previous crops such as tomatoes. It is desirable not to plant be- 

 fore mid-November and to keep the temperature as near 32°F as pos- 

 sible for several weeks since early planting and high temperatures 

 will produce premature flowering and low quality fruit. The plants 

 used are from waiting beds (described in footnote 1) being either 

 freshly dug or first subjected to cold storage. 



Sheets of white plastic (Figure 1) or black plastic are placed 

 on the soil prior to planting and the plants are set through this 

 material. White plastic in comparison to black plastic will delay 

 harvest about 4 to 7 days, but yields may be 10 to 15% higher be- 

 cause of the light reflected by the plastic. However, rots are 

 more of a problem when white plastic rather than black plastic is 

 used because of moisture condensation. 



Fig. I. The 'Glasa' variety of strawberries in greenhouse mulched 

 with white plastic which advances harvest. (Courtesy of 

 Wilhelminadorp Research Station) 



