Strawberry, this small and sweet fruit, because of its unique taste and rich nutritional value, deeply loved by people. Whether eaten as fruit or made into delicious dishes such as strawberry jam or strawberry cake, strawberries always bring a sense of happiness. However, growing healthy, large strawberries on your balcony or in your garden is not easy. This article will detail how to care for strawberry plants, from pre-planting preparation to daily management, to picking and storage, and guide you to create your own sweet orchard.
1. Preparation Of Strawberries Before Planting
Step 1: Choose the right variety
There are many varieties of strawberries, each with its own characteristics. Before planting, you need to choose the right variety according to the climate conditions of the region, the purpose of growing (ornamental, edible or processing) and personal preference. Here are some common strawberry varieties and their characteristics:
Sweet treasure: The fruit is large, conical, bright red in color, juicy, sweet and fragrant.
Zhang Ji: The fruit is long conical, the fruit surface is bright red and shiny, the flesh is delicate, soft and juicy, the flavor is strong, and the sweetness is high.
Ningyu: The fruit is conical or wedge-shaped, the fruit surface is bright red, the pulp is orange red, the pith heart is small, the fragrance is strong, and the sweetness and sour taste is good.
Snow White: The fruit is white or light pink, sweet taste, attractive appearance.
Four season strawberry: can bear fruit all year round, the fruit is small, but the yield is high, suitable for family cultivation.
Prepare soil and potted plants
Strawberries like rich, loose, well-drained soil. Before planting, you need to modify the soil to improve its fertility and permeability. Here are some tips for soil preparation:
Soil testing: Use a soil tester to check the pH and nutrient content of the soil to ensure that the soil is suitable for strawberry growth. The ideal soil pH for strawberries is 5.5-6.5.
Soil improvement: According to the test results, add an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer (such as decomposed cow manure, chicken manure, etc.) and compound fertilizer (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer) to improve the soil fertility and nutrient content. At the same time, add an appropriate amount of loose materials such as river sand or perlite to improve the soil permeability and water drainage.
Pot selection: Choose a pot with a diameter of 20-30 cm and a depth of 15-20 cm to ensure that the strawberries have enough room to grow. Potted material should be ceramic or plastic, and there should be drainage holes at the bottom so that excess water can be discharged.
Breeding methods
The propagation methods of strawberry mainly include seed propagation, stolon propagation and branch propagation. For home growers, stolon propagation and split-plant propagation are the more common methods.
Stolon propagation: During the strawberry growing season, choose a strong mother plant and keep its stolons. When small seedlings grow on the stolons, they are separated from the mother plant and transplanted into a new pot or plot.
Split propagation: In the fall or spring, dig the mother strawberry plant out of the soil and gently shake off the soil at the root. Then, divide the mother plant into several small plants with hands or tools, and each small plant should have an appropriate amount of roots and leaves. Finally, transfer the small plants to new potted plants or plots.
2. The Daily Management Of Strawberries
Water and fertilize
Strawberries have high water and nutrient requirements. During the growing period, you need to water and fertilize properly according to the weather conditions and soil moisture.
Watering: Keep the soil moist but avoid standing water. In sunny or hot weather, water once a day; On cloudy or rainy days, water less frequently. When watering, a long stream of water should be used to avoid water droplets splashing directly on the leaves to reduce the occurrence of disease.
Fertilization: Apply fertilizer every 15-20 days during strawberry growth. The main fertilizer is compound fertilizer and organic fertilizer, and the compound fertilizer can provide nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients needed by strawberries. Organic fertilizer can improve soil structure and increase soil fertility. When fertilizing, the fertilizer should be evenly scattered on the surface of the soil, and the soil should be gently tilled so that the fertilizer and the soil are fully mixed.
Pruning and thinning fruit
Pruning and thinning are important steps in strawberry management to promote healthy growth and improve fruit quality.
Pruning: Trim strawberry leaves and stolons regularly to keep the plant ventilated and transparent. When the leaves appear yellow, diseased spots or pests, they should be cut off and destroyed in time. At the same time, remove old and diseased leaves in time to reduce nutrient consumption and disease transmission.
Fruit thinning: An appropriate amount of fruit should be retained on each inflorescence during strawberry fruiting. Too much fruit will lead to an uneven distribution of nutrients, affecting the quality and yield of the fruit. Therefore, you need to remove malformed fruit, small fruit and diseased fruit in a timely manner, so that the nutrients are concentrated to supply the healthy fruit.
Pest control
Strawberries are vulnerable to a variety of pests and diseases during their growth. In order to ensure the healthy growth of strawberries, you need to take a comprehensive approach to pest control.
Preventive measures: Keep the soil moist but not wet to avoid accumulation of water; Reasonable fertilization, avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer; Timely pruning and cleaning of diseased leaves; Maintain ventilation and light transmittance between plants.
Physical control: using yellow board to trap aphids and other pests; Use physical barriers such as insect nets to keep pests out.
Biological control: the use of natural enemies (such as ladybugs, lacewings, etc.) to control the number of pests; Use biological pesticides (such as bacterial preparations, plant pesticides, etc.) for control.
Chemical control: When diseases and pests occur seriously, chemical pesticides can be used for control. However, attention should be paid to choosing low-toxicity, low-residue, high-efficiency pesticides, and spraying in strict accordance with the instructions. At the same time, avoid using pesticides before picking to ensure that the fruit is safe to eat.
3. Strawberry Picking And Storage
Picking time
The picking time of strawberries has an important effect on their quality and taste. Generally speaking, when the strawberry fruit is bright in color, full and round, and rich in aroma, it can be picked.
Observe the color: The color of the strawberry fruit should gradually change from green to bright red or deep red. When the fruit color is uniform and bright, it is ripe.
Fruit to the touch: Ripe strawberry fruit should be full and round, feel soft and elastic. When you touch the fruit, you can feel the firmness of the flesh and the richness of the juice.
Smell: Ripe strawberry fruits give off a rich aroma. When you smell the fragrance of the fruit, it means that it is ripe and ready to pick.
Picking method
Proper harvesting methods help protect the strawberry plant and fruit from damage and the spread of germs.
Use tools: Use clean scissors or nail clippers for picking, avoid pulling the fruit directly with your hands, so as not to damage the plant and fruit.
Keep the stalk: When picking, a section of the stalk should be kept for subsequent processing and storage. At the same time, avoid damaging the surface and flesh of the fruit.
Classified storage: The picked strawberries are classified and stored according to their size and maturity for subsequent sale and consumption.
Storage method
The storage method of strawberries has an important influence on their freshness and quality. Here are some common ways to store strawberries:
Refrigerated storage: Put the picked strawberries in a clean plastic bag or crisper, and then store them in the freezer. The refrigeration temperature should be controlled between 2-5 ° C, and the humidity should be kept between 90% and 95%. During the refrigeration period, the state of the strawberries should be checked regularly and the spoiled or rotten fruit should be removed in time.
Air-conditioned storage: The use of air-conditioned packaging machine to pack strawberries in a bag containing a certain amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide to extend its freshness. Air conditioning storage can effectively inhibit the respiration and microbial activity of strawberry and prolong its freshness and quality.
Vacuum storage: The strawberries are placed in a vacuum bag, then the air inside the bag is withdrawn for sealed storage. Vacuum storage can reduce the oxidation of oxygen to strawberries, extend their freshness and taste. However, attention should be paid to avoid excessive vacuum resulting in fruit compression and deformation.
Conclusion
Strawberries are a delicious and nutritious fruit, much loved for their distinctive sweet taste and vibrant red appearance. Growing strawberries in your home or yard not only allows you to enjoy fresh and delicious fruit, but also adds to the joy of life.
Related topics: