Strawberries are a popular delicacy. Fortunately, there is an opportunity for people to plant them even in their backyards.
According to Joseph Cobrador, nature photographer and contributor for Tropical House & Garden Magazine, strawberries may not be easy to grow in the tropics, but the challenge is worth overcoming.
Strawberries thrive in places with high elevation and cooler temperatures, such as Baguio City, where it is a popular product. Elsewhere in the Philippines, where it is hotter, they are harder to nurture.
The best time to plant strawberries is during the dry season, from October to February. Strawberries can grow in temperatures ranging from 16 to 27 degrees Celsius.
However, some more heat-tolerant varieties can be grown, such as the ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry, which Joseph recommends. Having heat-tolerant varieties can reduce the time spent watering plants during the hottest months.
Strawberries require full sunlight to thrive, and strawberry plants prefer open spaces where they can grow freely and reproduce. Strawberry plants can grow in one’s backyard garden or containers, depending on the available area.
Hanging baskets are recommended for use as they are much easier to maintain and separate in case a plant gets affected by powdery mildew, a plant disease characterized by fungus growth on leaves and fruit, frequent in warm climates such as in the Philippines.
Watering strawberry plants should be done at least twice daily, during the early morning and afternoon. Watering during these periods allows proper drainage and keeps the plant roots from rotting over time.
Joseph prefers to grow strawberries organically. He doesn’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Creating compost for plants is easier to do in tropical climates because the heat speeds up the process.
As strawberry plants mature, they begin propagating and creating stolons or runners, which are horizontal stems that spread from the main plant and eventually form smaller, newer plants. It is best to remove these runners so the plant can use more energy to produce flowers and fruit.
When it comes to harvesting strawberries, the color of the fruits can be a good indicator that they are ripe, but some strawberries can turn entirely red and still not mature. Check for other signs like size and shape, where ripe ones tend to be bigger and round, and in the case of the ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberries, they can emit a sweet fragrance when ready.
Joseph acknowledges that there may be different problems when it comes to growing strawberries in the tropics, but in the end, it is a fun experience and is nonetheless possible.