Optimizing Strawberry Production with a Reduced Tillage System

A recently completed (Nov. 2009), Cornell University project that focused on controlling weeds in strawberries during the establishment year by transplanting dormant berry plants into a killed cover crop showed great promise, but revealed a barrier. Most growers had difficulty planting through the cover crop. This resulted in slower establishment during the first month and possibly caused skips. Additionally, research has shown that control of weeds during the first weeks of the growing season makes the most difference to yield in a matted row system. There have also been studies that support the use of cover crops as a way to decrease incidence of plant disease.