The Effect of Rooting Date on Flower Production in the Strawberry

SummaryStrawberry plants, cvs. Redgauntlet, Cambridge Vigour and Cambridge Favourite, raised from runners rooted at monthly intervals from April to November 1968 were examined in detail to ascertain the effect of rooting date on the components of fruit yield in 1969.) Grown in an unheated glasshouse, late rooting led to a halving of the yield, due largely to a reduction in the number of fruiting trusses per plant.Earlier-rooted plants flowered later and did not produce such large berries as later-rooted plants; they were also later in producing runners. A substantial second crop was taken from the latest-rooted plants, but at the conclusion of the experiment few second crop berries had been formed on the early-rooted plants.It is concluded that cultural conditions during the period between rooting of the runners and flower initiation probably have a critical influence on fruit yield in the following season.