Strawberry {Fragaria xanannassa) is an extensively grown hybrid plant of the genus Fragaria for its fruit. Strawberries are consumed in large quantities in fresh fruits or processed form such as jam, juices, and chocolates. Propagation of strawberry is done by use of splits, runners, and seeds. Strawberry nursery establishment is being adopted to produce diseases free population.
Moreover, due to the high demand for strawberries by local and international markets, farmers are looking for seedlings with stable phenotypic and genotypic properties. Therefore, this article will expound on different ways to establish the nursery and management practices carried out.The place that is being considered to set up the nursery should be well-drained, the soil should be finely ploughed and should be away from established crops to protect seedlings in the nursery from foreign pests and diseases. To establish a nursery for strawberries by using runners, select a healthy plant that is free from pests and diseases. Select runners that have one or two leaves. Till the land and remove the weeds, Catapult 480SL is a non-selective herbicide that kills all types of weeds.
Fill either pots or plastic bags with sterilized soil mixed with multipurpose compost manure. Drench the prepared soil with Trinity Gold at 5 g per litre of water + Loyalty at 0.5 g per litre of water to ensure the soil is free of major soil borne pests and diseases. Whether one establishes the nursery on pots or raised beds fertilizer should be mixed with Humipower at a rate of 50 kg of fertilizer high P Â per 1 kg of Humipower to ensure adequate supply of nutrients. The selected runners cut when placed on the soil surface and immediately transferred to pots or polythene bags. The runners are ready to transplant to the field or larger pots once they have developed strong roots.[vc_single_image image=”13154″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”]Straw berry propagation using seeds is quite rare among farmers; this is because the strawberries plant takes long to produce fruits. Strawberries from seeds take up to one to one and a half years to bear fruits compared to those from runners that take six months to produce. Moreover, most seeds are inviable, resulting in the high cost of production.
Use of peat and vermiculite while maintaining the amount of vermiculite at 5%-20%. Put the mixture in plug trays and drop one to three seeds into each plug. And a small layer of vermiculite on top. Vermiculite is preferred due to water holding capacity and has a ph. of 7.
In the nursery, the strawberries seedlings take 1-5 weeks to be ready for germination. It’s important to treat the seeds already on the peat with Optimizer at 1 ml per litre of water + Trinity Gold at 5 g per litre of water + Loyalty at 0.5 g per litre of water to break the seed dormancy and ensure the plants are stress, disease and pest free.Strawberry propagation using seeds is quite rare among farmers; this is because the strawberries plant takes long to produce fruits. Strawberries from seeds take up to one to one and a half years to bear fruits compared to those from runners that take six months to produce. Moreover, most seeds are inviable, resulting in the high cost of production.
Use of peat and vermiculite while maintaining the amount of vermiculite at 5%-20%. Put the mixture in plug trays and drop one to three seeds into each plug. And a small layer of vermiculite on top. Vermiculite is preferred due to water holding capacity and has a ph. of 7.
In the nursery, the strawberries seedlings take 1-5 weeks to be ready for germination. It’s important to treat the seeds already on the peat with Optimizer at 1 ml per litre of water + Trinity Gold at 5 g per litre of water + Loyalty at 0.5 g per litre of water to break the seed dormancy and ensure the plants are stress, disease and pest free.
