Open-field Strawberry Cultivation Methods and Recommended Excellent Varieties

As a fruit that is rich in nutrients, unique in flavor, and moderate in sugar-acid ratio, strawberries have a solid popular base and good market prospects, and are the top choice for health-promoting fruit in winter and spring. So what are the cultivation methods for open-field strawberries? Which varieties are better?

1. Which varieties are better to choose for open-field strawberries?

The main varieties planted are the European and American varieties “Sweet Charlie”, “Monterey”, “Algoma”, and “Darselect No. 1”, along with the Japanese varieties “Akihime” and “Benihoppe”. However, when choosing varieties, you must take into account the climate conditions, soil composition, and facility type.

When choosing strawberry varieties, strawberry growers should select excellent strawberry varieties with strong disease resistance, relatively high yield per mu, good eating quality, good fruit shape, bright color, and high sweetness. In addition, they should also consider the local climate characteristics and greenhouse type, and choose strawberry varieties that are drought-tolerant, moisture-tolerant, have shallow dormancy, good fruit uniformity, and are resistant to storage and transport.

2. What are the cultivation methods for open-field strawberries?

1. Plot selection

Strawberries are not too demanding about soil, and can often be grown on ordinary land. However, strawberries have the characteristics of low drought tolerance and low waterlogging tolerance, so they should often be planted in places with relatively high terrain, and the ground must be flat, the soil relatively intact, and they should also be planted in land with sufficient sunlight. They should be planted in soil with a certain acidity, ensuring the soil pH value is between 6.0 and 7.0.

2. Planting time

The planting time for strawberries is generally July to August. Before planting, some melons, beans, and wheat should be appropriately planted, and strawberries must be ensured to be planted separately and not mixed with other crops. When planting strawberries, weeds must be cleared in advance and more fertilizer applied.

3. Strawberry seedling planting

Strawberry seedlings are often cultivated in land used for growing seedlings, or propagated in strawberry gardens. When selecting seedlings, it should be ensured that they are of suitable size, come from a good production environment, and are free of pests and diseases. During the process of digging out the seedlings, an appropriate amount of soil should be carried along, and they should be planted in time, which can fundamentally improve the survival rate of strawberry seedlings. The planting time of strawberries should be well controlled to prevent excessively high planting temperatures, which could cause drought problems for the strawberry seedlings. Water irrigation should also be carried out in time to prevent the strawberry seedlings from dying of drought. If the strawberry seedlings are planted too late, the seedlings will be unable to resist the severe cold of winter.

The best method is to ensure that the growth point of the strawberry seedling is parallel to the ground, that the roots of the strawberry seedling have just gone deep into the soil, and that the top of the new bud of the strawberry seedling is exposed above the soil surface. After planting the strawberry seedlings, irrigate in time and replenish water, so as to ensure the success rate of strawberry planting.

4. Field management

Specifically, it is necessary to ensure that the planting land is rich in nutrients, ensure the normal growth of strawberries, and do a good job of strawberry fertilization in time. Before entering winter, sufficient fertilization must be ensured to meet the needs of winter strawberry planting and prevent reduced yield caused by a lack of nutrients in strawberries. When most of the strawberry flower buds have formed, apply a quick-acting fertilizer to promote the absorption of fertilizer by strawberries, ensure normal flowering and fruiting of strawberries, and improve the successful fruit-setting rate of strawberries. During the growth of strawberries, excess and dried leaves should be removed in time, because aging leaves not only cannot carry out normal photosynthesis, but also easily consume nutrients, cause the occurrence of pests and diseases, and affect the normal growth of strawberries.

Warm reminder: The actual growth time of strawberries is 1 to 2 months. After the strawberries mature, they should be picked about once every 2 days, and it is best to pick them in the morning. They should not be picked when the weather is relatively hot, otherwise the strawberries will easily rot.