How to grow Hydroponic Strawberry

Planting Conditions (1)

• Cut down old dead leaves and roots dip in fungicide before planting or storing
• Plant the crown in the media
• Make sure your plants receive 8+ hours of proper sunlight
• While Fruiting 18°C to 25°C is best for growth
• Check the leaf growth – first flower truss in 3-4 weeks after planted
• Allow flying insects into your greenhouse for pollination
• Use dehumidifier to reduce the humidity and increase light intensity for increased photosynthesis

Pollination to Fruiting (2)

• Once pollinated you can expect the white stage is usually reached in about 21 days & the red stage by 30 to 40days
• They are mostly self-pollinated but you can introduce bumble bee 40-50 bumblebees can pollinate 4000 strawberry plants

Temperature Requirements (3)

• The ideal temp. to maintain for good vegetative growth should be 15°C to 18°C
• While Fruiting 18°C to 25°C is best for your strawberries

pH & Special Nutrients (4)

• pH of 6.0 because higher than that causes iron deficiency
• Boron Magnesium & Sulphur are important secondary nutrients for strawberry
• The deficiency of boron causes poor pollination & deficiency of Potassium or magnesium causes leaf burns
• The deficiency of potassium also makes flavorless fruit
• Better keep the Phosphorus level higher than
• usual and chlorine level minimum

Best Suited Growing Methods (5)

• The trough filled with Clay balls or Rockwool is mainly seen in the strawberry plantation method
• You can use the NFT channel width of 15cm good
• You can also use a hanging bag system
• Vertical pipes Flood-and drain with clay balls
• Size of truss used for growing 10cm x 15cm

Damage Control (6)

• Strawberry plant hates wet and humid conditions make sure you keep in check
• You have to keep an eye on the crown of the strawberry because excess water would lead to crown rot
• Fungal diseases are likely to occur if your system has a poor drainage system
• Temp. above 30° C in the root zone can lead to poor plant production
• Beware of Slugs, often chew holes in ripen strawberries if you have done mulching in soil

Harvesting Strawberries (7)

• Harvest your strawberries on a daily basis once they turn red
• While Fruiting 18°C to 25°C is best for your strawberries
• Harvest your ripe strawberries in the cool morning & store them immediately in a refrigerated environment

Post Harvesting Management

• You have to store them in a cool place(10-15°C)

Also Read: How To Grow Hydroponic Tomatoes