When is the best time to grow strawberry seedlings?

Strawberry is a popular berry fruit whose seasonality depends mainly on the growing region and climatic conditions. In temperate regions, strawberries usually ripen in spring. In subtropical and tropical regions, due to the warmer climate, strawberries may be grown and harvested all year round, but the main harvest period is still spring. In addition, some areas may adopt greenhouse or shed cultivation, so that strawberries can be harvested early in winter or early spring to meet the market demand for early strawberries. So when is the best time to grow strawberry seedlings?

When is the best time to grow strawberry seedlings?

There are usually two main time periods for the best time to grow strawberry seedlings, namely winter and spring.

Winter seedling raising: This period is generally from the end of November to the beginning of December. The seedlings grown during this period are usually the strawberry seedlings remaining in the nursery after field planting in September. The use of mulch film covering technology for seedling cultivation is beneficial to heat preservation, and the film is usually broken in late March to early April of the following year.

Spring seedling raising: Spring is another suitable period for raising strawberry seedlings , and the specific time varies according to geographical location and climatic conditions. The seedling raising time in southern regions (such as Yunnan and Guangxi) is usually from late February to early March; the seedling raising time in the Yangtze River and Huaihe River regions (such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, Wuhan, Sichuan, etc.) is from March to early April; the seedling raising time in northern regions (such as Shandong and Liaoning) is from late April to May.

Matters Needing Attention in Raising Strawberry Seedlings

1. Fertilize regularly

In order to promote the growth of strawberry seedlings and increase the quantity and quality of seedlings, it is recommended to apply balanced water-soluble fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days, with a dosage of about 3 kilograms per mu each time. Such regular fertilization will help enhance the growth momentum of the seedlings and the thickness of the stems. If conditions permit, additional fertilizers that promote root growth can be applied, such as EM bacterial fertilizer, seaweed extract, amino acids, humic acid and chitin, etc. These fertilizers are beneficial to the root development of seedlings and their penetration into the soil.

During this stage, nitrogen fertilizer alone should be avoided. Some growers may think that applying more nitrogen fertilizer will not have any effect during the period when strawberries have not yet begun to differentiate flower buds, but this idea is wrong. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer will cause the seedlings to grow too tall, making them weak and tall, with reduced resistance and greater susceptibility to diseases such as anthracnose.

2. Foliar fertilization

Timely foliar fertilization is an effective way to promote the healthy growth of strawberry seedlings. Choose complete foliar fertilizers that do not contain hormones, such as high-quality potassium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium magnesium boron compound fertilizer , and Reverse Protection, and apply them every 7 to 10 days, for a total of 2 to 3 times. The trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron contained in foliar fertilizers are extremely beneficial to the growth and development of seedlings, helping to maintain the balance of plant growth and prevent growth disorders caused by the lack of certain elements. Reasonable supplementation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements required for strawberry growth can promote the healthy growth of the plants and enhance their resistance to stress.

In short, choosing these time periods for strawberry seedling cultivation can ensure that the strawberry seedlings grow under suitable temperature and climatic conditions, laying a good foundation for subsequent transplanting and fruit production. Strawberry seedlings raised in spring can be transplanted in autumn or the following spring, while strawberry seedlings raised in winter can be transplanted in spring.