How to grow strawberries

Strawberries

Strawberry production can be a profitable venture for small scale and part-time farmers. The crop requires a small space to start with and it has a ready market. Once established, the crop can be harvested for as long it is maintained. However, management of this crop can pose considerable difficulties that may result in massive losses. The following practices will help reduce damage from insects and diseases.

Choose disease resistant varieties. Some plants are not susceptible to certain diseases or are less susceptible than other varieties. Resistance or tolerance to diseases will eliminate or greatly reduce the need for disease control. Plant disease free material. Since viruses cannot be seen at the time of planting, the grower must rely on good propagation and cultural practice methods used by the nursery in producing the plants. Virus-infected plants are infected for life, and plants infected with soil-inhabiting fungi can contaminate the site for years. Buy only healthy plants from reputable nurseries.