Key points for strawberry management in January

With the arrival of January, the coldest period of the year also arrives. For strawberry cultivation, temperature control is a key link in management. It is necessary to prevent both frost damage and excessive growth caused by high temperatures. In addition, fertilizer should be applied in time after picking to replenish soil nutrients and provide sufficient material basis for the growth of strawberries in the next season. Let’s learn the key management points for January.

1. Temperature Control

In order to ensure that nutrients are effectively delivered to the fruit, the temperature needs to be raised during the day and lowered appropriately at night. The temperature can be controlled at 26-28℃ during the day and maintained at 5-6℃ at night. Such a temperature difference between day and night helps to increase the sweetness of strawberries. Pay close attention to weather forecasts, especially before the arrival of a cold wave, and take insulation measures such as covering with straw at night, laying straw, covering the outside of the shed with insulation materials, adding film layers inside the shed, and temporarily heating the room. In heavy snow, the greenhouse should be reinforced and the snow should be cleared in time to increase light and raise the temperature inside the greenhouse.

2. Humidity Control

Humidity should be controlled below 60%. Excessive humidity can easily cause diseases, affect pollen development and pollination, and may lead to deformed fruits. Humidity is usually regulated by ventilation, but care should be taken to avoid lowering the temperature when ventilating. In seasons with lower temperatures, it is not advisable to ventilate too early to prevent cold wind from entering and causing fog. In seasons with higher temperatures, such as late spring, summer and early autumn, the temperature difference between inside and outside the greenhouse is smaller, so ventilation and dehumidification can be carried out earlier.

3. Reasonable irrigation

Observe weather conditions when irrigating and avoid watering or applying pesticides on cloudy days. When pesticides must be applied, fumigants or dusts should be used. Fertilization and watering on sunny days should be done between 9 and 11 a.m., and watering in the afternoon should be avoided to quickly restore the ground temperature and prevent root damage.

4. Lighting Management

Insufficient light will affect the pollination and fertilization of strawberries and may cause deformed fruits. Regularly clean the dust and debris on the greenhouse film to increase light transmittance. If necessary, hang reflective film on the back wall or install plant-specific fill lights in the shed.

5. Plant maintenance

In January, the plant may produce a large number of senescent leaves. The newly grown runner lateral buds and old and diseased leaves should be removed in time to improve ventilation and light conditions and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

6. Fertilization strategy

Strawberries have shallow roots and are sensitive to fertilizers , so small amounts of fertilizer should be applied multiple times to avoid overfertilization. Choose fertilizers with different potassium contents according to the size of the fruit, and gradually increase the potassium content as the fruit grows. In the early stage of fruit growth, humic acid fertilizer or alginate fertilizer can be applied once every 10-15 days for 2-3 times. During the peak period of top inflorescence harvesting to after fruit harvesting, EM fermented soybean liquid and balanced water-soluble fertilizer can be applied to promote plant recovery.

Strawberries have a high demand for calcium fertilizer and are prone to calcium deficiency symptoms during the flowering and fruiting period. Calcium fertilizer should be applied once for each crop of fruit, and twice for each crop of fruit after the temperature rises after the new year, 2-3 kg/mu each time, using sugar alcohol chelated calcium and combined with foliar spraying of calcium fertilizer, such as calcium magnesium boron foliar fertilizer .

The above are the key points for strawberry management in January. Specific management details also need to be adjusted according to the actual local weather and climate conditions.