D32—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 5,1984
Irrigation helps strawberries
NEWARK, Del. Strawberries
are one of the Delmarva penin
sula’s most traditional fruit crops.
It’s the earliest of the season and
needs to be managed well.
One of the best ways to boost
yields, according to University of
Delaware extension vegetable
specialist Ed Kee, is to irrigate the
crop during critical growth stages.
“In planning an irrigation
program for strawberries,” he
says, “keep in mind these three
basic facts. t First, the earliest
runners are the best potential
yielders. This means it pays to
encourage runner development
soon after planting, and to
renovate established beds after
harvest to further encourage
runners.
Second, the more leaves present,
the more opportunities for buds to
develop and the better the
potential for high yields. This is
another reason to encourage
runner growth.
Third, cell size of the fruit bud is
determined in late August and
September. If favorable growing
conditions exist them, bigger cells
can develop, resulting in bigger
berries the next spring. This also
translates into better yields.
Watering newly set-out plants
gets them off to a good start during
dry weather; and watering during
fruit development improves berry
size and yield. But Kee says
irrigation also affects future yield
during two other growth stages -
after bed renovation, and during
the dry spells in late August and
September.
Irrigating after renovation
encourages runner development,
which leads to more fruit buds.
Irrigating in late summer may
increase fruit size the following
spring.
In a study conducted at the
University of Missouri, strawberry
yields increased dramatically
under late-season irrigation. Two
irrigations in September increased
yields the following spring by over
5.000 quarts per acre over the
nonirngated check plot. Three
additional irrigations in August
and September added another
4.000 quarts per acre the following
spring.
Strawberry plants may suffer
drought stress before showing
symptoms, Kee warns. Under
normal conditions a plant uses 0.15
inch of water a day - more in dry
weather. Under, hot, windy con
Featuring
• Sidewinder 45 Concrete Pump • Up To 40 Cubic Yards Per Hour
• Pump Up To 150 Ft. Vertical And 800 Ft. Horizontal
CONCRETE SPRAYING SERVICE
A Proven Woy Of Applying Concrete
• Repair Retaining Walls
• Strengthen Existing Masonry
Walls
• Reseal Manure Pits
KEYSTONE GUN-KRETE
61 Poplar Street Gordonville, PA 17529
STRAY VOLTAGE
The HAMMOND TINGLE VOLTAGE FILTER is a new development in the
technology of stray voltage reduction.
The TINGLE VOLTAGE FILTER has recently been installed on the
following dairy farms
BEN JACKSON FARM
COLUMBIA CROSS ROADS, PA.
Before installation had 2.5 volts at
peak times, this was reduced to .04
volts with installation of the Tingle
Voltage Filter
The TINGLE VOLTAGE FILTER is safe, effective, permanent, inexpensive
and are completely maintenance free.
If installed with Dairylands Stray Voltage Indicator permanently will show
electrical faults before they become hazardous.
Dealers Wanted: To sell and install this fast moving, much needed
product in your areas.
Qualifications: Must have complete electrical knowledge of dairy farm
equipment, and electrical service entrance.
Please send qualifications and credit references to your Dairy Equipment
Specialist.
Dairyland Sales & Service, Inc.
ditions, plants can easily reach the
wilting point in five to seven days.
He suggests growers schedule
irrigations by recording daily
temperature and evaporation
rates. A tensiometer will also help
monitor soil moisture.
“Remember, irrigation can play
a major role in increasing
strawberry yields,” the specialist
concludes. “You can use it to
encourage more runners earlier,
and also to increase the number
and size of next year’s berries.
Consider . (gating at these
development stages: at planting,
at pre-harvest, after renovation,
and during late August and Sep
tember.
E GUN-KRETE GS
(717) 768-3641
SOLUTION
R.D. 3, Box 43, Troy, PA 16947
PH: (717) 297-4128
“Growers often need their
irrigation equipment for other
crops during some of these stages,
and strawberries may not have top
priority,” says Kee. “But there
may be strong economic reasons to
allocate more water to
strawberries during any or all of
these periods in the plant’s
growth.”
SLOW Q
Call Now To Place Your
CLASSIFIED AD
Ph. 717.3*4.3047 or 717.*2*>1164
CONCRETE
PUMPING
SERVICE
• Manure Pit Construction
• Trench Silo Construction
• Silo Repair
WILLIAM EICK FARM
COLUMBIA CROSS ROADS, PA.
Before installation had 3.5 volts at
peak times was reduced to .14 volts
with installation of the Tingle Voltage
Filter.