eBusiness Weekly
Strawberry production can be very profitable, however, there are multiple variables which have to be effectively and efficiently managed.
In Zimbabwe and most of SADC countries small-scale farming business ventures usually revolve around Poultry, market gardening and partially domestic potato farming however strawberries do provide a good farming investment alternative which is not capital intensive. In addition, the markets are diverse ranging from export (overseas and regional) and formal domestic (retail and hospitality entities) and informal markets such Street and ordinary vendors. Strawberry farming, however, is very technical for it to be rewarding and the following are the most essential.
Nursery establishment site
◆ Selected site should be far from other strawberry fields to reduce the chances of the infection with nematodes and viruses.
◆ The site should be free from frost.
Soil
Always make sure you have deep well-drained soil which is most desirable for such a crop.
Fertilisation
◆ Fertiliser re commendations for runner and field production.
◆ 300kg/ha preferably Tobacco Fert 6:24:20 or 5:15:12 which should be broadcast and disced into the soil before planting.
◆ 3-4 weeks after planting top dress with 200kg/ha compound J coffee fertiliser (14:6:20).
Three top dressings of 100kg/ha of Ammonium nitrate is sufficient.
Spacing
◆ Plants should be established on raised beds (1-m-1,2 m wide) or ridges spaced 0,90 cm apart
◆ A spacing of 1mX1m is best for runner production. Spacing for fruit production is 30 cmX30cm.
Planting
◆ Trim roots to about 10cm. Remove all leaves except one or two (this minimises transpiration).
◆ Spread the roots before covering in the soil. The plant is then set with the crown just above ground level. It is best to plant in moist soil and irrigate immediately.
Irrigation
◆ Irrigation should be filled to capacity at planting and during the first 4 weeks, watering 3 times a week.
◆ Water should be increased during hot days and reduced at cooler times.
Pests
◆ Aphids and other pests should be controlled by spraying every two weeks with Dimethoate-Thionex, Thiodan, Carbaryl and Malathion can also be used.
◆ Bravo or Benomyl alternated with Dithane M45 applied once or twice a week will control most fungal pathogens.
Harvesting
◆ Runners should be lifted in February/ March. When lifting daughter plants, the mother plants (branch crowns) should always be discarded. An average of 35-40 runner plants per mother plant can be expected.
Field planting
◆ Soils as previously stated, should be deep well drained, light soils with plenty of compost (20-30t/ha).
◆ pH should be in the range of 5.5-6.5 (CaCl2 scale)
Field preparation
◆ Raised beds (1m-1,2m) 0,9 apart or ridges are recommended.
◆ The strawberry crop should not follow after a crop susceptible to verticillium wilt (such as tomato and potato).
Fertilisation
◆ Pre planting: 500-750 SSP/HA and 200 kg K2SO4/ha broadcast and mixed in a depth of 30cm.
◆ After establishment (at 4 weeks):75-100kg AN/ha as top dressing and 100 kg K2SO4/ha from commencement of active growth at monthly intervals.
Planting time
◆ February to April is the best time to plant. Spacing should be 30cmx45cm raised beds. Closer spacing may be used if planting is used if planting is late to compensate for the small size of the resulting plants.
◆ Plant population of 45 000 plants/ha.
Mulching
◆ UV stabilised black or clear plastic or rye grass can be used as mulch.
◆ Strawberries can also be used in tunnels.
Irrigation
◆ Frequent light irrigations are recommended as strawberries are also shallow rooted.
Frost
◆ A frost free site should be selected.
◆ Straw mulch should be used where/when there is danger of frost e.g. during winter.
Harvesting
Fruit should be harvested at red ripe stage (130-135 days after planting for the early plant crop). The harvesting may last for 2-3 or more weeks. For shipping berries: berries should be harvested a bit earlier. The fruit will colour fully after harvesting.
Post harvesting handling
◆ Harvesting should be done with minimal damage as the crop is very perishable.
◆ The fruit should be picked with the stalk attached, placed in shallow punnets and cooled to remove field heat.
Rolinda
◆ High yielding with rather soft, small berries. It has some resistance to mites.
Rovelle
◆ Very firm, among the hardest. Has a good flavour.
Selekta
◆ It has firm, large conical berries. Selekta is very popular in taste and appearance. The flavour is good in winter but rather tart in summer.
Tioga
◆ An earlier cropper, usually earlier than Selekta. Have large berries that are firm through out the season. The flavour is superior to Parfaite and can be better than Selekta. It has a uniform ripening and is more resistant to mites. Has been grown under tunnels.
Tiobelle
◆ Has firm, conicaaly shapped and dark coloured fruit very floribundant.
Rollisa
◆ Fairly highly yielding with small berries. The flavour is good.
Rorine
◆ Has medium sized berries with a flavour that can be better than Rolisssa.
◆ A good year yielder.
N.B: Flavour in strawberries depends on the cultivar but might be influenced by other factors such as locality cultural practices, in particular of fertilisation.
Pests
◆ Nematodes are the most important.
◆ Aphids and mites might also cause problems.
Morestan and some other acaricide can be used against mites. Full cover sprays of Dimethoate at a rate of 75ml/100l water eill control mited.
◆ White grubs — Larvae of several beetles-feed primarily on grass roots but can cause severe damage to strawberries. Thiodan (drench) can be used as a control. IOt will also control cutworms.
Diseases
Verticulum Wilt, which is soil borne, can be controlled avoiding planting after solanaceous crop. — https://afrostain.co.zw
