INTRODUCTION

• Family: Rosaceae. • Genus: Fragaria.• Cultivated by Romans as early as 200 B.C.• Modern day strawberries developed in the U.S.A.• One of the best loved fruits in many parts of the

world. Easy to cultivate, widely adaptable.• Uses: Fresh fruit, preserves, ice cream,

milkshakes, etc..• Excellent source for Vit. C and Flavonids.

STRAWBERRY PLANT PARTS

STRAWBERRY CROWN

STRAWBERRY FLOWER

STRAWBERRY FRUITS

Sr.

No.

Region Area

(ac.)

Total

Production

(t.)

Productivity

(t/ac.)

1 World 6,40,270 3,822,990 6

2 India 2,000 14,000 7

3 Maharashtra 1,500 12,000 8

AREA, PRODUCTION

AND PRODUCTIVITY

CULTIVATION REQUIREMENTS

• SOIL: Well drained, good organic matter. pH 5.5 to 6.5.• WATER: pH 6.5 to 7.5, EC: < 0.7 mS/cm.• CLIMATE: • Vegetative growth: 18 to 30 ºC Day length: > 14 hrs.• Flower initiation: 10 to 25 ºC Day length: 12 hrs.

PLANTATION

• LAND PREPARATION:

* 2 – 3 ploughings to make soil friable.

* Fumigation with Formaldehyde 10%.

* Basal Dose application.• BED PREPARATION:

Width: 60 cm, Height: 45 cm, Path: 30 cm.• PLANTING:

30 X 30 cm. (2 row) Population: 24,000/ac.

• PLANTING METHOD:

• Planting by hand.

• Make holes as per crop geometry.

• 1/3 of plug above soil level.

• In case of no plugs, maintain crown portion above soil level.

• After planting, immediately irrigate by can or shower.

• Maintain ‘vapsa’ in bed.

WATER AND FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT

• IRRIGATION:• Drip irrigation: 2 laterals/bed, 12 or 16 mm, dripper distance 30 cm, discharge 2 to 4 lph. • Daily water requirement: 500 to 700 ml / plant / day.• FERTILIZER:• Basal: FYM 10t/ac + 18:46:0 (DAP) 50kg/ac.• 20 Days AP (VP): 19:19:19 @ 50kg/ac.• 60 Days AP (FP): a) 19:19:19 @ 1500gm/ac/alternate day b) 13:0:45 @ 1500gm/ac/alternate day.

c) Ca(NO3)2 @ 1200gm/ac twice a week

For artificial media: Fertigation as per nutritional standards.

Main element Trace element

Nut. element Mmole/lit Nut. element Umole/lit

NH4 0.5 Fe 20

NO3 10 Mn 10

K 5.25 Cu 0.75

Ca 2.75 Zn 4

Mg 1.12 B 20

SO4 1.12 Mo 0.50

H2PO4 1.25

Conc. 100 times in 1000 lit. of water.

Fertigation water: pH = 5.8 to 6.1, EC = 1.5 mS/cm.

CROP CARE• MULCHING: (After 30 DAP) Black polythene mulch. – a) Regulates soil temp., prevents cold injury to roots. b) Retains soil moisture. c) Prevents decay of fruits. d) Prevents growth of weeds.

• CROP HYGIENE: a) Remove dead, dying leaves and fruits. b) Remove pest and disease infected leaves and fruits.

• BED STRUCTURE: Maintain bed width and height, immediately repair collapsed bed.

• IRRIGATION SYSTEM: Check regularly for clogged drippers and drip laterals.

PEST MANAGEMENT

• Pest: Two spotted red mite.

(Tetranychus urticae)• Injury by sucking cell sap.• Spray:

a) Omite @ 1 ml/lit.

b) Magister @ 1 ml/lit.

At 1 day interval.

• Pest: Thrips.

(Frankliniella cephalica)• Injury by sucking cell sap and

serrations.• Spray:

a) Regent @ 1.5 ml/lit.

b) Pride @ 0.4 gm/lit.

At 2 days interval.

• Pest: Catterpillar. (Spodoptera eridania)• Injury by cutting leaf lamina.• Spray: a) Lannate @ 1.5 gm/lit. b) Decis @ 0.4 ml/lit. At 2 days interval.

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

• Disease: Leaf Spot.

C.O.: Mycosphaerella fragaria• Spray:

a) Index @ 1 gm/lit.

b) Captan @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval.

• Disease: Leaf Scorch.

C.O.: Diplocarpon earlianum• Spray:

a) Topsin - M @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval.

• Disease: Leaf Blight.

C.O.: Phomopsis obscurans.• Spray:

a) Topsin - M @ 1 gm/lit.

b) Index @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval.

• Disease: Anthracnose.

C.O.: Collectrotrichum acutatum.• Spray:

a) Amister @ 0.5 ml/lit.

b) Ridomil @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval.

• Disease: Phytophthora crown rot.

C.O.: Phytophthora cactorum.• Drench:

a) Aliette @ 1 gm/lit.

b) Ridomil @ 1 gm/lit.

At 10 to 12 days interval.

• Disease. Angular leaf spot. C.O.: Xanthomonas fragariae.• Spray. a) Kasu – B @ 1.25 ml/lit. b) Kocide @ 1.5 ml/lit. c) Streptomycin sulphate @ 0.2 gm/lit. At 4 to 5 days interval.

• Disease. Powdery mildew.

C.O.: Sphaerotheca macularis.• Spray.• a) Rubigan @ 0.5 ml/lit.• b) Benlate @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval during

high humidity period.

• Disease. Verticillium wilt.

C.O.: Verticillium albo-atrum.• Spray.• a) Rubigan @ 0.5 ml/lit.• b) Benlate @ 1 gm/lit.

At 4 to 5 days interval.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

• Deficiency: Nitrogen.• Drench: 19:19:19 @ 1 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Phosphorus.• Drench: 12:61:0 @ 1 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Potassium.• Drench: 0:0:50 @ 1 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Calcium.

• Drench: CaNO3 @ 1 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Magnesium.

• Drench: MgSO4 @ 1 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Zinc.

• Drench: ZnSO4 @ 0.5 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Manganese.

• Drench: MnSO4 @ 0.5 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Iron.

• Drench: Fe-EDDHA @ 0.5 gm/lit. once a week.

• Deficiency: Boron.• Drench:

Borax @ 0.25 gm/lit. once a week.

• Disorder: Marginal Leaf Burn.• Management: Remove affected leaves and fruits.

NON - NUTRIENT PLANT DISORDER

• Disorder: Albino fruit.• Management: Remove affected leaves and fruits.

HARVESTING

• Fruits are harvested when half to 3/4th of the fruit shows natural crimson colour.

• Picking of fruits every 2nd or 3rd day early in morning. Collected in small trays/baskets.

• Place harvested fruits in shady areas to avoid damage due to heat.

• Average yield @ 500 gm/plant/season.

GRADING AND PACKING OF FRUITS

Sr. No. Grade Weight of fruit (gm)

1 JUMBO > 35

2 FIRST 25 to 35

3 SECOND 15 to 25

4 THIRD < 15

PACKING:

1) First quality in cardboard boxes, Second quality in baskets.

2) Square or oval punnets capacity 250 gm/ punnet.

3) 8 punnets in corrugated tray.

4) 7 trays in 1 corrugated box.

STRAWBERRY BOX STACKING

STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND MARKETING OF FRUITS

• STORAGE: • Cooled at 4 OC within 2 hrs of harvesting.

• TRANSPORT:• Trucks, refrigerated vans, air transport as per market

distance and prevailing prices.

• MARKETING:• Trade agents or commission agents.

• Direct selling to processing factories.

PRICE TRENDS (Rs/kg)

Month \ Year 2009 2008 2007

Dec 150 to 200 80 to 100 100 to 140

Nov 200 to 250 100 to 120 120 to 150

Oct 300 to 350 120 to 150 200 to 220

Sept NIL NIL NIL

Aug NIL NIL NIL

July NIL NIL NIL

June NIL NIL NIL

March 50 to 60 40 to 50 50 to 60

Feb 60 to 90 50 to 70 50 to 80

Jan 80 to 100 80 to 100 50 to 80

FOR SUSTAINABLE CULTIVATION

• Proper land preparation.

• Proper bed dimensions.

• High quality planting material and plantation.

• After care of plantation.

• Appropriate irrigation and fertigation system.

• Quick and correct identification and control measures of pests and diseases.

• Appropriate and timely mulching.

• Proper harvest methods and post harvest care.

• Quality packaging material and proper presentation.

• Focus on increasing yield per plant.

• Market intelligence and record keeping.

• Timely repayment of loans, if any.

• Adopt new technology and grow as per international norms for better price realizations and prosperous future.

K.F. Client - India

K.F. Client - India

K.F. Client - India

K.F. Client - India

K.F. Client - India

Marmolada Slovenie

Camarosa Spanje

Darselect Belgie

Pipe system - Switzerland

Hail protection

Gutter system - Spain

Assimilation lights - Norway

Substrate Direct - Holland

Grow bags on ridges

Night frost protection

Pyramided - Spain

‘Ferrialle’ met Naiad

2 edges - France

Italian table top system

Polystyrene troughs - Japan

Everest - England

Fragaria vesca

Vertical runner production

Horizontal runner production

Tray plants - France

Trayveld Belgie

French tunnel

French multi bay + gutter

Italian tunnel

Belgium tunnel (1)

Belgium tunnel (2)

Belgium tunnel (3)

Glasshouse

Dutch glasshouses