Throughout the following months (May-August), vegetative propagation is performed to the mother plants, so as to promote the development of stolons which give rise to new plants.
"This is a key point in the production of strawberry (biennial plant that takes two growing seasons to produce fruit). It is because of this that strawberry plant nurseries are usually located in areas of high altitude, where the plant begins to accumulate cold at end of Summer," said Francisco Roman, from Viveros California’s Commercial department.
Temperature control
"The temperature, along with the light, are the two most important factors involved in floral initiation and differentiation, they determine the quantity, quality and time (earliness) of the blooms, which is why our strawberry nurseries have a unique position to produce plants of high quality, high production and health."
"With more than 2,600 hours of sun a year, semi-continental dry climate, and more than 900 meters in altitude, our location in the Northwest of Spain provide the plants everything they need when they need it; ie:
• Light, warm temperatures and a low relative humidity during the phases of maximum vegetation (April-July)
• Light, progressive drop in temperatures (especially at night to promote the accumulation of reserves) and low relative humidity during the floral initiation stage (July-August-September)
• Low light, a drop in day and night temperatures, and a slight increase in relative humidity in the final and harvesting stages. (October-November-December)
These conditions ensure optimum quality and productivity for all kinds of fresh and cold storage plants."• Light, progressive drop in temperatures (especially at night to promote the accumulation of reserves) and low relative humidity during the floral initiation stage (July-August-September)
• Low light, a drop in day and night temperatures, and a slight increase in relative humidity in the final and harvesting stages. (October-November-December)
"A critical point is the process of cooling and conserving the plants, especially that which we call Frigoconservadas (cold storage). To do this, Viveros California uses the most advanced refrigeration systems in the market. Always monitored by an automatic temperature control system, our plants are cooled before being manipulated in order to keep intact their best features and freshness," states Francisco.
Ideally, both for refrigerated and fresh produce, the plant’s cooling process begins just minutes after being collected, in order to maintain all of its qualities.
Phytosanitary control, a key process
The production of base material (mother plants) is performed in a controlled environment (insect proof), as the nursery’s phytosanitary control is a key process. "We need to set a control program, in close communication with our customers and their needs, since this program should take into account such important points as:
a. Getting a quality, healthy plant.
b. on the required dates.
c. avoid excess applications, progressing in the sustainability of the system.
d. avoid possible repetitions of active ingredients, to reduce the emergence of possible resistance.
e. Alerting (and obviously debugging) the occurrence of possible outbreaks of pests and diseases, especially those that are new to us, and of which we don’t have much knowledge and control.
For more information:
Francisco Román
Francisco Román
VIVEROS CALIFORNIA s.l.
GRUPO MEDINA
Paseo de las Delicias, nº 5.Sevilla (Spain)
M: +34 607 325 434
T +34 954 213 502
