Strawberries are not commonly grown in around not because its not popular but solely on the fact that many farmers don’t know how to grow it or where to get the faster growing propagation materials like the seedlings and splits.
For the seedings you can contact farmers with nurseries or you can contact us.
It is cultivated worldwide for its fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. It is consumed in large quantities, either fresh or in such prepared foods as preserves, juice, pies, ice creams, milkshakes, and chocolates. Artificial strawberry flavorings and aromas are also widely used in many products like lip gloss, candy, hand sanitizers, perfume, and many others.
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VARIETIES
If you are targeting fresh consumption the varieties below are the best.
Selekta – this is the most popular variety producing long and wedge – shaped glossy red fruits.
Chandler-this produces firm strawberries with a distinctive strawberry aroma.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS
Strawberries require well-drained, sandy-loam to loamy soils with a PH levels between 5.0 and 5.5.However, strawberries can be grown in more clayey soils if a sufficient quantity of compost is added to the soil during soil preparation.
PROPAGATION
Buy disease-resistant plants from a reputable nursery, of a variety recommended in your area.You can start planting since the second season is here (for those outside Uganda the seasons may vary and green houses can help to bypass harsh weather
Strawberries are sprawling plants. Seedlings will send out runners, or ‘daughter’ plants, which in turn will send out their own runners.It means from must a plane you can get more many other seedlings.
Make planting holes deep and wide enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending it. However, don’t plant too deep: The roots should be covered, but the crown should be right at the soil surface.
Strawberry plants require 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly.
Planting site must be well-drained. Raised beds are a particularly good option for strawberry plants.
Practice crop rotation for the most success. Do not plant in a site that recently had strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant.
Establish new plants each year to keep berry quality high each season.
It is also possible to grow strawberries from last year’s runner
CARE
In the first 2months, pick off blossoms to discourage strawberry plants from fruiting. If not allowed to bear fruit, they will spend their food reserves on developing healthy roots. The yields will be much greater in the 3rd month.
Eliminate daughter plants as needed. First and second generations produce higher yields. Try to space each plant about 2ft apart.
Moisture is incredibly important due to shallow roots. Water adequately, about one inch per week. Strawberry plants need a lot of water when the runners and flowers are developing and again in the fall when the plants are mature.
Keep the beds mulched to reduce water needs and weed invasion.
Be diligent about weeding. Weed by hand, especially in the first months after planting.
Harvesting
Pick off the fruits with their stocks as soon as they turn red.
When you plant your seedlings, in 3 months you should have your first fruits and runners.
You can harvest up to 2years on the same plant.
Marketing
Here you can choose to pack your strawberry fruits in nice packages and sell to super markets. Or you can approach juice making companies ,yougut factories, ice cream and many others.
Let’s discuss
- Have you ever bought strawberries in nigeria before?
- Was the taste different from other strawberries ?
- What is the best climate season to grow strawberries in Nigeria?
@Everybody that has any contributions should please comment below…Thanks 
Source: E-TIME
