cycl
trends & technology
THE HYDROPONIC WAY
Growing ripe, fresh berries brimming with
flavor is one of the most exciting challenges
of indoor gardening, says Lynette Morgan.
Find out how to get yours started so you can
soon eat them straight off the plant.
by Dr. Lynette Morgan
T
he trick to successful indoor berry crops is under-
standing the physiology and natural life cycle of
the plant so that flowering, pollination, and fruiting
all go according to plan. While hydroponic strawber-
ries are not an uncommon crop and relatively easy to
grow, other berry crops require a little more investment
in time and effort. However, they are highly reward-
ing. Hydroponic blueberries, cranberries, and raspber-
ries can all be produced on a limited scale with soilless
greenhouse cultivation—many in high tunnels to extend
the harvest season and improve fruit quality—but they
can also be grown indoors.
Hydroponic Strawberries
Prechilled plug plants are a great to rapidly establish a
hydroponic strawberry crop.
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grow cycle
For those new to berry production, strawberries are
the ideal crop with which to gain some experience.
The plants are readily available, small, compact,
and available in a range of different fruiting types
and cultivars that produce fruit relatively quickly.
Strawberry varieties fall roughly into two different
categories: the short-day and day-neutral types.
Most of the outdoor strawberry types are short-day
varieties. These initiate flowers under the shorter day
lengths (less then 14 hours) and cool conditions of
winter in temperate climates. They then flower and fruit
as temperatures warm up in spring.
Day-neutral varieties are often used by greenhouse
and hydroponic producers, as they can be manipulated
to crop out of season if sufficient warmth and light are
provided. Day-neutral strawberry varieties are given
an artificial “chilling” period to initiate flower and then
induced to flower and fruit with warmer temperatures.