1. Growing Strawberries in Florida
Alicia Whidden
Hillsborough County Extension Service

2. History in Florida Grown in Florida over 100 years
Niche was winter market due to our mild winter weather, good water supply, location to markets

3. Fragaria x ananassa Herbaceous, perennial -member of the Rose Family
Needs full sun
Soil pH from
Soil needs to be well drained
Air temperatures below 32° can damage flowers and fruit
Grown from October to late spring
Fertilization- 150N-150P2O5-K 2O lb/A
Use annual hill culture production system

4. How will you market your crop?
Traditional Commercial market through a broker
Roadside stand
Directly to Restaurants
CSA
U-Pick

5. Growing Methods Traditional Field Culture Vertical Stacking Systems
Trough and Table Systems used in Europe

6. Traditional
Fumigation with Methyl Bromide and chloropicrin still being done
Drip tape and black plastic mulch used
Beds are 7-9” high; 27-28” across bed top with raised center;
4’ row center

7. Making Beds Ground worked then beds pressed
Next-fumigated and plastic machine w/ drip tape reform & cover beds
Rates of MeBr/C:
98: lbs/treated A
67: lbs/treated A
10,890 linear ft of row=A

8. Planting Plants are done 2 rows to bed
Spacing is 12-16” between plants & 12-14” between rows
Bareroot transplants most commonly used; but plug plants can also be used
Plants are set in October

9. Planting Correctly Very Important to plant correctly
Plants should be set
with bud of crown above ground but roots in soil
Setting too deep is a big problem
Be sure to firm planting media around plant

10. Production Guide
Bareroot transplants will need to be watered from dawn till dusk for days till new root system is formed
Most growers fertigate- use lbs N/A/day
Crop is sprayed preventatively
Picking schedule- during cool weather-every third to fourth day with shorter times in hot weather

11. EDIS Publications For Crop Production
Strawberry Production in Florida
Intermittent Sprinkler Irrigation for Establishment of Bare Root Strawberry Transplants
Fertilization of Strawberries in Florida
Weed Control in Strawberry

12. Vertical Stacking Systems
2 types-Vertigro & Hydrostacker
Hydroponic system with water and nutrients through a tube at the top
Perlite planting media
Clean produce- no dirt
Expensive production system up-front

13. Vertical Stacking Systems
Can use to grow a variety of crops
Think about arrangement of plants so that plants on bottom will receive adequate light
Watch plants on bottom to make sure they receive adequate nutrition

14. Vertical Stacking System
When growing strawberries do not go over 5 pots high
For cold protection can cover rack of pots with row covers
Still need to prevent diseases and insects

15. Vertical Stacking Systems
Vertigro (800) Hydro-Stacker (941)

16. Trough and Table Systems
Used in Europe in greenhouses or tunnel systems
Variety of plant media used-coir, perlite, vermiculite, peat mixes
Be sure plant nutrition is adequate
Bees needed for pollination
Ease of handling and harvest due to raised height

17. Tabletop System

18. Hydroponic system

19. Varieties Be sure to use varieties bred for our mild climate
UF,U of California, Private breeders
Royalties on patented varieties
Average cost for bareroot transplants-$100/1,000 plants

20. Florida Varieties Strawberry Festival-UF Treasure- Private Breeder
Winter Dawn-UF
Carmine-UF
Sweet Charlie-UF

21. Strawberry Festival #1 variety in Florida Good red color Conical shape
Firm berry
Medium sweetness
Good choice for eating

22. Sweet Charlie UF variety Older variety Orange red color Sweet fruit
Softer fruit; very soft in hot weather
Consumers like it

23. Treasure Developed by Peggy Chang, Naples #2 variety grown Good shape
Firm
Good color but can have white shoulders
Does best in warm winter
Good flavor

24. Other UF Varieties Winter Dawn Carmine Good early yield Firm berries
Not very sweet

25. Camarosa UC variety Older variety Blocky shape Dark red color
Liked by consumers
Late production

26. Camino Real UC variety Beautiful berry; high consumer appeal
Much like a Camarosa
Produces later than Camarosa

27. My picks for local markets
Sweet Charlie
Camino Real
Strawberry Festival
Treasure
Camarosa
For list of plant nurseries: go to click links & go to nursery listing

28. Diseases Anthracnose crown rot/fruit rot Botrytis fruit rot
Fungal Leaf diseases
Angular leaf bight
Phytophthora crown rot/fruit rot

29. Anthracnose Botrytis fruit rot

30. Diseases Publications with more info:
Angular Leaf Spot: A Bacterial Disease in Strawberries in Florida
Anthracnose Fruit Rot of Strawberry
Botrytis Fruit Rot (Gray Mold) & Flower Blight of Strawberry
Root Necrosis of Strawberries Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum
Powdery Mildew of Strawberries

31. Insects & Nematodes Spider Mites-#1 Thrips Aphids Cyclamen mites
Sap beetles-if ripe fruit not picked
Fruit Flies-if ripe fruit not picked
Nematodes- sting is #1 problem but root knot can also attack strawberries

32. Insects Publications
Florida Crop/Pest Management Profiles: Strawberries
Strawberries: Main Pests and Beneficials in Florida
Nematode Management in Strawberries

33. Other resources
GCREC strawberry website-
Berry/Vegetable Times Newsletter- contact Alicia
Alicia Whidden, Hillsborough Co. Extension Service, , ext.134

34. Thank You
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