Low chill strawberry varieties produce more with less energy

Added on 09 October 2023

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Low chill strawberry varieties produce more with less energy

Traditional strawberry varieties for the greenhouse have two significant production peaks. To achieve this, the plants need a cold period in winter and then warm daytime temperatures for a longer period of time. Low chill varieties do not need that cool period. In addition, harvesting can take longer in the spring/summer because the plant can form new trusses in spring. The varieties also suffer less from mildew in the spring, discovered the Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research.

WUR investigated two low chill varieties: Inspire (from The Greenery) and Fandango (from Fresh Forward). The strawberries were placed in the trail greenhouse in Bleiswijk last winter. This greenhouse is equipped with active dehumidification and three screens (including one transparent energy screen). It was an unlit cultivation. A constant temperature of 15 degrees Celsius was maintained during the day and at night from December to February.

Normally, strawberries are grown with a clear distinction between day and night temperatures. That is why growers use heat during the day and open the windows in the greenhouse in the evening to get rid of the heat. In the trial at WUR, the heat was kept in as much as possible by using the screens and also closing the energy screen during the day at low light levels.