Strawberry Management Measures in January

The arrival of January also ushers in the coldest period of the year. During this month, the first priority in strawberry garden management is to ensure that the temperature is properly controlled to prevent frost damage. In addition, fertilizer should be added in time after picking to provide the necessary nutrient reserves for the growth of the next season of strawberries. Let’s learn about strawberry management measures in January.

1. Temperature control

To promote the transport of nutrients to the fruit, the daytime temperature should be appropriately increased and the nighttime temperature should be lowered. Ideally, the temperature can reach 26-28℃ during the day and remain at 5-6℃ at night. The larger temperature difference between day and night helps increase the sweetness of strawberries.

In view of the continuous rainy, snowy weather that may occur in January, the heat in the greenhouse will be reduced, and if there is a cold wave and the temperature drops, frost damage is likely to occur. Therefore, we should pay close attention to the weather forecast and take warming measures before the cold wave arrives, such as covering with straw at night, laying straw between rows, adding thermal blankets outside the shed, adding two or three layers of film inside the shed, using small arch sheds for insulation, or temporarily heating the room, such as using warming blocks, alcohol, stoves (with chimneys to prevent poisoning by harmful gases) or heaters.

In case of heavy snow, the greenhouse structure should be reinforced in time and snow on the greenhouse film should be cleared to increase light and raise the temperature in the greenhouse.

2. Humidity Control

Humidity should be controlled below 60%. Excessively high humidity can easily cause diseases, affect pollen development and fertilization, and lead to an increase in deformed fruits. Humidity is usually reduced by ventilation, but care should be taken not to lower the temperature by removing moisture.

3. Reasonable irrigation

Pay attention to weather changes when irrigating and avoid watering or applying pesticides on cloudy days. If application is necessary, use fumigants or dusts. On sunny days, fertilization and watering should be done between 9 and 11 a.m., and avoid watering in the afternoon to prevent lowering the ground temperature and damaging the root system.

4. Lighting management

Insufficient light will affect the pollination and fertilization of strawberries, resulting in deformed fruits. Dust and debris on the greenhouse film should be cleaned regularly to maintain light transmittance, and reflective film should be hung on the back wall. When conditions permit, special plant-specific fill lights can be installed in the shed.

5. Plant management

In January, the plants are prone to produce senescent leaves. The new creeping stems, side buds, old leaves and diseased leaves should be removed in time to improve ventilation and light conditions and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

6. Bee management

Bees play an important role in strawberry pollination, improving yield and quality. Since the number of bees will decrease in January, new beehives should be added in time.

7. Top dressing

Strawberries have shallow roots and are sensitive to fertilizers, so they should be fertilized in small amounts and multiple times. Choose fertilizers with different potassium contents according to the size of the fruit, and gradually increase the potassium content as the fruit grows. When the fruit is the size of a broad bean , you can apply humic acid fertilizer or seaweed fertilizer with high-calcium and high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer once every 10-15 days for 2-3 times. In addition, strawberries have a high demand for calcium fertilizer and should be topdressed with calcium fertilizer regularly.

8. Pest and disease control

Strawberries are prone to diseases and pests such as powdery mildew, gray mold, and red spider mites during the flowering and fruiting period. Special attention should be paid to management, prevention and reduction of pests and diseases, and prevention and control should be carried out in the early stages to avoid serious losses in the later stages. Biological agents and chemical agents can be used for prevention and control, and attention should be paid to the alternating use of agents to avoid drug resistance.

The above measures will help ensure the healthy growth and high yield of strawberries in January. Do you have anything else to add? Questions and additions are welcome.