Delaying Flowering in Short-Day Strawberry Transplants with Photoselective Nets

Abstract

Growing strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) transplants under photoselective nets delayed flowering. In August, ‘Strawberry Festival’ strawberry plug plants were grown under red or blue ChromatiNet® or without shading (control) in a glasshouse. Fall flowering response was determined following transplanting into a plasticulture system in the field. The no-shade control plants began flowering in late September and by late November, more than 90% of the plants had bloomed. These plants produced fruit from October to early January. Flowering in plants that were grown under red- or blue-colored shade net did not occur until early January. The results of this study suggested that the use of photoselective shade nets over strawberry plug plants in August blocks the light signal that initiates flowering until the netting is removed, hence, delaying the initiation of flower buds until plants are transplanted in the field.