Open-air strawberry planting and management technology

Strawberries are not only attractive in appearance, but also a treasure trove of nutrition among fruits with their rich nutrition and sweet taste. They have well-developed root systems, strong adaptability and are easy to manage. Let’s learn about open-air strawberry planting and management techniques.

1. Environmental adaptation

Strawberries are not picky about soil, but prefer fertile sandy soil . They require a deep soil layer and a moderately moist soil environment, with the moisture content controlled at 65% to 85%. Although strawberries like moisture, they are afraid of waterlogging, so attention should be paid to drainage during the rainy season. They like warmth and can tolerate cold but not extreme heat or severe cold. The most suitable growth temperature is 15℃ to 25℃. Strawberries like light, so just ensure they get at least 8 hours of light a day.

2. Seed treatment and sowing

Strawberry seeds are tiny, containing about 1,500 to 2,000 seeds per gram, and only 10 grams is needed per acre. Stir the seeds in warm water at 50°C until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then rinse with clean water and soak for 6 hours. It is recommended to use hole pots for seedling cultivation. The soil in the pots must be free of pathogens and pests, and mixed with decomposed fertilizer in a 1:1 ratio. After sowing, place it in a 20℃ environment. Seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. After emergence, keep the strong seedlings and transplant them after one month.

3. Land preparation

Choose land that has not been used to grow potatoes, eggplants, peas, or peppers. The soil should be loose, fertile, and breathable, preferably sandy soil. Deep plowing and drying should be done one month in advance, and organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer should be applied before planting. After plowing evenly, high ridges should be made to facilitate ventilation and light, and reduce fruit rot.

4. Transplanting and planting

Late October is suitable for transplanting in southern regions, and the use of auxins can increase the survival rate. About 6,000 plants are planted per acre. Choose a cloudy day or the afternoon for planting. Cut off old leaves and plant in double rows in a V-shape. Pay attention to the planting depth. Water the plants after planting to help them take root. Maintain moisture within a week and then reduce the number of irrigations.

5. Field management

Water management: Strawberries require more water. The soil needs to be kept moist during the growth period to avoid waterlogging.

Top dressing: Before and after flowering is the critical period for top dressing. Use potassium sulfate compound fertilizer and spray foliar fertilizer at the same time to increase the fruit setting rate.

Intertillage and weeding: keep the soil loose, remove weeds, and reduce pests and diseases.

Fruit and vegetable management: Remove weak flowers, fruits and runners in a timely manner to concentrate nutrients and improve fruit quality.

Pest and disease control: Combine foliar fertilizer with spraying an appropriate amount of disease and insect prevention drugs, with prevention as the main focus.

Harvesting: It takes about one month for strawberries to mature from flowering, and the picking period can be as long as 2 to 3 months. When harvesting, be gentle and handle with care. The maturity is determined according to the purpose. Generally, it is harvested when it is 80% ripe.

Through the above steps, although the open-field cultivation of strawberries is simple, you need to pay attention to the planting time, method, water and fertilizer management and ambient temperature to ensure a good harvest. Hopefully this information will be helpful to strawberry growers.