Growing strawberries for beginners (Strawberry pollination with lightly brush)
Growing strawberries in mulching cultivation. In the previous article, we made strawberry mats. (Strawberry mat – Strawberry fruit stain prevention measures.) This time, it’s cultivation management with a focus on the strawberry harvesting season. Pollinate strawberries. (Hand pollination of strawberries.)
![How to pollinate strawberries (Hand pollination of Japanese strawberries)](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-a-en.jpg)
This strawberry (Houkou-wase Japanese strawberry) is grown in an open field, so it might be naturally pollinated by insects or wind, but I want to ensure a reliable harvest through cultivation. For a consistent harvest, I want to pick well-shaped strawberries, so I’m planning to try hand-pollinating them myself.
![Strawberry plant (Japanese Houkou-wase strawberries)](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-b-en.jpg)
![Strawberry flower](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-c-en.jpg)
![Flowers that have bloomed for a few days](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-d-en.jpg)
![Strawberry buds that will bloom soon](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-e-en.jpg)
How to pollinate strawberries. (Pollination with a brush)
Before pollinating strawberries, I will check if pollen is properly released from the strawberry flowers. Pollen comes out from the stamens of strawberries, so I gently touch the stamens with a black or navy cloth to check. If pollen adheres when touched, hand-pollination of strawberries is possible.
![The stamen and pistil of the strawberry](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-f-en.jpg)
![Check to see if pollen is coming out of the stamen](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-g-en.jpg)
![Strawberry pollen](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-h-en.jpg)
For hand pollination of strawberries, use a brush. Strawberry flowers are delicate, so a soft-bristled brush is suitable for pollination.
![The brush used for pollinating strawberries](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-i-en.jpg)
The pollination method is simple. Simply gently stroke the center of the strawberry flower with a brush, transferring the pollen from the stamen to the pistil. That’s all. You can use tools like a makeup brush, or cotton swab for strawberry pollination.
![Hand pollination of strawberries](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-j-en.jpg)
If pollination is successful, we should be able to grow well-shaped strawberries, so I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
![Pollination of strawberries completed](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-k-en.jpg)
While performing the pollination work for strawberries, I will also take care of other cultivation tasks. The first one is removing old leaves. I will remove some of the old leaves of the strawberries as they are dark green to improve airflow.
![New leaves of strawberries and old leaves of strawberries](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-l-en.jpg)
![Prune the leaves to improve air circulation around the strawberry plants](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-m-en.jpg)
The second management task is strawberry bud thinning. While it’s fine to leave all the strawberry buds in extensive cultivation, having too many buds can lead to nutrient dispersion. So, I will remove some of the smaller strawberry buds. Pollination of strawberries completed.
![Strawberry (Japanese Houkou-wase strawberry) inflorescence](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-n-en.jpg)
![The picked strawberry buds](https://www.vege-try.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-pollinate-strawberry-o-en.jpg)
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.
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