In which regions are the latest strawberry production areas distributed?

The strawberry is also called red berry, foreign berry, ground berry, etc., and is a red fruit. The strawberry is the general name for plants of the genus Fragaria in the rose family (Rosaceae), and is a perennial herbaceous plant. The strawberry has a heart-shaped appearance, is bright red and tender, with juicy flesh and a special rich fruity aroma. Now let us take a look together at the production areas and distribution of strawberries!

The Production Areas and Distribution of Strawberries

1. The place of origin of the strawberry: The strawberry originated in South America, and is mainly distributed in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

2. The distribution of strawberries in China: Strawberries are cultivated in Hebei Province, Shandong Province and many southern provinces and cities in China. The national strawberry area covers more than 1.5 million mu, and the production areas are mainly distributed in Sichuan, Hebei, Anhui, Liaoning, Shandong and other places. The strawberry planting area in Beijing is less than 50,000 mu, with Changping having the largest planting area.

The Growing Environment of Strawberries

1. Temperature: Strawberries like a warm and cool climate. The root growth temperature of strawberries is 5-30°C, the optimum temperature is 15-22°C, the optimum temperature for stem and leaf growth is 20-30°C, the buds suffer freeze damage at -15 to -10°C, the temperature during flower bud differentiation must be kept at 5-15°C, and the flowering and fruiting period is 4-40°C. When strawberries are overwintering in summer, if the temperature is higher than 30°C and the sunlight is strong, shading measures need to be taken.

2. Light: Strawberries are light-loving plants, but they also have relatively strong shade tolerance. When the light is strong, 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 harvest period is longer. Too weak light is not good for strawberry growth.

3. Water: The strawberry root system is shallowly distributed and the transpiration rate is large, so it has strict water requirements, but at different growth stages, strawberries have slightly different water requirements. In early spring and at flowering, strawberries need the water content to be no lower than 70% of the soil's maximum water-holding capacity. During fruit growth and ripening, the requirement is the greatest, reaching more than 80%. After harvesting, when runners are produced and new adventitious roots form, the soil water content also needs to be no lower than 70%. Autumn is the period when the plants accumulate nutrients and flower buds form, and the soil moisture must also be no lower than 60%. Strawberries are not tolerant of waterlogging, so the soil is required to have good permeability, and attention should be paid to field drainage during the rainy season.

4. Soil: Strawberries are suitable for growing in fertile, loose neutral or slightly acidic loam soil. Overly heavy clay soil is not suitable for cultivation. In sandy soil, with more manure applied and frequent irrigation, strawberries can also be grown.

How to Select Strawberries

1. Look at the appearance: Do not buy strawberries that are too large or have strange, misshapen forms. Large strawberries are mostly grown with hormones. Some strawberries are brightly colored and large, with abnormal bumps on the surface, and after biting into them there is a hollow center; long-term large consumption may harm human health

2. Look at the color: When selecting, try to choose ones where the whole fruit is uniformly bright red, fresh and glossy, with a shine. It is not advisable to buy fruits that are not fully red or that are half red and half green.

3. Smell the aroma: Naturally ripened strawberries have a rich fruity aroma, while dyed strawberries have no aroma, or a faint green and astringent smell

4. Look at the seeds on the strawberry: If they are white, then it is naturally ripened; if the seeds are red, then it must be dyed

5. Look at the surface: Only strawberries with fresh green calyx leaves, fine fuzz, a shiny surface, and no damage or rot are good strawberries. Strawberries with white or gray spots on the surface may be diseased strawberries.

6. Look at the inside: In naturally ripened strawberries, the flesh is red, only the core will have a little bit of white, and the fruity aroma is very rich. In dyed strawberries, the flesh is white and there is no aroma.