Basics of Growing High Tunnel Strawberries

Strawberry quality, yield, and earliness are greatly improved with production in a hoophouse. Penn State researchers found that in their climate, hoophouse strawberries produced fruit 3 weeks earlier in spring than those grown outside, with about a 25% yield increase.

Most commercial hoophouse strawberries are grown using an annual plasticulture system that includes raised beds, drip irrigation, plastic mulch, and floating row cover:

• Plugs are planted in late summer on beds covered with plastic mulch, with drip tape beneath the mulch.
• As the weather gets cold, the young plants are covered with floating row cover to maintain the warmer soil temperatures needed for establishment.
• The plants grow slowly during winter in the protected environment of the hoophouse.
• As the weather warms, they flower and produce berries for several weeks.
• The crop is then finished for the year.
• Strawberry plants can either be removed to make way for other crops; or they can be left to produce a second year if berry prices or other factors justify tying up the space for a year.

Plugs are available from outside suppliers, or they can be produced on the farm in summer. To grow your own plugs:

• Detach unrooted daughter plants (runners) from the mother plant in July.
• Stick them in potting mix in 72-cell flats under intermittent mist until roots protrude from the bottom of the cell.
• Then place on a greenhouse bench and grow until September, when they can be planted into the hoophouse.
• Plants that are rooted in July are likely to flower and fruit in fall in warmer climates, but that won't affect their yield the following spring.

Learn More

Here is a short list of informational resources on hoophouse production of strawberries, including the application of horticultural plastics:

• Penn State researchers hope to extend berry growing season in Northeast: Research could increase growers' yields while also improving quality and shelf life for consumers Penn State (2017)
• High Tunnel Strawberries Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. (2019)
• Growing Strawberries in High Tunnels in Missouri Universitiy of Missouri (2006)
• Production of Vegetables, Strawberries & Cut Flowers Using Plasticulture Natural Resource, Agriculture & Engineering Service (NRAES) (2004–2012)