How to manage strawberries in winter?

There are many farmers who grow strawberries , but strawberries need a suitable temperature to grow, usually between 20-25 degrees Celsius. However, in winter, the outdoor temperature is often low, which is not conducive to the growth of strawberries. Therefore, insulation measures need to be taken when growing winter strawberries. So how to manage strawberries in winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Temperature management

Winter is a critical period for greenhouse strawberries to bloom and bear fruit, and temperature control is essential. Both low or high temperatures will have an impact on strawberries. Night temperatures should be kept above 5°C to avoid affecting pollination and fruit enlargement. The daytime temperature should be controlled between 15℃-25℃ to avoid inducing dormancy or affecting pollination.

2. Humidity management

The humidity in the greenhouse is closely related to the temperature. During flowering, the humidity should be low, and the most suitable relative humidity is 40%. Humidity can be controlled by removing the film to reduce humidity, using drip-free greenhouse film, covering with black ground film, etc.

3. Lighting management

Insufficient light in winter will affect the growth and development of strawberries. Dust and snow on the greenhouse film should be cleaned regularly to increase light intensity. If necessary, plant fill lights can be used to supplement the light to ensure 12-15 hours of light per day.

4. Field management

It includes plant pruning to promote strawberry fruit development, root nutrient absorption, and prevent premature aging. At the same time, remove the side buds reasonably to ensure the nutritional supply of the fruit.

5. Keep warm and protect against cold

Although strawberries are highly adaptable to temperature, they will suffer frost damage if the temperature drops below -7℃. Therefore, anti-freeze measures should be taken, such as adding greenhouse covering layers.

6. Fertilizer and water management

Apply fertilizer 1-2 times from transplanting to the end of October. Apply humus fertilizer 1-2 times in combination with watering during the peak fruit growth period to improve the plant's resistance to stress. During the fruit expansion period and after picking, the water demand is relatively high. If the soil is short of water, water should be applied in time, but do not flood the soil with large amounts of water.

7. Pest and disease control

The main diseases of strawberries in greenhouses in winter include gray mold, etc., so preventive measures should be taken in advance. Gray mold can be controlled by using fumigants after the greenhouse is covered.

8. Plant management

Remove old leaves, broken leaves, diseased leaves and ineffective runners on the plants in a timely manner, so that each plant only has 8-10 leaves.

The above is an introduction to how to manage strawberries in winter. Growers should regularly check the growth of strawberry plants and take timely measures to deal with any diseases, pests or other abnormal conditions.