Strawberry Farming - Kenya

Did you know that from an eight-hectare plot of land, you can harvest up to Ksh 100000 a month by making straw berry Farming?

The best-known strawberry crop grown by most farmers in Kenya is the Chandler variety because it grows faster, produces larger tastier fruits and juices and is easier to control. Seedlings can be expensive but there is a way to get around this as one can simply propagate a few seedlings to get more seedlings to plant on his farm.

Seedlings come in the form of a split that can cost at least Ksh 15 / = for each division you can get from Kalro Njoro / Thika, the Horticulture office or the Department of Agriculture, Crop and Soil (Egerton University). These centers produce quality plant material.

Soil Preparation

First of all, these strawberry varieties are less attractive to the soil, they can do well in clay and red volcanic soils as long as you treat the soil well before planting and add enough compost (Chicken, rabbit urine and / or plant manure. latest plant growth.

Seedlings should be planted at the end of the rainy season and a good irrigation system in your small area should be essential for best results. If you can't afford the system, you can choose an irrigation system or just buy a sprayer and irrigate yourself but this can consume a lot of your time and energy as the soil needs to be wet all the time. This plant has shallow roots so water is essential for survival.

Grow the soil in your piece of land into beds that are evenly spaced 60 inches apart. When planting, make sure there is a distance of 30 cm from one split to the other.

Choose areas that get enough sunlight as the plants respond well to snow.

During the initial flower production period, press the flowers to ensure better berry production for the next season.

Introduce a vegetable bundle as the plant grows 2 cm above the ground to help control weeds.

Diaznon, Kelthane and other suitable acaracides and pesticides can help control pests and diseases.

Harvesting

Harvest when the top of the berries are completely red. If selected, it does not continue to ripen like other fruits. The fruit is however easily damaged and the refrigerator at 4 Degrees Celsius can help keep it fresh for seven days. Be careful not to wash or allow contact with water on the berries unless you are ready to eat. Picking fruit in the morning also prolongs shelf life.

Because the fruit is easily damaged, make sure you have the right market before harvest time.

A straightforward community can be a great place to start marketing your strawberries. Local fruit shops, restaurants and other small consumers such as cake makers are also good buyers of strawberries in Kenya. Industries that produce food flavors, spicy natural yoghurt, jam etc also buy strawberries.

To find another way to work this type of farming, please pay for free by watching Episode 4 of the Farmer ni Juice YouTube Channel where a Ruai couple explains their experience with grass berries. Success!

You should definitely try this.