The popularity of growing strawberries at home cannot be overstated, with its fresh and delicious fruits, the plant can be used as a ornamental plant that many people are interested in. It is not difficult to grow strawberries at home in the summer, below we share how to plant and care for strawberries at home.
1. Choose a pot and plant variety
Choose a pot
Appropriate type: Long pot, long tray to create small and long beds; hanging pots. Strawberries will be spread on both sides of the pot, not in contact with the ground, improving the quality and color of the fruits.
It is recommended to plant strawberries in trays or pots because it is easy to grow, care for and water. Convenient for strawberry growth and branching (strawberries reproduce by spreading stems on the ground and rooting). It is possible to utilize small areas when using vertical space, the same area can be arranged from 4-5 pots.
Plant variety
People can grow plants by sowing seeds or buying seedlings to plant. Choose high-quality strawberry seeds with a high germination rate (it is best to choose seeds with a valid expiration date, intact packaging, not broken, moist…)
The price of strawberry seeds is from 25,000 VND/ bag, about 30 seeds. Seedlings cost about 80,000 VND/ plant for Japanese or New Zealand variety. You can buy seeds and seedlings at online shops or research institutes. If you choose strawberry varieties, choose trees from 10-15cm, healthy, without pests or diseases, and evenly grown.
Timing
You can plant strawberries year-round, but the best time is still September-October. However, you can also plant in the summer with special care. In just about 2 months, you can harvest the first ripe strawberries.
Strawberry planting soil
It is recommended to use loose soil, you can use garden soil and occasionally loosen the soil for the plant. You can use tribat soil or regular soil mixed with fertilizer, coconut fiber, and husk to keep the soil loose, always moist, retain moisture well, have many nutrients, and can be supplemented with fertilizer.
Due to its moisture-loving character and low fruit growth on the ground, if you plant in a round pot, you can cover a layer of straw on the surface around the root and below the fruit. This will retain moisture well, support the fruit.
2. Planting techniques for strawberries in pots
Sowing seeds
Sow the seeds in clean and moist soil. The pot or tray containing the seeds needs to be dry and airy, with good sunlight. Water once a day in the evening.
Caring
Strawberries are a moisture-loving plant, so in summer, all you need is sunshine for one session. For the best plant growth, plant it in a place where it has direct sunlight for half a day, or light, cool sunlight.
Water the plant twice in the morning and afternoon when there is no sunlight. Pour water evenly into the soil, use clean water to avoid sources of water that can cause pests and diseases, avoid over-watering the soil that can cause the plant to die.
When transferring from seed tray to pot/bed to plant, there may be wilting due to the roots breaking if the transfer is not skillful. In the first 2-3 days, shade the plant, water the plant evenly, and it will develop normally again.
Regularly loosen the soil so that it becomes loose and ventilated. In order for the strawberry plant to grow strong and stable in the initial stage, remove the first flower cluster to enhance growth and inhibit fruiting.
Pests and diseases
During the harvesting period, in order for the fruit to grow evenly, you need to balance the development of the canopy and the number of flowers and fruits on the tree. If there are many buds, flowers, and fruits, reduce the number of abnormal and diseased buds, flowers, and fruits. Prune old, diseased leaves regularly.
During the plant’s growth period, regularly fertilize the plant with some types of organic fertilizers or phosphorus fertilizers, potassium. Pay attention to ant control as they attack the plant quickly, consuming all the fruits even when the fruits are still green. If planted in a long pot, direct the fruits towards the edge of the pot, the fruits will develop evenly and easy to monitor, avoiding pests.
How to separate branches to plant new pots
During the growth process, strawberries not only produce flowers and fruits, but they also produce branches when the plant has enough nutrients. Especially when the branch grows well, long, it will root automatically and create a new plant. In this case, you need to separate it to create a new pot.
Note that you need to wait for the branch to grow for about 1 week, the roots to grow deep, and can be independent, do not need nutrition from the mother plant to start separating the branch to a new pot. Or if the pot for planting strawberries is wide, you can still keep the offspring with the mother plant. When the plant blooms and bears fruit, you need to take care of it like the mother plant. Absolutely do not prune the plant at this time as it may cause the plant to stop producing fruit.
Harvesting
When the fruit turns dark red, it is ready to be harvested. Strawberries are nutritious fruits, so you can process them into many different dishes such as smoothies, eating directly, or juicing, all are delicious.
According to thoidaiplus
