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Growing guide

How to grow strawberries

A high-value winter fruit for the plains: planted in October, picked January to April, sold fresh into city markets.

At a glance

Planting window: Plains: late September – October · Hills: September – October
Duration: Plant in October, pick from mid-January to April
Climate: Mild days and cool nights; short days (12 hours or less) trigger flowering
Soil: Sandy loam to loam; pH 5.7–6.5
Water need: Moderate
Plants: About 22,000 runners per acre at 30 × 30 cm
Spacing: 30 × 30 cm
Yield: NHB puts averages at 45–100 q/ha and 175–300 q/ha for well-managed fields. Growers in Hisar and Bhiwani averaged 15.7 t/ha — about 6.4 tonnes per acre.

Dates assume planting around 18 Oct. Change the plan to shift them.

7–11 weeks before — Test soil and water; book runners: Water EC should be low. Book certified runners early — shortages are common and many plains growers source from Himachal.
1–5 weeks before — Build raised beds: Work in FYM and phosphorus, lay drip laterals, cover with plastic mulch; fence the field.
Day 0 — Plant runners: Evening planting at 30 × 30 cm, crown level with the soil, water right away.
Days 1–30 — Establish: Light, frequent drip; replace dead plants in the first two weeks; remove early runners.
Months 2–5 — Fertigate weekly: Nitrogen and potash by stage; calcium and boron at flowering.
Months 2–6 — Scout weekly: Mites and thrips under leaves; grubs at wilting plants; grey mould in humid spells.
Months 2–4 — Protect from frost: Low tunnels or covers on clear, still December–January nights.
Months 3–6 — Pick every 2–3 days: In the morning, at half to three-quarters colour; pre-cool to 4 °C within two hours.
Months 3–6 — Sell fresh: Punnets to city retail and aggregators; the cold chain decides your price.

Buy certified seed or planting material from an authorised source.

Light, frequent drip irrigation — beds evenly moist, fruit never wet.
Never let it go short at: Establishment after planting · Flowering · Fruit development
Drip saves about 30% of water and energy. Test tube-well water: salty water ruins strawberries.
Drip irrigation suits this crop.

Prevent first; spray only when needed, with a product registered for the crop, at label dose.

Runners were 34% of cost in the study. Costs and prices have both risen since 2015-16 — replace these with current quotes.

National Horticulture Board — Strawberry Spacing, density, nutrition, pests and yield ranges.
Production Economics of Strawberry in Haryana 120 farmers, Hisar and Bhiwani districts; 2015-16 prices. Update prices before relying on it.
Common grower practice in north India Widely followed by farmers; confirm with your KVK for your block.