Between-row treatments for weed management in day-neutral strawberry plantings in the northern United States

Locally grown strawberries are a high value crop, and the potential for a longer production season is possible with day-neutral cultivars. Weed control is ranked as a top concern for specialty crop farmers in the northern US. During 2019, we conducted a trial to determine if cover crops controlled weeds between rows as effectively as landscape fabric. We planted two strawberry cultivars, ‘Albion’ and ‘Cabrillo’, with four between-row treatments at West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), and an observational trial at Twin Cities Berry Company (TCBC). The four between-row treatments included winter canola (Brassica napus ‘Torrington’), winter camelina (Camelina sativa ‘Joelle’), winter ryegrass (Secale cereale ‘Ryman’), and landscape fabric. There were significant differences in yield among between-row treatments. Yield was equivalent between fabric and annual ryegrass. Canola produced significantly lower yield plant^‑1 than either fabric or rye. There was no significant interaction with cultivar and between-row treatment, concluding between-row treatments operated similarly across cultivars. ‘Cabrillo’ had a higher average yield plant^‑1 than ‘Albion’ regardless of between-row treatment. Our farmer-collaborator concluded he will continue using fabric on a commercial scale due to reduced time inputs for weed control compared with cover crops.