EFFECTS OF PLANT SPACING ON PERFORMANCE OF THE STRAWBERRY CULTIVAR BOUNTY
Strawberry cv. Bounty was grown for 2 yr in matted rows with plant spacings of two, four and six plants per 0.093 m2, and noncontrolled spacing. In the 1st fruiting yr, yields were lowest from two plants per 0.093 m2 and yields of other spacings did not differ significantly. Second-year yields from the same plots were lowest from the noncontrolled spacing and did not differ significantly for other spacings. The percentage of the marketable crop weighing 7 g or more per fruit ranged from 84.3% from the noncontrolled stand to 93% for two plants per 0.093 m2. Seasonal mean fruit weight was not affected by treatments in 1973. In 1974, fruit from the noncontrolled spacing was significantly smaller than fruit from the other spacings. The data show that optimum marketable yields of 46,629 kg/ha and a seasonal mean weight per fruit of 12 g can be produced by cv. Bounty from a plant stand of six plants per 0.093 m2.