Strawberries can be grown in a wide range of climates ranging from temperate climates to cooler positions in tropical areas; and are well suited to growing as a greenhouse crop anywhere if temperature conditions are controlled.
They are a significant large crop in many countries and a popular crop for home gardeners the world over. More than 3.5 million tonnes of strawberries were produced in 75 countries in 2005 and by 2010 the world’s top 10 producers harvested almost 3 million metric tonnes, this extended to global production of over 4.5 million tonnes by 2012; a growth of almost 13% in 5 years. Although the United States, Turkey, Spain, Mexico the Netherlands, remain amongst the top producers, other countries are steadily increasing their production with Greece and Egypt increasing their production level by over 30% between 2007 and 2014, Chile too is an emerging and increasing producer.
Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: OVERVIEW, HISTORY, BOTANY AND TAXONOMY
The strawberry
History
Botany
Genetics
Species
Types of strawberry plants
Day neutral strawberry varieties
Short day strawberry varieties
Long day varieties
CHAPTER 2 CULTURE
Climate
Pollination
Soils and fertiliser
Planting
Buying plants
Spacing plants and planting
Plant care
Mulch
Removing runners
Pruning
Replacing old plants
Netting
Propagation
CHAPTER 3 WAYS OF GROWING STRAWBERRIES, HARVESTING AND MARKETING TECHNIQUES
Growing strawberries organically
Aspect
Soils
Organic cultivation in beds/rows
Organic cultivation in containers
Organic plant protection
Growing strawberries in containers
Greenhouse growing
Hydroponics
Harvesting strawberries
Hand harvesting
Harvesting large scale growers
Marketing
CHAPTER 4 MANAGING PESTS, DISEASES AND OTHER PROBLEMS
Potential problems
Pests
Aphids
Beetles
Bugs
Caterpillars
Mites
Nematodes (eelworms)
Slugs
Weevils
Diseases
Fungal diseases
Bacterial diseases
Viral diseases
CHAPTER 5 CULTIVARS
Cultivars
Comparing some cultivars
CHAPTER 6 USING STRAWBERRIES
Nutritional value of strawberries
Preserving strawberries
Freezing
Bottling
Drying
Recipes
Strawberry jam
Strawberry fruit punch
Strawberry mocktail
Summer strawberry salad
Strawberry cheesecake
Strawberry jelly
Strawberry coulis
Other ways to use strawberries
For skin
For hair
Ornamental plant
Strawberry oils
APPENDIX
Learn more about Growing Strawberries in this 76 page ebook with pictures.