Excellent protection from wind and weather, strawberries can also be grown in the greenhouse without any problems. In terms of taste, there is hardly any difference to the outdoors, even if the right rays of sunlight are missing under glass. A particular advantage of this protected rearing is that harvest losses do not occur at all due to the rot that often occurs due to heavy rainfall and pests hardly have a chance of spoiling your harvest.
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The driving starts shortly before Christmas
Until then, the plants should either remain outdoors or planted beforehand in pots. The peculiarity of strawberry plants is that they first have to experience the real autumn and winter temperatures, otherwise they will sprout poorly at the beginning of spring and later fruit. From the second week of December you can go into the house, which should be as bright as possible. The greenhouse strawberries are now slowly accustomed to the milder heat values, starting at 10 ° C, before the temperature can be increased to approx. 20 ° C a few days later .
How to care for strawberries in the greenhouse
In the following weeks the root balls of the plants must not dry out under any circumstances. Watering in moderation, but regularly, is sufficient. From the beginning of the growth phase, liquid fertilizer can be used every seven to fourteen days, which regulates the supply of nutrients. In nature, it is done by the bees, with greenhouse strawberries you have to do it yourself: Shake the plants or work with a fine-haired brush. This ensures the fertilization that should start at the beginning of the flowering period. Then you have to wait until the first weeks of April and the first red fruits begin to be ready for harvest.
Alternative for small greenhouses: plant a strawberry tree
As an autumn and winter bloomer, the evergreen Arbutus unedo is a real eye-catcher in the glass house and with its characteristic strawberry scent, especially when in bloom, can be perceived for meters. Here is his brief profile with the most important facts:
- Winter temperature: 2 to 8 ° C;
- Flower color: white to pale pink;
- Flowering period: November to early March;
- Cutting time: if necessary (shape cut);
- Propagation: Head cuttings can be cut and planted over the summer; It is also possible to sow the fruit seeds (20 to 22 ° C);
- Special features: also tolerates light frost; also suitable for the winter garden because of the beautiful look;
Tips
Insects are particularly fond of driving into greenhouses in inclement weather. (€ 34.95 at Amazon *) Fight aphids and spider mites that threaten your strawberries, ideally with the targeted release of beneficial insects, such as predatory mites or parasitic wasps, (€ 14.59 at Amazon *), which you can obtain from specialist gardeners .
