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: |
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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.
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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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Day-Neutral (Everbearing) Strawberry Variety Selection for Low Tunnels:
image: A. Petram, U of Minn
Day-Neutral Strawberry Characteristics:
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
image: 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
image: 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
image: K. Demchak, Penn State
Mara Des Bois (France)
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
image: 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
image: 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
image: 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
image: 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
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
