How to grow strawberries in a greenhouse at home?

Capital investments: from 100,000 rubles.
Business payback: 1 season.

In most countries of the world, strawberries are recognized as the most beloved berry.

Its taste is good both on its own and when used in various dishes.

Not so long ago, only those who had a household could afford to use it.

Modern technology and improved purchasing power have made it affordable for almost everyone.

Those who know, also contribute to the popularization how to grow strawberries at home.

The profitability of such a business is as much as 100%, and the investment pays off in a season (if you focus on the summer period).

But for all the external simplicity, such a business also has its own subtleties and pitfalls.

Without knowing them, it is difficult to scale and develop a business, and sometimes it can simply go bankrupt.

We will understand the most important aspects of making a profit on growing strawberries.

What to choose: grow strawberries in a greenhouse or at home?

When a person has the opportunity to choose, the question arises: is it better to grow strawberries in the open field or in a greenhouse?

Consider the existing cultivation options, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Outdoor cultivation

Interesting fact:
In New Orleans, Arnaud's restaurant serves the most expensive strawberry dish. It will cost $ 1.4 million. Arnaud's strawberries are served with cream and decorated with mint leaves and a ring with an almost 5-carat pink diamond.

The outdoor strawberry cultivation option is especially popular among aspiring entrepreneurs.

It involves planting seedlings in ordinary beds in the warm season.

It requires a small capital investment, but it is fraught with some problems:

• The peak yield of strawberries in our latitude is in June.

  This means that you will be selling the harvested berry together with hundreds of competitors.

  Because of this, the price drops significantly, and the profit is also not very large.

  To cope with this difficulty, it is necessary to select special varieties of strawberries.

• The yield will depend on the weather conditions.

  Extreme heat, aridity, or, conversely, abundant humidity - all this will destroy the plants.

  Under the worst conditions, up to half of the planted berries can disappear.

• It is impossible to grow strawberries from year to year on the same piece of land, as it is depleted and filled with harmful substances.

  The beds need to be moved every 4 years.

  That is, to have a sufficiently large plot of land for such movements.

Use of protected ground and greenhouses

By hiding strawberries in greenhouses without / with autonomous heating, the entrepreneur gets the opportunity to harvest all year round. The method has not only such a significant advantage, but also some disadvantages.

Pros and Cons of growing strawberries in a greenhouse

Entrepreneurs planning serious business usually choose this option.

It involves growing berries in special closed boxes or even a room.

To implement the idea, more serious capital investments are required, as well as high monthly expenses - to pay for utilities (heating and additional lighting).

What kind of business can you open in a village?

However, the use of modern technologies allows you to make a profit from the sale of crops all year round.

Before settling on this option, it is important to evaluate other pros and cons.

You can grow strawberries for sale as a whole, regardless of weather conditions. In winter, this allows you to get 2-3 times more revenue due to the increased price.	The initial investment is almost always higher than if the entrepreneur grows berries in the open field.
A small piece of land is allocated.	Artificial pollination is required for berries.
In 95% of cases, the invested funds will pay off in the first season.	It is believed that greenhouse strawberries are inferior in taste to their soil neighbor.
It is easier to sell such products in bulk to supermarkets and restaurants.	The length of daylight hours will have to be increased artificially.

Ways to sell strawberries grown at home or in a greenhouse

The ways of selling the grown products depend on the volume, format of the business, and the season.

So in the summer, the main place of sale is the various markets.

But in winter, the berry can only be sold to supermarkets.

If you are planning this implementation method, you must be prepared for the high demands that will be placed on the product.

Another way to sell your crop is to sell it for production.

Cafes, restaurants, jam and yogurt makers use only the best quality berries.

They will need to be not only properly assembled, but also correctly transported.

Do I need documents to grow strawberries for sale?

Before growing strawberries in a greenhouse for sale in retail chains, you need to think about documenting such a procedure.

Unlike selling strawberries from a home garden on the market, here we are already talking about entrepreneurial activity.

The algorithm for its design looks like this:

1. Registration.

   To get started, you must register as a sole proprietor.

   If you do not plan to do business with someone, there is no need to open an LLC.

   The process is simple and any beginner can handle it.

2. OKVED code.

   The next step is to select the OKVED code.

   In this situation, you need 01.13.21.

   It corresponds to the cultivation of different types of fruits and berries.

3. Taxation.

   The peculiarity of such a business is that you have the opportunity to pay the Unified agricultural tax.

   It accounts for only 6% of the profit received.

   Don't worry if you don't have agriculture in the usual sense of these words.

   In any case, you will be considered a manufacturer of agricultural products.

Financial investments in the idea of ​​growing strawberries

We will perform approximate calculations of how much money is needed for capital investment.

Of course, it all depends on how to grow strawberries - in a greenhouse or at home.

Consider the simplest and most affordable option - self-cultivation at home.

Capital investments

Purchase of planting material	5 000
Registration of individual entrepreneurs	3 000
Harvest racks and containers	30 000
Soil, compost	15 000
Irrigation system installation	20 000
Site lighting system	28 000

In this case, there will be no regular investments in the business, except for paying for electricity (about 30,000 rubles).

The profitability of the idea to grow strawberries for sale

The concept of profitability refers to the difference between the profit from the sale of a product and its cost.

To calculate the last pointer, you need to take into account the following factors:

• seed cost;
• fertilizer price;
• estimated costs for renting a greenhouse or building it;
• communal payments;
• costs of wages to auxiliary workers and others.

How to open a farm?

For 2012, the cost of 1 kg of strawberries was kept at $ 1.5.

An entrepreneur can calculate the current indicator only individually.

The average level of business profitability is 75%.

This is a very good indicator, which allows us to conclude that capital investments will pay off already in the first season of sales.

Practical tips on how to properly grow strawberries in a greenhouse, in the video:

Potential risks of a strawberry growing business

Although the capital investment in the homemade berry business is not so large and the profitability level is high, the potential risks cannot be disregarded.

First, there are traditional risks that are relevant to almost any business: changes in legislation, weather disasters, economic crisis.

But there are several conditions that can harm this particular industry.

What problems does a niche have?

1. Heating.

   If you are growing in a greenhouse, you should be prepared for the very high costs of lighting and heating.

   This investment will pay off in just one season.

   But if a failure occurs in the heating or additional lighting system, the entire crop may die.

   Therefore, you will not get a profit.

2. Care.

   In the beginning, you can run a strawberry business on your own.

   But few are able to devote all their time to caring for seedlings.

   Then you have to hire auxiliary workers, train them, pay wages and control the quality of work.

3. Collection.

   Correct berry picking is a guarantee that you will have time to realize the entire harvest.

   And not only in ordinary retail outlets, but also in supermarkets, cafes, restaurants.

To turn this business into a profitable business, it is important to know not only, how to grow strawberries at home or a greenhouse.

An integrated approach to the task is required, as to any other entrepreneurial project.

Analyze the situation on the market, competitors, demand for berries, find out new trends in competent cultivation.

It is also worth drawing up a business plan that will help you calculate costs and calculate planning gaps.

The demand for strawberries persists all year round, therefore such a business can bring high stable income.

Modern greenhouse systems allow strawberries to be grown year-round. This berry is in demand in the market, which is why many gardeners and farmers choose it as their main product for income. The consumer is ready to buy strawberries in the form of a fresh product or ready-to-produce desserts. The second option is acceptable for catering establishments.

Strawberries in the greenhouse

Where can strawberries be grown?

Strawberries are an unpretentious plant, but still require proper care. This berry can be grown in any room in which the necessary conditions can be created - to maintain the air temperature from + 10 ° C to + 25 ° C (different temperatures are needed at different periods of plant growth) and air humidity within 70-80%.

Diagram of the structure of the strawberry bush

Traditionally, strawberries are grown in greenhouses. Thanks to the greenhouse effect, it is easy to provide the most favorable conditions for plant growth and fruit ripening in these rooms.The Dutch technology for growing strawberries in greenhouses has gained great popularity, which involves planting seedlings in plastic bags (and not only).

Many are trying to get the harvest of this berry at home, but the optimal solution for a business is still a greenhouse. Successful strawberry cultivation technologies are enough to choose the most suitable one for yourself. The least troublesome method is to use hydroponics. But it is also the most costly, since it requires a much more solid start-up capital than when using plastic bags with soil.

Crop production provides an opportunity for year-round profits. The fact is that the natural sleep period of plants (in winter) can be interrupted by the creation of favorable conditions for their growth and fruiting. It is on this feature of the plant world that all the technologies for year-round cultivation of strawberries in greenhouses are built.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round

Important! A greenhouse of any size and shape is suitable for harvesting. The type of covering material does not really matter, since all the necessary conditions can be provided with the help of additional lighting and heating.

Growing strawberries as a business

If cultivation of strawberries is chosen as the main direction of a highly profitable business, first of all, it is necessary to resolve the following issues:

• about the method of sales;
• about the possible sales volume for this region;
• on the transportation of the crop;
• storage and storage of crops;
• on the purchase of equipment and materials for arranging the greenhouse.

The minimum area required to start a business is just a few square meters. But it should be understood that in this case, one should not expect high profits. Such a volume of products obtained is more suitable for home use. Any non-residential but heated room, garage or warehouse is suitable for growing berries.

At the preparatory stage, you need to decide on the varieties of the plant.

Some greenhouse strawberries

The following varieties are optimal for the greenhouse business:

• "Sonata";
• "Pineapple";
• "Florin";
• "Will";
• "Kama";
• Elsanta;
• "Producer";
• "Marmolada";
• Truffau.

All these varieties are capable of bearing fruit several times a year.

Strawberry "Sonata"

Florin strawberry

Strawberry "Elsanta"

For greenhouse cultivation, there are three possible planting methods:

• indoors;
• in ceramic or plastic containers;
• in plastic bags.

If a hydroponic option is being considered, special equipment will be needed.

How to grow strawberry seedlings

Strawberry seedlings can be obtained from seeds or from the whiskers of an adult plant. For growing from seeds, containers with a height of at least 7 cm and soil will be required. You can mix garden soil with sand in a 1/3 ratio (one part sand and 3 parts soil).

In the photo, strawberry seeds

The seeds are planted in the soil

When growing strawberry seedlings, do not expect quick shoots. They will appear 20-21 days after disembarkation. The fact is that all small-seeded plants develop for a long time. This is due to the small size of the seed, which cannot contain many nutrients. Therefore, you have to be patient.

When the strawberry rises and a second leaf forms in it, you need to fertilize with any organic fertilizer. When the seedlings grow up to 8-10 mm, they begin to dive.

Strawberry seedlings

This will require small plastic cups or any other container of suitable volume. The best choice is plastic glasses with a volume of 0.5 liters. In this case, frequent watering is not required. If you grow seedlings in smaller containers, there will be more trouble in caring for the seedlings.

Seedling picking

The picking procedure consists of several stages, we will consider the features of each of them in more detail.

The main stages of picking strawberry seedlings

Table. The process of diving seedlings - instruction.

Step 1	Water the soil with water at room temperature.
Step 2	With the handle of any cutlery (spoon or fork), carefully separate and remove the plant.
Step 3	A small depression is made in a glass with soil (1.5-2 cm is enough).
Step 4	Plant the plant in a glass / pot.
Step 5	A low bed of soil is formed around the base of the stem (instilled).
Step 6	Carefully water the planted plants with water.

Growing strawberry seedlings from a mustache

To grow seedlings from a mustache, proceed as follows.

Step 1. Find a powerful formed whisker of an adult plant.

Sockets and mustaches

Step 2. At a distance of 20-25 cm from the mother plant, a hole is dug 5-7 cm deep.

Step 3. Plunge a mustache socket into it.

Step 4. Take a paper clip and slightly unbend it.

Step 5. Press the outlet to the ground with a paper clip (pinned).

Step 6. They fill the hole with soil and slightly compact it.

Stages of the formation of strawberry planting material using antennae

Step 7. Cut off the excess part of the mustache that is not associated with the mother plant.

Step 8. Water the outlet.

The technology of horizontal cultivation of strawberries in plastic bags

The least costly technology for growing strawberries involves the use of translucent polyethylene bags (made of white polyethylene). The standard thickness of such bags is 0.2 mm. Dimensions - 16x20 cm. You can buy bags at any hardware store.

Growing strawberries in bags horizontally

You will also need the following components to prepare the substrate:

• peat (2 parts);
• perlite (1 part);
• sawdust (1.5 parts).

This technology of growing strawberries allows you to start a business with the smallest amount of capital - from 3 to 5 thousand rubles. This will be enough to plant seedlings on an area of ​​10 m2. From 1 m2, you can get from 15 to 20 kg of berries. When the experience in growing strawberries appears, the volume of the harvest will increase. Professionals receive up to 50 kg / m2. The business can be considered economically viable with a yield of 150 kg from 10 m2.

Bedding bags - an alternative to tall beds

Important! Most of the materials you need to start a business can be free. For example, you will need a dropper to organize watering. These used tubes are in abundance in any medical hospital.

Sequencing

Step 1. Preparation of the substrate: mix sawdust, perlite and peat in a ratio of 1.5: 1: 2.

The main properties of perlite are soil loosening and improvement of its structure.

Step 2. Fill plastic bags with the substrate by ¾ of their volume.

Step 3. The top of the bag is sealed with an iron or soldering iron.

Step 4. With any sharp object, cut 2-3 longitudinal holes 7-9 cm long in each bag.

Step 5. Packages with the substrate are laid in even rows on the flooring or the floor so that between the "beds" there is no less than 25 and no more than 30 cm.

Step 6. Each bag is supplied with 3 dropper tubes. One tube is immersed on the bottom layer of the substrate, the second on the middle, the third on the top. Water consumption - 0.5 l / day for 1 package.

Dripper supply scheme

An approximate diagram of a drip irrigation system

Step 7. Seedlings are planted in each slot in the bag.

Step 8. Provide optimal conditions throughout the growth and fruiting period of plants.

At the initial stage of strawberry growth (in the first week after planting the seedlings), it is necessary to maintain a temperature of + 10 ° C in the greenhouse. Further, the indicator is gradually raised to + 20 ° C. During the flowering period, the optimum temperature is from +20 to + 24 ° C.

An important parameter of the microclimate is humidity. It must be kept within 80%, but during the flowering period it must be reduced by 5-10%. When the fruits begin to form, another decrease in humidity by 5-10% will be required.

Growing strawberries in bags

Strawberry growing rules

1. Throughout the growth, flowering and fruiting of plants, it is necessary to provide high-quality ventilation of the greenhouse.
2. Every 14-15 days, starting from the day of planting seedlings, fertilizers are applied - superphosphate and potassium salt.
3. The quality of lighting is extremely important for strawberries. This plant is warm and light-requiring. If the daylight hours lasts at least 16 hours, the berries will form already 35 days after planting the seedlings. If the period of full lighting does not exceed 8 hours, the waiting period for the harvest will be longer (up to 1.5 months). Therefore, if there are not enough sunny days, it is recommended to arrange artificial lighting for the greenhouse.
4. If the variety chosen is not self-pollinating, it will be necessary to artificially pollinate with a small, soft paintbrush.

A possible option is the Topsy Turvy Strawberry Planter

Strawberry Planter for growing strawberries

Video - How To Use Topsy Turvy Strawberry Planter

Growing flowers in a greenhouse as a business

Many flower growers often wonder whether or not to turn their hobby into a profitable business. It should be noted that growing flowers in a greenhouse as a business is an interesting and profitable idea, but it has its own characteristics.

Technology for vertical cultivation of strawberries in bags

This method of growing strawberries in a greenhouse is very similar to the previous one. The same requirements are imposed on the care of plants. The same substrate is used as a soil for planting seedlings. But vertical cultivation technology has its advantages.

Varieties of vertical strawberry cultivation

Firstly, it allows the most efficient use of the inner space of the greenhouse. Secondly, using this technique, you can get a significantly larger yield. As a container for growing, you can use dense plastic bags with a volume of 10 liters or more or plastic pipes with a cross section of 200 and 110 mm.

Growing strawberries in PET bags

The bags are filled with substrate and hung from the top beams of the greenhouse. It is permissible to arrange the bags both in a checkerboard pattern and in even rows. It is important to observe the distance between the suspended containers - it should be at least 40 cm. Optimally - 60 cm.

Another option for a bag for growing strawberries

Strawberry bushes in a polyethylene bag

If it is decided to use PVC pipes, proceed as follows.

Step 1. In a pipe with a cross section of 100-110 mm, using a screwdriver and a crown with a diameter of 6 cm, holes are cut so that they are located on the same line and are at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other.

Holes are cut in the pipe

Step 2. A hole is cut in a pipe with a diameter of 200 mm so that only the upper part of the circle is cut. To do this, hold the crown at an angle to the pipe during cutting. By controlling the pressure on the tool, they ensure that the slot is made exactly half the circle.

Holes in a pipe with a larger diameter are not cut completely, but so that the cut circles can be bent

Step 3. Fold back the cut parts of the circles in a large pipe, heating them with a construction hairdryer.

Step 4. A pipe with a section of 110 mm is inserted into a pipe with a section of 200 mm.

Step 5. Secure the narrower pipe with wire and wooden blocks so that it is centered.

You need to fasten with bars and steel wire as shown in the image

Step 6. Fill the space between the pipes with soil.

The space between the pipes must be covered with soil.

Step 7. Close the lower end of the narrow pipe with a plug of the appropriate size, in which several holes are pre-drilled to allow excess water to escape.

This is what the lower part of the structure will look like.

This is a pre-drilled plug needed to cover the lower end of the smaller pipe.

Step 8. The inner space of a narrow pipe is filled with organic matter and plant material - peelings of potatoes and other products, sawdust, branches (you can put earthworms).

Step 9. Strawberry seedlings are planted in the holes of the larger pipe.

Growing strawberries in a PVC pipe in a vertical way

This method is convenient because it does not require regular maintenance. Watering is carried out by pouring water into a narrow pipe 1-2 times a week. The use of pipes is more convenient in that it becomes possible to use the entire available area as efficiently as possible. In addition, pipes are more durable than plastic bags and do not require frequent replacement.

Another option for vertical cultivation of strawberries in a tube

Another original option is a strawberry pyramid

Video - Vertical breast in a greenhouse. Strawberries in a tube

Video - Growing strawberries in a greenhouse

Your greenhouse is not only suitable for growing green cucumbers and sweet bell peppers. Thanks to the greenhouse, you can extend the strawberry season by two months or even more. Agree, in the open field, strawberries please us with ripe berries for too long!

Original Tips

In a well-heated greenhouse, you can get strawberries using Dutch technology even in winter. If your greenhouse is not designed for year-round use, you can use it to speed up the fruiting of strawberries in order to enjoy delicious berries even before the season begins. Since strawberries are planted in the greenhouse as an annual crop and have already moved to the garden by June, after it, you can use the greenhouse for the summer-autumn cultivation of peppers and tomatoes.

In a well-heated greenhouse, you can get strawberries using Dutch technology even in winter.

In order to get the best result, it is worth using suitable strawberry varieties for indoor use:

• early varieties Roksana, Pavlovchanka, Desnyanka;
• medium early varieties Nadezhda, Zenith;
• late varieties Dobrynya, Cinderella;
• varieties of Western European selection Selva, Marmolada, Zenga Zengana, Pineapple, Darselect, Vizhe, Kama, Khonei, Korona.

Video about growing strawberries in a greenhouse

In Belgium and Holland, countries known for their excellent greenhouse strawberries, the Sonata and Elsanta varieties are especially popular.

Preparing strawberry seedlings

It is better to choose growing strawberries indoors with saplings rather than seeds, especially if you are a beginner gardener. You can go the easiest way and buy ready-made seedlings in the nursery, but it will be safer to prepare the planting material yourself, taking strawberry shoots of proven varieties from your site.

Better to choose the cultivation of strawberries indoors with saplings rather than seeds.

During the summer season, root the seedlings in the open field, and when they have a strong root system, transplant the plants into a box with fertile soil saturated with complex fertilizers. In dry weather, remember to water the seedlings. With the onset of the first frost of autumn, transfer the boxes to the greenhouse. You can also root young plants in small pots with a diameter of 8 cm, filled with organic substrate, or immediately in pots with a diameter of 20 cm - it is not necessary to remove seedlings from such pots when growing strawberries in a greenhouse. Potted strawberries bloom well and bear fruit abundantly.

Another option is to use frigo seedlings:

• dig out seedlings from the garden;
• cut off all the leaves;
• store the seedlings in the refrigerator for the whole winter.

Planting seedlings indoors - how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse

It is possible to plant seedlings in an unheated greenhouse from the end of March, when the temperature in the greenhouse reaches +15 degrees. The land should be pre-fertilized with peat, add complex fertilizers to the soil just before planting.

You can plant seedlings in an unheated greenhouse from the end of March.

Already flowering seedlings should be transferred to indoor ground, and since during flowering strawberries react painfully to transplanting, it is better to plant them in a hole along with a lump of earth or bury them in the ground directly in large pots in which they grew. Try to think over the planting scheme so that there is room between the strawberry bushes for further planting of seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers. Sprinkle sawdust around the bushes, or cover with black film to protect the berries from contamination and retain moisture. Ventilate the greenhouse regularly, otherwise high humidity will provoke the development of strawberry diseases.

Video about growing strawberries in greenhouse conditions

Greenhouse strawberries like moderate root watering. Avoid drying out the soil and excessive moisture, which can lead to plant diseases, and make the berries watery. Feed the bushes after planting with potash, nitrogen fertilizers and trace elements, water the strawberries with water saturated with carbon dioxide.

Since strawberries indoors are deprived of the possibility of natural pollination by insects, during the flowering period you will need to brush each flower daily with an ordinary paint brush, otherwise the berries will not form.

Foreword

When grown according to Dutch technology, up to 25 kg of large berries can be harvested from 1 square meter and the bushes bear fruit almost all year round. Is this possible, and can growing strawberries in a greenhouse become a profitable business - read on.

Greenhouse strawberries - we select the best varieties and hybrids

High-quality planting material is already half the success, especially when we are talking about seedlings. Each variety and hybrid has a certain potential yield, more than which it is simply unrealistic to get even with ideal care conditions - you can't jump above your head. Therefore, if you seriously want to grow berries, you need to choose the right seedlings that would correspond to the conditions of your greenhouse, and also satisfy all your wishes. Today there are more than 250 different varieties, among which there are extremely sweet, with "sourness", large-fruited and others. Let's consider the most popular options for industrial cultivation.

Albion. The most popular variety of American selection, which has been extremely popular among domestic gardeners for several years. Despite the fact that strawberries are a crop of neutral daylight hours, they bear fruit no worse than remontant varieties, and from the end of May you can enjoy delicious berries. Finishes bearing fruit approximately on November 15-25, when the air temperature drops to 0 degrees. The fruits are medium-sized, up to 25 grams, but the average weight is 12 grams. The strawberry was bred by crossing Cal94.16-1 and Diamante. The latter variety was very popular in the early 90s.

Brighton. The remontant strawberry is distinguished by a relatively high yield and a large mass of fruits. 1 berry can weigh up to 150 grams, and the average weight is 80 grams. Thanks to such indicators, it is very realistic to collect 100 kg / ha (100 kg from 1 are), which is why Brighton is one of the most famous industrial hybrids. The fruits are excellently transported and stored for a long time, as they have a low wateriness.

Queen Elizabeth 2. Anyone who has not yet come across this type of remontant strawberry must definitely have it in their greenhouse or in the open field. It is number 1 on the territory of the Russian Federation and many European countries due to its yield. It has a dessert purpose, the fruits are very sweet, large and numerous. From 1 bush for the entire fruiting period, you can collect up to 4 kg of berries! This is about 320-350 c / ha or 350 kg from 1 are! Queen Elizabeth II's only drawback is her poor portability.It is extremely inconvenient and difficult to transport it, since the berries are very juicy and can choke, it is impossible to lay them in a thick layer. Excellent variety for freezing in the freezer and for drying as the pulp is dense.

Diva F1. One of the best remontant hybrids in Russia. It was bred in Holland, but for 10 years it has been successfully grown in our territory and is perfectly acclimatized. Withstands severe frosts in winter, is not exposed to most diseases. The hybrid is very resistant to different types of spotting. If we talk about taste, then the Prima Donna has a very high sugar content, for which gardeners liked it. Despite the relatively low yield of 80 c / ha, it is grown in almost every nursery. It has an increased warmth and is excellently transported over long distances.

There are other high-yielding hybrids and varieties of strawberries for indoor use: Capella, Sakhalin large-fruited, Tristan, Charlotte, Diamant, Arapakho and the like. But they are much more sensitive to many diseases, inferior in taste to the varieties described above, and also have a significantly lower yield. They are planted mainly for their own needs and for variety in the greenhouse or in the garden.

How to plant bushes correctly - Russian and Dutch technologies

There are several planting techniques. Depending on which one you use, the yield of the berries will vary. Let's start with the usual "Russian" landing technology.

STEP 1Soil preparation

The entire area of ​​the greenhouse is divided into 2 parts along (or more, depending on the width of the structure, as a rule, 1 strip - 1 meter) between which a technical strip is left for movement. It is filled with expanded clay crumbs or fine gravel 5-6 cm, then sand 8-10 centimeters. Fertile soil 7-8 centimeters thick is laid on top, after which superphosphate and ammonium nitrate are added in an amount of 10 grams per 1 square meter.

STEP 2Preparation and planting of seedlings

Pits are made in the soil 8-10 centimeters deep at a distance of 30 centimeters, after which strawberry rosettes are planted, staggered or in a row. Oilcloth or agrofibre is often used to avoid weeds and retain as much moisture as possible, but you can do without this in a greenhouse, as excessive moisture can lead to decay of the roots and stem.

STEP 3Shrub care and subsequent tillage

As the soil depletes, potash fertilizers, superphosphate and ammonium nitrate are applied, nitrogen supplements are used for the first 2 months to gain the vegetative mass of the plant. Abundant drip irrigation is carried out, almost daily for the first 3-4 weeks, while the bushes take root and after 5-8 days in the subsequent period.

This was the standard planting scheme, but if you want to get more yields and make optimal use of the greenhouse area, then Dutch technology is offered to your attention. What is its essence and differences from domestic methods of strawberry cultivation? Let's take a closer look.

1. Seedlings in a greenhouse are not planted in the soil, but in pots, which are installed in several tiers. Depending on the height of the worker and the characteristics of the bushes, there can be up to 8 such tiers. Thus, you save space - up to 50 or more bushes are placed on 1 square meter! This allows you to significantly increase the yield per unit area, and in a small greenhouse of 100 square meters you can place 30-40 acres of berries!
2. The fruits are easy to pick and they will not get dirty in the mud, like in the garden, because all the fruits will hang from the flowerpot and do not touch anything. Thus, you will save a lot of time during the subsequent processing of your crop, and immediately after its harvest, it has a presentation.
3. Growing strawberries indoors using Dutch technology allows you to get much higher yields not only from a unit area, but also from one bush, since the plant receives both light and oxygen in abundance. Moreover, the pots are much higher than the ground and the cold air that always sinks to the bottom does not reach them. Growth and productivity increase significantly, and such greenhouses can be heated much less - additional energy savings in the cold season.
4. Watering such a "bed" is more economical. If you are interested in how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse at minimal cost, be sure to pay attention to the Dutch technology. In pots, water evaporates much longer than in soil, especially if they are properly drained. Thus, if you run drip hoses over all pots, you can spend 50-70% less water on watering your plants.

For growing according to Dutch technology, both ordinary strawberry varieties and remontant ones are suitable. The only limitation is too tall bushes. For example, Queen Elizabeth II requires large growing vessels, as her root system is 6-7 times larger than that of conventional "rowers". However, these are all working moments and, if you wish, you can even grow a tree in a pot.

There is also growing in bags - this is the Russian answer to the Dutch technology, where ordinary plastic bags are used instead of ceramic pots. The essence of this method is very simple: a special soil is prepared (similar to the above methods, only without drainage), which is poured into a plastic bag, after which holes are made from above, and seedlings are planted. One of the main advantages of this method is efficiency, because one such "vessel" will cost 8-10 rubles and it is intended for 4-5 bushes. The disadvantages include the inconvenience of processing and watering (you need to use sprayers, waste gallons of water), as well as not aesthetic appearance.

Indoor strawberries - planting time and temperature

Many believe that it is possible to plant seedlings in the middle of winter and that the berries will be much earlier, but this is not at all the case. Strawberries are a plant that responds to changes in daylight hours and the best planting times for them are late February and early March. This is due to even more factors, such as temperature. It is necessary to maintain up to +22 degrees and at least +12 in the room, so that the bushes grow and develop normally. At a relatively cold air temperature, they will not throw a mustache and, moreover, form fruits.

The first days after planting, it is advisable to maintain +25 degrees, so that the seedlings take up well and begin to put out additional roots. Then you can lower the temperature to +15 as the bush takes root. In unheated greenhouses, this should be done already at the end of March, when there is no frost, since most varieties may not even survive -5 degrees after the formation of a mustache and color. If you are going to get solid harvests, then there is no hurry, because what goes quieter ... that gets more.

Pollination - is it necessary and how to do it

Strawberries in a greenhouse are quite problematic in terms of pollination - insects, wind or heavy rainfall are needed to fertilize them, but this is not all indoors. How to be? There are several ways how you can pollinate bushes, let's look at the main ones.

1. Make the wind. This is the simplest method with pollination efficiency up to 90%. To do this, you need several fans that will create air currents in different directions and carry the pollen of the plants. A greenhouse of 100 square meters requires up to 3 fans, they must be turned on during the flowering period of the bushes, you can only for a few hours a day. The situation is somewhat more complicated in the case of remontant varieties - they bloom almost constantly.In this case, it is necessary to "pollinate" 2-3 times a week for 3-4 hours a day.
2. Get insects. Best of all is a hive. Disadvantages: insects sting, during the wintering period the bees cannot be touched, there is very little space for departure, after a couple of days they must be released, the hive cannot be transferred so that the insects do not get lost. The advantage is high-quality pollination, at least 95%.
3. Make a shower. If you have strong sprayers, you can water the bushes. The disadvantage is the low fertilization process of flowers - no more than 45%, since a lot of pollen will be washed off with water.
4. You can also simply make a draft in the greenhouse by opening 2 windows on opposite sides. Ideal if the outside is warm and the wind is moderate. Important:if there is a weak frame or film in the greenhouse, a draft must not be made, since the structure may open or fall... Also, you cannot ventilate at low temperatures (less than +7 degrees), since you will harm the strawberry flowers more and they will fall off.

Pollination is obligatory, and without it, it is simply pointless to count on a large harvest of berries. For even greater efficiency of the process, it is necessary to ensure that during flowering the temperature is not lower than +15 degrees and not more than +25, since the pollen stickiness, in this case, drops very quickly.

The main diseases and methods of dealing with them

Inexperienced gardeners believe that a greenhouse is a salvation from many diseases and pests, and the berries in it will be completely intact. In fact, when grown indoors, there will be much more diseases, in particular, due to the lack of high-quality ventilation. Therefore, it is necessary to meet troubles fully armed and know the basic methods of dealing with the most common fungi, infections and pests.

1. White rot. Due to the high relative humidity indoors, white mold can form on strawberries, which looks like a very thin cobweb in lumps. The leaves on the plant suddenly begin to brighten and dry up after a couple of days, and the berries rot in the affected areas. The mycelium is practically not eliminated by anything, it is very resistant to drying, so an increase in temperature and a decrease in relative humidity will do nothing. Control measures are cardinal - removal of infected berries and leaves and burning them. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to increase the room temperature and install a dehumidifier - most fungal spores will die, while others will simply be inactive.
2. White spot. Almost every gardener knows her, since it is very difficult not to meet her. The first symptoms: the leaves become speckled white, such circles can be up to 8 millimeters, they are brown at the edges, the center is very light, almost white, due to which the disease is called so. It usually develops during the flowering period of berries, destroying leaves, stems, sepals. Peduncles can change color, become darker. The disease progresses with abundant watering and high relative humidity in the room, as well as high planting density. It can cause the loss of the entire crop if you do not fight back in time. The treatment is a treatment with Falcon, Euparen, or copper sulfate (the proportions are written on the packaging of the preparations).
3. Brown spotting. No less common disease, which, in special cases, "mows" up to 60% of all plants. As a rule, in the first half of the season, it does not make itself felt, or it manifests itself only on some bushes, and by the beginning of August it begins to progress fully. The leaves darken at the edges and acquire a bright brown color, then darken a little and dry out. The disease is very dangerous not only for the harvest, but also for the propagation of strawberries, as it affects leaves, flowers and even antennae. The fungus multiplies and hides on the affected plant, and hibernates on it, therefore the most effective method of control is to remove the affected branches as soon as the fungus is diagnosed. Preventive spraying with Euparen and Metaxylene will provide increased plant resistance to damage by this type of biological activity.
4. Powdery mildew - the greatest enemy of greenhouse plants. At high relative humidity, as well as at low temperatures, it develops exponentially.The disease can be identified by the characteristic white bloom that forms on the underside of the leaf blade. Over time, it appears from above, and then throughout the plant, including flowers, antennae and sepals. The leaves are twisted into a "pipe", after which they dry up and fall off, the plant stops synthesizing organic matter and dies. You can fight powdery mildew using copper sulfate, soap solution (4%) and Quadrix. But it is easier to remove infected plants and monitor the optimum room humidity.
5. Late blight of roots... Very insidious zoospores, which are in the soil, affect the root system, mainly at the end of May, when the soil temperature reaches +20 degrees. Gradually, the roots turn red and die off. As a result, the plant dries up. It is very difficult to diagnose and, in most cases, gardeners see the problem after the "opening" of the bush - the roots are reddened and withered. You can try to identify the symptoms by the leaves - young leaves are much smaller than they should be, too light. Treatment with Quadrix helps by 70%, and the main method of control is the removal of diseased plants and the improvement of the plantation.

It is not only unprofitable to treat many diseases, but it is also pointless, since it will take a long time and the bush will still not bear fruit. If plants die in isolated cases, then the best way to get rid of the problem is to get rid of the plant itself. If you are tracking a pest invasion or mass infection, then you need to resort to chemistry and change the conditions in the greenhouse.

Reproduction of strawberries in greenhouse conditions

25-30 days after the seedlings take root and begin to actively gain vegetative mass, antennae will begin to appear - generative organs. In 2 weeks, new outlets will begin to take root, it is then that it is necessary to water the soil abundantly and raise the temperature to +22 degrees, so that the lateral and main roots can take root as well.

After the rosette becomes thick (4-5 stems), it is removed from the soil. To do this, you need a pruner, a spatula or a wide knife. We cut off the tendril at the base of the new outlet with a pruning shears, from which it appeared and all the new processes. We also discard the subsequent bushes and immediately cut off the antennae as soon as they begin to appear on the daughter plant. Then we dig in with a spatula from all sides, without damaging the roots - it is better to leave more soil on the rhizome. If the ground is dense, it is more practical to use a knife. Move to a new hole (first add superphosphate and growth stimulant) and water abundantly. After 2-3 days, the plant will "move away", acquire a dark green color, and begin to actively grow.