Strawberry (Fragariaananassa Duch.) production in a vertical hydroponic greenhouse system

Objective: A vertical hydroponic greenhouse system (VHGS) was designed and built to evaluate two strawberry varieties (Festival and San Andreas), in two planting densities per pot (40 and 54 plants/m2) and three elevation levels (high, medium, and low). Design/Methodology/Approach: At 126 days after transplanting (dat), the Festival variety showed significant differences in the number of leaves and in the crown diameter. Results: The vertical hydroponic greenhouse system had a high fruit yield (21 kg m2): i.e., this production system is up to 35% more efficient than the open field cultivation system or the multi-tunnel greenhouse system. There was a positive correlation between the number (r20.89), diameter (r20.54), and weight (r20.40) of the fruits and the total yield. Planting density did not show a significant effect on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. The vertical pot system did not show differences between elevation levels. This production system is a viable option for populations in places with a scarcity of water and to obtain fruits with guaranteed food safety.