Strawberry planting methods and management techniques

In recent years, strawberry cultivation has been favored by more and more farmers. This is not only because strawberries themselves are rich in vitamins, essential minerals and trace elements, which meet people's needs for a healthy diet, but also because strawberries have medicinal value that cannot be ignored. When planting strawberries, you should choose a place with plenty of sunlight to ensure that the strawberries can carry out effective photosynthesis and promote the healthy growth of the plants. In addition, strawberries have specific requirements for water conditions and need to maintain appropriate soil moisture to meet the needs of their growth and development. Reasonable irrigation management is crucial to the yield and quality of strawberries. Let’s learn about strawberry planting methods and management techniques.

1. Selection and preparation of planting sites

When choosing a site for growing strawberries, priority should be given to plots with sufficient sunlight, good ventilation, and higher or flat terrain. The soil should be deep, fertile, loose, have good drainage and waterlogging prevention capabilities, and have a high organic matter content. The ideal soil pH range is between 5.5 and 6.5, with slightly acidic or neutral sandy soil being the most suitable. Avoid choosing previous crops from the same family as strawberries, such as grain crops, melons, beans or green leafy vegetables are better choices.

After selecting the planting site, deep plowing and drying of the soil should be carried out 10 to 15 days before planting. The depth of plowing should be 25 to 35 cm. Combined with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer, mainly high-quality organic fertilizer or well-rotted farmyard manure, supplemented by nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to ensure that the fertilizer and soil are evenly mixed. At the same time, use soil disinfectants or drugs such as chlorpyrifos to disinfect and sterilize the soil.

After fertilizing and disinfecting the soil, land preparation and ridge making are carried out. There are two planting methods: flat bed and high ridge. High ridge planting is recommended, which is especially suitable for greenhouses and rainy southern regions. The specifications of flat beds are 10 to 20 meters long, 1.2 to 1.5 meters wide, and 15 to 20 centimeters high; the specifications of high ridges are 10 to 20 meters long, 40 to 50 centimeters wide, and 20 to 25 centimeters high. After completing the beds or ridges, it is recommended to water them lightly before planting to firm the soil.

2. Best planting time

Strawberries can be grown in almost all seasons, but considering the growing environment and factors of high quality and high yield, spring and autumn are the most suitable, especially autumn. When planting in spring and autumn, it is best to control the temperature between 15 and 25 degrees. In the north, spring is from March to April, and autumn is from August to September; in the south, spring is from February to March, and autumn is from September to October. The temperature during these two time periods is moderate, which is conducive to seed germination and seedling growth, and also helps to improve the survival rate of transplanted seedlings.

3. Sowing method

For strawberries sown from seeds, due to the thick seed coat, it is recommended to soak the seeds and treat them at low temperatures to promote germination. First, soak the seeds in clean water for 12 to 24 hours, and then carry out low-temperature treatment in a refrigerator at 0 to 3 degrees for 10 to 15 days.

When sowing, after watering thoroughly, spread the strawberry seeds evenly on the planting bed, cover with a thin layer of soil or wood ash, and cover with plastic film or straw to keep warm and moist. Remove the covering material promptly after emergence.

4. Transplanting and planting techniques

When transplanting strawberries, choose suitable temperature and humidity conditions. From February to April in spring and from August to September in autumn, the soil temperature should be about 20 degrees and the humidity should be about 70%. Select healthy strawberry seedlings, trim the roots and leaves, and pay attention to the planting depth to avoid planting too deep or too shallow. Immediately after transplanting, water thoroughly and provide adequate shade to protect the seedlings.

5. Watering and fertilization management

During the growth of strawberries, adjust the amount and frequency of watering according to the growth stage. Keep the seedbed moist after sowing, water thoroughly after transplanting, control water appropriately during the seedling growth period, water less before flowering, and increase watering after fruit setting. In terms of fertilization, apply sufficient base fertilizer, apply topdressing in time according to the growth, use nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer or water-soluble fertilizer , and pay attention to the supplement of trace elements and microbial fertilizers.

6. Temperature and humidity control during the growth period

When growing strawberries in greenhouses, special attention should be paid to temperature and humidity control. During the entire growth cycle, keep the temperature in the greenhouse between 15 and 28 degrees, adjust the temperature according to the growth stage, and maintain a suitable temperature difference between day and night.

7. Thinning flowers and fruits

Appropriately remove the bottom leaves to promote flower bud differentiation, thin out the flowers and fruits to retain a reasonable number of flowers and fruits, remove the runners and old yellow leaves, and maintain an appropriate leaf-to-fruit ratio.

8. Notes

Seize the critical period of new root growth of strawberries, maintain suitable soil moisture and temperature, and use microbial agents and humic acid water-soluble fertilizers to promote root health. Flower bud differentiation can be promoted by regulating light duration and temperature, controlling water and fertilizer appropriately, and using hormones such as gibberellins. Regulate the temperature, water appropriately, provide adequate fertilizer, maintain light, remove runners and old leaves, and promote the enlargement, coloring and sweetening of the fruit.

The above is a detailed summary of strawberry planting management. I hope it can help farmers better master strawberry planting techniques and achieve high quality and high yield.