Teaching Research Methods Via Strawberry Cultivar Evaluation in An Undergradute Fruit Crops Course

Students taking Fruit Crops Laboratory (HORT 354) were given the opportunity to evaluate a total of twelve different strawberry cultivars and two timings of initiating plants for two cultivars.  Sweet Charlie and Summer Festival were started as runner plants in early July or August and 50 plants of each were planted by the students with 50 each of the other ten cultivars and placed in a cool (17C/22C) glass greenhouse on either September 24 or October 15, 2009.  Plants were grown in 15 cm pots containing a soil-lite medium and were watered on an as-needed basis by the students. Observations were taken on color of foliage, timing and quantity of flowers and fruit, frequency of runner formation and height of the plants.  Because of time limits imposed by the semester ending, results were only assessed for early growth and harvest parameters.  It was apparent that plant initiation in July was superior to August started plants, especially for Sweet Charlie.   The students rated Albion, Darselect, Evie-2 and July started Sweet Charlie as the top performers.  Additional student comments will be presented.