What is the best season to grow strawberries?

Currently popular on the market are all-season strawberry varieties, which means that strawberries can be grown at any time of the year. However, if strawberries are grown in an atypical season, the time from planting to harvest may be relatively long. In contrast, strawberries planted in the spring generally only take about four months to reach maturity. Let’s take a look at what season is suitable for growing strawberries?

What is the best season to grow strawberries?

The strawberry planting season mainly depends on local climatic conditions and whether protected cultivation facilities such as greenhouses are used. Here are some common seasonal options for growing strawberries :

Spring Planting: Spring, February to April, is a common planting time for strawberries, especially in a greenhouse or greenhouse. Strawberries grown in this way can mature in winter and spring and have a higher price when they are on the market.

Autumn planting: Autumn from August to September is also a suitable planting season for strawberries, especially under open air conditions. Strawberries planted in autumn can be harvested in June or July of the following year.

Greenhouse cultivation: If greenhouse or shed cultivation is used, strawberries can be grown all year round. Greenhouse cultivation can control the ripening period, allowing strawberries to be available in non-traditional seasons.

Planting in early summer: In some areas, early summer is also a suitable season for growing strawberries, especially in an environment with suitable temperature and high humidity.

Winter planting: Planting strawberries in winter requires ensuring a suitable temperature, usually maintained at around 15 degrees Celsius, to ensure normal growth of strawberries.

Strawberry harvesting methods and precautions

Harvesting standards: Strawberries are usually harvested when the fruit coloring reaches 90%-95%. If it is transported over short distances, it can be harvested when the fruit is fully colored; for long-distance transportation, it should be harvested when the fruit surface is 80% colored. Hard-fleshed varieties such as All Star and Honey should be harvested when the fruit is fully red to maintain the flavor of the variety and not affect transportation. Strawberries for processing should be harvested when fully ripe.

Harvest time: The best time to pick strawberries is in the morning when the dew has dried and before the high temperature at noon, or in the evening when the weather is cool. The fruits picked at this time are harder and more suitable for storage and transportation.

Harvesting method: When picking, use your fingers to gently pinch off the fruit stalk, and avoid pulling it hard to avoid damaging the fruit and calyx. Harvest every 1-2 days in the early stage of harvest, and harvest once a day in the peak period. Each time you pick the fruits, you should try to pick all the ripe fruits.

Note:

Handle with care: Handle the strawberries gently during the harvesting process to avoid mechanical damage.

Classification and processing: Deformed fruits, rotten fruits, insect-infested fruits and other fruits that do not meet quality requirements should be placed and processed separately.

Packaging containers: Use containers such as newspaper bags, cardboard boxes, plastic boxes, etc. with a capacity of about 0.5 kg to reduce squeezing between fruits.

To sum up, the strawberry planting season can be flexibly selected according to different cultivation methods and local climatic conditions. Planting strawberries in the right season can help increase survival rate and yield. Before planting, soil conditions, fertilization, watering and other management measures should also be considered to ensure the healthy growth of strawberries.