STRAWBERRY

It is an important fruit crop of India. It is highly perishable and soft fruit. It is commercially grown in the temperate or sub-tropical areas. It is a good source of vitamin C. Its fruits are used for various purposes such as for making ice-creams and jams. In India, strawberry farming is mainly done in hills. It is mainly grown in Nanital, Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kashmir, Bangalore, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Pune states of India. In Himachal Pradesh it is grown in lower intermediate areas where irrigation facilities are there.

Mainly strawberries require loamy soil having well drainage system and are rich in organic matter. The pH of soil should range from 5.7-6.5 which is slightly acidic. Avoid cultivation in acidic soil as it enhances poor root formation. Avoid cultivation of strawberry in the same land for the number of years.

Tioga: It has large shaped fruit, flesh and peel is relatively hard and tasty, good keeping quality, suitable for transportation. It contains 0.70% acidic and 7.0% T.S.S content. It is resistant to bacterial disease.

Torrey: It has large shaped fruit which is cone shaped, flesh and peel is relatively less thick, good in taste, suitable for transportation and has good quality. The fruits start mature in first week of April. It contains 0.70% acidic and 7.0% T.S.S content.

Chandler: Fruit is cone shaped, sometimes long and flat, shining, smooth and attractive, flesh has same color as of fruit, hard and strong, medium sized plant, straight, medium ability to produce runner, self-pollinating variety.

Selva (mid hills): unaffected variety from long day, cone shaped fruit, sweet flesh which is hard and red in color, sweet-sour in taste, more storage capacity, less danger of pest and diseases. It gives an average yield of 200-250gm/plant.
 
Other state varieties:

For the hilly areas Srinagar, Royal Sovereign and Dilpasand are suitable.

Pusa Early dwarf: Dwarf variety, suitable for north Indian plain. It has large firm wedge-shaped fruits.

Katrain Sweet: It is rich in aroma and is softer in taste.
 

For strawberry farming, fertile land which has good drainage system and rich in organic matter is required.

Time of sowing:
August-September is an optimum time for sowing.

Spacing:
Use line to line or row to row spacing of 30 X 60cm.

Sowing depth:
Depth should be 5-7cm.
 

Propagation is done through runners which are formed after blooming season. Normally single plant produces 8-10 runners but it can go upto sometime 15runners/plant. Propagation can also be done through crowns but it is very time consuming and laborious process. Mainly single plant 3-5 plants/crown.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

At the time of land preparation, add FYM@20tonnes/acre, potash@15kg/acre and phosphorus@15kg/acre. Use nitrogen @30kg/acre in two equal splits. First dose of nitrogen is used at plant growth in September-October month and rest dose of nitrogen is used at the time of flower development.

Immediate irrigation is required after planting of runners. In September-October month, irrigation is given twice a week and in November single irrigation is required per week and then in December-January month irrigation is given once every fortnight. At fruiting stage, irrigation frequency is again increased.

Mulching is an effective for weed control. Add layer of grass leaves or wood fillings in the prepared pits.  This will help in weed control and helps to retain moisture in the soil. For one acre land, requires 6tonnes of mulch.

• Pest and their control:
  

White grub and cut worm: These pests damage the roots and soft stems by cutting them.

Treatment: Spraying of Quinalphos@400ml per acre to get rid of them. 
 

• Disease and their control:

Collar or root rot: Brown color layer or spots are seen on the stem which will ultimately spread on roots.

Treatment: Drenching of M-45 or copper oxychloride@400gm per acre is done.
 

Gray mold: Scorching of flowers and fruit rot is seen by the attack of the fungus.

Treatment: Spraying of M-45 or copper oxychloride@400gm per acre is done.


 

Red stele disease: Infected plant shows stunted growth, and runner formation is very less and this type of plant will die in winters. New and corner roots get rot and the outer skin of root becomes red in color.

Treatment: Do not do farming in infected fields.  
 

Leaf spot: Deep purplish brown color spots which are white from center and are round in shape are seen. Long spots are seen on stem of fruits, petals and fruits.

Treatment: Spraying of copper oxychloride@400gm per acre is done.
 

Gray mold: Scorching of flowers and fruit rot is seen by the attack of the fungus.

Treatment: Spraying of M-45 or copper oxychloride@400gm per acre is done.
 

Fruit maturing starts in April month. 2-3 years crops are taken but after 2 years the yield will reduced. Harvesting is done when half to three fourth of the skin develop colors. Picking is done on every second or third day mainly in morning hours. After harvesting packing is done in containers and then transportation is done.