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Elise
Carpentier
An experiment conducted in 1990,
2000 and 2001 on Île d’Orléans, Quebec, has determined which
plastic mulch (black, silver on black, or thermal/photoselective
green) and which shelter (floating cover, mini-tunnel or no
protection) results in the greatest earliness and productivity
in the off-season strawberry variety Seascape (Fragaria x
ananassa Duchesne) in the first and second growing years.
The various types of plastic mulch that were used had
little impact on total yield, marketable yield and
average marketable strawberry weight. Nevertheless, the
black mulch is the most satisfactory in terms of its
ability to adapt to strawberry plant age and weather
conditions. Although using shelters was not effective in
increasing earliness in plants in the first growing
year, using floating covers (tarpaulins) in the second
growing year was beneficial. The various shelters had
little impact on productivity, however, no matter the
production period
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