The harvest of Sabrina strawberries began more than two weeks ago for Salvatore Forciniti, owner of the F.lli Forciniti farm in Cariati, in the province of Cosenza, in the region of Calabria, with immediate and satisfactory results in terms of production. The construction and installation of the table top system were carried out by Combimetal Carrera, a company specializing in the machining and construction of steel structures.
Salvatore Forciniti
"Mine is a one-hectare facility with three heights, with 120 thousand plants planted on mixed substrate (perlite and coco). The span of the greenhouse is 8 meters, with a ridge height of 6 meters. The eaves are 54 cm apart. The location of my strawberry grove provides 94% sunlight, a key feature that convinced me to add an extra row, the third. I have not noticed any difference in the tillering and vigor of the plants between the different rows. In fact, they all show a similar production trend in terms of ripening, size, and absence of phytopathological diseases. There is still a lot of skepticism about the idea of planting a third row, but those who can enjoy optimal sun exposure could easily do so and find themselves with an extra layer of strawberry production they can comfortably work on."
Mounted on height-adjustable galvanized steel brackets, and thanks to the sturdiness of the fixing brackets, which are essential to prevent the pole from sinking into the soil, the gutters easily support the weight of the substrate mass and the crop, even when in full production.
"There are many hanging fruits that are ripe, as well as green strawberries and a lot of flowers," says Forciniti (pictured on the side, with the current situation of the three-row plant - photo taken on 27 February 2025). Although it is still too early to fully evaluate the advantages of the above-soil system compared to conventional cultivation, I would rate the Combimetal Carrera system 9/10. Those who have been growing strawberries for years, like me, can immediately examine and compare growth factors such as cleaner production areas, increased yields, uniformity of plants and fruit, optimal control of phytosanitary conditions with a consequent reduction in interventions thanks to a drier environment, zero risk of fruit damage and easier operations during harvesting. If we want strawberry growing to become one of the leading crops in Calabria, we need to invest in modern systems, as is happening in other highly specialized areas of Italy."
For more information:
Combimetal Carrera Srl
Via Lido 3
75025 Policoro (MT) - Italy
+39 0835 973481
info@combimetalcarrera.it
combimetalcarrera.it