Proper Water Management for Strawberry Growth. Are You Making This Common Mistake?

Strawberries are a favourite among both commercial growers and consumers due to their vibrant color, sweetness, and versatility. However, achieving the perfect strawberry takes more than just planting and watering them. Strawberry plant water strategy is crucial for growing high-quality, healthy strawberries. But are you handling it correctly?

Many growers make a common mistake that could be severely limiting the quality and yield of their crops. In this blog, we’ll break down why water is not just about hydration but also about ensuring your plants have enough oxygen to thrive.

By understanding the relationship between water, oxygen, and root health, you’ll be able to improve your strawberry crops and maximise your yield. Let’s explore the intricacies of proper water management and how avoiding some common pitfalls can transform your strawberry growing operation.

Water: More Than Just Hydration

As a strawberry grower, you’re probably well aware that your plants need water to survive and grow. Water management isn’t just about keeping your plants hydrated; it’s about ensuring your plants’ roots can also access vital oxygen. Without proper oxygen, your plants will suffocate and decline in health. It’s also about creating an environment where the roots can access oxygen. When soil is waterlogged, the air pockets within the soil are pushed out, leaving no space for oxygen. Over time, this lack of oxygen can lead to root suffocation, rotting, and a decline in overall plant health.

How Waterlogging Affects Strawberry Plants

Strawberry plants, like all plants, have root systems that need a balance between water and oxygen to function properly. When water floods the soil, air pockets are eliminated, leaving the roots without oxygen. Over time, the roots begin to suffocate, leading to serious issues such as root rot, reduced nutrient uptake, and stunted growth.

1. ROOT ROT:

The roots of your strawberry plants are incredibly sensitive. When they don’t get enough oxygen, they start to decay, leading to poor nutrient absorption and, ultimately, root rot. Rotten roots cannot support the growth of a healthy plant, which leads to smaller strawberries and reduced yield.

2. NUTRIENT UPTAKE:

Waterlogged soil reduces the efficiency of nutrient uptake. When the roots are deprived of oxygen, they cannot absorb essential nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus effectively. This can stunt plant growth and lead to deficiencies that affect both the quality and size of your strawberries.

3. STUNTED GROWTH:

With inadequate oxygen levels in the soil, plants will struggle to grow. You might notice yellowing leaves, fewer fruits, and smaller berries when the roots cannot function as they should.

Waterlogged soil also creates an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. These pathogens thrive in anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions, further damaging your strawberry plants.

How to Properly Water Your Strawberry Plants

Knowing how much water is enough, and when to water, is crucial for maintaining healthy strawberry plants. Watering your strawberries isn’t just about keeping the soil moist; it’s about ensuring the soil is aerated enough to allow oxygen to reach the roots.

Here are some essential tips for proper watering:

1. WATER DEEP, NOT FREQUENTLY:

One of the most common mistakes growers make is watering their strawberries too frequently and not deeply enough. Shallow watering encourages shallow roots, which are more vulnerable to drought conditions and less efficient at absorbing nutrients. Instead, water deeply to promote the development of strong, deep roots that can access nutrients from lower layers of soil. Water retention properties allow for optimal moisture levels, ensuring plants stay hydrated without drowning

2. ALLOW THE SOIL TO DRY BETWEEN WATERING:

To ensure the roots get enough oxygen, it’s important to allow the soil to dry out between watering sessions. As the soil dries, air pockets are formed, which allows oxygen to penetrate the root zone. This process is like human breathing: when you water your soil, it’s like exhaling and pushing air out, while drying the soil allows fresh oxygen to ‘inhale’ into the root zone.

3. THE SQUEEZE TEST:

A good rule of thumb is the squeeze test. You take a hand full of coco coir and squeeze, if water is running out, it means it is way too wet and NO irrigation is needed. If a couple of drips of water comes out, this means it is perfect, and NO water required. If you have to squeeze very hard and only see water between your knuckles, it is TIME to IRRIGATE.

4. WATER STRATEGY:

You start irrigating in the morning, an hour after sunrise. You irrigate every 30 minutes 100ml per dripper, you repeat this cycle every 30 minutes till you see the first little bit of water running out of the gutter. As soon as you see that, you do 2 more starts with 30 minutes intervals and that’s it for the day. Rule of thumb is that you need to give 5/6/7 starts of 100ml dripper before you have water running out of the gutter.

In winter and spring you start most likely with once a month, then you go to once every fortnight, once a week, close to summer it will be it will be once in the 3 days and when summer has arrived you’ll do this every day.

If the squeeze test shows the soil is too dry, you can manually water at the end of the day to keep the soil moist enough for the roots. The next day, continue with the standard irrigation cycle. Keep in mind that irrigation frequency will vary depending on your location and climate, so always monitor conditions closely.

That is why you should keep using the squeeze test you will know exactly what to do.

5. MONITOR THE QUALITY OF WATER:

The quality of the water you use can also have a significant impact on strawberry growth. Water with high levels of sodium or an incorrect pH balance can harm your plants. Strawberry plants prefer slightly acidic conditions, with an ideal soil pH of around 5.5 to 6.0 max. If your water is too alkaline, it can affect nutrient uptake and overall plant health.

Many growers rely on bore water, but 9 out of 10 times, bore water contains high sodium levels, which pose a serious threat to strawberries. Additionally, bore water often has elevated bicarbonate levels, which lead to a high pH and make it difficult to lower the pH to the desired range. And a high bicarbonate makes an high pH, which makes it really hard to lower.

The Importance of Oxygenation in Soil

Now that we’ve discussed how to water properly, let’s dive deeper into why oxygen is so important for strawberry roots. Just like humans, plants need oxygen to survive. Specifically, roots need oxygen for respiration, the process by which they convert sugars into energy. Without oxygen, roots can’t function properly, leading to decay and death.

The process of oxygenation in soil happens naturally when the soil dries out after being watered. As the soil dries, air pockets form, allowing fresh oxygen to flow into the root zone. This oxygen is critical for root health, and by extension, the health of the entire plant.

Without adequate oxygen, roots cannot ‘breathe,’ meaning they can’t efficiently absorb nutrients or grow properly. Waterlogging removes the air from the soil, cutting off the roots’ oxygen supply and leading to eventual decay.

Signs Your Soil Lacks Oxygen

If your soil is consistently waterlogged, your plants may show some tell-tale signs of oxygen deprivation. These include:

1. YELLOWING LEAVES:

One of the first signs of oxygen deficiency in strawberry plants is yellowing leaves. This happens because the roots cannot absorb enough nutrients to support healthy leaf growth.

2. STUNTED GROWTH:

Plants that lack oxygen will stop growing or grow very slowly. Often, the leaves will turn dark green, which can look similar to the symptoms of a lack of water. This often leads growers to mistakenly water the plants more, worsening the problem. Often people start irrigating because of the colour of the plant but you are actually making the problem bigger. You may notice that your strawberries are not reaching their expected size or that the plants look smaller than usual.

3. ROOT ROT:

If you pull up a plant and find that the roots are brown, mushy, or foul-smelling, this is a clear sign of root rot caused by a lack of oxygen.

Conclusion: Perfecting Your Water Management Strategy

Water is an essential element for strawberry growth, but it’s not as simple as just keeping the soil moist. Overwatering, water-logging, and poor oxygenation are common problems that can severely impact your yield and the quality of your strawberries.

At Bert’s Berry Farm, we specialise in helping commercial strawberry growers optimize their water management strategies, ensuring the perfect balance of water, oxygen, and nutrients. Whether you’re dealing with root rot, small berries, or poor growth, we have the expertise to turn things around. Don’t wait—contact us today to learn how we can help boost your strawberry crop’s productivity and take your business to the next level. Mastering proper water management in strawberry growth will significantly improve your yield and plant health.

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