General Information on Strawberry Cultivation
Planting Material for Successful Cultivation
One of the basic requirements for successful cultivation is selecting the right planting material and taking local conditions into account.
Here is a brief overview:
• Fresh Plants They have a planting period from July through early August and require well-established soil or growing medium. The advantage of
leafy greens is an early harvest with excellent fruit quality.
• Plugplants They are planted between July and August, preferably in natural soil or a growing medium. One advantage of this planting method is that the plants can be planted quickly in the growing medium.
• When it comes to Frigo plants, a distinction is first made between the different types and thicknesses (rhizome diameter). The Frigo A and A- plant types have a planting period from March to July, whereas the Frigo A+ type can be used for a scheduled crop. Growing the plants in soil or a growing medium is highly recommended.
• Waiting bed plants are ideal for use with greenhouse, raised-bed, and early-season crops. The best conditions for this type of plant are
well-established soil or substrate. Special care should be taken here to avoid heat stress.
• Tray plants are very well suited for a schedule-based cultivation system using tunnel cultivation in the summer and in greenhouses. For soil cultivation,
we recommend growing media.
• Everbearing Varieties They bloom and bear fruit continuously for several months during the growing season and are, among other things,
recommended for growing in growing media in plastic tunnels and greenhouses. With proper planning, they ensure nearly year-round cultivation.
Cultivation Methods
Standard Cultivation/Ground Cultivation
For traditional strawberry cultivation, Standard (A) cold-hardy plants are suitable for planting in the spring, or green plants in August. No yield is produced in the first year; yields are achieved only in the following year. The desired harvest period and fruit quality are influenced, among other factors, by the choice of variety.
Ridged Cultivation
A common cultivation method is ridged cultivation, which can be carried out at a wide variety of spacing and ridge heights. Although this method entails additional costs compared to flat-ground cultivation, the effort is worthwhile due to a “slight” advancement in ripening, higher yields, better fruit quality, and fewer diseases. Likewise, the plant is cultivated in soil that is very well aerated and kept uniformly moist. Ridge cultivation protects the strawberry plant from waterlogging, as water can drain away easily. The ridge is created in the field using a ridge tiller and covered with black mulch film. Drip lines are then laid within the ridge to ensure a steady supply of water and nutrients.
Term Cultivation
Staggered harvesting is particularly advantageous in strawberry cultivation when the goal is to harvest fruit of a single variety at a consistent quality over an extended period. This cultivation method uses vigorous “Frigo” strawberry plants or plants grown in nursery beds. Depending on weather conditions, it takes about 7–9 weeks from planting to harvest. The plants are set at intervals (e.g., every 14 days) to enable a long harvest period. In Austria, this cultivation method is recommended only for protected cultivation and, ideally, in combination with shading or cooling of the plants.
Substrate Cultivation
Substrate cultivation is a specialized form of strawberry cultivation in greenhouses or tunnels. One advantage of this method is the ability to choose any location, and it also eliminates the risk of numerous leaf and root diseases. The strawberry seedlings are planted in a rack system in substrate bags or pots, or directly into substrate beds. In this cultivation method, very vigorous tray, nursery bed, or Frigo A+ plants are often used, which can yield the highest possible harvests.
Specialized consultation is absolutely essential for managing and fertilizing a substrate culture.
Choosing a Site for Strawberry Cultivation
Important factors in selecting a site include soil conditions, location, and plant health. If possible, the soil should have a loose structure to ensure good regulation of water and air. When ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients, it is important to note that the majority of the roots are located in the top 20 cm, while individual roots can extend up to 100 cm into the soil. A soil test or analysis of previous crops can provide very useful information. Soil compaction must be avoided at all costs, as it leads to reduced yields. It is also important to avoid waterlogging, as this can promote disease, and, whenever possible, sites at risk of late frost should be avoided. For crop rotation, cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and corn are recommended as preceding crops, whereas crops such as potatoes, sunflowers, or sugar beets should be avoided.
Plant Requirements
| Frigo plants | 40.000 – 55.000 plants/ha |
| Fresh plants | 40.000 – 55.000 plants/ha |
| Plugplants | 40.000 – 55.000 plants/ha |
| Waiting bed plants | 60.000 – 90.000 plants/ha |
| Tray plants | 60.000 – 90.000 plants/ha |
Important Information on Handling and Planting
• Frigo plants
• Tray plants
• Mini-Tray plants
• Waiting bed plants
• Long-Cane-plants
The plant types listed above are stored at -1°C to -2°C in dormancy before shipment. Before they are ready for planting, they should be allowed to thaw for 1–2 days in a cool, shaded place. It is essential to ensure that the plants and roots are not exposed to direct sunlight at this stage, as this will cause them to begin sweating.
If planting is not yet possible due to other circumstances, the plants can be stored in a dark, cool room for up to about 1 week. However, it is important to check the plants daily to ensure they do not dry out and that condensation or mold does not form.
• Plugplants
If you are unable to plant the plants immediately upon receipt, you can store them on the pallet in a cool, shaded place for a maximum of 1–2 days. After that, it is important to lay out the planting trays—also in a cool place—and water them. The root ball should always be moist enough to prevent the plant from drying out and sustaining damage.
• Fresh plants
Bare-root fresh plants should be planted out as soon as possible after receipt. The sooner they are planted out, the lower the risk of plant loss. For successful cultivation of fresh plants, it is important to water them thoroughly several times a day for at least one week after planting. The plant’s leaves must remain moist at all times to prevent them from drying out.
Growing in Tunnels
From Beginners to Professionals
Tunnel cultivation is becoming increasingly popular. This growing method offers a good way to reduce some of the production and marketing risks. In addition, the first farms are beginning to grow crops in substrate.
You can find more detailed information—from planning and preparation to detailed crop management—under our projects.