How to grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round business?

Fresh strawberries are tasty and healthyhowever, it can only be enjoyed for a few months a year.

High demand Is a good reason to build your own berry business.

By growing strawberries in a greenhouse, you can provide a family with fresh berries and make good money.

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Which greenhouse is right for you?

Ideal for growing strawberries a greenhouse made of metal frame is suitablesheathed with polycarbonate sheets. It is better for farmers to build medium sized greenhouses (100 - 120 sq. M). Polycarbonate can be replaced with a double layer of polyethylene film, but this coating will have to be renewed after 1-2 years.

Large greenhouses are more likely to use steel-framed greenhouses covered with glass. The pitched roof structure provides good natural light and does not allow the snow to linger. Glass retains heat well, but it costs significantly more than film and polycarbonate.

Strawberries are grown in industrial conditions in a rack method, or use Dutch suspended technology. Industrial greenhouses for strawberries with this arrangement saves space and makes harvesting easier. Planting strawberry bushes directly into the ground is also possible.

Hydroponic technologies make the process cheaper, but significantly impair the taste of berries. They acquire a characteristic watery taste and lose their aroma. A greenhouse with a blank wall lined with cinder blocks will help save on heating. Usually the northern wall is deaf.

The blocks reliably protect the greenhouse from cold winds, and they can also provide additional heating on the principle of a solar battery. The greenhouse should be equipped with a ventilation system and drip irrigation, good lighting.

Business advantages and disadvantages

Business for growing strawberries in a greenhouse has many advantagesmaking it especially attractive to newbies.

1. Strawberries are very popular. It is eagerly bought by both end consumers and shops and catering establishments.
2. Competition is low, strawberries in sufficient quantities are present on the market for no more than 3 months a year.
3. Imported berries are significantly inferior in taste and aroma to domestic varieties grown in soil.
4. In the winter-spring period, the markups for strawberries increase significantly.

Among the disadvantages business can be noted:

• costs for the construction and equipment of greenhouses;
• high the cost of electricity for heating;
• the need to register a legal entity to work with stores;
• in the summer season, the product margin goes down.

Variety selection

For greenhouse cultivation, a remontant strawberry that does not require pollination is ideal. Indoors, both early and mid-season varieties can be planted.

It is important to choose options with sufficiently dense berries that can tolerate transportation well. Consumers prefer brightly colored large strawberries regular shape with a rich aroma.

Among the most popular varieties:

1. Alba... Compact bushes with good yields. Early variety, resistant to diseases. The berries are bright red, beautifully conical in shape, well transported and retain an attractive appearance for a long time (see photo below).
2. Daryonka... A variety of Russian selection, resistant to fungal diseases and pests. The berries are large, red, have a pleasant sweet taste and good density (see photo below).
3. Octave... Very early variety, suitable for greenhouses and open ground. Gives excellent yields, berries are large and fragrant, do not crumple during transportation.
4. Sonata... Juicy and tender berry with a pleasant taste and bright aroma. The variety tolerates temperature fluctuations well, is resistant to pests (see photo below).
5. Rusanovskaya... An early variety, in a heated greenhouse, it can produce several harvests per year. The berries ripen together, have a rich color and a beautiful rounded shape. Stored well.
6. Honey... A very early ripe variety, the berries are large, bright red, conical in shape, have a rich sweet and sour taste and a delicate aroma. The variety tolerates temperature changes well, but is sensitive to soil nutrition (see photo below).

Entrepreneurs with experience in greenhouse farming recommend choosing varieties of Russian, Dutch, American and Polish selection. They take root well in protected ground, do not get sick and give good yields.

Greenhouse equipment rules

Even at the construction stage of the greenhouse it is important to think over the system heating. The most convenient option is to combine biofuels with artificial heating. An infrared cable or pipes are laid underground, through which warm air is chased. For heating, you can use an electric boiler or a fire, as well as stove stoves.

Prepare biofuelsby mixing horse, pork or goat manure with straw, spilling the mixture with water, covering with foil and leaving for several days. Rotted manure is laid out under the topsoil. This mixture maintains the temperature in the greenhouse up to 25ºC.

Very important point – soil preparation... Strawberries need a light mixture of equal parts of turf and humus with the addition of ash and mineral fertilizers.

To optimize acidity, a mixture of superphosphate and potassium chloride is suitable. The soil must be thoroughly loosened.

For suspended technologies, you can use a peat-perlite mixture, which must be steamed. The prepared substrate is poured into plastic sleeves and placed on racks installed along the walls of the greenhouse. Nutritious the mixture retains moisture well and accelerates the development of strawberry bushes. The Dutch system increases the yield of strawberries, allowing 8 kg of berries to be removed from one sleeve.

Strawberry care

The grown seedlings are planted in the greenhouse. With Dutch hanging technology, each bush is placed in a separate pot filled with nutrient medium. When planted in the ground, bushes placed in rows with a distance of 30-45 cm... To optimize irrigation and maintain the desired humidity level in the greenhouse, an automatic drip system should be installed.

The soil should not dry out, but flooding is also unacceptable. Stagnation of water in the soil provokes a disease with gray rot, which can ruin the crop. Humidity in the greenhouse should not fall below 80%... After the bushes take root, you need to ventilate the room daily.

Once every two weeks, it is required to apply mineral fertilizers: ammonium nitrate diluted in water and potassium chloride. After the beginning of flowering, you need increase the temperature gradually in the greenhouse, this will accelerate the ripening of the berries, make their taste bright and rich.

Accounting for income and expenses

Before starting work, a detailed business plan is drawn up, taking into account forthcoming expenses and projected income. The list of expenses must include:

• lease or purchase of land;
• building materials for greenhouses and the cost of its construction;
• greenhouse equipment (ventilation, irrigation, lighting);
• purchase of planting material, fertilizers and insecticides;
• fare;
• registration of a legal entity (required to work with retail chains);
• salary of hired personnel.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business, it is not cheap for a private owner.

Construction and equipment of a polycarbonate greenhouse with an area of ​​100 sq. m will cost 90,000 rubles. You will have to pay for heating and fertilizers from 15,000 rubles per month. Another 15,000 rubles will have to be spent on the purchase of planting material, about 10,000 rubles is the cost of registering a legal entity and obtaining certificates for products.

To reduce costs will help:

• use of combined fuels;
• growing seedlings on their own, from seeds;
• refusal from hired labor;
• replacing polycarbonate for covering the greenhouse with a cheaper film.

Calculate the estimated farm income. With a yield of 5 kg per 1 sq. m can be removed from 400 kg of berries. The average purchase price is 600 rubles per kilogram. Thus, profit from one greenhouse will be 240,000 rubles per month... The profitability of a business on strawberries in a greenhouse is from 50%.

In winter, the berry mark-up is increased by 1.5 times. This is due to a decrease in supply and high demand from retail chains. However, it should be borne in mind that heating costs also increase during this period.

Many farmers refuse from growing strawberries in winter, preferring earlier planting and an extension of the fruiting period until November.

If you decide to do another business of growing flowers, herbs, cucumbers, tomatoes or other vegetables in a greenhouse, then look at the articles on our website.

Entrepreneurs who decide to grow strawberries in winter should advance sign contracts with retail chains and enterprises Catering. This will help minimize scrap rates and stabilize income.

Among the various business ideas, not the last place is occupied by those related to the cultivation of various vegetable and berry crops. For example, someone is cultivating flowers, and someone is cultivating strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers. Looking at people making big money in the field of gardening, you involuntarily begin to think about creating your own business. Strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business is one of the most lucrative horticultural entrepreneurship ideas.

Strawberries in the greenhouse all year round as a business

Strawberry business: features

Everyone loves strawberries, especially children. At the same time, not only juicy and fresh berries are respected and loved, but also preparations from the fruits of this culture - jams, jams can become an excellent culinary ingredient or a real table decoration in winter. And "their own" fresh berry in the cold months is unattainable for many at all - unless defrosting frozen, but this is a completely different story. That is why fresh and aromatic strawberries have always been and will be in great demand on the market, especially in winter.

Strawberries in their own juice - a delicious treat for sale

In an ordinary summer cottage, the strawberry season begins, as a rule, in early or mid-summer. If you plant the bushes in a greenhouse, then you can have time to get another harvest of berries before the cold weather. But when the warm days are over, strawberries can be found only on store shelves. And, it is worth noting, sometimes for a very immodest price.That is why the strawberry business can rightfully be considered a great way to make money.

On a note! Profit from strawberries can be made all year round. In summer, this is the sale of berries for preparing blanks, while in winter, it is most likely that it will be on the table fresh.

If you believe the statistics, then every year in Russia there are more and more strawberry lovers. The consumption rate of this berry is constantly increasing by about 30%. This is why the idea of ​​investing in strawberry farming is a pretty good idea. Moreover, organizing such a business is not so expensive even for a novice businessman, especially if he is an avid gardener who is well acquainted with growing strawberries. Moreover, sometimes you need to make a capital investment only once.

Strawberry

On a note! Don't expect profits from growing strawberries instantly. First you need to work hard so that you can later enjoy the fruits of your labor.

However, it is important to remember that strawberries are a capricious plant, it is important for it to provide constant attention and proper care. Otherwise, there is a great risk of losing everything. But on the other hand, the plantation, which is carefully looked after, will repay a hundredfold, giving you a large harvest.

The best way to grow strawberries for profit is to grow them in a greenhouse.

Advantages of the strawberry greenhouse business:

• the opportunity to get a large harvest on modest areas - about 50 tons of berries can be harvested from 1 hectare of soil;
• good demand for products;
• independence from weather conditions and climatic zones - crops can be harvested throughout the year;
• minimum investment in an already built business;
• quick enough payback;
• the opportunity to find a permanent consumer and establish regular sales of goods.

Strawberries are always in demand

Disadvantages of growing strawberries as a business:

• large capital investments at the initial stage;
• attentive and caring care of the plants is necessary, the correct pollination process and long daylight hours (or the organization of additional lighting) are especially important.

In order to organize a strawberry growing business, you will have to attend to the preparation of permits. Of course, you can illegally cultivate this berry, but then you are unlikely to have regular customers, and it will be difficult to expand your business, because you cannot legally open retail outlets. The easiest way is to register individual entrepreneurship at first. At the same time, since you will be engaged in agricultural activities, your taxation will be more benign.

Forms of agribusiness

State subsidy scheme for agricultural projects

Video - Unified Agricultural Tax

On a note! You will also need official registration of an enterprise to take out loans from a bank or receive various subsidies and subsidies for small businesses - now such programs operate practically throughout Russia.

Lending to individuals, leading private household plots

How to make money on strawberries

To grow strawberries, you will also need a land plot of at least 120 m2, on which you will install industrial greenhouses, which should be equipped with racks for growing berries, lighting devices, and a drip irrigation system (to simplify the process of caring for the plantation at least a little). You may also need different gardening tools and labor - all this is important to consider when forming a business plan and calculating the timing of profitability.

Greenhouse strawberry business

The land plot can be rented or you can grow berries on your own (for a start - in small volumes). But it is better to immediately tune in to capital production, since "everything that is done for a while remains forever." This is our mentality.

It is also important to think about how to ensure a constant water supply to the plantation.It makes no sense to equip it far from pipelines or wells, since you will spend a lot of money on the supply of life-giving moisture.

Drawing up a plan for the water supply system will allow you to visualize the location of all the necessary elements

You will also need equipment for storing the harvested berries until they are sold. It will be quickly sold out with an established sales system, but until it is transferred to a store or restaurant, it needs to be stored somewhere.

Storing strawberries

You may also need, among other things, various fertilizers and additives for plants, and, of course, you must buy the plants themselves. Strawberries can be grown from seeds on their own, or you can purchase already grown seedlings and simply plant them on the site. In the second case, fruiting will begin earlier, but the cost of purchasing planting material will be higher.

Picking strawberries in the greenhouse

Profitability and sales

Growing strawberries pays off quickly, experts say. As a rule, it takes no more than one season for the profitability to reach 100%. The thing is that there will always be demand for strawberries. In the summer, of course, it drops somewhat, but in the winter you will be able to easily sell all the products you have grown. And the costs of organizing a business, as we have already said, are high only at first - this is the acquisition of a greenhouse and equipment, seedlings, lease of a plot, and so on.

Strawberry growing business: cost structure

In order for the business of growing strawberries to be successful, it is important to establish connections, thanks to which the sale of products will take place. Sales can be done in three ways.

1. Sale to shops, supermarkets, restaurants... It is important to enter into permanent supply contracts with these institutions. However, it should be remembered that both restaurants and shops will set high demands on the quality of the berry - it should not only be tasty, but also attractive.
2. Implementation through our own retail outlets... Not always a successful and profitable option, often unsold goods remain. But on the other hand, you can sell the berry at a higher price than in the first case. You will also have to spend money on shop equipment, rent and salary for the seller.
3. Home delivery... An option that can be organized in a large settlement. You can sell berries through websites or social networks. However, a good, explosive advertising campaign is very important.

There are several ways to market strawberries

On a note! In winter, you can make money on strawberries much faster than in summer, since it is during the cold season that the demand for it increases.

Also, when you have a berry, you will have to receive a series of documents in order to be able to sell the goods. This is a declaration of conformity to GOST and a phytosanitary certificate. Rosselkhoznadzor specialists can tell you how to get them - there are a lot of nuances that only they can explain.

Phytosanitary certificate

Strawberry greenhouse

What should be a greenhouse for growing strawberries all year round? To begin with, it is overhauled, has a foundation, and is insulated.

It is best to build a polycarbonate greenhouse for strawberries - this material retains heat much better than glass, but the film is not at all suitable as a covering material in winter. The easiest way is to purchase a ready-made greenhouse, install it on a foundation and be sure to think over a heating system in it. It is good if the structure also has a special vestibule for the winter, so as not to let out warm air from the room.

Tambour to the greenhouse

Also, the ventilation system should be thought out in the greenhouse - the plants need fresh air, besides, strawberries will be hot in summer.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse

Another important aspect is lighting.In the summer, the plants have enough light that will penetrate the polycarbonate, but in the winter you will have to additionally highlight the berry.

Types of planting strawberries

On a note! Strawberries can be grown in beds, or they can be cultivated according to the so-called Dutch technology - in bags. In the second case, you will need the arrangement of special shelving. By the way, they will perfectly help to more efficiently use the space in the greenhouse.

The Dutch method of growing strawberries can significantly reduce the cost of greenhouse equipment

The scheme of growing strawberries all year round in bags

The greenhouse must be equipped with a drip irrigation system. The fact is that strawberries do not like chaotic moisture, they like slow and gentle watering, which will not allow water to get on the delicate leaves of the plant and the berries themselves. And this is just a drip.

DIY drip irrigation

Varieties

An important aspect in organizing the strawberry business is the choice of the variety. This is also not such a simple matter.

To begin with, it is worth informing that strawberries for growing in a greenhouse are usually chosen:

• self-pollinatedthat does not need pollinating insects;
• renovation, which is able to bloom several times per season and bears fruit constantly.

Repair strawberry

On a note! Many gardeners consider remontant strawberries to be inferior in taste, but in reality this is not the case. These varieties also produce delicious harvests.

Table. Strawberry varieties for greenhouse cultivation.

Queen Elizabeth 2	It bears fruit with very large and beautiful, rather dense and juicy berries, which can weigh 50 g, and sometimes even all 125 g. The variety has a high yield - up to 5 kg of sweet berries can be harvested from one bush per season. The disadvantage is the need for annual renewal of the bushes to avoid chopping the crop.
Temptation F1	Gives smaller (up to 40 g) berries with a unique taste. Sufficiently dense and juicy fruits appear very quickly - just 1.5 months after planting the seedlings in the soil, you can harvest the first crop. From one bush, you can collect up to 1.5 kg of berries.
Albion	Gives medium-sized, but very tasty and aromatic berries. High-yielding variety (2 kg per bush). It begins to bloom immediately after rooting and therefore bears fruit early. Forms a little mustache.
Lyubava	Gives medium-sized, but very tasty and aromatic berries. High-yielding variety (2 kg per bush). It begins to bloom immediately after rooting and therefore bears fruit early. Forms a little mustache.
Ruyana	A variety that does not form whiskers and bears fruit actively. Gives fragrant and sweet berries weighing about 40 g. By the way, these are not even strawberries, but wild strawberries.

When choosing a variety, be sure to think about what conditions for normal development and growth, as well as fruiting, are needed for this or that species. For the strawberry business, those that do not react strongly to changes in daylight hours are best suited, they constantly bloom and bear fruit abundantly, and the berries are very tasty and fragrant.

It is recommended to grow for sale strawberries with high fruiting and constant flowering.

Growing strawberries

You can grow strawberries by seed or seedlings. The second is easier and more reliable, and you will get a harvest faster. Seedlings can be purchased at a specialized nursery. Buy one that has grown from a mustache of the first or second order. Having purchased seedlings, you need to plant them in a greenhouse. Berries can be grown using various technologies - according to tradition in the beds and in the Dutch way. Let's take a closer look at the traditional method.

Strawberry seedlings

Step 1. In the greenhouse, be sure to properly form the beds. They are usually 1 m wide, with small passages left between them. The best soil for strawberries is sprinkled with layers of gravel, sand and black soil (layer thickness 6, 10 and 8 cm, respectively).

Formation of beds in the greenhouse

Step 2. Fertilize the soil by adding some mineral fertilizers (for example, "Sulfoammophos") - about 10 g per m2.

Mineral fertilizers need to be applied to the soil

Step 3. Make the holes for the strawberry seedlings in a checkerboard pattern, approximately 30 cm apart and 10 cm deep.

Planting scheme for strawberry seedlings

One-Line Strawberry Planting Chart

On a note! Soak strawberry seedlings in a cool place for 2-3 days before planting.

Step 4. Pour lightly over each hole and place a strawberry bush in them. Dig them in.

Planting a strawberry seedling

Scheme of the correct planting of strawberries

Landing is complete. Now it remains to properly care for the berry. It is better to water the plants in the first 30 days every day, but little by little, and then switch to one-time watering in 5-8 days. The air temperature in the greenhouse should be at least +20 degrees, and better - all +25. Moisture indicators should be as follows: at the beginning of cultivation - about 85%, as the bushes grow - 75%, and during the flowering period - 70%. Daylight hours for strawberries should be at least 14 hours.

Strawberries in the greenhouse

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 ° С to + 25 ° С. More details - in this article.

You can also grow strawberries using Dutch technology, that is, in large polyethylene bags. They are filled with a mixture of peat and perlite. Holes are made in the film in a checkerboard pattern and seedlings are planted. Bags can be stacked on shelves, on the ground. By the way, strawberries are grown in this way in garages, on balconies, loggias. The main advantage of this technology is the lack of contact between the fruit and the ground, as well as saving free space.

Strawberries in hanging bags

Video - Growing strawberries all year round

As you can see, it is not so difficult to create a strawberry business - it is enough to have an insulated greenhouse and a little experience in the field of gardening. If you already have such a design, then you are welcome to join the ranks of businessmen-strawberry growers! The most important thing is a little courage and perseverance, as well as the desire to grow strawberries, and you will succeed.

The sweet aromatic strawberry is loved by children and adults. During the long winter months, people look forward to summer when they can savor its taste. Why wait so long? You can grow strawberries in a greenhouse in winter. Moreover, a profitably built business will bring considerable income.

What are the benefits of the strawberry business?

This is how nature ordered that the mass ripening of this tasty and beloved berry occurs at the beginning of summer. But, strawberries are grown and sold by many summer residents and farmers, so the competition between them is huge. However, at the end of the season, the berry cannot be found. The stores sell frozen strawberries. But it cannot be compared with a berry plucked from the garden.

An enterprising person can start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round and will not be disappointed in choosing a business. The main thing is to plant commercial varieties of berries that will be profitable. For reference: Russians' consumption of strawberries is increasing from year to year to fifty percent. This means that growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round can be a good investment of your own funds for the future. Of course, strawberries are a demanding plant. However, with proper care, this crop gives good yields and does not require significant costs.

How to register a business?

If you are convinced that growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round begins to bring a good income, start registering your business. This business is classified as an individual business and has a category of agricultural producer.A single tax is charged on this type of activity, not exceeding six percent. To carry out the cultivation of strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business, registration alone is not enough. You need to stock up on several certificates:

• The berry belongs to a certain variety.
• Fertilizer type with a brief summary of the composition of the mixture.
• License for the sale of strawberries.
• Declaration of conformity berries GOST indicating information about the quality of the product and compliance with all required standards.
• Sanitary certificate.

The profitability of the berry business

This concept means the return on all costs. This is the ratio between the profit received as a result of the sale of the product and the cost price. Moreover, the profitability of this business depends on the cost of all funds spent, plus a trade cape. If you first decide to start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round, you need to draw up a business plan taking into account all the pros and cons. It is better to turn to specialists for help.

The cost price includes all costs: the price of seedlings, fertilizers, salaries for strawberry care workers, rent for the premises, and so on. The Dutch method of growing berries is less expensive, which means that costs will be significantly reduced. If the business is not large enough, you can not hire employees, you can do it on your own. By saving on wages, employees also save money. For example, the average cost of one kilogram of strawberries in 2012 was one and a half dollars.

Significant profits can easily be made when the berry season is over by growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. The photo presented to your attention reminds of a delicious and aromatic berry, especially in winter, when strawberries are not easy to get. Therefore, you can set the desired price for the product, and thereby make a profit.

Strawberry realization

The entrepreneur has grown and harvested a good berry crop that meets all the requirements. The question arises about its marketing. Some do it on their own, having organized several points of sale in advance. But this is not always beneficial. During the winter season, up to eighty percent of strawberries are sold in supermarkets. If you are growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business, then long before harvesting, start looking for future customers for your products.

It should be borne in mind that stores have very high requirements, first of all, to the appearance of the berry: it must be clean, without leaves and twigs, the color is one-dimensional. If it is not possible to sell strawberries through a store, you can hand them over in bulk to processors: producers of juices, jams and other semi-finished products.

Growing strawberries in bags

How to grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round in bags. And watering both lighting and pollination are easier to accomplish using Dutch technology. First you need to find and equip a room, the area of ​​which depends on your needs. You can use a balcony if its area allows. A prerequisite is maintaining the temperature regime: during the day - twenty-five degrees, at night - eighteen. You need to stock up on plastic bags and patience, since it is troublesome to grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round.

In polyethylene bags, longitudinal holes are made in a checkerboard pattern, only four rows. The length of the hole is eight centimeters, and the distance between them is twenty-four. Young strawberry bushes are planted in these holes. Bags, fifteen centimeters in diameter and up to two and a half meters high, are placed on the floor in one tier. If they are smaller or the height of the room allows, multi-tiered placement is allowed. 2-3 bags filled with a mixture of peat and perlite are placed per square meter of area.

Sowing seeds directly into bags is ineffective. Better to buy seedlings or grow them yourself. She must hibernate before landing. To do this, use a freezer or cold basement. In this matter, the prospect is good: after the first year harvest, you will have your own seedlings.

Future plantings need to be provided with food. For this, an irrigation system should be built. Dropper tubes are suitable, which lead to each bag: from the bottom, top and middle at a distance of 55 centimeters. The ends of the tubes are connected to a pipeline located above the bags, each of which requires two liters of water per day.

Lighting plays an important role in growing strawberries. It should be adjusted so as to be as close to natural as possible. For 8-12 hours a day, the lamps should be turned on, and the rest of the time they should be turned off.

Strawberries in the greenhouse. Advantages

• The possibility of growing berries all year round.
• No dependence on weather conditions. It's no secret that rain and dampness reduce yields by 25 percent. The berries in the greenhouse are not affected by these phenomena.
• There is no need for additional land resources.
• The costs associated with growing the berries pay off in just one season.
• Strawberries grown in a greenhouse are better accepted for sale by supermarkets.
• The great demand for berries in winter makes it possible to earn decent money.
• It is easier to care for a crop in a greenhouse than in an open-air garden.
• The business profitability indicator can be close to one hundred percent.

Disadvantages of growing strawberries in a greenhouse

If you decide to build a berry business, the question will surely arise how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round for sale. Take your time with an answer and do not make hasty decisions. The fact is that here, as in any business, there are problems.

• First you need to solve the issue with heating. If it is not in view of the limited funds, you can immediately forget about the idea of ​​growing strawberries all year round.
• Growing crops in greenhouse conditions at the initial stage will require funds, and considerable ones. First you need to build a greenhouse with a system of artificial lighting, irrigation and pollination. Purchase all the necessary equipment and planting material.
• The problem is the constant care of the plants. Not everyone can do this on their own. Sooner or later the question of hiring auxiliary workers will arise. And these are additional costs. It may be cheaper for someone to grow strawberries outdoors. Everyone evaluates their own capabilities.

Types of greenhouses

• Premises with a film coating. Such greenhouses for growing strawberries require a minimum of costs. This is probably why they are available to novice gardeners. But, there is a huge disadvantage: the film does not protect plants from frost in winter. The greenhouse cannot be properly heated. So in a harsh climate, using such greenhouses is very risky.
• Glass greenhouses are rather bulky structures that need a foundation. But they can be heated, and the walls are transparent.

• It is advisable to build polycarbonate greenhouses for organizing a serious business for many years, since such premises have a long service life, they are durable and lightweight, although they are the most expensive.

How to grow planting material?

First you need to plant a plant, and then start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. Business directly depends on the quality of the planting material. Its preparation has some peculiarities. Self-grown seedlings will reduce the cost of purchasing them. You can get a plant for planting in different ways.

One of them is the use of young rosettes, for which in the fall, before the onset of frost, you need to carefully dig out the rooted young antennae from the uterine plantations.Freshly prepared seedlings with open roots should be stored in a basement or refrigerator, with an air temperature of 0- + 2 degrees. But, some experienced field growers-entrepreneurs consider it unprofitable to allocate special areas for mother plantations. This brings losses.

Cassette seedlings

Based on the rich experience of Russian growers, cassette seedlings are a better option if you start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. The yield when planting this type of seedlings is much higher. The overgrown root system quickly takes root and fully provides the plant with useful nutrition. It will take about one and a half months to get cassette seedlings.

To do this, young antennae are separated from the mother plants and placed for one hour in a cool room, 0- + 1 degrees for cooling. Then they are planted in plastic containers with cells, having previously filled them with a nutritious earthy mixture. After 2-3 days, the roots grow by 3-4 centimeters, and after 10 days the root system is completely formed.

In the first month, it is necessary to ensure that direct sunlight does not fall on the seedlings. Only after five weeks can young plants be taken out into the sun. By this time, the cell is filled with roots, and it may well transfer the transplant to a permanent place of growth. Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round should start with the use of self-pollinated remontant varieties such as Korona, Kimberly, Florence, Marmolada, Khonei, Anannasovaya, Selva, Sakhalinskaya and others. Otherwise, you will have to manually pollinate each flower. Strawberry Festival Daisy, Junia Smides is ideal if you are growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round in Siberia. These varieties are typical of the high-yielding industrial type of the crop.

Berry business in the greenhouse

You can successfully build your own strawberry business indoors with sufficient funds. A year before planting in the greenhouse, it is necessary to begin the preparation of planting material in the open field. The soil should be chosen slightly acidic, loamy or neutral. There should be enough humus in it. For reference: in order to occupy 1 hectare of greenhouse area with strawberry seedlings, you need to lay a mother plantation in the open field of 150 square meters.

Specialists and amateur gardeners know several ways by which you can get planting material. But, the most fruitful are seedlings from two-year-old plants. They are transplanted into heated greenhouses in the fall, in October-November, according to the 20x30 cm scheme. In dry weather, young plants should be watered.

Greenhouse strawberry care

When flowering begins, the greenhouse needs regular ventilation. This reduces air humidity and associated plant diseases. At this time, fertilizing is carried out using carbon dioxide. After it is carried out, fruiting occurs earlier and the yield increases.

Strawberries are demanding on hydration. But the water should not fall on the plants, watering is carried out at the very root. In Western countries, the soil in the greenhouse is covered with a black film. It does not allow the berry to come into contact with the ground, weeds grow more slowly, and the ground retains heat better than a film of a different color.

In the greenhouse, a procedure for artificial pollination of strawberries is carried out. On small plantations, this is done by hand 2-3 times a day. After a few days, pollination is repeated. If the greenhouse occupies huge areas, then hives with bees are placed in it during flowering.

The strawberries are harvested from mid-March to the end of April under artificial lighting; without it, the berries are harvested at the end of March - mid-May.

Strawberries are considered the most popular berry loved by both adults and children, which is why the business of growing it in a greenhouse has a very high profitability... It is also worth considering the fact that in the off-season, the cost of this berry increases several times, but the demand remains at the same level, which allows you to get significant income.

Can strawberries be grown all year round?

In order to build a profitable strawberry business, you need to think over all the details of berry reproduction and decide on the method and place of cultivation.:

1. Growing strawberries outdoors in the country, you can get a rich harvest, but marketing it will be quite difficult. The main role in this issue is played by the seasonality factor and great competition for this period. Also, we must not forget about the weather, which, with unfavorable indicators, can destroy most of the berry plantations;
2. The greenhouse method is the most profitable, because when using it, you can pick ripe fruits not only in late spring and early summer, but also at other times of the year. A correctly selected complex of varieties will allow you to get a continuous harvest and, accordingly, profit all year round. The berries grown in the greenhouse will be protected from the effects of natural factors.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round

Using greenhouses, you can grow strawberries all year round, but you should carefully study all the factors and protect yourself from all kinds of risks. First of all, it should be noted that such a business will be profitable only in areas with warm or temperate climates.... In harsher conditions, you will have to spend more money on heating and lighting the greenhouse, which will create additional costs.

Pros and cons of the strawberry business

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse is well suited for your own business and has many advantages:

• Strawberries are a very popular berry, so finding sales channels is not difficult... You can sell the crop both for fresh sale and for processing;
• Low enough competition - the main peak of strawberry sales is the seasonal period, but the rest of the time the berries are in short supply and therefore the price for them increases several times;
• When growing fruits in a greenhouse there is no need to be afraid that the amount of the crop will decrease due to unfavorable weather conditions;
• Using modern methods of growing berries in a greenhouse, you can grow the largest yield in the smallest area;
• The strawberry business is very pays off quickly.

The minimum area required to start a business is just a few square meters

Also, this type of earnings have significant drawbacks that should be taken into account when building a business plan.:

• High cost of greenhouses and other equipment, because of which it will be necessary to prepare a solid start-up capital;
• Strawberries require constant care and favorable living conditions, that is, when growing it, you will have to carefully monitor the level of lighting, heating, soil moisture and other indicators. For novice gardeners, the main difficulty may be the need for artificial pollination;
• High heating cost and electricity.

The strawberry business is best suited for seasoned gardeners looking to capitalize on their hobby. The main difficulty of such a business of its own lies in the competent cultivation of berries, while making a profit from the sale of a high-quality crop will always be at a high level.

Where to start a strawberry business?

Before you start growing strawberries, you need to prepare the land and the greenhouse. It is also very important to competently treat the choice of the cultivated variety.

Soil preparation for growing berries

Growing strawberries in greenhouses in winter can be done using sod land

To start growing berries on an industrial scale it will be enough to purchase 1 hectare of land... With a small start-up capital, the required plot can be rented.

According to the majority of businessmen, the most profitable will be a land plot located near the city and directly by the highway. In this case, it will be possible to significantly save on transportation of the crop.

One of the most important nuances will be the selection of a soil mixture for growing berries. Strawberries take root and bear fruit in the best way on the soil, consisting of the following components:

• 2 pieces of turf;
• 1 part of humus;
• Ash;
• Mineral fertilizers;
• In order to reduce the level of acidity of the soil, superphosphate, potassium chloride or ammonium nitrate are added to it.

Before planting seedlings, the ground must be loosened.

Greenhouse selection

For organizing a profitable business, polycarbonate greenhouses are best suited. In total, there are three types of greenhouses, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.:

1. Frame greenhousescovered with a film is the cheapest option, moreover, such a structure is very quickly installed. The disadvantage of this greenhouse will be insufficient protection of plantings in the winter;
2. Glass greenhouses are also suitable for running a strawberry business. A heating system can be installed in such structures, and the glass surface allows sunlight to pass through well, so that the best conditions for plants can be created. The downside of the structure will be its size and the need to build a foundation;
3. Polycarbonate greenhouses it is the most expensive, but at the same time the most advantageous option for strawberry farming. Additional heating and lighting can be installed in them, polycarbonate also transmits sunlight well. The structure of the greenhouse is light and durable, and can last for a long period of time.

At the initial stage, it is possible to build 3 greenhouses measuring 30 by 40 meters. One such construction will cost 80-100 thousand rubles.

Necessary equipment

In order to get a harvest not only in summer, but also at other times, it is necessary to install additional lighting and heating in the greenhouse, with which you can get the optimal microclimate for strawberries.

To create an artificial heating system of the structure, an infrared cable or pipes are laid underground, through which warm air will be driven. For heating, you can use an electric boiler or stove stoves.

There are different ways to heat a winter greenhouse.

Additional lighting plays a huge role when growing strawberries during seasons with short daylight hours. Best suited for 400 watt sodium lampswith which you can create an imitation of sunlight. One lamp should be one meter above the plant and illuminate no more than 1 square meter of area.

To improve light diffusion, special reflectors can be installed.

Considering that strawberries tolerate drip irrigation well, it is necessary to build a special system, which will consist of a barrel of water installed above the racks with plants and a rubber tube lying on the surface of the ground. Small holes are made in the rubber pipe, the number of which should be equal to the number of bushes.

Strawberry drip irrigation system

Choosing a strawberry variety

In order for the business to generate a sufficient amount of profit, it is necessary to grow tasty and beautiful berries that will please the consumer. Which varieties are most suitable for growing in a greenhouse? For planting in greenhouses, you should choose remontant varieties that do not require artificial pollination..

Self-pollinated varieties with large, regular-shaped, bright red colored berries are best suited for business. The presence of a rich aroma is encouraged.It is also necessary to pay attention to the density of the fruit, because the portability of transportation and the shelf life depend on it.

The most popular are the following strawberry varieties:

• Alba;
• Daryonka;
• Octave;
• Sonata;
• Rusanovskaya;
• Honey, etc.

For best results, different types of plants (early maturing, mid-maturing and late-maturing) are planted in each greenhouse. Thus, a continuous crop flow can be ensured.

Planting and leaving

Planting and caring for strawberries is the most responsible part of the work, because the quantity and quality of the harvested crop depends on it.

When planting strawberries in a greenhouse, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Before placing the seedlings in a permanent place, it kept in a dark and cool room for several days with a temperature of +2 degrees;
2. Using Dutch suspension technology each seedling is placed in a separate pot filled with a nutritious substrate;
3. If the bushes are planted in the ground, then the distance between the rows should be 35-40 centimeters, and between individual plants 20-25 centimeters;
4. During landing you can not bury the heart of the plant;
5. The final step will be watering planted bushes.

In order for the strawberry to feel comfortable, adhere to the following indicators:

• immediately after landing the temperature in the greenhouse is gradually increased from 10 to 22 degrees, with the beginning of flowering, this indicator is increased to 25 degrees;
• humidity should be equal to 75-80 percent;
• daylight hours should be equal to 10-12 hours.

Water the strawberries with a drip method as the soil dries. Once every 7-10 days after watering, the soil is gently loosened.

When growing plants, it is very important to remove weeds in time, cut off excess tendrils, shoots and damaged leaves.

Pollinate strawberries using soft brushes or intensive ventilation. Some gardeners set up hives in the greenhouse.

Once every 14-20 days, the soil must be fertilized with ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride diluted in water... It is also very important to carry out preventive treatments for diseases and insects.

As soon as the strawberries are ripe, you can start picking berries. It is best to do this job manually. In this case, the berries will not hesitate and retain their presentable appearance.

Sales of manufactured products

After the strawberries are harvested, you need to sell them. It should be noted that even the most mature strawberry varieties do not have a long shelf life, therefore, it is best to think over the distribution channels in advance and conclude a supply agreement at the same time.

Freshly harvested strawberries in crates

There are several common ways to sell products:

• sale of berries to shops, supermarkets and other retail outlets;
• you can also strawberries sell to various processing plants, restaurants, etc .;
• the product can be sold through own outlets.

Selling fresh and tasty strawberries is easy enough because they are in high demand both in summer and winter.

Profitability of the strawberry business

Before starting your own business, you need to calculate the start-up capital, regular expenses and income received.

In the event that you do not have your own land plot, you will have to spend 1,250,000 rubles to open a business, while the costs are divided into the following components:

• purchase of a land plot - 500,000 rubles;
• construction and equipment of polycarbonate greenhouses - 550,000 rubles;
• the purchase of seedlings is made on the basis that 1200 plants are placed in one greenhouse - 3 greenhouses * 1200 seedlings * 50 rubles, the final sum will be 180,000 rubles;
• registration of a business and obtaining all necessary documents - 20,000 rubles.

If you have your own land plot with an area of ​​1 hectare, the start-up capital will significantly decrease to 750,000 rubles.

The profitability of the strawberry growing business is quite high

In addition to the expenses described above, you should consider the annual costs:

• payment for electricity and heating - 20,000 rubles;
• payment for other utilities - 5,000 rubles;
• fertilizers, processing, etc. - 10,000 rubles;
• other expenses - 10,000 rubles.

It is also worth considering the fact that every 2-3 years the strawberry plantings will have to be updated and if you do not prepare the seedlings yourself, you will have to re-purchase the seedlings.

With the right selection of varieties, you can get up to 5-6 harvests of berries. Their cost will depend on the season:

1. Spring and summer harvest will cost 108,000 rubles (360 kilograms * 3 greenhouses * 100 rubles);
2. Autumn-winter harvest will bring much more profit, namely 270,000. This is due to the fact that this season a kilogram of strawberries will cost 250 rubles.

The strawberry business can bring huge profits and pay off in 1-2 years. The main condition for the success of the business will be the production of quality products, namely tasty and attractive berries.

Sample business plan

Strawberries are popular all year round, both in summer and winter, so this business will never have problems with customers.

A business plan for the production of strawberries is built by each entrepreneur independently. It should include all the individual characteristics of the future business. Adhering to the general scheme, the drawn up plan should contain the following points:

1. Full information about cultivated strawberries (variety, germination, fruiting timing, yield, care features, etc.);
2. Area and detail description of greenhouses;
3. The ratio of supply and demand in the market, the presence of competitors and other similar factors;
4. Industrial plan;
5. Full costings;
6. Revenue forecasts, plans for future profits;
7. Financial risks and the possibility of their minimization.

The production plan includes all data related to the cultivation of strawberries (preparation of the greenhouse and seedlings, planting, care, berry picking, etc.) and plans for the sale of the resulting crop.

A business built on year-round strawberry cultivation, pays off very quickly and can bring good income... Before starting your own business, you need to calculate everything to the smallest detail in order to avoid failure at the initial stages.