–The strawberry plant is classified as a red fruit. It can be more or less sweet or tart, and varies in color from vermilion red to brick red.
–Family: Rosaceae.
–Botanical name: Fragaria vesca.
Pedoclimatic requirements
Temperature: The minimum temperature is 5°C, and optimal temperatures are between 10 and 13°C at night and 18 to 22°C during the day.
Humidity: Relative humidity should be below 60%.
Light: At least 10 days of light exposure are required for flower initiation, with a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Soil: The strawberry plant grows best in deep, well-drained soil, with a preference for sandy soils, followed by sandy-loam soils. It requires an aerated, well-drained soil and is sensitive to stagnant moisture. It prefers humus-rich, deep, and slightly acidic soils (pH between 6 and 6.5).
Salinity: Between 0.8 and 1.2 ms/cm².
Varietal selection
- Everbearing varieties (they produce a second crop during the year)
- Non-everbearing varieties (large-fruit strawberries that yield only one harvest per season)
- Semi-everbearing varieties (intermediate between everbearing and non-everbearing varieties)
Cultivation setup
A-Soil preparation.
– A medium plowing (30 cm) with a disc plow – Two cross harrowing’s and rolling to pulverize the surface of the soil.
– Creation of raised beds (ridges or boards) elevated 10–20 cm above the ground, which can be done mechanically
– A disinfection treatment through fumigation must be carried out three weeks before transplanting the seedlings.
– Implementation of a localized irrigation system (drip irrigation).
– Mulching with black plastic sheets to cover the raised beds.
B-Planting
- Planting is done between the end of September and the beginning of October.
- Adopt a density of 63,000 to 69,000 plants/ha with a distance between the plants of 20 to 25 cm, in double rows on ridges 50 to 60 cm wide, and a spacing between the ridges of 1 to 1.2 m.
C-Multiplication of strawberries
Strawberries are propagated by two reproduction techniques:
-Layering (asexual reproduction)
-Seeding (sexual reproduction).
Cultural maintenance
1-Weeding
Practice weeding throughout the production. Regular manual removal of weeds is recommended.
2-Defoliation
- Carry out the defoliation of the plants, which involves removing the basal leaves.
- The best times for defoliation are at the beginning and end of the day because the plant…
Irrigation management
- The best irrigation system is drip irrigation.
- The water requirements during the vegetative period are an average of 420 mm.
- Two additional irrigations (100 mm) during the fruit formation period.
Pest/Disease management
1-powdery mildew
2-Botrytis
Brown spots on fruit, stem
3-mites
4-DROSOPHILA SUZUKII
Harvest
- Harvest the fruits manually every 3 to 4 days at the optimal ripeness stage.
- Select the right fruit based on criteria for each variety, particularly regarding color, size (small or large depending on the variety), fruit shape (uniform and regular), and the visible health condition of the fruit (free from powdery mildew symptoms, pests, and not overly ripe or damaged)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do strawberry plants grow best? Strawberry plants grow best in full sunlight, in rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.8. They thrive in areas with moderate temperatures and can adapt to both raised beds and containers if the soil has good drainage.
Is a strawberry a vegetable or a fruit? A strawberry is a fruit. Specifically, it’s an “aggregate accessory fruit” because it forms from the flower’s receptacle and not just the plant’s ovary.
What month is best to plant strawberries? The best time to plant strawberries depends on your climate. Generally:
- Early spring (March–April) in cooler climates, after the danger of frost has passed.
- Fall (September–October) in warmer climates where winters are mild.
How long does it take to grow strawberries? Strawberries typically take about 4 to 6 weeks from planting to producing fruit, with most varieties ready for harvest within this period. After planting bare-root or starter plants, you’ll usually see the first yield within one growing season.
