Harvest time for strawberries (How to grow delicious strawberries in an open field)
Grow strawberries in organic farming. The strawberries I planted in early October last year are ready for harvest. They are outdoor-grown strawberries, raised organically and without pesticides.
Before picking, we should go over the strawberries growing method. From the soil preparation for strawberries in mid-September last year to the bird protection measures in mid-April this year.
Strawberries growing method：a recap (How to grow tasty strawberries)
Soil preparation and planting strawberry seedlings
For outdoor strawberries, I prepared the soil in mid-September last year. The best time to prepare soil for autumn-planted strawberries is from mid to late September. The compost and fertilizer used for strawberry cultivation are well-rotted cow manure compost and chicken manure.
https://www.vege-try.net/en/prepare-field-for-strawberry-202...When is the best time to plant strawberry seedlings?
The planting of strawberry seedlings was in early October. The way to plant strawberries is to keep about 30cm (1 foot) between plants and place the runners toward the inside of the bed. By thinking about the direction of planting, strawberries become easier to grow and take care of.
Preparing strawberries for winter (Strawberries grown outdoors store nutrients during dormancy)
I planted strawberry seedlings in early October, but it’s okay to leave them as they are for the rest of the year. For this time, caring for strawberries mostly means getting them ready for winter.
This season, I prepared strawberries for winter in early December. During winter dormancy, strawberries store nutrients and start growing well again in spring. Winter preparation for strawberries is simple because it only involves removing the mulch sheet from the plot.
During winter, strawberries need dead leaves and buds picked off, but they can mostly be left alone.
When it comes to growing strawberries, you might think it’s difficult or troublesome, but the “Houkou-wase (japanese june bearing)" strawberries I grow do well even with minimal care and just being left alone.
How to do fertilizing for strawberries (The way to add side dressing to strawberry)
When is the best time to side dress strawberries?
The time for side dressing to the strawberries was mid-January. January is still cold, and the strawberries are still dormant for winter, but they need nutrients, so I add fertilizer. This fertilizer doesn’t work right away but helps growth in spring around March. (In winter, it takes about a month for the fertilizer to break down.)
How should I give side dressing to strawberries?
The way to side dressing to strawberries is to dig a trench between the plants and put chicken manure in it. This is the only time I add fertilizer to strawberries. If you add too much fertilizer or do it too often, strawberries might grow poorly, or pests might appear. So, add fertilizer properly.
Restarting mulch cultivation for strawberries
In mid-February, I restarted mulch cultivation for strawberries. I put the mulch sheet back on the strawberry plot, which I had removed during winter. (Mulch cultivation keeps the plot warm and helps the strawberries grow.)
Around February, strawberry buds may appear, and flowers may bloom, but we should leave the flowers for March. Any buds and flowers that appear by the end of February should be removed. (If strawberries bloom too early, the plants get exhausted.) Also, remove any leaves that have been damaged by the cold.
How to make strawberry fruits support (Keeping strawberries off the ground)
Around early-March, we set up strawberry fruits support around the plot. (Keeping strawberries off the ground.) Strawberries are soft and can easily get damaged if they touch the ground, so this is a measure to prevent that.
Not only for strawberry cultivation, but in home gardening, non-woven fabric is often used, so I think it’s a good idea to buy it if you find it at a home improvement store or garden shop.
Strawberry self pollination and runner removal (Hand pollination for strawberries and cutting runners)
Around April, strawberries start to bloom, so I did pollination work. Strawberries grown outdoors are often pollinated naturally by wind or insects, but to make sure, I did hand pollination. (Self pollination for strawberries.)
When strawberries start to bloom, they grow something like stems called runners. If you leave the runners, they will make baby plants, and you can divide the strawberry plants. But the nutrients won’t go to the fruit, so it’s better to remove them. (In home gardening, people often buy new seedlings every year, so runners are usually not needed.)
Strawberry bird protection (Bird prevention for outdoor strawberries)
When strawberries grow bigger and start to change color, many animals target them. In my field, birds often go after the strawberries, so I take bird-proofing measures every year. I simply cover the strawberry plot with non-woven fabric, but it is quite effective at keeping birds away.
Strawberries picking (How to harvest strawberries)
When to harvest the strawberries?
The harvest time for strawberries is when the fruit starts to change color. To check if the strawberries are fully ripe, look at the green cap. When the whole fruit turns red and the green cap starts to bend back, it’s time to harvest. Let’s pick the delicious strawberries!
The strawberry harvest has just started. The harvest season will continue until the end of May, so I plan to pick the strawberries one by one, starting with the ones that are turning color.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.