The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Adverse weather, particularly high winds and hail have prohibited strawberry production on the Texas High Plains.  However, consumer interest in fresh, locally available produce, and the potential for higher grower profits have revived interest in growing them in the region.  High tunnels have been utilized in other regions for season extension and climate modification, and increased production of highly sensitive crops like strawberries.  Five strawberry varieties were evaluated under high tunnel culture versus the open field at the Texas AgriLife R&E Center in Lubbock, TX, for yield and quality as part of a three-state experiment with funding provided by NIFA—SCRI, SREP. Plugs of ‘Strawberry Festival’, ‘Chandler’, San Andreas, ‘LCN’ and ‘Albion’, plus bare root ‘Albion’ plants were transplanted during October 2010.  The beds, previously laid with drip tape and black plastic, were arranged in two staggered rows at 30 cm apart.  Ripe berries were first harvested on 21 Feb. and 5 Apr. in high tunnels and open field plots, respectively, and harvests terminated in mid-June.  Marketable yields in high tunnels were 7.5 times greater (avg. 332 gms/plant) and significantly higher (P < 0.0001) compared to yields in the open field (avg. 44 gms/plant).  Highest yields were found with high tunnel-grown ‘Strawberry Festival’ which produced 520 gms marketable fruit/plant, while lowest yields were observed with ‘Chandler’ and ‘San Andreas’ (both 11.0 gms/plant) in the open field.  ‘Albion’ plugs produced significantly more (P < 0.0001) yield than bare root plants in both the high tunnel and open field plots.  Though more research is needed, especially regarding methods to reinforce structures against weather extremes, these results suggest a potential for strawberry production on the Texas High Plains using high tunnel culture.