1. Strawberry Cultivation

2. Climate
Temperate climate
Mild temperatures
Full sun - 6 hours per day

3. Winter/Spring Growth Dormant during winter
Exposure to very low temperatures can break dormancy for normal winter temperatures
Frost damage occurs at -2 degrees C
Growth resumes during spring
Position on ground for least risk of frost
On highest ground
Close to earth

4. Preferred Soil Characteristics
Well-drained
High in organic matter
Medium loam - clay/sand mix?
Slightly acidic for root formation to 6.5 pH
Green manure
However, the plant is fairly adaptable

5. Avoid in Soil Excessive calcium - causes yellowing of leaves
Planting on same land for many years
High pH - alkaline soil
Soil infected with nematodes
High salinity - salt intolerant

6. Soil Preparation Start 1 month before planting
Roots are shallow, but plow deep
Use as much organic matter as possible
Create beds - hill or matted rows, or raised for better drainage
Apply fertilizer a few days before planting

7. Soil with Poor Drainage
Input more organic matter
Plant on hills or raised beds to facilitate drainage

8. Water Requirements Planting and early growth Growing season
2 to 3 hours per day
Growing season
3cm per week
Flowering and Fruiting
Drip system
Average Rainfall at CYEC and Lamuria??

9. Water Requirements for Plastic Beds
Mostly the same as normal requirements
46cm in a 200 day season
83 liters per plant per season
Plant uses 55% of water applied
Require more than 3cm per week if warm dry conditions are extended

10. Water Stress Interferes with photosynthetic activity
Reduces growth potential
Deficiencies accumulate over season
Fruit per plant can decrease by 30%
80% if severe
Ripening accelerated
Smaller fruit size
“Surecrop”
A more drought tolerant type
Larger root system
Soil moisture should not fall below 50% field capacity
Best at 65%
Check for moisture on leaves in morning with bucket over plant at night

11. Irrigation Shallow roots susceptible to drought
Plant on ridges if irrigating
Should be frequent after planting new runners
First two months
Twice per week without rain
Third month
Weekly
Fourth and fifth months
Every two weeks
Fruiting begins
Increase again for larger fruits

12. Micro-irrigation
Water management is crucial for this low surface creeping plant with shallow roots
Drip system + micro sprinkler system
Supplies precise water to crop according to growth stage
Planting and early vegetative growth
Micro sprinkler
Flowering and Fruiting
Drip system - uniform and timely

13. Fertilizer
Green manure, organic matter, and farm yard manure suggested
50 tons per hectare
Improves water holding capacity
Better runner formation
Can supplement with chemical fertilizers

14. Fertilizer Nitrogen Phosphorus Moderate amounts required Apply 2 times
3 weeks after planting
At time of flowering
Phosphorus
Incorporate into soil before planting

15. Fertilizer Application
A few days before planting
0.5kg per 100 square feet
10/10/10 fertilizer
Dig into soil 15-20cm deep
Again after first harvest for the second season
Water fertilizer to allow it to reach root zone
Promotes growth
Causes development of more fruit
Over-fertilization
Causes excessive vegetative growth, reduced yields, increased loss from foliage diseases

16. Plasticulture Technology
For high density cultivation in semi-arid regions
Study conducted in semi-arid India
Strawberries sometimes referred to as “plasticberries” for plasticulture techniques used…

17. Plasticulture - Raised Bed Cultivation
Aids drainage
Facilitates installation of micro irrigation system
Height 25cm
Width 105cm
Length 50cm
50cm apart from each other
Plant runners 25cm by 25cm, 4 rows per bed

18. Plasticulture - Micro Irrigation
Micro sprinkler - planting/early growth
Install 3 meters apart for uniform application
Water 2 to 3 hours per day
Drip system - flowering/fruiting
2 lines of 16mm laterals on each bed
Space drippers to 50cm
Water 2 or 3 times per week
More efficient with water soluble fertilizers

19. Plasticulture - Plastic Mulching
Very effective for higher yield
Conserves soil moisture
Weed control
Clean fruit
Protects from soil contamination
Black polyethylene
Install drip system before mulching
Holes for plants to rise above film
Drip system remains before plastic
Install after runners established, before flowering starts
30-34 days after planting

20. Plasticulture - plastic tunnels
Keeps soil temperatures high
Earlier flowering
Higher fruit yield
Transparent polyethylene
50cm in height
Open during day, closed at night
Remove with higher temperatures

21. Cultivars More tolerant of drought For hilly areas Rich aroma, softer
“Surecrop”
For hilly areas
Royal Sovereign, Srinager, Dilpasand
Rich aroma, softer
Katrain Sweet
Successful in warmest parts of U.S., hypothesized to also be successful in Indian semi-arid plains - may also work in Kenya!
Premier Florida-90, Missionary, Blackmore, Klonmore, Klondike

22. Propagation Runners - most common method Cultured planting material
Use those formed after blooming
But runners hard to find in semi-arid regions
Cultured planting material
Preferred due to presence of different strains of virus tissue
Import from western countries
Seeds & stem cuttings
Important to buy disease-free plants from reliable nursery
Instead of your own / neighbor’s plants

23. Planting Avoid exposed open areas Full sun - 6 hours per day
Avoid soil that previously grew
Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes
Verticillium wilt - serious strawberry disease
Grasses
wireworms

24. Planting - Seedlings Use rooted seedlings Ensure potting is sterile
90% establishment rate or higher
Unrooted
Less than 60% establishment
Ensure potting is sterile
Avoid transmitting pests
Transplant during rainy season
Supplementary water not required

25. Planting - Beds & Runners
Raised beds
Feasible
Most used in commercial cultivation
Runners
Plant 25cm by 25cm with 4 rows in each bed

26. Planting - Row Systems Matted Spaced Hill Plants 46-76cm apart
Rows 1 meter apart
Least care needed
Allow daughter plants to root freely
Becomes matted, 60cm wide (2ft)
Spaced
More care needed
Limit daughter plants - space to root 10cm apart
Other runners pulled / cut
Higher yields, larger berries, fewer diseases
Hill
Best system
All runners removed, weed & mulch in week 1-3
Only mother plant remains - develops more
2, 3, or 4 plants 30cm apart in many rows

27. Planting - Timing Plant as soon as possible in spring Plant early
Establishment before hottest weather
Do not plant if soil wet!
Plant early
Runner establish earlier
Earlier fruit yield
Higher yield
Stagger planting for longer fruit availability
Not all fruit, or profit, comes in at once
Suggested
Plant on cloudy day during late afternoon

28. Planting - Depth Soil should just cover the tops of roots
Do not cover crown
Runners and daughter plants should produce after 4 to 5 weeks

29. Planting -Flowering
Requires 10 days of 8 hours of sun or less for flower initiation
Development of flower buds
Overbearing variety
During long and short light periods
Commercial varieties
During short light periods only
Flowers produce early in spring

30. Pests Sap beetle - eat holes in plant Slug - feeds on berries
Leafhoppers - eat leaves, reduce photosynthesis
Leafroller - feeds on leaves
Aphids - carry viruses transmitted to plant
Grubs - foot on roots
Root weevils - eat leaves, sign the larvae feeding on roots also

31. Harvest Fruiting happens after 3 to 4 months Look for
1/2 to 3/4 berries having natural crimson color
Slightly soft
Darkening seeds
Harvest daily, early morning, dry conditions
Pinch between thumb and forefinger, pull with twisting motion, leave stem on fruit
Easily damaged, highly perishable
Carefully collect in shallow trays to prevent bruising
Do not wash - contributes to spoiling

32. Yields Varies with season and locality Excellent Good, more realistic
20-25 tons per hectare
Good, more realistic
15 tons per hectare

33. Post Harvest Should be used within a few days to a week
Wash when ready to eat
Should not leave at room temperature for several hours
Warm temperature causes browning and vitamin C loss
Can be dried successfully
Solar drier for best results
1 year shelf life

34. Storage Pack in flat, shallow container
Cardboard, bamboo, paper trays
Plastic is best
1 or 2 layers
Keep in cool place away from heat/warm air
Use within a few days
Refrigerator storage does not extend life of strawberries after harvest or improve quality

35. Transportation to markets
Cost?
Refrigerated vans suggested
Not feasible/available in Kenya

36. Nutritional Benefits Good source of Folic Acid Potassium Dietary fiber
Good for women’s health, reduces birth defects
Potassium
Maintains fluids, promotes faster healing
Dietary fiber
Vitamin C
Supports immune system, aids growth
Manganese
Bone formation, hormone function

37. Demand / Income Potential
Markets exist and are readily available
High demand in urban areas and foreign markets
Scarce, high costs in markets
Limited production
Lack of knowledge to manage crop
Costly materials
High value crop
Large potential for income and employment generation
Even more so with Value added products
Juice, jams*, maybe dried?

38. Where to buy Seedlings?
Less than 5% roadside nurseries sell strawberry seedlings
Stock a few at a time
No information on plant management
Prices
$0.45 to $0.65 per plant
~ 36Ksh to 52Ksh
Limuru
Small scale agro-enterprise here specializing in strawberry seedling production
Price: $0.35 each ~ 28Ksh
Sold unrooted - harder to establish (less than 60% establishment rate with unrooted, greated than 90% with rooted seedlings)
Provides basic planting and crop management training for free
More detailed for $7 per person ~ 564Ksh

39. My “Vision” Already being grown at CYEC
There may not be any constraints to growing if they already are
Transportation costs if selling?
Supplies to store / sell?
Will see how it goes…
Problems with kids stealing berries?
CYEC should be able to make a good profit, if they can grow enough to sell and are successful with strawberry cultivation
Where do profits go?
Who participates in the harvesting, packaging, marketing?
Drying is a good idea
Slice, dry under sun or in solar dryer
How to get a dryer - use for tomatoes/other veg!
Year long shelf life if packed in moisture proof containers
Can make into powder to add flavor to other foods