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Strawberry Farming Tips: It may seem difficult to grow strawberries in the plains, but in this changing era of farming, if the right technology is adopted, this crop can be as successful as in the mountains. If farmers pay attention to these four things – weather, soil, mulching and irrigation from the beginning, then excellent yield of strawberries can be achieved even in less space and less time.
Gonda: In this era of technology, strawberry cultivation is no longer limited to hilly areas only. By adopting modern technology, mulching and proper irrigation system, abundant yield of strawberries can be obtained even in the plains. It is an early fruiting and high value crop grown in less space. If farmers pay attention to some important things like weather, soil preparation, quality plant selection, mulching, irrigation and disease control, then strawberry cultivation can prove to be very profitable.
Praveen Kumar Singh, a progressive farmer from Gonda, tells Local 18 that he was the first to start strawberry cultivation on a commercial level in the district and he has been cultivating it successfully for the last four years. A farmer cultivating strawberries should monitor his fields daily, because the plants are very delicate. Through regular inspection, it can be known which plants are showing initial effects of the disease, so that treatment can be done on time.
The biggest advantage of mulching
Praveen Kumar explains that the entire basis of strawberry cultivation rests on mulching. For this, raised beds are first prepared and plastic mulch is spread on them. Due to this, strawberry fruits do not come in direct contact with the soil. Since strawberry fruits are very soft, as soon as they fall into the soil, they start spoiling, rot and become unmarketable. Mulching prevents the fruits from spoiling and also controls the growth of weeds in the field, due to which the plants continue to get adequate nutrition.
How to prepare the field: Before cultivating strawberries, it is very important to do deep plowing of the field and make the soil friable. If the soil is not prepared, the plants quickly become weak and fruiting is affected.
Selecting the right plant: Q.Veen believes that in strawberry farming, the plant itself is the foundation of production. If the quality of the plant is bad then the yield will also be less, hence plants should be purchased from reliable and certified nurseries only.
Correct method of irrigation: Drip irrigation is considered best for strawberry cultivation, because it provides controlled amount of moisture to the plants and there is less risk of fruit rot. If drip is not available then irrigation can be done in the drains made on both sides of the bed. By keeping the height of the bed 8 to 10 centimeters, moisture remains easily available to the plants. Keep in mind that excess water rots strawberries immediately, so always irrigate carefully.
