Calculation of growing strawberries in a greenhouse. Business growing strawberries all year round. Possible distribution channels

Strawberries are delicious, sweet, and therefore almost everyone loves them. That is why such a business is so attractive and popular among those who know how to work the land: their favorite berries are always on the table, and there is an opportunity to make good money.

What are the benefits of a berry growing business?

The main advantages of this business are:

relatively small investment first initial stage;
the ability to grow berries in any season;
good income in winter period;
short payback;
harvesting does not require much effort.

It would be fair to warn about the risks of such a business:

the occurrence of a plant disease, the appearance of harmful insects is possible;
with improper care, the plant can deteriorate: wither, rot.

Therefore, in order to avoid losses and disappointments, thoroughly study all aspects of this business before starting.

Strawberry cultivation options and their features

There are several options for growing berries (in open ground, closed, protected), each of which has its own advantages. Evaluate your strengths, financial capabilities. In addition, it is important to decide whether to breed only seedlings, or grow berries.

Home cultivation (indoors)

The business of growing seedlings and strawberries can be run even at home - this does not require a lot of space and investments. You can grow berries in a small area: on a balcony, loggia or in a garage.

Suitable for home growing your favorite berry dutch technology. The essence of the method: a plastic bag is filled with perlite and peat. Further, holes are made in it for seedlings, irrigation tubes are brought in and an artificial lighting system is being established. Three bags can be placed per 1 square meter.

At the initial stage, watering can be done independently, that is, manually. Later, you can install a drip system. You will also have to pollinate the berries - at home, strawberries do not pollinate themselves. For this, a brush with natural bristles is suitable. If the plantation is large, you can use a home fan.

Since the plant needs air circulation, the room in which you decide to grow strawberries should be well ventilated. To do this, it is enough to keep the window open. It should be noted that strawberries really need light. Therefore, it is desirable to choose a sunny side for seedlings.

Home growing of berries is suitable for beginner businessmen. In this case, it is more convenient to build a business on growing seedlings than on fruits.

Greenhouse (protected ground)

The method of growing berries in a greenhouse is an option for those who want to engage in such a business all year round. This will require appropriate costs: for the installation of a greenhouse structure, equipment for irrigation and heating, greenhouse lighting. The greenhouse method of growing strawberries requires many times more expenses than growing in open ground. But, accordingly, the income is higher.

The plant in the greenhouse matures several months faster than in the open field. This is influenced by artificial optimal conditions for growing. With proper care, the berries will be beautiful and useful.

Strawberries in a heated greenhouse are often planted in the soil. You can also plant the plant in small containers - special berry blocks or in boxes filled with a mixture of coconut and peat.

By the way, in greenhouses you can also have another source of income.

open ground

Growing berries in open ground is possible only during the season. It also has its pros and cons. The advantages, of course, include minimum investment compared to other methods. Strawberries in season are easy to grow, not difficult to sell. The taste and aroma of strawberries grown in this way is unmatched by others. This method of growing is great for beginners in this business.

The disadvantages include the risk of possible negative impact nature. For example, strawberries can burn in the sun or vice versa, freeze. In addition, the plant needs to be replanted every 4 years.

Start-up costs

Costs directly depend on the option of growing a plant:

Home planting in protected ground.
Greenhouse planting in closed ground.
In open ground.

Home planting of berries at the initial stage requires purchase costs:

equipment (containers, racks);
planting material;
soil;
lighting systems.

The method of growing strawberries in a greenhouse, in addition to those listed above, requires the following costs:

building a greenhouse;
carrying out lighting and water supply in it.

Growing a plant in open ground requires the following costs:

purchase of planting material;
soil treatment from harmful insects;
fertilizers.

Which grade to choose for business

For growing strawberries, it is better to choose varieties of different ripening periods. In this way, “downtime” during the ripening process can be avoided.

early maturing varieties

Early varieties include:

Olivia is a winter-hardy variety that withstands the difficult Russian climate well. Such strawberries have a spectacular presentation - the berries are large, regular in shape, withstand transportation well.
Alba is one of the best early varieties for industry. Strawberries are disease resistant, handle transportation well and have a long shelf life.
Clery is a great choice for business. This variety is perfectly preserved during transportation, gives a lot of planting material (whiskers). Clary's view is very effective - a bright berry, like a varnished skin, you want to buy such a strawberry.

Early ripening varieties require special care:

regular watering with water not colder than 25 degrees;
mulching beds with compost;
airing the plant in sunny weather.

Varieties of medium maturity:

For doing business, you can choose the following varieties:

Marmalade is a variety with the advantage of high yield. Strawberry regular conical shape with a sheen.
Arosa too. a good choice for cultivation. The berries of this variety are bright orange in color and slightly flattened.
Asia - has a high sugar content, making the berries very tasty. Strawberries are resistant to frost, diseases, long-term storage. This is one of the best grades for the industry.

Varieties of medium ripening need mainly the following:

correct control of temperature conditions;
drip irrigation.

late maturing variety

Late ripening strawberries suitable for growing for sale include a variety such as Malvina - berries are sweet, with a delicate aroma. Strawberries are resistant to natural influences, but susceptible to insect damage.

Variety care:

this strawberry is distinguished by the growth of leaves, therefore, to improve ventilation, illumination and ripening of berries, it is better to thin out the leaves during the fruiting period;
the variety requires fertilization with nitrogen substances, while it is very important that the application of top dressing is moderate.

Repair varieties

The difference between remontant varieties is their ability to bear fruit three times during the growing season. Best business options:

Monterey is a variety suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Excellent harvest, juicy berries.
Portola is a new variety, an improvement of Albion. It differs from it in a milder taste and high yield.
San Andreas - similar to the characteristics of the Albion variety, but the San Andreas berries are larger. Strawberries are weather and disease resistant.

Care for remontant varieties includes:

abundant watering;
loosening the soil;
treatment for pests and diseases;
soil fertilization;
weeding;
for some varieties - removal of whiskers.

Garlic planted between bushes will protect strawberries from pests.

Watch this video for tips on growing strawberries from a plant expert at the Green Garden community. The expert will talk about the seasonal features of plant care:

Strawberry marketing options

The most acceptable ways to sell goods:

Home delivery of strawberries is an actual way of marketing in a populated area, for example, a millionaire.
Sales through supermarkets.
Delivery of berries for processing.
Sales through own outlets: market, shop in a supermarket or mall. This option is suitable for the sale of large volumes of strawberries.

Each sales option requires the execution of certain documents!

Profitability of the strawberry business

To calculate the profitability from the sale of strawberries, it is necessary to calculate all costs: from the purchase of material to the delivery of goods to the buyer. Don't forget your monthly electricity and heating bills. You also need to know the expected profit.

A square meter of seedlings produces 4.5 kg of fruit per month - this formula should be the starting point for calculating monthly profits. That is, a plantation of 50 squares will bring 225 kg of berries per month.

Depending on the season, the cost of berries varies dramatically. Average price it is considered 400-500 rubles. per kilogram. Accordingly, a plantation with an area of 50 squares will bring an income of 90 - 112.5 thousand rubles a month.

Thus, the liquidity of the strawberry business is only a few months.

The ability to receive high income from the sale of berries or strawberry seedlings is the main reason why amateur gardeners have retrained into businessmen. Regardless of the season, the competition is only imported expensive goods with average taste, which is also a great advantage of this business.

Sweet fragrant strawberries are loved by children and adults. In long winter months people look forward to the summer when they can enjoy its taste. Why wait so long? You can grow strawberries in the winter in a greenhouse. Moreover, a profitable business will bring considerable income.

What is the benefit

This is how nature decreed that the mass ripening of this tasty and beloved berry falls on the beginning of summer. But, strawberries are grown and sold by many summer residents and farmers, so the competition between them is huge. However, at the end of the season, the berry is not found. Stores sell frozen strawberries. But it cannot be compared with a berry plucked from the garden.

An enterprising person can start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round and will not be disappointed in choosing a business. The main thing is to plant commercial varieties of berries that will be profitable. For reference: the consumption of strawberries by Russians increases from year to year up to fifty percent. This means that growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round can serve good investment own funds for the future. Of course, strawberries are a demanding plant. However, with proper care, this crop gives good yields and does not require significant costs.

How to register a business?

If you are convinced that growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round is starting to bring in a good income, start registering your business. This business is classified as an individual form of entrepreneurship and has the category of a producer of agricultural products. This is charged single tax not exceeding six percent. To grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business, one registration is not enough. You need to stock up on several certificates:

Belonging of a berry to a certain variety.
Type of fertilizer with a brief annotation of the composition of the mixture.
License for the sale of strawberries.
Declaration of conformity of the GOST berry with information on the quality of the product and compliance with all required standards.
Sanitary certificate.

Profitability of the berry business

This concept means the return on all costs. This is the ratio between the profit received as a result of the sale of the product and the cost. Moreover, the business depends on the cost of all funds spent, plus a trade cape. If you first decided to start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round, you need to draw up a business plan taking into account all the pros and cons. It is better to turn to specialists for help.

The cost price includes all costs: the price of seedlings, fertilizers, wages for strawberry care workers, rent for premises, and so on. The Dutch method of growing berries is less expensive, which means that the costs will be significantly reduced. If the business is not large enough, you can not hire employees, do it on your own. By saving on salaries, employees also save cash. So, for example, the average cost per kilogram of strawberries in 2012 was one and a half dollars.

You can easily make a significant profit during the period when the berry season ends if you grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. The photo presented to your attention reminds of a tasty and fragrant berry, especially in winter, when it is not easy to get strawberries. Therefore, you can set the desired price for the product, and thereby make a profit.

Implementation of strawberries

The entrepreneur has grown and harvested a good harvest of berries that meet all the requirements. There is a question about its sale. Some do it on their own, having organized several points of sale in advance. But this is not always beneficial. During the winter season, up to eighty percent of strawberries are sold by supermarkets. If you are growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business, then long before harvest, look for future customers for your products.

It should be borne in mind that stores present very high requirements, first of all, to appearance berries: it should be clean, without leaves and twigs, one-dimensional coloring. If it is not possible to sell strawberries through the store, you can sell them in bulk to processors: producers of juices, jams and other semi-finished products.

Growing strawberries in bags

How to grow strawberries in bags. Irrigation, lighting, and pollination are easier to do using Dutch technology. First you need to find and equip a room, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich depends on your needs. You can use the balcony if its area allows. A prerequisite is to maintain temperature regime: during the day - twenty-five degrees, at night eighteen. You also need to stock up on patience, since growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round is a troublesome business.

In polyethylene bags, longitudinal holes are made in a checkerboard pattern, only four rows. The length of the hole is eight centimeters, and the distance between them is twenty-four. In these holes, young strawberry bushes are planted. Bags, fifteen centimeters in diameter and up to two and a half meters high, are placed on the floor in one tier. If they are smaller or the height of the room allows, multi-tiered placement is allowed. 2-3 bags are placed per square meter of area, filled with a substrate from a mixture of peat and perlite.

Sowing seeds directly into bags is inefficient. It is better to buy seedlings or grow them yourself. Before landing, she must be in hibernation. For this use freezer or cold basement. In this matter, the prospect is encouraging: after the harvest of the first year, you will have your own seedlings.

Future landings need to be provided with food. For this, an irrigation system should be built. Tubes for droppers are suitable, which lead to each bag: from below, from above and in the middle at a distance of 55 centimeters. The ends of the tubes are connected to a pipeline located above the bags, each of which requires two liters of water per day.

Lighting plays an important role in growing strawberries. It should be adjusted so as to bring it as close to natural as possible. For 8-12 hours a day, the lamps should be on, and the rest of the time - off.

Strawberries in a greenhouse. Advantages

The possibility of growing berries all year round.
No dependence on weather conditions. It's no secret that rain and dampness reduce yields by 25 percent. The berry in the greenhouse is not subject to these phenomena.
There is no need for additional land resources.
The costs associated with growing berries pay off in just one season.
Strawberries grown in a greenhouse are better accepted by supermarkets.
The high demand for berries in the winter makes it possible to make decent money.
Caring for a crop in a greenhouse is easier than in an open-air garden.
The profitability of a business can be close to one hundred percent.

Disadvantages of growing strawberries in a greenhouse

If you decide to build a berry business, the question will definitely arise how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse all year round for sale. Take your time and don't make hasty decisions. The fact is that here, as in any business, there are problems.

First you need to solve the problem with heating. If it is not available due to limited funds, you can immediately forget about the idea of growing strawberries year-round.
For growing crops in greenhouse conditions at the initial stage, funds will be required, and considerable ones. First you need to build a greenhouse with a system of artificial lighting, irrigation and pollination. Buy everything necessary equipment and planting material.
The problem lies in the constant care of plants. Not everyone can do it on their own. Sooner or later, the question of hiring auxiliary workers will arise. And these are additional costs. It may be cheaper for someone to grow strawberries in the open field. Everyone evaluates their own capabilities.

Types of greenhouses

Premises with a film covering. Such greenhouses for growing strawberries require a minimum of costs. Perhaps that is why they are available to novice gardeners. But, there is a huge minus: the film does not protect plants from frost in winter. The greenhouse cannot be properly heated. So in a harsh climate, using such greenhouses is very risky.
Glass greenhouses are rather bulky structures that need a foundation. But they can be heated, and the walls are transparent.

It is advisable to build polycarbonate greenhouses for organizing a serious business for many years, since such premises have a long service life, they are durable and lightweight, although they are the most expensive.

How to grow planting material?

First you need to plant a plant, and then start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. Business directly depends on the quality of planting material. His preparation has some peculiarities. Self-grown seedlings will reduce the cost of its purchase. There are many ways to get a plant for planting.

One of them is the use of young rosettes, for which in the fall, before the onset of frost, you need to carefully dig up the rooted young tendrils from the mother plantations. Freshly harvested seedlings with open roots should be stored in a basement or refrigerator, with an air temperature of 0-+2 degrees. But, some experienced field farmers-entrepreneurs consider it unprofitable to allocate special areas for mother plantations. It brings losses.

Cassette seedlings

Based on the rich experience of Russian growers, a more suitable option is to use cassette seedlings if you start growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round. The yield when planting this type of seedlings is much higher. The overgrown root system quickly takes root and fully provides healthy nutrition plants. It will take about one and a half months to get cassette seedlings.

To do this, young tendrils are separated from mother plants and placed for a period of one hour in a cool room, 0-+1 degrees for cooling. Then they are planted in plastic containers with cells, after filling them with a nutritious earth mixture. After 2-3 days, the roots grow by 3-4 centimeters, and after 10 days the root system is fully formed.

In the first month, it is necessary to ensure that direct Sun rays did not fall into seedlings. Only after five weeks, young plants can be taken out into the sun. By this time, the cell is filled with roots, and may well transfer the transplant to permanent place growth. Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round should begin with the use of self-pollinated remontant varieties, such as Korona, Kimberly, Florence, Marmolada, Honey, Anannasovaya, Selva, Sakhalinskaya and others. Otherwise, you will have to manually pollinate each flower. Chamomile, Junia Smides is ideal if you are growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round in Siberia. These varieties are typical representatives of the high-yielding industrial type of this crop.

Berry business in a greenhouse

It is possible to successfully build your indoor strawberry business with sufficient funds to do so. A year before planting in the greenhouse, it is necessary to start preparing planting material in the open field. The soil should be chosen slightly acidic, loamy or neutral. It should have enough humus. For reference: to occupy 1 hectare of the greenhouse area, you need to lay a mother plantation in the open field of 150 square meters.

Specialists and amateur gardeners know several ways in which you can get planting material. But, the most fruitful are seedlings from two-year-old plants. They are transplanted in autumn, in October-November according to the scheme of 20x30 centimeters. In dry weather, young plants should be watered.

Greenhouse strawberry care

When rapid flowering begins, the greenhouse needs regular ventilation. This reduces air humidity and associated plant diseases. At this time, top dressing is carried out using carbon dioxide. After its implementation, fruiting occurs earlier and the yield increases.

Strawberries are demanding on moisture. But water should not fall on the plants, watering is carried out at the very root. In Western countries, the soil in the greenhouse is covered with a black film. It does not allow the berry to come into contact with the ground, weeds grow more slowly, and the ground retains heat better than a film of a different color.

In the greenhouse, the procedure of artificial pollination of strawberries is carried out. On small plantations this is done by hand 2-3 times a day. After a few days, pollination is repeated. If the greenhouse occupies huge areas, then at the time of flowering, beehives with bees are placed in it.

Strawberries are harvested from mid-March to the end of April; without it, the berries are harvested at the end of March - mid-May.

Among the various business ideas, far from last place occupy those associated with the cultivation of various vegetable and berry crops. For example, someone, and someone - strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers. Looking at people who earn big money in the field of gardening, you involuntarily begin to think about creating own business. Strawberries in the greenhouse all year round as a business - one of the most profitable ideas in the horticultural business.

Everyone loves strawberries, especially children. At the same time, not only juicy and fresh berries enjoy respect and love, but also preparations from the fruits of this culture - jams, jams can become an excellent culinary ingredient or a real table decoration in winter. And “their own” fresh berry in the cold months is completely unattainable for many - except to defrost the frozen one, but this is a completely different story. That is why fresh and fragrant strawberries have always been and will be in great demand on the market, especially in winter.

Strawberries in their own juice - a delicious treat for sale

On a normal suburban area strawberry season usually starts in early or mid-summer. If you plant bushes in a greenhouse, you can get another crop of berries before the cold weather. But when the warm days are over, strawberries can only be found on store shelves. And, it is worth noting, sometimes for a very immodest price. That is why the strawberry business can rightfully be considered a great way to make money.

On a note! Profit from strawberries can be obtained all year round. In the summer, this is the sale of berries for the preparation of blanks, but in the winter, it is most likely that it will hit the table fresh.

According to statistics, every year more and more strawberry lovers appear in Russia. The rate of consumption of this berry is constantly increasing by about 30%. That is why the idea of investing in growing strawberries is a pretty good one. Moreover, organizing such a business is not so expensive even for a novice businessman, especially if he is an avid gardener who is familiar with growing strawberries. Moreover, sometimes you only need to invest capitally once.

On a note! Do not expect profit from growing strawberries instantly. First you need to work hard, then to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

However, it is important to remember that strawberries are a capricious plant, it is important for her to provide constant attention and proper care. Otherwise, there is a great risk of losing everything. But on the other hand, a plantation that is carefully looked after will repay you handsomely, giving you a big harvest.

The best way to grow strawberries for profit is to grow them in a greenhouse.

Advantages of a strawberry business in a greenhouse:

the opportunity to get a big harvest on modest areas - about 50 tons of berries can be harvested from 1 hectare of soil;
good demand for products;
independence from weather conditions and climatic zones - the crop can be harvested throughout the year;
minimal investment in an already built business;
fairly quick payback;
the opportunity to find a permanent consumer and establish regular sales of goods.

Disadvantages of growing strawberries as a business:

large capital investments at the initial stage;
attentive and caring care of plants is necessary, the correct pollination process and a long daylight hours (or the organization of additional lighting) are especially important.

In order to organize a strawberry growing business, you will have to attend to the preparation of permits. Of course, you can also illegally cultivate this berry, but then you are unlikely to have regular customers, and it will be difficult to expand the business, because you will not be able to legally open outlets. The easiest way to get started is to start a sole proprietorship. At the same time, since you will be engaged in agricultural activities, your taxation will be more gentle.

Video - Single agricultural tax

On a note! You will also need official registration of an enterprise to take loans from a bank or receive various subsidies and subsidies for small businesses - now such programs operate almost throughout Russia.

To grow strawberries, you will need land plot at least 120 m 2 on which you will install, which must be equipped with racks for growing berries, lighting fixtures, (to at least slightly simplify the process of caring for the plantation). You may also need different garden tools and work force- all this is important to take into account when forming a business plan and calculating the terms of profitability.

You can rent a land plot or grow berries on your own (for starters, in small volumes). But it is better to immediately tune in to capital production, since "everything that is done for a while remains forever." Such is our mentality.

It is also important to think about how to ensure a constant water supply to the plantation. It makes no sense to equip it far from pipelines or wells, since you will spend a lot of money on the supply of life-giving moisture.

You will also need equipment for storing the collected berries until it is sold. It will be quickly bought up with an established distribution system, but until the moment it is transferred to a store or restaurant, it needs to be stored somewhere.

You may also need, among other things, various fertilizers and additives for plants, and, of course, you must buy the plants themselves. Strawberries can be grown from seeds on their own, or you can purchase already grown seedlings and simply plant them on the site. In the second case, fruiting will begin earlier, but the cost of purchasing planting material will be higher.

Profitability and sales

As experts say, growing strawberries pays off quickly. As a rule, it takes no more than one season for the profitability to be 100%. The thing is that there will always be a demand for strawberries. In summer, of course, it drops somewhat, but in winter you will be able to easily sell all the grown products. And the costs of organizing a business, as we have already said, are high only at first - this is the purchase of a greenhouse and inventory, seedlings, renting a site, and so on.

In order for the strawberry growing business to be successful, it is also important to establish contacts through which the sale of products will occur. Sales can be done in three ways.

Sales to shops, supermarkets, restaurants. It is important to conclude contracts with these institutions for permanent supplies. However, it should be remembered that both restaurants and shops will set high requirements for the quality of the berry - it must be not only tasty, but also attractive.
Sales through own outlets. Not always a successful and profitable option, often there is an unsold product. But on the other hand, you can sell the berry at a higher price than in the first case. You will also have to spend shop equipment, rent and wages to the seller.
Home delivery of berries. An option that can be organized in a large settlement. You can sell berries through websites or social networks. However, a good, explosive advertising campaign is very important.

On a note! In winter, you can make money on strawberries much faster than in summer, since it is during the cold season that the demand for it increases.

Also, when you have a berry, you will have to get another series of documents in order to be able to sell the goods. This is a declaration of conformity with GOST and a phytosanitary certificate. Rosselkhoznadzor specialists can tell you how to get them - there are a lot of nuances that only they can explain.

Greenhouse for strawberries

What should be the greenhouse for growing strawberries all year round? To begin with - capitally built, having, insulated.

It is best to build a polycarbonate greenhouse for strawberries - this material retains heat much better than glass, but the film is not at all suitable as a covering material in winter. The easiest way is to purchase a ready-made greenhouse, install it on the foundation and be sure to think over the heating system in it. It is good if the structure also has a special vestibule for the winter period, so as not to let warm air out of the room.

Also, the ventilation system should be thought out in the greenhouse - plants need fresh air, and besides, strawberries will be hot in summer.

Another important aspect is lighting. In the summer, the plants have enough light that will penetrate through the polycarbonate, but in the winter you will have to additionally highlight the berry.

On a note! Strawberries can be grown in beds, or they can be cultivated according to the so-called Dutch technology - in bags. In the second case, you will need the arrangement of special racks. By the way, they will perfectly help to use the space in the greenhouse more rationally.

AT without fail The greenhouse must be equipped with a drip irrigation system. The fact is that strawberries do not like chaotic moistening, they like slow and gentle watering, which will not allow water to get on the delicate leaves of the plant and the berries themselves. And this is just drip.

Varieties

An important aspect in organizing a strawberry business is the choice of variety. This is also not such a simple matter.

To begin with, it is worth reporting that strawberries for growing in a greenhouse are usually chosen:

self-pollinated, which does not need the presence of pollinating insects;
repairing, which is able to bloom several times per season and bears fruit constantly.

On a note! Many gardeners consider remontant strawberries to be worse in taste, but in reality this is not the case. These varieties also produce a tasty harvest.

Table. Varieties of strawberries for growing in a greenhouse.

Name, photo	Description
	It bears fruit with very large and beautiful, fairly dense and juicy berries, which can have a mass of 50 g, and sometimes all 125 g. The variety has a high yield - up to 5 kg of sweet berries can be harvested from one bush per season. The disadvantage is the need for annual renewal of the bushes in order to avoid crushing the crop.
	Gives smaller (up to 40 g) berries with a unique taste. Sufficiently dense and juicy fruits appear very quickly - just 1.5 months after planting the seedlings in the soil, you can harvest the first crop. From one bush you can collect up to 1.5 kg of berries.

	Gives medium-sized, but very tasty and fragrant berries. High-yielding variety (2 kg per bush). It begins to bloom immediately after rooting and therefore bears fruit early. Forms little mustache.
	A variety that does not form a mustache and actively bears fruit. It gives fragrant and sweet berries weighing about 40 g. By the way, this is not even a strawberry, but a strawberry.

When choosing a variety, be sure to think about what conditions for normal development and growth, as well as fruiting, this or that species needs. For a strawberry business, those that are not very responsive to change are best suited. daylight hours, constantly bloom and bear fruit profusely, and the berries give very tasty and fragrant.

Growing strawberries

You can grow strawberries by seed or seedlings. The second is simpler and more reliable, and you will get the harvest faster. Seedlings can be purchased at a specialized nursery. Buy the one that grew out of the mustache of the first or second order. Having purchased seedlings, you need to plant them in a greenhouse. The berry can be grown using various technologies - according to tradition in the beds and in the Dutch way. Let's take a closer look at the traditional method.

Step 1. In the greenhouse, be sure to properly form the beds. They usually have a width of 1 m, and between them there are small passages. The best soil for strawberries is crushed stone, sand and black soil poured out in layers (layer thickness 6, 10 and 8 cm, respectively).

Step 2 Fertilize the soil by adding some mineral fertilizers (for example, Sulfoammophos) to it - about 10 g per m 2.

Step 3 Make holes for strawberry seedlings in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of about 30 cm from each other and 10 cm deep.

It is better for farmers to build medium-sized greenhouses (100 - 120 sq. M). Polycarbonate can be replaced with a double layer of polyethylene film, but such a coating will have to be renewed after 1-2 years.

Large greenhouse farms more often use steel-framed greenhouses covered with glass. The pitched roof structure provides good natural light and keeps the snow out. Glass retains heat well, but it costs significantly more than film and polycarbonate.

Strawberries are grown in an industrial environment using a rack method, or Dutch hanging technologies are used. Industrial greenhouses for strawberries with such placement saves space and facilitates harvesting. It is also possible to plant strawberry bushes directly into the ground.

Hydroponic technologies reduce the cost of the process, but significantly worsen the taste of berries. They acquire a characteristic watery taste and lose their aroma. A greenhouse with a blank wall made of cinder blocks will help save on heating. Usually the northern wall is made deaf.

The blocks reliably protect the greenhouse from the cold wind, besides, they can provide additional heating according to the principle solar battery. The greenhouse must be equipped with a ventilation system and drip irrigation, good lighting.

Business Advantages and Disadvantages

Business growing strawberries in a greenhouse has many advantages which makes it particularly attractive to beginners.

Strawberries are very popular. It is readily bought by both end consumers and shops and catering establishments.
Competition is low, strawberries are present on the market in sufficient quantities for no more than 3 months a year.
Imported berries are significantly inferior in taste and aroma to domestic varieties grown in the ground.
In the winter-spring period, the margins for strawberries increase significantly.

Among the shortcomings business can be noted:

costs for the construction and equipment of greenhouses;
high cost of electricity for heating;
need for registration legal entity to work with shops;
during the summer season, the markup on products is reduced.

Variety selection

Ideal for remontant strawberries that do not require pollination. Both early and mid-season varieties can be planted indoors.

It is important to choose options with fairly dense berries that tolerate transportation well. Consumers prefer brightly colored large strawberries the correct form with a rich aroma.

Among the most popular varieties:

Entrepreneurs with experience in greenhouse farming recommend choosing varieties of Russian, Dutch, American and Polish selection. They take root well in protected ground, do not get sick and give good yields.

Greenhouse equipment rules

Still under construction it is important to consider the system. The most convenient option is to combine biofuel with artificial heating. An infrared cable or pipes are laid underground, through which warm air is driven. For heating, you can use an electric boiler or a fire, as well as potbelly stoves.

Prepare biofuel, mixing horse, pig or goat manure with straw, spilling the mixture with water, covering it with a film and leaving it for several days. The rotted manure is laid out under the top layer of soil. This mixture maintains the temperature in the greenhouse up to 25ºC.

Highly important point – soil preparation. Strawberries need a light mixture of equal parts of turf and humus with the addition of ash and mineral fertilizers.

To optimize the acidity, a mixture of superphosphate and potassium chloride is suitable. The soil must be thoroughly loosened.

For hanging technologies, you can use a peat-perlite mixture, which must be steamed. The prepared substrate is poured into plastic sleeves and placed on racks installed along the walls of the greenhouse. Nutritious the mixture retains moisture well and accelerates the development of strawberry bushes. The Dutch system increases the yield of strawberries, allowing you to shoot 8 kg of berries from one sleeve.

strawberry care

The grown seedlings are planted in the greenhouse. When using Dutch hanging technology, each bush is placed in a separate pot filled with a nutrient substrate. When planted in the ground bushes placed in rows with a distance of 30-45 cm. To optimize irrigation and maintain the desired level of humidity in the greenhouse, an automatic drip system should be installed.

The soil should not dry out, but flooding is also unacceptable. Stagnation of water in the soil provokes a disease of gray rot, which can destroy the crop. Humidity in a greenhouse should not fall below 80%. After the bushes take root, you need to ventilate the room daily.

Once every two weeks, mineral fertilizers are required: ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride diluted in water. After the start of flowering, gradually raise the temperature in a greenhouse, this will speed up the ripening of berries, make their taste bright and rich.

Accounting for income and expenses

Before starting work, a detailed business plan, taking into account upcoming expenses and projected income. The list of expenses should include:

lease or purchase of land;
building materials for greenhouses and the cost of its construction;
greenhouse equipment (ventilation, irrigation, lighting system);
purchase of planting material, fertilizers and insecticides;
fare;
registration of a legal entity (required for working with retail chains);
salaries of hired personnel.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business is not cheap for a private trader.

Construction and equipment of a polycarbonate greenhouse with an area of 100 sq. m will cost 90,000 rubles. You will have to pay for heating and fertilizer from 15,000 rubles per month. Another 15,000 rubles will have to be spent on the purchase of planting material, about 10,000 rubles costs the registration of a legal entity and obtaining certificates for products.

Help reduce costs:

use of combined fuel;
growing seedlings independently, from seeds;
renunciation of hired labor;
replacing polycarbonate to cover the greenhouse with a cheaper film.

Calculate the estimated income from the farm. With a yield of 5 kg per 1 sq. m can be removed from 400 kg of berries. The average purchase price is 600 rubles per kilogram. The price varies throughout the year from 200 to 800 rubles per kg, depending on the season. In this way, profit from one greenhouse will be 240 000 rubles per month. The profitability of a strawberry business in a greenhouse is from 50%.

In winter, the margin for berries increases by 1.5 times. This is due to the decrease in supply and in high demand from the side retail chains. However, it is worth considering that heating costs also increase during this period.

The strawberry business is gaining momentum every year. For growing berries for sale, an area of 10 square meters is enough. m., and the demand for them most of the year is huge. It is enough to survive the end of May and the beginning of June, when strawberries actively ripen in the open field. The rest of the time your strawberry growing business will prosper and bear fruit. high income. Of course, if it is properly organized.

Despite the fact that strawberries are considered a rather capricious plant, this is an affordable and highly profitable business. Yielding an average of three times a year, including in winter, guarantees a stable year-round income.

Is this your business?

Before undertaking to draw up a business plan for growing strawberries, evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of this business. Availability and a low entry threshold are not a guarantee of success. You need to be confident in your willingness to overcome the potential challenges of starting and running a strawberry growing business.

You will have to grow strawberries in a greenhouse or greenhouse, which is quite logical. In open ground, it bears fruit from May to June, not to mention the fact that in winter it is, in principle, difficult to grow something on it. In addition to the fact that the greenhouse allows you to grow strawberries at any time of the year, it has a number of other advantages:

the crop does not suffer from bad weather, while on open ground you can lose up to 30% of the berries;
you can get by with a significantly smaller area;
strawberry business at home pays off in a season;
berries look more presentable and are more readily taken by supermarkets;
in the off season, especially in winter, you can set a high purchase price;
the profitability of growing strawberries for sale can exceed 100%.

As for the shortcomings, the most critical are:

the entrance to the greenhouse business may be higher than when starting an open-field strawberry business;
plants must be artificially pollinated, irrigated, illuminated;
the taste of berries is significantly different from those grown in natural conditions.

Starting costs

Like any business, growing strawberries will require an initial investment. First of all, for the purchase of seedlings. The culture propagates through the "antennae". It is best to take healthy "whiskers" of the first and second order with a developed rosette and roots. When choosing a variety, you should focus on its yield. The most prolific varieties are Vizhe, Glima, Red Capulet, Cambridge, Kama, Volya, Elsanta.

The next stage is the choice of premises and equipment of the greenhouse. Depending on the scale of the business and the budget, you can build a polycarbonate, glass or frame greenhouse covered with a film. Film is the most inexpensive, but in winter it will not protect your crop from frost. In a glass greenhouse, you can grow strawberries all year round. It has enough light, it is well heated. But she demands big investments in the equipment of the room, especially if you build it from scratch: laying the foundation, erecting walls, roofs, heating systems, etc.

In terms of ease of organization, greenhouses for growing crops all year round, a polycarbonate greenhouse will be the best solution. This is a frame structure that does not require the installation of a foundation. It differs from the first type of greenhouses in that the frame is made of galvanized metal and covered with polycarbonate. The price of such a design depends on the method of galvanizing the frame, the thickness of the polycarbonate and their manufacturers. Such a greenhouse will serve all year round for decades. By letting in as much sunlight as possible, it will increase the yield of your strawberries. Therefore, if you are aiming for large volumes of production, it is better to stay with this type of greenhouse.

On average, it will take about $6 to equip a square meter of a greenhouse and the same amount to purchase seedlings. That is, a square meter of plants in a greenhouse will cost $12.

Growing methods

The most common are two ways to cultivate strawberries in greenhouses for year-round yields. The first, simple and understandable, is planting in containers filled with soil. Depending on the area of the greenhouse, the containers are arranged in one row, in a cascade or vertically.

AT recent times the second method, the so-called Dutch method, is gaining popularity. In this case, special bags about two meters long, filled with soil, are used for planting seedlings. They make holes about 8 cm in diameter, where the plant is planted. The advantage of the method is that three such bags can be placed on one square meter of the room. You can hang them anywhere - in a garage, a shed, on a balcony or a loggia - it is only important to bring lighting and organize an irrigation system.

Whatever method you choose to harvest berries all year long, you need to properly care for the tubers. First of all, plant in prepared soil. You can use soil from the garden, you can half mix it with purchased soil. For reliability, before planting, it is better to treat the mixture with a solution of potassium permanganate and fertilize.

The tubers are planted shallow, but not too high, so that the root system is not exposed when watering. You can water the plants with a watering can, but make sure that the water does not flood the fruits and leaves. Therefore, it would be more competent to install a special irrigation system that will supply moisture directly to the root of the plant. Strawberries love warm water and watering at least 1 time per day.

Particular attention should be paid to the air temperature inside the greenhouse. In summer it should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius, and in winter it should not fall below 18.

Pollination of flowers

In order for strawberries to bear fruit all year round, each flowering period must be used to the maximum, pollinating the flowers. In a greenhouse, under artificial conditions, the fruits will not set by themselves. Moreover, the life of the flower is short - one to four days, although the flowering period itself can last several weeks. Several methods are used for pollination.

If the plantation is small, they use the manual method - they transfer pollen from the stamens to the pistil with a soft brush. The procedure should be carried out every morning over each flower. If there are too many tubers for such painstaking work, you can recreate natural conditions. For example, imitating the wind, send a fan to the flowers. On large plantations for the flowering period, it is recommended to install a hive with bees or bumblebees.

Sales issues

Sales largely depend on the quality of the berries. Therefore, they must be collected manually in plastic boxes or baskets of 1-3 kg, in which it will be sold. The main thing is not to pour it from one container to another.

The method of sale depends on the time of year. In summer, strawberries go faster in the markets, and in winter, the main source is supermarkets.

Strawberries that have lost their marketable appearance, but still retained their taste, can be sold to processors for the manufacture of yoghurts, jams, juices. This source will cover approximately 30% of the grown berries.

Business Profitability

The level of profitability depends on the scope of the business and the method of growing berries. It is logical that the larger the greenhouse, the more difficult its installation, the greater the entry threshold will be. Organizing a small plantation at home (on a balcony or garage) will require minimal initial costs. In the latter case, there is no need to hire workers to care for the plants - you can do everything yourself. And the Dutch growing method minimizes costs as much as possible.

The season of open ground berries is small, no more than two months a year. All the rest of the time, the owner of greenhouse plants can make super profits by setting a high purchase price. On average, at such a time, a kilogram of strawberries costs $ 8. From a square meter in two months you can collect up to 30 kg of berries, that is, the net income will be $240.

Business complexities

The main problem of growing strawberries is reliable heating in winter, not to mention light. If this is not organized, there is no point in taking on this business. Plants require constant care. Even a small plantation on a loggia should be given at least three hours a day. For large areas, it is necessary to hire workers. The organization of cultivation on a large scale will require serious capital investments.

Therefore, the main difficulty of the business lies in growing berries. But its attractiveness is that there are practically no problems with sales.