Key Techniques and Cultivation Management Methods for Soilless Strawberry Cultivation

Strawberry is a relatively common fruit, rich in vitamin C, and also has the effect of promoting intestinal peristalsis and aiding digestion. Women who eat it regularly also gain a certain beauty and skincare benefit. So how should strawberries, which have high edible value, be grown? Follow along with the editor below to learn about strawberry cultivation techniques!

Soilless Strawberry Cultivation Techniques

1. Building the cultivation troughs

For the cultivation troughs, if conditions permit, cement boards, plastic boards, wooden boards, or red bricks can all be used. Plastic boards look good, but the cost is high. Overall, using bricks costs less, is simple and convenient to work with, and makes it easy to observe root growth. They generally run north-south, with a trough depth of 500px and an inner width of 1250px, and a spacing between troughs of 1750px. Three layers of red bricks are enough. After leveling the bottom layer of the trough, lay a 2.5px thin film to isolate it from the soil, which both prevents soil-borne diseases and helps retain water and fertilizer.

2. Then spread a 125px thick layer of coarse substrate. Coarse sand, small stones, coarse furnace slag, etc. can be used to aid drainage and aeration, then lay one layer of woven fabric (clean used woven bags can be cut into a single layer). On top of this, the prepared substrate can be filled in. The substrate must be mixed evenly, and for large quantities, mechanical mixing should be used. Fill the trough with 375px, and for brick-built troughs, fill it level with the bricks. Two days before planting, water thoroughly so the substrate settles, with moisture content reaching 70-80%, making sure to water thoroughly but not leave standing water.

3. Raising the seedlings

Organic ecological soilless cultivation of strawberries has high requirements for seedling quality. Virus-free seedlings should be selected and raised soilless in substrate. Generally, in early to mid-July, robust daughter seedlings with 2-3 leaves are collected from virus-free mother plants grown in open-field soil, the soil is washed off the roots, and they are planted in seedling pots filled with substrate for cultivation. The substrate seedling pots can also be scattered around the mother plants.

When the stolons produce new buds, guide them into the seedling pots to take root. When the new buds grow to 2-3 leaves, cut the stolons and collect them together for cultivation. In the later stage of seedling growth, irrigate with cool well water to lower the rhizosphere temperature and promote flower bud differentiation. Management should be strengthened by promptly removing old leaves and newly produced stolons to reduce nutrient consumption and promote robust seedling growth.

4. Planting time and planting method

In order to reach the market for New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, the planting time for soilless cultivation is generally chosen in mid-to-late September. Each cultivation trough is planted with two rows, with a row spacing of 750px and a plant spacing of 375px, and one drip irrigation tape is laid between the two rows. When planting seedlings, high-quality strong seedlings should be selected and planted as they are taken. When removing them from the seedling pots, gently shake off the substrate attached to the roots, remove the old leaves at the base, and plant. Note that when planting, the plant's arched back should face outward, and it should be neither too deep nor too shallow, keeping the axillary bud level with the trough surface.

5. Management after planting

After planting, light watering can be given, just keeping it moist. Water management during the seedling stage is mainly about control. During the flowering stage, the relative humidity of the substrate should be kept at 60-65%. During the fruit enlargement stage, the focus is on promotion, with relative humidity kept at 70-80%. In winter, the irrigation water temperature should be above 12°C, and the principle is to irrigate little but often. After the seedlings recover, once the plants grow 3-4 new leaves, apply the first topdressing, then promptly cover with black plastic film. To make it easier to apply organic fertilizer, two sheets can be used, that is, one sheet per row, with the middle of the rows overlapping by 15-500px.

For topdressing, use organic special fertilizer for soilless cultivation or well-fermented chicken manure, broadcasting 15 grams per plant around the base of the plant. During the flowering and fruit enlargement stages, every 10-15 days, special fertilizer can be applied as a topdressing, along with well-fermented sesame oil residue liquid and soybean meal fertilizer liquid (for each 666 sq m, 7.5-10 kg of fully fermented sesame oil residue or soybean meal diluted and then mixed with 10 kg of water and applied evenly). This has a significant effect on increasing yield and improving quality.

Greenhouse Environment Management for Strawberries

① Temperature: Strawberries prefer a warm and cool climate, requiring 25-30°C during the day and no lower than 12°C at night. During the fruiting stage, 20-23°C during the day and no lower than 5°C at night. When strawberries are overwintering in summer, if the temperature is above 30°C and sunlight is strong, cooling measures need to be taken.

② Light: Strawberries are light-loving plants, but they also have relatively strong shade tolerance. Under strong light, the plants are short and sturdy, the fruits are small, the color is deep, and the quality is good. Under medium light, the fruits are large, the color is light, the sugar content is low, and the strawberry harvest period is longer; too weak light is unfavorable for strawberry growth. Under the condition of ensuring the greenhouse temperature does not exceed 30°C, increase the light intensity as much as possible, in the range of 25,000-60,000.

③ Humidity: The humidity in the greenhouse must not exceed 50%. During the vegetative growth stage, water can be sprayed appropriately to increase humidity, but during the reproductive growth stage it is best not to spray water, especially during the fruiting stage.

Humidity Management for Strawberry Cultivation

2-3 days after strawberry planting, check the seedlings and fill in gaps promptly, and mound soil around the roots while exposing the crown. After the strawberry seedlings recover and survive, lay black plastic film and dig cultivation troughs, preferably covering the troughs and walkways completely. When covering with film, place the black plastic film over the plants on the trough surface, feel for where there are plant seedlings underneath, tear a small hole in the film, then carefully pull out all the leaves so that the film fits tightly against the substrate. Black film mulching can not only increase soil temperature, maintain soil moisture, reduce air humidity, and inhibit weed growth, but can also isolate strawberry fruits from contact with the substrate, keeping the fruits brightly colored, clean, and sanitary. The suitable substrate humidity for strawberry growth is 70-80%, and the air humidity is 60-70%.

Nutritional Value of Strawberries

Strawberries are rich in nutritional value and are known as the “queen of fruits”. They contain abundant nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin PP, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, carotene, tannic acid, aspartic acid, copper, strawberry amine, pectin, cellulose, folic acid, iron, calcium, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins.

In particular, the vitamin C they contain is 7-10 times higher than that of apples and grapes. The content of malic acid, citric acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, as well as carotene, calcium, phosphorus, and iron is also 3 to 4 times higher than that of apples, pears, and grapes.

Protecting eyesight: Strawberries are rich in carotene and vitamin A, which can alleviate night blindness and have the effect of maintaining the health of epithelial tissues, improving eyesight and nourishing the liver, and promoting growth and development.

Aiding digestion and preventing constipation: Strawberries are rich in dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote the digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract, improve constipation, and prevent the occurrence of acne and intestinal cancer.

Through the above content, I believe everyone has learned some technical methods for cultivating strawberries. Strawberries are deeply sought after by consumers. Whether fresh strawberries or strawberries processed into dried strawberries, strawberry powder, etc., they all sell well, and growing strawberries has also become a cultivation project with broad prospects.