Advances on Protected Culture of Berry Crops in Florida

Abstract

Protected culture of berry crops has increased steadily in Florida in the last few years. In particular, strawberry ( Fragaria× ananassa) and southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum× V. darrowi) have been the most planted under structures. These crops are harvested during the winter months when preferential prices are available to growers. High tunnels are the preferred protected culture structure for these crops due to their relatively lower price than greenhouses and their effectiveness for freeze protection. This paper summarizes current research on freeze protection, soilless culture, and planting densities of strawberries. A five-year study revealed that marketable fruit weight increased by an average of 51% in all 15 validations when strawberries were produced inside high tunnels in comparison with yields in open fields. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.81) between the number of nights with cold weather (≤2°C) requiring freeze protection versus the increase on marketable fruit weight in all cases. Another study indicated that establishing a high density of strawberry (54,450 plants·ha ^-1) failed to increase yields in comparison with 43,560 plants·ha ^-1. Comparisons of soilless media in vertical and horizontal systems were performed using perlite, coconut coir, pine bark, and a commercial potting mix. These results indicated that for vertical systems, coconut coir, perlite, and potting mix are reliable growing media for strawberry production in a screen house. In contrast, these data suggested that for horizontal systems all four growing media were appropriate to producing the crop at a commercial level.