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Long bed "Hydroponic" strawberries.

7K views 46 replies 6 participants last post by  light rain 
#1 · (Edited)
This isn't technically hydroponic. Because the plants roots are in media not water only. This system produced 600 pints of strawberries in a 12x40 foot green house.

I grew them like this.
Slope grow bed so it can drain slowly. Mine slopes about 3" in 10ft.
boards are placed on the ground to form rows.
Black plastic is put down over the boards.
Promix is put into the rows 2-3" deep.
Cover rows with plastic. I used red because the studies show it is better than black.
Make small holes and Plant into the promix.
They are drip irrigated from a large tank of nutrient. I allowed the system to "drain to waste" But in reality their was near zero runoff.
i irrigated in the following manner. Calculate so each plant gets 1 quart of nutrient per day. So for every 4 plants it gets 1 gallon. For me the bed contained 480 plants. So 120 gallons of nutrient was required each day. I had 120 1 gpm drippers (30 per row). So I had to run the timer for a half hour a day. I did it. 2 times a day for 15 min. each. once at 7am and once at 2pm.

For nutrient I used Chem-gro strawberry per instructions.
For plants we used Seascape from Norse.

From panting to first harvest was 6 weeks and they produced into October with an average of 15 pints a week. But with larger harvests in June and early September.


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#5 · (Edited)
Wanted to add. Make sure you follow the directions on the bag of fertilizer. You need to add more powder per gallon as the plants set fruit. AKA follow the directions.. Some don't :(
As the first leaves come on if the temps are cool. Foliar feed calcium nitrate and Magnesium Sulfate 7 grams of each to one gallon of water. Spray lightly in the early morning or late afternoon. Not in the heat of the day. This is needed because the plants are growing at a break neck pace. Much to fast for the slow uptake nutrients.

Also unless your water is very acidic. You should add iron as a foliar spray weekly when the sun hours are more than 14 hours per day. The plants are working so hard they actually raise the PH of Peat moss.

Yes, the proper cultural practices are complex. But these take 12 weeks to fruit in the soil. :)
 
#9 · (Edited)
No rats or mice, or other critters in the greenhouses. Just not an issue here. We do have several "barn" cats tho. But the cats are excluded from the greenhouses. The profit on this crop was small, just a few hundred. But the crop is producing again this year with the only cost being the nutrient. So This year will be much better... profit wise.
 
#11 ·
I think you will do fine. Most of my covered space is tomato production now. I'm thinking everbearers more now, that and late highbush blueberries. What I did in the past for berries came on mid June through July which was too difficult where I need to do sweet corn work then. I can sell more sweet corn per piece than berries, easier pickin'. I really liked doing berries all the same. Best to ya.
 
#26 ·
This greenhouse was fully left to the weather. This past year I expect the temps were slightly below zero on several occasions. I only heat in spring and only the tomato house. We grow into early fall. But pick greens into late winter. We do use row covers to protect the crops from the coldest temps. In winter the low light levels just about stop growth.
 
#28 ·
I guess I'm not seeing the economics of this venture. As of now you've sold about $100 worth of strawberries. You don't seem to be getting a premium for your input and effort. The outdoor season is just starting here and quarts are going for $4.50-$5.50 at markets. You only seem to be slightly ahead of the season.

Not trying to pry but how do you figure profit on this venture?
 
#29 · (Edited)
I guess I'm not seeing the economics of this venture. As of now you've sold about $100 worth of strawberries. You don't seem to be getting a premium for your input and effort. The outdoor season is just starting here and quarts are going for $4.50-$5.50 at markets. You only seem to be slightly ahead of the season.

Not trying to pry but how do you figure profit on this venture?
I will pick till the end of October. How many days till your local berries are gone? I'm hoping for around 15 a week. So 20 weeks is 300 pints.. The guides say we should get 1.5 pounds per plant in a hydro setup. I estimate we have 450 plants left. So that would be 675 pounds or about 675 quarts which would be about 1300 pints.. But I prefer to be on the conservative side and give low estimates so people don't get overly excited.
The hoop house isn't heated it just keeps the weather off the berries so nearly 100% is harvest able. It isn't about being ahead or behind the outdoor season. In fact the outdoor season has no affect on my sales it's so short. Plus mine are prettier and bigger.

I figure the time and math this way..
The cost plants, fert, building, etc. is 50%.
The rest is labor.
We spend an hour a week picking them.
They bring 37.00 at market.
Half that is 18.50 an hr.

I challenge you to find that high of pay rate in a rural location in most of the country.
 
#47 ·
Hope your greenhouse operation is growing/grown well!

Any change in crops for next season?

This summer for us has not been productive due to unforeseen circumstances but hoping/planning for a total reversal in 2018. I have found someone to either help or by himself put up a small greenhouse next spring. I will be looking into one of those where the earth is scooped out for insulation purposes...
 
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