Optimizing Plant Type and Planting Date for High Tunnel Strawberry Production

High tunnels are an effective method for producing early-season strawberries, but annual strawberry systems require that planting date be optimized to provide an appropriate balance between vegetative and reproductive growth.  Planting too early results in excessive runners, whereas late planting results in insufficient crown and root development.  Planting dates were compared over two seasons for both plug and bare-root dormant plants of ‘Festival’ and ‘Chandler’ in a high tunnel located in North Logan, Utah (41.74° N lat., 1460 m elevation). Each planting date, cultivar and plant type combination was replicated in three 6-plant plots.  Plants were evaluated for runner and branch crown formation, and early yields.  Based on early yields (before May 20), optimum plug planting date for both ‘Chandler’ and ‘Festival’ was approximately 1 Sept.  Bare-root dormant ‘Festival’ plants established on 16 July produced early yields of 258 g/plant, which was equivalent to the 31 Aug planted plugs.  However, plug plants from the optimum planting date produced 1.7 runners per plant, compared to 7.7 runners per plant for dormant transplants.  Although dormant plants cost significantly less and produced equivalent yields, removing unwanted runners would present significant added management costs.