Annual Strawberry Hill Cultural System in Southeastern North Carolina

Abstract

The potential for annual cropping of strawberries in hill culture on black plastic mulch was investigated using 2 experimental plantings in southeastern North Carolina from 1982-1984. In 1982-1983, a plant density trial was conducted with freshly dug plants set in mid-October at a plant spacing of 33 cm between the double rows and spacings of 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm between plants in the row. Except with ‘Titan’, the highest strawberry yields in the spring of 1983 were obtained at the 15 cm in-row spacing. Fruit size of all cultivars was somewhat reduced at closer spacings. In a 1983-1984 trial, summer planting of dormant plants was compared to that of freshly dug plants set in mid-October. In December of 1983, record cold temperatures (− 14°C) severely damaged leaves, crown tissues, and blossom primordia of dormant plants, whereas freshly dug plants had less freeze injury and higher fruit yields the following spring.