Questions & Answers
on Strawberry Cultivation

Conventional Cultivation/Ground Cultivation

For traditional strawberry cultivation, Frigo plants are suitable for planting in the spring, as are fresh plants or plugplants in August. No yield is achieved in the year of planting; yields are not realized until the following year. The desired harvest period and fruit quality are influenced, among other factors, by the choice of variety.

Ridged Cultivation

Ridged cultivation is a common method that can be carried out with a wide variety of row spacings 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, after which the drip hose is laid, followed by a black mulch film placed over it.

Staggered Harvesting

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 waiting bed plants. 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 culture is a specialized method of growing strawberries in greenhouses or tunnels. One advantage of this method is the ability to choose any location, and it also eliminates the risk of many leaf and root diseases. The strawberry seedlings are planted in a growing system in substrate bags or pots, or directly into substrate beds. In this cultivation method, very vigorous tray, waiting bed plants, or Frigo A+ plants are often used, which can yield the highest possible harvests.
For substrate cultivation, specialized advice on irrigation, fertilization, and crop management is absolutely essential.

Substrate cultivation is a specialized form of berry fruit cultivation in greenhouses, tunnels, or under rain covers. It is also used in cultivation with substrate furrows or ridges, or in rack-based systems. In this method, very vigorous tray-grown, waiting-bed, or Frigo A+ strawberry plants are used, which can achieve the highest yields.

Planning irrigation and fertigation is crucial for successful substrate cultivation. A professional assessment of the irrigation water through water analysis is recommended. An optimal supply of water and nutrients can be ensured using drip hoses, individual drippers, or pipe sprinkler systems.

Advantages of substrate cultivation:

• Flexibility in location: No need to set up and take down tunnels annually; new land is not strictly necessary
• Water and nutrient management: Targeted supply, good water-holding capacity
• Optimal root growth: Air-permeable, loose texture, high calcium content
• Better fruit quality: Fruits of uniform size, with good picking efficiency
• Higher yields: Supported by adequate water and nutrient supply
• Soil exhaustion: Cultivated soil is preservd
• Timely cultivation: More precise planning of the harvest period
• Protected cultivation: Weed-free, prevention of leaf and root diseasese

Points to consider for substrate cultivation:

• Reliable water source and water quality: A well, pond, or municipal water supply should be available
• Irrigation system designed for up to 12 irrigation cycles per day
• Daily crop inspection: Daily and regular inspection of the crop is essential
• Specialized consulting: For substrate cultivation, specialized consulting on irrigation, fertilization, and crop management is absolutely essential

One of the most important factors for the ideal cultivation of berry plants is soil quality. Substrate cultivation makes it possible to grow plants in a soil-independent and targeted manner. This sustainable material is derived from the fibrous layer of the coconut. It consists of pure coconut pulp or coconut fibers.

We source the coconut substrate we use from the innovative company Botanicoir in Sri Lanka. We were able to see the high quality of their products for ourselves during an on-site visit.

The substrate is compressed and then packaged into blocks, briquettes, or planting bags. This ensures it is optimally prepared for its intended use.

View the products—click here!

• Fresh plants have a planting window from late July to late August and require mature soil or substrate. The advantage of foliage plants is an early harvest with top-quality fruit. It is important to ensure that the plants are watered sufficiently for about 7 days after planting.
• Plugplants are planted between late July and late August, preferably in well-established soil or substrate. A key advantage of this planting method is that it can be done quickly by hand. Due to the diameter of their root balls, plugplants are not suitable for every planting machine.
• For Frigo plants, a distinction is made in advance 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.
• Waiting-bed plants are ideal for greenhouse, raised-bed, and scheduled-harvest crops. The best conditions for this plant type are well-established soil or substrate. Special care should be taken here to avoid heat stress.
• Tray plants and mini-tray plants are very well suited for scheduled cultivation in the form of tunnel cultivation in the summer and in greenhouses. For soil cultivation, we recommend using a growing medium.
• Everbearing varieties bloom and bear fruit continuously for several months during the growing season and are recommended, among other things, for growing in growing media in plastic tunnels and greenhouses. With proper planning, they ensure cultivation almost year-round.

When it comes to strawberry plants, the first distinction is between once-bearing and remontant varieties. Once-bearing plants produce fruit once per season, whereas remontant varieties bear fruit continuously throughout almost the entire season.

Strawberry varieties are classified into the following categories based on their ripening time:

• Early-ripening varieties (once-bearing varieties)
• Mid-season varieties (once-bearing varieties)
• Late-season varieties (once-bearing varieties)
• Remontant varieties (everbearing varieties)

-regardless of the yield

Frigo plants

Frigo plants are packed in wooden crates for shipment. There are different packaging units, which depend on the thickness of the plant.
Frigoplants are classified into categories based on rhizome diameter (root collar): A, A+, A++, A, B. Depending on the propagator and variety, there are different gradations. A-grade or standard-grade plants typically have a diameter between 9 mm and 14 mm.

Fresh plants

The bare-root fresh plants are packed in wooden crates for shipment. There are different packaging units, which depend on the length of the roots and the amount of foliage.

Plugplants

All organic plugplants—and most conventional plugplants—are delivered in a propagation tray, which is billed through a deposit system. The deposit for the tray is deducted at the time of purchase. Upon return, we will gladly issue you a credit note in the amount of €5.00 per tray.

The remaining plugplants are shipped in wooden crates or Styrofoam trays.

The seedling tray typically contains around 65–75 plants, each with a root ball.

Trayplants & Mini-Trayplants

Tray plants are shipped in a crate with a well-rooted root ball and leaves. Tray plants typically have a root ball of 250ccm, whereas mini-tray plants usually have a root ball of 120–140ccm.

Packaging units: 50–100 pieces per box

Waiting bed plants

The strong, bare-root waiting bed plants are packed in wooden boxes for delivery. There are different packaging units available, depending on the thickness of the plant. These are offered in the following grades: light (15–18 mm), medium (18–22 mm), and heavy (> 22 mm).

Typically, each box contains 100–250 pieces.

The correct planting spacing is very important for successful cultivation and plant growth. Planting too closely together prevents the leaves from drying out, which increases the risk of disease.

The recommended spacing between plants within a row is 25–30 cm.

The recommended row spacing (single row) is as follows:

1.00 m 3 plants/m = 30,000/ha
0.90 m 3 plants/m = 33,300/ha
1.00 m 4 plants/m = 40,000/ha
0.90 m 4 plants/m = 44,400/ha

The optimal planting time for strawberries depends on the type of plant and cultivation method chosen. It is also important to consider whether you want to harvest a crop this year or plan to harvest for the first time next year.

Standard cultivation/ridge cultivation

Scheduled Culture/Substrate Culture

Frigo plants, Tray plants, Mini-Trayplants, Waiting bed plants, Long-Cane-plants

The plant types listed above are stored at -2°C to -1°C during dormancy prior to shipment. Before they are ready for planting, allow them 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 no more than 1–2 days. After that, it is important to lay the plant trays out in the shade 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.

An important factor when planting strawberry plants is the planting depth. The optimal planting depth is when the rhizome (rootstock) is placed just above the soil surface.

Too high:

· Risk of drying out

Too deep:

· Growth problems
· Increased risk of Rhizoctonia infection

A reliable water source is essential for successful strawberry cultivation. Another important factor to consider is the varying soil conditions, which must be analyzed before planting.

Various irrigation methods can be used, such as drip hoses and sprinkler pipes. To ensure the plants receive sufficient water, it is important to water them frequently in small amounts. For example, an irrigation system allows for targeted delivery of water and nutrients.

Points to note for substrate cultivation:

When watering every 30–90 minutes, the recommended guideline per strawberry plant is approximately 150 ml of water. However, this can vary significantly depending on weather conditions, the plant’s stage of development, and the type of substrate. The first watering should take place about 2 hours after sunrise, and the last about 1–3 hours before sunset. Almost every watering should include a small percentage of drain water, except during the early morning hours. Note that these values must be adjusted at higher temperatures. In this case, a higher drain percentage and a lower EC value are required. Among other things, light control can be helpful during irrigation.

• Reliable water source
• Maximum water supply capacity required
• Always size water storage tanks too large; they are usually made too small
• One dripper every 20 cm is optimal for strawberries
• The irrigation system must be able to water the plant every 30–40 minutes

Freshly picked strawberries should definitely be stored in the refrigerator.
We recommend using a shallow dish so that the berries aren’t piled too high on top of each other.

Strawberries should always be picked when fully ripe and with the calyx still attached; this is the only way to preserve their flavor and juice.

To harvest the fruit when fully ripe, a picking schedule of every 2–3 days is recommended.

Care should also be taken to pick the fruit directly into the display trays to preserve their quality as much as possible.

After the strawberry harvest, the plants need to be pruned. This is done, on the one hand, to protect the newly emerging leaves from transmissible diseases and, on the other hand, to promote fruit production in the following season.

The best time to prune is after the harvest, around early to mid-July.

When pruning, you can cut off all the leaves. However, care should be taken to cut the plant 5–10 cm above the ground so as not to damage the strawberry plant’s rhizome.