Optimum Planting Dates for Inter-Cropped Cucumber, Squash and Muskmelon with Strawberry

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Optimum Planting Dates for Inter-Cropped
Cucumber, Squash and Muskmelon with Strawberry

• Bielinski M. Santos

Gulf Coast REC
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Florida Vegetables
Crop Area (acres) Value (USM)
Tomato 41,200 551
Strawberry 7,400 239
Pepper 19,800 187
Watermelon 25,900 111
Cucumber 10,000 74
Squash 10,500 39
Source USDA, 2007
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Introduction

• Strawberries are grown between October and
  March.
• In February, prices might start declining.
• Market prices determine the length of the
  season.
• Early yields provide most of the profits.

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Why intercropping?

• Fumigated polyethylene-mulched beds with drip.
• Two crops with minimum investment
• Reusing mulch and drip lines.
• Reduced fumigant costs.
• Sustainable practice.

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Which crops?

• Most of the strawberry area is in Hillsborough
  Co. (gt7,000 acres).
• lt32oF in January and February.
• Crops
• Muskmelon (cantaloupe).
• Cucumber squash.
• Zucchini.
• Eggplant pepper.

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Previous research

• Intercropping trials
• Squash, pickles, muskmelon or peppers.
• Planted up to 31 days before the end of the
  strawberry season.
• No effect on strawberry (Duval et al., 2004).
• Yield of the second crop was not addressed.

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Objectives

• Determine the optimum planting dates for
  muskmelon, cucumber and squash intercropped with
  strawberry.
• Assess the effect of following crops on
  strawberry yield.
• Up to 60 days before the end of the season.

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Materials and Methods

• Two studies at the Gulf Coast REC, Univ. of
  Florida.
• October and March.
• Deep spodosol, lt2 MO pH 7.3.

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• Bare-root Strawberry Festival transplants.
• Established with sprinkler irrigation for 10
  days.

• Fumigated beds covered with black HDPE mulch.
• Commercial practices.

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Treatments
Straight eight Athena Crookneck
Planting dates
January 25
February 9
February 23
March 9
March 23
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Materials and Methods

• Separate studies per crop 30-ft plots.
• Directly seeded between strawberry rows.
• Cucumber 1 ft apart.
• Squash muskmelon 2 ft apart.
• RCB design with 6 replications.
• ANOVA and regression analysis.
• Strawberry yield (25 harvests).
• Cucurbit fruit yield (4-6 harvests).

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Frost injury

• February 13 14, 2006 29oF.
• February 17, 2007 30oF.
• The Jan. 25 and Feb. 9 treatments were already
  planted.
• Frost protection achieved with sprinkler
  irrigation.

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Results

• None of the crops affected strawberry yield up
  to 60 days before the end of the season.
• January 25 to March 25.
• Confirms and expands previous results.

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Temperature 2007
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Cucumber
y 6.02 0.2288x 0.0032x2
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Squash
y 2.95 0.0784x 0.0008x2
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Muskmelon
y 20.31 0.1126x - 0.0022x2
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Summary

• Cucumber
• February 23 and March 9.
• Squash
• February 23, and March 9 23.
• Muskmelon
• January 25 February 9.

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Thank you!!
Questions?