Belgium strawberry grower Aardbeien Vergeyle produces strawberries on tabletop systems under polytunnels, supplying wholesale and retail markets. During the previous season, the grower conducted a Plantsauna steam treatment trial on 7 pallets of Karima production plants. Harvesting continued through to the end of October, with a long picking period reported.
Following this trial, the grower expanded the use of steam treatment to 17 pallets of Karima plants for the current season. These plants are now established in the polytunnel system. At this stage, crop development between steam-treated and untreated plants is reported to be comparable, indicating similar establishment performance.
The Plantsauna steam treatment includes applying a special temperature treatment using aerated steam to slightly tease strawberry plants and stems, making is possible to produce disease-free plant material without chemicals, the Moleda explained earlier. The technique is rapidly growing in popularity—currently, more than 60 units are installed across almost all continents, from North America and Europe to Australia, Africa, and Asia.
"The increase in treated plant volume reflects a change in cultivation practice based on prior season results and ongoing monitoring of crop performance under commercial growing conditions", the Moleda team shares.
For more information:
Kars Vreeswijk
Moleda
+31 6 29297390
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.moleda.nl
