An Introduction to Soilless Strawberries

Freshly harvested aeroponic strawberries from the AEtrium 4 System in the background.

BACKGROUND

Strawberries have been cultivated for centuries, with modern domestication beginning in the 18th century. While strawberries are predominantly cultivated in outdoor fields, doing so comes with limitations such as seasonality, pests, and diseases, restricting production and reducing crop yields.

Protected soilless strawberry cultivation began gaining traction in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s, as a means to extend the growing season to meet consumer demand. With the effects of climate change and soil-borne diseases limiting the diversity of suitable outdoor cultivars, indoor cultivation differentiates itself through increased flexibility, allowing growers to prioritize varieties with superior flavor, quality, and consistency.

SOILLESS STRAWBERRY BASICS

PLANTING SYSTEM/SUBSTRATE

Most greenhouse strawberry production utilizes steel troughs filled with a coco-based soilless substrate mixture. These mixtures, often consisting of coco coir blends with high porosity, are suspended above the ground in steel gutters. A synthetic liquid fertilizer blend is applied to the substrate in small quantities using pressure-compensated drip emitters connected to a main irrigation line to ensure the substrate remains appropriately wet over the course of the day.

SOILLESS STRAWBERRY YIELD

During the typical 6-month off-season for open-field cultivation, greenhouse strawberry production can range from 5 to 10 kg per square meter—significantly higher than the 3 kg per square meter yield in the field. It's important to note that yield is heavily influenced by the choice of strawberry cultivar, as some varieties are better suited to greenhouse conditions than others.

While most soilless strawberry production systems will be far more consistent and productive than a traditional outdoor system, the resulting efficiency, reliability, and productivity will largely depend upon the level of technology being used to operate the space.

Learn how to fully grow soilless strawberries with this FREE in-depth guide PDF from AEssenseFresh: