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Strawberry Low Tunnel Production Guides and Variety Selection  

Strawberry Production Season Extension Using Low Tunnels:

Extending Local Strawberry Production Using Day Neutral Cultivars and Low Tunnel Technology:

Extend the season with excellent fruit quality.  This USDA site explains the benefits of low tunnel strawberry production in low tunnels.  Includes low tunnel construction costs.
Strawberry production in the Northeast US for five months of the year. Includes recommended procedures for growing and producing day neutral strawberries.
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Download Strawberry Production PDF

Strawberry Yields Using Low Tunnels:

Download Yields PDF

Cold Climate Strawberry Farming:

Season Long Strawberry Production with Everbearers:

E-book from Univ. of Minnesota includes info on growing in low tunnels.
Production guide covers details of everbearing strawberries for northeast U.S. growers.
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Day-Neutral (Everbearing) Strawberry Variety Selection for Low Tunnels:

Ripe strawberries, cultivar 'Albion'image: A. Petram, U of Minn

​Day-Neutral Strawberry Characteristics:
  • Produce fruit over a long harvest season
  • Also known as “everbearing”
  • Large, high quality, firm fruit
  • Suitable for shipping
  • Good flavor when ripened on the plant

Albion strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​Albion (University of California)
  • Industry standard for day-neutral shipping from California
  • Moderate yields in eastern U.S.
  • Berries very large with the largest somewhat furrowed
  • Scarlett red and firm, good flavor when fully ripened on plant
  • Moderately susceptible to powdery mildew, resists other leaf diseases
  • Moderately susceptible to fruit anthracnose

Evie 2 strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​
Evie 2 (Edward Vinson, Ltd., U.K.)
  • Extremely productive
  • Medium-sized fruit, spherical
  • Berries light-colored, soft, mild flavor
  • Susceptible to botrytis fruit rot

Mara Des Bois strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​Mara Des Bois (France)
  • Gourmet berry, known for excellent flavor
  • Relatively small berries, perfectly red, sometimes a bit soft
  • Very susceptible to fruit anthracnose
  • Best suited for home gardens or small-scale premium production

Monterey strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​Monterey (University of California)
  • Very productive
  • Berries medium-large, moderately firm, average flavor
  • Dark red fruit lightens to orange red in hot conditions
  • Extremely susceptible to fruit anthracnose, anthracnose crown rot
  • Foliage and fruit susceptible to powdery mildew

Portola strawberries growing in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​Portola (University of California)
  • Earliest to fruit, consistent production all season long
  • Berries medium-large, light colored, soft, low flavor
  • Susceptible to common leaf spot, powdery mildew
  • Very susceptible to fruit anthracnose, anthracnose crown rot

San Andreas strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​San Andreas (University of California)
  • Moderate yields, most production in fall under cool conditions
  • Berries very large, firm, bright red, good flavor
  • Warm conditions produce very wide or unusually elongated fruit
  • Susceptible to common leaf spot
  • Less susceptible to powdery mildew than most other day-neutral cultivars

Seascape strawberries grown in plasticultureimage: K. Demchak, Penn State

​Seascape 
(University of California)
  • Medium to high yields
  • Berries medium size, medium red, moderate to low firmness
  • Flavor is among sweetest of day-neutral cultivars
  • Moderate susceptibility to fruit anthracnose
  • Fruit may become asymmetrical in very warm conditions

Sweet Ann strawberry grown in plasticulture, not yet ripe.  A quarter is used to show the large size of the strawberry.image: K. Demchak, Penn State

Sweet Ann (Lassen Canyon Nursery)​
  • Produces only very late in the season in eastern U.S.
  • Exceptionally large fruit with excellent flavor
  • Some susceptibility to leaf scorch, potato leaf hoppers
  • Warm conditions may produce very elongated or asymmetrical fruit

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