Hengartner Pflanzen GmbH - Strawberries

Strawberries

Ripening periods, product specification, variety descriptions, planting advice

P roduct description strawberries

Ripening chart for strawberries

Tb = Pot plants

F = Frigo

WB = Waiting bed plants
T = Tray plants

MT = Minitray

Product description for young strawberry plants

Potted plants

Pot-grown green plants - Hengartner Pflanzen

Potted green plants are grown from seedlings, which due to the method of propagation do not have direct contact with the soil (this is the safest prevention against soil-borne pathogens). After pricking out, the plants are cultivated under spray until they have formed sufficient roots. Then the young plants are hardened off in several steps.

The ideal planting time for potted green plants is from the end of July to mid-August, which allows for pre-crops (ideally cereals). Due to the root ball, potted green plants can be stored for a short time, so the planting day can be adjusted to suitable weather. Irrigation after planting is necessary. In one culture plate there are 66 to 68 plants, whose root ball has a diameter of about 4 cm.

Frigo plants

Frigo plants are stored in a cold store. They are rooted out, sorted and chilled in the dormancy period from about the middle of November. Flower development is already established with heavy sorting. The plants are sorted according to rhizome strength (root crown diameter). The stronger the rhizome, the more flower heads can be expected in the year of planting. For a harvest in the first year of plentation only strong plants (at least category A+) are suitable. Planting can take place from April to June. If planting is delayed to July, some loss of yield must be expected. Pre-culture is limited because of the early planting period.

Plant types

Tray plant

Tray plants:

Are used only for term culture mainly in the greenhouse. Their yield potential is comparable to that of strong waiting bedding plants. They are not bare root, but have a large root ball.

Mini-Tray

Have smaller root balls and lower yield potential than tray plants.

Waiting bed plants (15-18mm/ 18-22mm/ >22mm):

Particularly suitable for term cultivation. There are 3 grades, which have different yield potential.

A++ plants (mind. 15mm):

Grading for the term crop. Plant 8-10 weeks before the planned harvest date. The yield potential is higher than A+ plants.

A+ plants (13-15mm):

Suitable for term culture, but lower yields than A++ plants.

A+ plant

A standard plants (9-12mm):

Most planted grade for normal culture. In order to obtain a full yield in the following year, a timely planting date is important for a sufficiently long period of vegetative growth. Breaking out the flowers in the year of planting is recommended.

A- plants (6-8mm):

Suitable for potting or outdoor planting with a very early planting date. The flowers in the year of planting should be broken out.

Description of varieties

Description of strawberry varieties

Planting advice strawberry

 P lanting advice strawberries

Growth site requirements

If the right variety and growth site are chosen, strawberries can be cultivated at 1,500 m above sea level. Valley floors and hollows should be avoided, as cold spots can form. Equally unsuitable are heavy, compact soils that are prone to sogginess or very limy (pH > 7). Deep, humus-rich clay and loamy, sandy soils are ideal. The influence of preceding crops should not be underestimated. For example, cereals work well as a preceding crop, whereas potatoes or turnips greatly increase the risk of root diseases and nematode infestation.

Planting depth

Refrigerated plants: the root neck must be covered with earth.
Potted plants: spread a light covering of earth over the root balls.

Planting at the right depth is key!
Seedlings that are planted too shallow are susceptible to frost damage and dehydration. The rhizome is less able to send out new roots.
Seedlings that are planted too deep, so that the crown is partially covered with earth, take longer to develop – or, in the worst-case scenario, don’t develop at all – and are often affected by rhizome diseases.

Watering requirements

Strawberry cultivation requires a lot of water. It is particularly important to ensure sufficient watering just after planting. This is also the case as the leaves, flowers and fruit start to develop on the plants.

Insufficient watering increases crop and quality losses. On the other hand, overwatering restricts root production and causes the roots and rhizome to rot.