Strawberry is a type of fruit, as it was first cultivated in ancient Rome. It is a red-colored fruit that contains a sweet-tasting juice. It is characterized by containing many vitamins, the most important of which is vitamin C, high levels of antioxidants and fiber, in addition to being free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. It is a rich source It is very rich in manganese and potassium, so this combination has several benefits, the most important of which is cancer resistance, helps lower blood pressure, and helps control blood sugar.
Methods of growing strawberries
Rows Method
This method is commonly used for June-bearing strawberry (a type of strawberry that produces only one crop in June), as a number of rows are built 121 cm apart, and the plants are about 60 cm apart, and this method is characterized by large quantity production of plants, but with less quality than other methods.
Hills Method
This method is built so that the spacing between the plants is approximately 10 cm at least, and all the buds are removed from the strawberry plant to focus the growth of the plant on the stem and roots so that the plant becomes stronger, and in this method we can get other plants that are stronger and more numerous and enable us to obtain more stems And the fruits produced in this way are distinguished by their good quality, similar to the smaller quantities.
How to grow Strawberries
There are a number of basic steps to complete the strawberry cultivation process, including:
- Holes must be dug into the soil for the plants to be placed in, and the depth must be adequate to cover the roots of the plant, and in turn, the stem and leaves of the plant must remain above the surface of the ground.
- The main bud of the plant should not be covered below the surface of the earth; Not subject to rot.
- The fruits and leaves of the plant should be exposed to clean air and sunlight.
- The soil must be completely watered to coordinate the growth of the plant's roots.
Tools needed to grow strawberries
Here are a number of equipment that are required for strawberry cultivation and the success of the process:
Irrigation Equipment.
- Greenhouses for growing strawberries.
- Drip systems to inject the soil with the necessary fertilizers.
- Cover the rows to protect them from the cold.
- A layer of straw to make mulch over the soil of the plant.
- White boxes protect the plant from damage.
- Factors that help strawberry growth
There are a number of things that must be adhered to in order to take care of the strawberry plant and to obtain good fruits, which are:
- Choose the planting site so that it is exposed to sunlight for a period of time estimated at (6-10) hours per day.
- The strawberry plant planting area should be drainable and ventilated.
- Avoid planting strawberries in soil that has previously been planted with eggplant, peppers, or tomatoes.
- After the first planting, weeds growing around the strawberry plant must be removed.
- Maintaining the moisture of the soil in which strawberries live; because it has shallow and superficial roots.
- Removing the plant's flowers after its first planting, in order to focus on draining organic matter and nutrients to strengthen its roots and create a healthy environment.
The most suitable species for growing strawberries
The most important characteristic of the strawberry plant is its ease of cultivation and ease of care, as it grows in most climates as soon as the sun's rays arrive, and there are several types of cultivation, the most important of which are:
- June bearer: It is a type of strawberry plant that bears fruit once for three weeks in the year, in the month of June.
- Everbring strawberry: This plant is characterized by the fact that most of its fruits are produced in the spring compared to the summer, and they are produced again at the end of the summer and early fall.
- Neutral strawberries: This type is characterized by fruit production throughout the season, in the event that there are appropriate temperatures, up to 30 degrees Celsius, and it stops growing at the first frost, and its production amount is less than that of the June-bearing type.
Strawberries watered
- Irrigation times: The strawberry plant needs high, but reasonable amounts of water so as not to be exposed to high humidity. The irrigation process of the plant should continue during the dry period, that is, between the months of August and September, and that it be in the early morning periods or after sunset. Because the plant is not exposed to dehydration, as this method helps and maintain the moisture of the plant permanently by obtaining a strong bud in the next year.
- Irrigation methods: The process of growing a strawberry plant is done by shedding water on the stem of the plant from below without directing water on the leaves or fruits. In order not to expose the plant to various diseases and parasites or to rot, and to maintain appropriate amounts of water on each plant at the appropriate amount and time, a water pipe containing various holes is placed at specific distances to be regulated.
- Irrigation amounts: The amount of water suitable for a strawberry plant is up to 2.5 cm of water per week, and to obtain an appropriate estimate, the plant is supplied with approximately five gallons of water per 243 cm, and one inch is added above the soil surface, either from rainfall, or from manual irrigation. The quantity may increase until it reaches 5 cm during the harvest period.
More information about growing strawberries
How to extract strawberry seeds and prepare them for planting
It is possible to obtain new plants for the strawberry plant by extracting its seeds from the fruits, taking care not to damage the fruit:
- The top green part of the strawberry fruit is removed, then the fruit is cut with a knife.
- Cut the outer layer of strawberries into slices and separate the seeds.
- Prepare the seeds and put them in a blender and add some water.
- After the mixing is completed, the arable seeds remain at the bottom of the mixer, while the damaged seeds float on the face of the water.
- The damaged seeds and strawberry pulp are discarded and the remaining seeds are taken by filtering them from water and drying them.
The most suitable times for planting strawberries
The growth of the strawberry plant flourishes in the spring when the temperatures rise, as it dies in the winter and returns to life when the temperatures rise, and each strawberry plant produces three new plants in each new summer season, as the buds are formed in the fall season and then become in the spring season. Spring is flowers, and in general, strawberry cultivation does not require many complications, but only needs appropriate temperatures for its growth and reproduction and the production of delicious red fruits.
Soil properties suitable for strawberry cultivation
The strawberry plant is one of the perennial plants that needs special soil for its growth, as the strawberry plant soil must contain a large amount of organic matter, in addition to a low acidity rate ranging between 5.5-6.5, taking into account the types of fertilizers used and avoiding damaged fertilizers, and getting rid of algae Or any weeds that may grow around it.
Fertilizers that stimulate strawberry growth
The strawberry plant generally grows in all types of natural soils, but during the growth period it needs high amounts of nitrogen, especially in the periods of the beginning of spring and the end of the autumn season to help the buds grow to grow later into flowers, and the soil components can be strengthened by adding some types of natural fertilizers
How to harvest a strawberry plant
To get the best texture of strawberry fruits and to have a great taste, you must follow some instructions for harvesting them, which are:
- Strawberry fruits must be harvested during the dry period without rain; So that the plant is dry and cool, preferably after the noon sun is away.
- Make sure to pick the strawberry fruits when they turn dark red.
Diseases that may affect strawberries and methods of treatment
Diseases
There are many diseases and pests that threaten the life of the plant, some of which threaten the leaves, and some that threaten flowers and fruits:
- Strawberry plant leaf pests: This pest directly attacks the leaves of the plant, which leads to its lack of growth. Among these pests; Mites and strawberry rootworm.
- Flower and fruit pests: These pests cause great damage to the strawberry crop. Among these pests are; Strawberry beetle, strawberry scissors bug, and bugs.
- Other diseases: Strawberries may affect a number of other diseases, the most important of which are; Strawberry red root rot, strawberry wilt, and gray rot.
Methods of Prevention
To reduce diseases and pests that attack the strawberry plant, it is preferable to choose a plant that is free of diseases, remove diseased yellow leaves and ripe or rotten fruits, and replace the old plant with new plants approximately every three years.
Strawberry care tips
Strawberries are perennial plants, and if they are taken care of properly and in the right way, they last for long periods, but by following some precautions to preserve them, including:
- The strawberry plant should be protected from cold weather or exposed to low temperatures. This is because they lack the thick bark that protects plants in general from extreme cold, which may expose them to death or cold, which in turn affects the life cycle of the plant.
- The strawberry plant must be pruned and all withered and dead buds removed during the winter, after making sure that it does not bear new buds that may grow again.
- Place a quantity of clean straw or sawdust that allows air to pass into the soil of the plant to isolate it from the outside medium during low temperatures.
- Cultivation of existing plants inside special pots for growing plants inside the ground and surrounding them with suitable soil to protect them from low temperatures, and when spring returns them as they were.
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