Strawberry plug transplant technology

Plugs continue to rapidly replace traditional fresh bare-root and frigo transplants on a worldwide basis. The scientific community needs to be informed of current industry applications for strawberry plugs and tray plants. Strawberry plugs are grown in controlled environments (greenhouse, tunnels) in less time than field produced bare-root transplants, and are not exposed to soil-borne pathogens. Plugs afford greater grower control of transplanting dates as well as mechanical transplanting opportunities and improved water management for transplant establishment relative to fresh bare-root plants. New applications for plugs have been identified in recent years, including earlier flowering and fruiting with conditioned plugs, and in European programmed glasshouse production. Tray plants have superior cold storage characteristics relative to waiting bed transplants. Both fresh and frozen plug transplants are utilized in a number of indoor and outdoor growing conditions and cultural systems.