Strawberry planting methods and conditions

Strawberries are rich in vitamins, as well as minerals and some trace elements needed by the human body. This fruit grows best in loose, fertile, breathable and slightly acidic soil, and is not conducive to its growth in soil that is too sticky. Let’s learn about the methods and conditions for growing strawberries .

1. Planting conditions

1. Moisture

Strawberries are shallow-rooted plants that continue to grow new leaves and stolons during the growing season and are relatively sensitive to water needs. Water shortage during the flowering period will shorten the flowering period and cause the petals to wither; water shortage during the fruit expansion period will cause the fruit to become smaller and reduce its quality. However, too wet soil will affect plant growth and even cause root death and fruit rot. Therefore, the groundwater level for growing strawberries should be kept above 75 cm.

2. Lighting

Strawberries love sunlight, but they also have a certain degree of shade tolerance. They can still grow in a lightly shaded environment and the fruit can mature normally. Suitable for planting under trellises in young orchards and vineyards to make full use of the land. However, strong sunlight exposure can have adverse effects on strawberries, leading to problems such as weak root growth, leaf burns, and fruit drying.

3. Temperature

In the warm southern regions, strawberries have no obvious dormancy period and become evergreen plants. In the north, they are forced to hibernate during the winter. When the temperature drops to -9 to -18℃, the above-ground parts will be frozen, and the roots will also be frozen at -8℃. Therefore, when growing strawberries in the north, they need to be covered with hay or straw to protect them from the cold in winter. The coverage thickness in North China is 3-5 cm, and in Inner Mongolia and Northeast China it is 8-15 cm. Removal of winter coverings should be done in two stages in spring.

4. Soil

Strawberries have strict requirements on soil pH. They are suitable for growing in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, and can also tolerate slightly acidic soils with a pH of 5-6. Swamps and saline-alkali land are not suitable for growing strawberries.

5. Fertility

Strawberries like fertilizer, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before planting. Select seedlings with at least 3 leaves and a well-developed root system to ensure the yield in the first year. Pay attention to the depth when planting so that the base of the seedling is level with the ground surface. Planting too deep or too shallow will affect plant growth. Water in time after planting.

2. Planting Method

1. Planting time

It is more suitable to grow strawberries in warm seasons. Strawberry sowing and seedling raising are usually carried out in the spring of the following year, but can also be carried out in July-August of the same year.

2. Strawberry Garden Site Selection

The strawberry garden should be planted in a place with sufficient sunlight, slightly higher terrain, flat ground, convenient drainage and irrigation, and fertile and loose soil. It is best to choose land where the previous crop was beans or onion and garlic vegetables. Before planting, remove weeds and eliminate underground pests. You can use 1000 times diluted 50% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate for spraying (moistening the soil layer 5-6 cm) to prevent and control pests such as white grubs, mole crickets, and cutworms.

3. Management in the early stage of flower bud differentiation

For strawberry seedlings transplanted in early September, in addition to timely replenishing water, they should also be covered with a shade net to provide shade. The sunshade net is 1.2 meters above the ground for easy operation. Remove dead leaves, old leaves, axillary buds and runners in time, and keep 5-6 leaves. Flower bud differentiation requires lower temperature and short daylight, and straw mat (straw curtain) can be added on the shade net. By removing the straw thatch, short-day and low-temperature conditions are artificially created to promote the differentiation of terminal inflorescences and axillary inflorescences, which lasts for about a month.

4. Water and fertilizer management

Newly planted strawberry seedlings need to be watered frequently in small amounts to keep the soil moist. During the maintenance process, if there are continuous sunny days, the watering time should be shortened. Because strawberries are not tolerant to waterlogging, the soil needs to have good permeability. At the same time, attention should be paid to drainage during the rainy season. During the strawberry growing season, water the plants about every 5 days. When watering, try to avoid watering with clear water and add nitrogen fertilizer in moderation. Fertilizers mainly consist of high-nitrogen flush fertilizers or quick-soluble compound fertilizers .

5. Cover with plastic film:

From October to early November, when the strawberry inflorescence is at the end of differentiation, the shade net can be removed. In Jiangzhun area, ground film is covered after "Lidong" and greenhouse film is covered before "heavy snow" to keep the temperature in the greenhouse at 28-30℃. In the years of "warm winter", plastic film is added to the middle greenhouse during the "winter solstice". In "cold winter" years, both large and medium greenhouses should be covered with plastic film. In short, during the period from "Minor Cold" to "Major Cold", the temperature in the greenhouse should be kept above 25℃, at least above 23℃. Only when these temperature conditions are met can strawberries grow normally.

The above is an introduction to the planting methods and conditions of strawberries. There are many ways to cultivate strawberries, and the specific methods need to be considered in combination with local weather conditions and planting varieties.