Effect of planting dates on growth, yield, quality, pest and disease incidence in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) under terai zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted consecutively for two growing seasons with the target to optimize the planting time of strawberry in terai zone of West Bengal. The uniform, healthy and disease-free strawberry (cv. Winter Dawn) runners were planted at weekly interval starting from first week of October to first week of December using 50 μ black polythene as mulching material with three replications in randomized block design. The results were summarized based on the pooled analysis of the data recorded during both the years. Plant growth, number of flowers per plant, fruit weight, number of fruits and fruit yield per plant were significantly higher in the plants, planted on fourth week of October. The strawberry plants, planted on first week of December resulted earliest flowering. The fruits harvested from the plants, planted on fourth week of October also registered maximum total soluble solid, ascorbic acid, reducing and total sugar contents. The planting dates failed to influence and significant effect on acidity and non-reducing sugar content in the strawberry fruits. Flea beetle and aphid among the insects that were identified attacking strawberries in this region and the population of both insects was higher during early planting dates and decreased in later planting dates. The strawberry plants affected with crown rot and botrytis fruit rot diseases during the investigation. Crown rot was higher during early in the season, whereas botrytis rot was recorded higher in the fruits harvested from the plants, planted at later dates.