🌱 Strawberry Farming – Low Cost, High Profit, Complete Information

If you are looking for a crop which gets ready in less time, gives high market price and good income, then strawberry is a very good option for you. Nowadays its demand is increasing very fast in India and there is high demand in hotels, juice centers, bakeries and online market.

With correct information, right technique and a little hard work, farmers can earn lakhs per acre. In this blog, full information of strawberry farming is given in simple language so that you can easily understand and adopt it and earn profit.

1️⃣ Crop Introduction

Strawberry is a fragrant, sweet and attractive fruit, which is red in color. It belongs to Rosaceae family and its scientific name is Fragaria. It was originated in North America and now it is grown all over the world.

Earlier in India, it was grown only in hilly areas like Nainital, Dehradun, Himachal and Mahabaleshwar, but now it is successfully grown in plain areas like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

👉 It is a high value horticulture crop
👉 Gives production in less time
👉 Always gets good price in market

2️⃣ Health Benefits and Uses

✔️ Nutrients

• Rich in Vitamin C
• Iron and Calcium
• Antioxidants
• Fiber

✔️ Benefits

• Helps to remove blood deficiency
• Increases immunity
• Keeps skin healthy
• Helps in weight loss

✔️ Uses

• Jam and Jelly
• Juice and Shake
• Cake and Ice cream
• As fresh fruit

3️⃣ Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Family: Rosaceae
• Genus: Fragaria
• Crop Type: Horticulture

👉 For detailed information click here

4️⃣ Climate & Temperature

For strawberry farming, proper climate and temperature is one of the most important factors. If temperature is suitable, then both fruit quality and production will be better.

✔️ Suitable Temperature

• Day temperature: 20°C to 30°C
• Night temperature: 10°C to 18°C

✔️ Climate

• Temperate climate is best
• Light cold and moderate sunlight is necessary

✔️ Special Tips

• Too much heat makes plants weak
• Use low tunnel or polyhouse to protect from frost
• Temperature control improves fruit size and taste

5️⃣ Soil Requirement

For good production of strawberry, selecting the right soil is very important.

✔️ Suitable Soil

• Sandy loam soil
• Sandy loam and red soil are also good

✔️ pH Level

• 5.5 to 6.5 is best

✔️ Soil Features

• Good drainage should be there
• Rich in organic matter

✔️ Before Preparation Keep in Mind

• Do soil testing
• Avoid waterlogging because roots are shallow

6️⃣ Seed & Varieties

Selection of good variety is the key to higher production and better profit.

✔️ Main Varieties

• Chandler
• Camarosa
• Selva
• Sweet Charlie
• Tioga

✔️ Early Varieties

• Douglas
• Earliglow
• Fern

✔️ Late Varieties

• Chandler
• Selva
• Sweet Charlie

✔️ Selection Tips

• Choose variety according to local climate
• Take disease-free and certified plants

7️⃣ Seed Rate

In strawberry farming, generally runners (Runner Plants) are used instead of seeds, which helps plants grow faster and gives better production.

✔️ Number of Plants per Acre

• In mulching method: 17,000 to 22,000 plants
• In traditional method: 40,000 to 45,000 runners

✔️ Plant Selection Rules

• Select only healthy and thick runners
• First 3 to 4 runners are most productive

✔️ Important Tips

• Use only disease-free plants
• Avoid very small or dry runners

8️⃣ Where to Buy Plants

Buying the right plants is the first step of success.

✔️ Sources to Buy

• Government nursery
• Agriculture university
• Certified private nursery

✔️ Keep in Mind While Buying

• Plants should be green and fresh
• Roots should not have rot
• Take disease-free certified plants

✔️ Pro Tip

• Choose variety according to local area, this will give more production

9️⃣ Land Preparation

Proper land preparation makes a big difference in strawberry farming production.

✔️ Ploughing

• Do deep ploughing 3 to 4 times
• Make soil loose

✔️ Bed Preparation

• Height: 20 to 30 cm
• Width: Around 1 meter
• Distance between beds: 40 to 50 cm

✔️ Drip Irrigation

• Cost: ₹40,000 to ₹65,000 per acre

✔️ Extra Tips

• Keep field level
• Make proper drainage system

🔟 Sowing Method

✔️ Right Time of Planting

• Plain areas: October to November
• Hilly areas: September to October

✔️ Spacing

• Plant to plant: 30 to 35 cm
• Row distance: 40 to 50 cm

✔️ Planting Process

• Dip roots in fungicide solution before planting
• Do light irrigation after planting

✔️ Mulching Technique

• Use black polythene
• Helps to maintain moisture and control weeds

1️⃣1️⃣ Fertilizer & Manure Management

✔️ Basal Dose

• Cow dung manure: 10 to 15 tons per acre

✔️ Chemical Fertilizers

• Nitrogen: 50 kg
• Phosphorus: 25 kg
• Potash: 35 kg

✔️ Method of Fertilizer Application

• Give soluble fertilizers through drip
• Giving balanced fertilizer every week is better

✔️ Micronutrients

• Spraying zinc and boron increases production

1️⃣2️⃣ Irrigation Schedule

✔️ Irrigation Method

• Drip irrigation is best

✔️ Irrigation Time

• Daily 30 to 40 minutes
• Two times, morning and evening

✔️ Keep in Mind

• Do not allow water to collect
• Protect roots from rotting

1️⃣3️⃣ Weed Control

✔️ Control Methods

• Mulching is the most effective method
• Do weeding at interval of 25 days

✔️ Chemical Method

• Roundup 3 liter per acre

✔️ Benefits

• Saves nutrients
• Increases production

1️⃣4️⃣ Pest & Disease Management

For getting good production in strawberry farming, pest and disease control is very important. With timely identification and proper treatment, crop can be protected from damage.

✔️ Major Diseases and Their Symptoms

1. Red Core Disease

• Inner part of root becomes red
• Plants become small and weak

2. Anthracnose

• Black spots appear on leaves and fruits
• Fruits start getting damaged

3. Blight Disease

• Red and purple spots on leaves
• Slowly whole plant can dry

✔️ Major Pests

• Aphid
• Thrips
• White fly
• Red spider

✔️ Control Measures

• Spray Ridomil 4 gram per liter water
• Use Mancozeb 0.15 percent solution
• Spray insecticides on time
• Keep field clean

✔️ Organic Tips

• Spray neem oil
• Use Trichoderma
• Remove infected plants immediately

👉 Regular monitoring can reduce loss to a large extent

👉 For detailed information click here

1️⃣5️⃣ Crop Duration

Strawberry is a fast growing crop, which gives farmers a chance to earn quickly.

✔️ Duration

• Fruits start coming after 40 to 45 days of planting
• Continuous production for 4 months

✔️ Important Points

• Early fruits get higher price
• Timely planting gives more profit

1️⃣6️⃣ Harvesting Method

Harvesting at the right time and in the right way helps to maintain fruit quality and gives good price in market.

✔️ Right Time of Harvesting

• When fruit becomes 70 percent red

✔️ Harvesting Method

• Do not hold the fruit by hand
• Hold the stem and pluck carefully

✔️ Harvesting Time

• Do in morning or evening

✔️ Important Tips

• Do harvesting every 2 to 3 days
• Keep damaged fruits separate

1️⃣7️⃣ Yield per Acre

✔️ Average Yield

• 80 to 100 quintal per acre

✔️ Yield per Plant

• 500 to 700 gram

✔️ Ways to Increase Yield

• Give balanced fertilizers
• Adopt drip irrigation
• Do mulching

👉 With proper management, both production and quality increase

1️⃣8️⃣ Market Price & Profit

Strawberry farming is a high profit crop for farmers.

✔️ Cost per Acre

• ₹2,00,000 to ₹3,00,000

✔️ Possible Income

• ₹6,00,000 to ₹12,00,000

✔️ Net Profit

• ₹5,00,000 to ₹6,00,000

✔️ Marketing Tips

• Contact hotels and restaurants directly
• Use local mandi and online platforms
• Sell fresh fruits, they will sell fast

👉 That is why
Strawberry farming: more profit in low cost

1️⃣9️⃣ Storage

Strawberry is a very delicate fruit, so proper storage is necessary.

✔️ Temperature

• 0°C to 5°C

✔️ Storage Duration

• At normal temperature: 1 to 2 days
• In cold storage: for longer time

✔️ Packing Method

• Pack in 200 gram plastic punnets
• Keep in ventilated and safe place

✔️ Special Tips

• Send to market immediately after harvesting
• Keep damaged fruits separate

2️⃣0️⃣ Government Schemes

Government provides support to farmers for horticulture crops like strawberry.

✔️ Available Schemes

• 40 to 50 percent subsidy on drip irrigation
• Subsidy on mulching sheet
• Support on equipment

✔️ How to Get Benefit

• Contact district agriculture department
• Take information from horticulture department

2️⃣1️⃣ Is Government Permission Required

✔️ Normal Farming

• No permission required

✔️ Large Scale Farming

• In some cases, registration may be required

2️⃣2️⃣ FAQ | Important Questions Answers

Here simple and useful answers of most commonly asked questions related to strawberry farming are given, so that farmer brothers can start farming without any confusion.

1. What is the right time for strawberry farming

👉 In plain areas October to November and in hilly areas September to October is the most suitable time. By doing planting on time, early fruits sell at good price.

2. What is the cost of strawberry farming in one acre

👉 Around ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh cost comes. It includes plants, fertilizers, mulching, drip irrigation and labour.

3. How much profit can be earned from one acre

👉 By using proper technique, ₹5 lakh to ₹6 lakh net profit can be easily earned.

4. Which soil is best for strawberry

👉 Sandy loam soil is considered best, in which drainage is good and pH should be between 5.5 to 6.5.

5. How to do irrigation in strawberry

👉 Drip irrigation is best. It saves water and gives proper amount of water to plants.

6. How many plants are planted in one acre

👉 Around 17,000 to 22,000 plants are planted in mulching method. In some cases up to 40,000 runners can also be planted.

7. In how much time crop gets ready

👉 Fruits start coming after 40 to 45 days of planting and production continues for about 4 months.

8. Which variety gives highest production

👉 Varieties like Chandler, Camarosa and Sweet Charlie give higher production and good quality.

9. Where can strawberry be sold

👉 Can be easily sold in local mandi, hotels, juice centers, supermarkets and online platforms.

10. What is the biggest risk in strawberry farming

👉 Excess water, frost and wrong management are the biggest risks. With proper care and technique, these can be avoided.

Conclusion

Strawberry farming has now become a profitable and modern farming option for farmers. This crop gets ready in less time and its demand in market is continuously increasing.

If farmer brothers use proper techniques like drip irrigation, mulching and balanced fertilizers, then they can earn lakhs of rupees profit per acre.

👉 Remember
Adopting correct information is the key to success

👉 Strawberry farming: more profit in low cost

🚜 Now it is time to adopt smart farming and increase your income many times!

👉 For more fruits farming guides, keep exploring our website