Rit Búvísindadeildar - 10.06.1997, Side 36

SUMMARYIN ENGLISH
At Hvanneyri Agricultural College observations in the cultivation of strawberries have
been carried out since 1978, and of raspbemes since 1990. It is very important to
choose adequate varieties of strawberries, regardless of whether the berries are intended
for domestic consumption or retail. The following varieties gave a good yield at
Hvanneyri.
Glima strawberries are tasty and early but are considered a bit too small for the market.
Under difficult conditions, e.g. when grown under plastic shelters or a polypropylene
cloth, this variety gave the best yield. Glima is well suited to kitchen gardening.
Of all the varieties in the trials Jonsok gave the best yield when grown in an unheated
plastic greenhouse. At Hvanneyri, no difference in quality was observed between Gíima
and Jonsok and the berries are of approximately the same size. When Glima and Jonsok
were grown under plastic shelters Jonsok developed berries about a week later than
Glima. However, the difference was insignificant when the strawberries were grown in
unheated plastic greenhouses.
Senga Sengana gave a good yield during years with good weather conditions but a poor
yield when weather conditions were less favourable. The berries were considered good.
When Glima and Senga Sengana were grown under plastic shelters the latter developed
edible berries nearly two weeks later than Glima. When grown in unheated plastic
greenhouses Senga Sengana were about eight days later than Glima.
Elsanta grew well in an unheated plastic greenhouse. The berries were of good visual
quality and gave a high proportion of first class berries.
The yield of strawberries was better in an unheated plastic greenhouse than in plastic
shelters. In an unheated plastic greenhouse, the yield was better when the plants were
grown in boxes arranged in steps, than in beds on the floor. Cultivating strawberries in a
heated greenhouse gave the best yield.
Strawberry plants cultivated in shelters were stronger than those cultivated unsheltered.
When strawberries are grown in shelters, the number of berries per plant seems to
depend on weather conditions, particularly temperature in the autumn in the harvesting
year. The number of berries per plant seems to be highest on the second and third year
of harvest but started decreasing on the fourth. The decline in number of berries with
growing age of the plants was hardly noticeable until the fourth year of harvest.
Daily care of strawberry plants in beds is much easier if the plants are planted through
black plastic which is kept in the bed through the whole growing-period. Watering the
plants is more difficult though.
When strawberry- and raspberry plants are kept outside in the winter it is necessary to
protect the plants, by covering them, e.g. with hay.
Pollination of strawberry- and raspberry plants was probably not successful enough at
Hvanneyri due to lack of pollen-carrying insects.
In unheated plastic greenhouses harvesting started late June and early July, but in plastic
shelters usually about 4 - 6 weeks later. The harvesting pcriod lasted for 4 - 6 weeks,
depending on the variety.
At Hvanneyri, raspberry plants survived the winter quite well in the garden but gave little
yield.
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