management for the High Tunnel Strawberry Production System[Read More]
Plasticulture strawberry harvest has kicked off in southern Indiana. These plants went through a winter of temperatures, ups and downs, and survived the unexpected frosts in April. Finally, it is harvest time! This article’s title is a message from a grower. The straightforward explanation is that plants received more sunlight and warmed up faster on…Read more about Why do the East Side of My Strawberry Rows Have Way More Ripe Ones than the West Side?[Read More]
We received a freeze warning in Vincennes last Sunday with a predicted low temperature of 33 °F. Growers in southern Indiana reported minimal damage on plants covered with floating row covers. But significant damage was observed in fields that were not protected or covered with a thin layer of floating row cover. At Southwest Purdue…Read more about Without Protection, Freezing Temperatures Monday Morning Caused Damage on Plasticulture Strawberries in Southern Indiana[Read More]
Using straws is the standard practice for winter protection in matted-row strawberry production. In contrast, plasticulture strawberries commonly use floating rows for winter and spring frost protection. This article will discuss the differences between managing floating row covers vs. straws in the spring. When straw is used, it blocks the light. There is hardly any…Read more about Spring Considerations on Using Floating Row Covers in Plasticulture Strawberry[Read More]
After a long cold winter under protection, nothing signals spring like the first blooms on strawberry. ‘Tis the season in our high tunnels and thus time to provide a few reminders/updates on how to protect the development of these early fruits from insect pests. The first thing you want to do is examine the health…Read more about Protecting Flowering Spring Strawberries from Insect Pests[Read More]
Dr. Janna Beckerman, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist in the Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology joined our discussion to talk about Spring Diseases and Management. Our discussion focused on Anthracnose fruit rot and Botrytis fruit rot. Janna described the biology of the pathogens and provided cultural and fungicide recommendations for managing these diseases. You…Read more about Strawberry Chat Podcast — Strawberry Spring Diseases and Management[Read More]
We discussed insect pests and weed control during renovation in this episode. Our special guests are Drs. Stephen Meyers, Samantha Willden, and Mr. David Doud. Steve and Sam are researchers from Purdue. Steve is the weed scientist in the Horticulture department; Sam is a postdoc researcher in the entomology department. David is the owner of…Read more about Strawberry Chat July—Weed Control and Insect Pest Management[Read More]
Topics of July strawberry chat are Weed Control and Insect Pest Management. Our guests are Drs. Stephen Meyers and Samantha Willden, and Mr. David Doud. Dr. Meyers is an assistant professor and weed scientist at the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department. Dr. Meyers will discuss weed management and herbicide options in matted-row and plasticulture strawberry…Read more about Strawberry Chat — June Record and July Topics[Read More]
Strawberry plug plants that have active growing root systems are easier to establish than bare-root plants. Interest in growing strawberries using plug plants and plastic mulch is growing. Strawberry plug plants are produced from the runner tips of mother plants. In commercial production, mother plants may be grown in climate-controlled greenhouses or open fields in…Read more about Is it okay to propagate your own strawberry plug plants?[Read More]