What to Do When Strawberries Bloom but Do Not Bear Fruit
Strawberries, as a widely popular berry plant, the phenomenon of blooming without bearing fruit puzzles many growers. According to statistics from the agricultural department, about 45% of home growers encounter the issue of strawberries not setting fruit. This article will systematically analyze the key elements of strawberry fruit setting from three dimensions: plant growth patterns, pollination mechanisms, and environmental regulation.
Strawberry Fruit Setting Cycle Rules
Key Stage of Flower Bud Differentiation
Strawberries require a physiological transformation period of 7-15 days from blooming to fruiting. The flower bud differentiation stage needs to maintain a day-night temperature difference of 8-12°C. Expecting fruit too early may instead affect nutrient transport, it is recommended to judge the fruit setting process by observing the petal shedding.
Fruit Management Timeline
Establish a planting log to record the blooming date, and start applying phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (recommended ratio N-P-K=5-15-30) five days after flowering, combined with twice-weekly foliar calcium spray, can increase the fruit setting rate by over 35%.
Essentials of Strawberry Pollination Techniques
Strengthening Natural Pollination
In greenhouse cultivation, it is recommended to place one box of bumblebees every 20㎡ for biological pollination. In open-field cultivation, planting nectar plants such as pansies and marigolds can attract pollinating insects, increasing the efficiency of natural pollination by 50%.
Standard Operating Procedure for Artificial Pollination
Choose a sunny period between 10:00-15:00, use a camel hair pollination pen (0.3cm in diameter is optimal) for dot pollination. Focus on the second-level inflorescence, repeat pollination on each flower twice with a 2-hour interval, which can ensure an effective pollination rate of over 95%.
Strawberry Growth Environment Regulation
Precise Management of Temperature, Light, and Water
Maintain a golden temperature difference of 22-25°C during the day and 12-15°C at night, and use a 40% shade rate horticultural shade net to control light. Promote the use of a drip irrigation system to keep soil moisture at 60-70%, and avoid waterlogging during the flowering period that may cause gray mold disease.
Soil Improvement Plan
The soil EC value during the fruit-setting stage should be controlled between 1.2-1.5mS/cm, apply decomposed sheep manure (3kg/m²) combined with earthworm dung to improve the matrix monthly. It is recommended to use acidic nutrient soil with a pH of 5.8-6.5 to promote the absorption of trace elements by the roots.
By systematically mastering the growth cycle of strawberries, innovating pollination techniques, and implementing precise environmental control, the fruit setting rate of strawberries can be increased to over 80%. It is recommended that growers establish a complete growth monitoring system, combined with the use of digital temperature and humidity meters and soil testers, to achieve scientific and fine management. Regularly pruning old leaves and maintaining ventilation and light for the plants are key guarantees for sustainable high yield.