How to Plant Milk Strawberries
Comprehensive explanation on how to plant milk strawberries and detailed knowledge of green plant maintenance techniques for milk strawberry cultivation. These are very useful tips, recommended for bookmarking!
It is rumored that the once popular milk strawberries were grown by watering with milk. Is that really true? Actually, no. The variety name of milk strawberries is MoriKen 99, also known as 99 strawberry, with fruit that tastes like milk. Distributors named it milk strawberry to attract consumers, although milk strawberries are not grown by watering with milk. They are popular for their rich milk flavor and sweet and sour taste. The cultivation of milk strawberries has a broad market prospect. Let's learn about the cultivation techniques of milk strawberries.
1. Soil Preparation and Fertilization
For planting milk strawberries, the strawberry field should be chosen in a plot with abundant sunlight, convenient irrigation and drainage, flat ground, fertile and loose soil, and higher terrain. It is best to choose a plot that meets these conditions and has previously been planted with onions, garlic, or legumes. Before planting, weeds should be removed, and a 50% phosphorus trichloride emulsion 1000-fold solution should be sprayed to control pests. After 7 days, combined with deep tillage, apply 5000 kilograms of decomposed farm manure, 100 kilograms of superphosphate, and 50 kilograms of potassium chloride per mu as a base fertilizer. After fine soil preparation, create ridges 50 cm wide and 20 cm high, with a 30 cm wide furrow.
2. Seedling Management
The variety name of milk strawberries is MoriKen 99, also known as 99 strawberry. Milk strawberry seedlings are usually purchased from specialized nurseries. When buying seedlings, it is best to choose the second-generation seedlings after virus removal. They can also be obtained through division propagation, but the yield is lower. It is not recommended to use division propagation for large-scale strawberry plantations. Seedling raising is done in a greenhouse, controlling the distance between seedlings at about 40 cm. During the seedling raising period, good ventilation and water management are required. Cover the seedling area with a layer of plastic film to keep it warm and moist. When the temperature rises, remove the plastic film, and when the seedlings have grown 4 to 5 true leaves, they can be transplanted.
3. Seedling Transplanting
Transplanting usually takes place in late August. Dig the seedlings from the nursery and transplant them into holes in the ridges, with a spacing of 20 cm between each hole. Generally, 12000 seedlings can be transplanted per mu. When transplanting, make sure the inflorescence is facing the same direction, spread the roots flat and buried in the soil, water thoroughly to promote root and soil adhesion, and improve the survival rate of transplanted seedlings. After transplanting, attention should be paid to maintenance management, and any dead seedlings should be replaced promptly.
4. Fertilization and Water Management
Since milk strawberries bloom and bear fruit multiple times a year, they have high demands for nutrients and water. Attention should be paid to watering and fertilizing. Apply fertilizer once during the initial flowering stage and once during the fruit-setting stage. You can use 10 kg of urea, 20 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 35 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per mu. Water once during the flowering stage and fruit development stage. When watering, fill the furrow with water up to 2/3 of its height, and after the soil slowly absorbs the water and becomes moist, drain the excess water to prevent the soil from becoming too wet, which could lead to root rot. Water should be supplied promptly when the soil is dry to keep it moist, and drainage is needed during the rainy season to prevent flooding.
5. Field Management
Long-term use of soil can lead to compaction, which is not conducive to the decomposition of organic matter and the growth of plant roots. It is necessary to till and weed the soil 2 to 3 times a year to keep the soil loose and promote root growth for better nutrient absorption. Low temperatures and short-daylight conditions are favorable for flower bud differentiation. During the month of flower bud differentiation, in addition to maintaining sufficient water, temperature control and shading are also necessary to promote the differentiation of axillary and terminal inflorescences. After flower bud differentiation, remove the shading tools and maintain the temperature at 28 to 30°C. When the temperature is too low, cover with plastic film and increase the greenhouse temperature to keep it above 23°C for normal plant growth. The soil moisture of 70 to 80% is most suitable for planting milk strawberries, and the air humidity of 60 to 70% is ideal. When the air humidity exceeds 70% and the temperature is above 30°C, ventilation is needed to reduce temperature and humidity.
The above sharing on how to plant milk strawberries and the detailed introduction of milk strawberry cultivation techniques are for netizens to refer to and learn from.