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(Continued from Better Tasting Berries are Always In Season)
The best hydro systems for home growing hydroponic strawberries are moveable.
Flood and drain systems are perfect for large-scale strawberry growing. For a small space and to be somewhat transportable once you get started makes more sense for your grow tent or indoor garden. You can just as easily succeed when using NFT, aeroponics and drip irrigation. To make the most of a small space look into vertical stacking grow systems. These can be deep-water culture or stacked pots of media.
Growing medium with strawberries is pretty versatile.
You have several options to pick from. The most limiting factor will be the hydro system you choose to use. Also, the crown must always be above the medium to prevent root rot. While you are working on getting the lot potted, it is important to not let the roots get dry. You can wrap them in a wet towel to maintain moisture as you work.
Strawberries grow well in:
- Rock wool
- Clay pebbles
- Potting mix
- Perlite
- Vermiculite
- Gravel or coarse sand
- Untreated sawdust
Water quality is important.
Strawberries do not do well if sodium levels your water is too high. For best plant health and optimum crop yields you need a sodium level below 50 ppm. If your sodium level is over 50 ppm you not be able to use recirculating methods. You can adjust the presence of sodium some by adding soluble silica to the nutrient solution to improve plant vigor.
Nutrients should be controlled at good levels for the best fruit quality.
You’ll need to keep the nitrogen at a steady level for best plant growth and runner production to start new plants from. Potassium is what controls sweet flavor, firm fruit and give the berries a long shelf life. The pH range also needs to be kept at 5.5-5.8 for this crop and the EC at around 2.5. The cultivars you choose will also have a lot do with the flavor of your strawberries too.
Temperature is more crucial to strawberry production than day length.
That the strawberry plant relies more on the heat level than light to produce flowers is interesting. For optimum crop performance you want temperatures between 61-82º F. Below 61º your plants will stop producing foliage or begin to show signs of iron deficiency. Heat above 82º will cause wilting and cease producing flowers and fruit.
Keep your strawberry crop maintained continually for best heath.
Always remove any browning leaves and old berries. By making sure there are no dying foliage and fruit, you are less likely to have problems with pests and disease that are attracted decay. Strawberries are prone to some pests and disease. The grower who regularly checks the crop can easily ward off any of these before they become harmful.
Green strawberries do not ripen after being picked.
You should harvest when the fruit is light red to orange red or they will be overripe.
For the best flavor, hydroponic berries are picked when they are about 75% ripe. They should be quickly cooled at 90% humidity. You can count on a 5-10 day shelf life from your berries.
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