Strawberries...Strawberries...Strawberries

Strawberries...Strawberries...Strawberries

 

There is nothing better tasting to me than fresh, off-the-vine strawberries.  Normally, I have to wait until Spring or early Summer to enjoy their taste.  But now, I can enjoy them year-round with the ones I grow in our Aquaponics System!

 

There are as many ways and methods to grow them as there are varieties.  After some trial and error, I've got a beautiful patch just outside my living room door.  Don't think I can be without them now.

 

When I first tried to grow them, I had planted in a continuous flood bed.  Although I have seen others grow them this way, I found this method to be too wet for the "crown".  (Possibly because it was indoors and the air flow was not adequate around the plant).

 

Then I transferred them to a media filled bed with a flood and drain system for supplying nutrients to the roots.  This method was superior for my application, as the crown stays dry and water gets no higher than 1" below the surface.  The plants were planted in a 2' x 4' tub filled with expanded clay pebbles.

 

For the most part, I chose "everbearing" berries so I could enjoy year round.  I might sacrifice the number produced at one time, but aquaponics produced fruit is more productive than those grown in dirt.  The plants will produce runners which are starts for new plantlets.  These are easy to stick back into the media and will root very quickly.  When the runner starts to die off next to the mother plant, that is a good indication the new plant is self sufficient.  So just trim the runner away from both plants.

 

Things I have observed:

 

* Every two to three weeks take your scissors and trim out all the old dying plant leaves.  I also, trim out older leaves which have lost their luster.

 

* Opening up in and around the plants allows for good air flow and will discourage bugs from enjoying the plant.  Before I started doing vigorous pruning, I was plagued with white flies.

 

* If the plants are starting to produce smaller fruit, you probably need to prune out the old leaves and old non-producing stems.  Thin out the patch.  Remember, it's the fruit you're after not a big green patch of leaves.

 

* During the early start-up of a bed, the plants may show some nutrient stress.  This is mainly due to the newness of the system.  If the leaves are pale or show signs of discoloration, I generally add a few ounces of organic liquid seaweed and once a month a couple ounces of chelated iron.

 

* Pale, discolored plants will invite "bugs".  (Mainly spider mites and white flies)

 

* A pH of 7 works quite well for the berries.

 

* Once your strawberry patch is established, it's so simple to keep it producing and producing.  That's a good thing, since it's the first place our granddaughter heads when she is here.  Beautiful, mouth watering, healthy red strawberries!  Yum!