How to farm strawberry in the most economic way

Strawberry farming

There are a lot of varieties in Kenya but the most common is the Chandra strawberry variety.

Why Chandra?

Large fruits
Long post harvest life shell
Small leafs fruits ratio
Well presentable fruits
Quit resistance to diseases
Does well in most parts of the world

Procedures

Make sure you’ve got plenty of water
Plough your garden to make soil loose and free from weeds
Add a well composed chicken, cow, pig or sheep manure and mix well
You may consider adding some broken charcoal or saw dust to maintain drainage
On the eve of planting water the fields thoroughly

Be keen when it comes to sourcing your splits as there are many varieties in the market which are not Chandra and if possible visit the source farm and ensure they are disease free

Planting

Spacing 45cm *45cm
Trim the roots and old leafs
Add DAP 50gms per pit plus the manure
Drench with 10 ml of thunder or 4ml of Belt to kill any soil related pests.
Planting methods –Pots, Hydropnics, Normal gardens
Common planting Media
Marbles, soil and cocopeat

Read also:Safest Way To Farm Managu (Black Nightshade) For Your Meals

Fertilization

Add NPK and CAN at a ratio of 1:1 50gms per plant after every fort night. Ensure you irrigate first before application

Harvesting

Ensure you harvest early morning before 6am or after 6pm

Purpose of harvest goes hand in hand with the use

Over ripe immediate processing
Ripe packaging domestic market
Medium ripe export and long distance market

Packaging size

250gms
500gms

There is also market for splits which go for as low as ksh 10 to ksh 30 depending on buyer- seller agreement

Prune the first flowers to create room for strong fruits with good shape.

Pest and Diseases

Pests

Cut worms /aphids and green scales

Infests leafs and fruits

For organic farmers use a mixture of neam oil/leafs extract +ginger+Garlic and pepper 100ml of the solution in 20l of water
For non organic farmers use of 10ml of thunder or 4ml of belt in 20l of will work ensure you observe a PHI OF 14 days

Snails

Removing them physically or using salt may work. weeding and pruning to ensure there is direct sunlight to the soil may help. Currently there is no pesticide that has proved to work.

Diseases

Late and Early bright

Black scorching along the leafs’ margin which later spreads to the rest of the leafs.
Prune the infected leafs and spray the rest with Redomil gold and Score. To prevent infection and spread of the disease avoid overhead irrigation during late eve

Fruit rot

Mulching to avoid direct contacts of fruits with the soil. Fruits area in contact with the soil tends to rot

On other headline: find out the cost-profit analysis of farming tomatoes in one acre of land

INDEMNITY
All technical advice and/or production guidelines given by FARMWORX.CO.KE or any of its personnel with reference to the use of the recommended products and services, is based on the company’s best judgment. However, it must be expressly understood that FARMWORX.CO.KE does not assume responsibility for any advice given or for the results obtained as it depends on various agro-climate and soil conditions under which it is cultivated.

About Post Author

Kelvin Wairimu

Kelvin Wairimu is a Young Passionate Agripreneur, Manager and Chief Editor Of The Farmworx. He is an Experienced and Practicing Farmer, Agricultural Economist and a Consultant.He holds a Bacherors Degree in Agricultural Economics From University of Eldoret,CPA 3 And a Certificate in Advanced Computer Software.

See author's posts