Making money growing strawberries. Berries and business: growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round with positive profitability Strawberries as a business in an apartment

A huge part of the population loves fragrant, sweet strawberries. In the summer, everyone wants to eat enough of this berry for the whole year. Therefore, the strawberry business can become quite a profitable enterprise. But before you start growing berries on a large plot, you should weigh the pros and cons, take into account all the difficulties and problems that may arise during this event. The material in this article talks about all aspects of the business related to the cultivation of “nutmeg strawberries”.

Everyone likes strawberries, but as a rule, they are available in sufficient quantities only at the beginning of the summer season - May, June. Competition among various farms and summer residents is especially fierce during this period. At the end of the season, the berry simply disappears from the shelves and is nowhere to be found. In winter, frozen strawberries are available in supermarkets, but they are not nearly as good as fresh ones. This suggests that a practical and resourceful entrepreneur can build a greenhouse, grow fruitful, commercial varieties and make a year-round profit.

In addition, according to statistical data, in the Russian Federation the consumption of aromatic berries increases annually by 30-50%. This suggests that the strawberry business will be a successful investment in the future.

You need to know that strawberries are a rather whimsical and capricious plant, but if they are properly cared for, the crop produces a good harvest. Growing this berry is quite an interesting business that does not require large investments. Naturally, you can only make a good profit by growing strawberries.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing strawberries in a greenhouse

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse is more convenient than growing berries in open ground. The positive aspects of greenhouse strawberry cultivation are as follows:

year-round, continuous cultivation of berries;
protection of the crop from adverse weather conditions (crop losses in open ground are about 30%);
less land required;
self-sufficiency of the spent funds takes one season;
greater chance of acceptance for sale by supermarkets;
in winter, the demand for strawberries increases, this makes it possible to significantly increase the price;
business on strawberries can reach up to 100%;

At the same time, there are a number of disadvantages of the greenhouse method of growing berries:

in total, the initial costs significantly exceed the funds spent on open ground cultivation ($120 thousand versus $15 thousand per 1 hectare);
the plant will need to be pollinated artificially;
In terms of taste, berries from a greenhouse are much inferior to berries grown in open ground;
There is a need to increase daylight hours artificially.

What you need to know before you start

Before starting a strawberry business, you need to draw up a business plan for growing strawberries, one of the points of which will be the purchase of plants. Strawberries are a perennial crop that reproduces by “whiskers.” For business, you should buy strong, hardy plants obtained from primary and secondary “canes.” It is most effective to grow varieties that have a fairly developed rosette and a good strong root system. You should also pay attention to the yield percentage of the variety.

The preferred varieties are:

Elsanta;
Will;
Kama;
Cambridge;
Red Capulet;
Glima;
Vizhe and others.

In addition, you need to purchase a room in which strawberries will grow. There are the following types of greenhouses:

the structure is covered with film;
glass structure;
construction made of polycarbonate.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse covered with film is the cheapest, and therefore acceptable for most novice businessmen. However, the film is not able to protect plants from frost, and therefore it is dangerous to use this type of room.

To build a glass greenhouse, it is necessary to install a foundation; the room is quite large, but at the same time it is transparent and suitable for installing heating.

Installing a polycarbonate greenhouse will require significant costs, but in this case a foundation is not needed, and the service life of such structures is quite long. If you plan to start a business thoroughly, it is better to choose a polycarbonate greenhouse. In addition, at the initial stage of the business there is no need to attract additional workers; the work is quite feasible.

As mentioned earlier, winter cultivation requires a decent initial investment. There is an opportunity to save money by using the “Dutch” method. This method is suitable for small areas (garage, apartment, etc.).

The meaning of the “Dutch” method is to use a special plastic bag, 2 - 2.5 m long, which is filled with peat and perlite. In this bag you need to cut holes in a checkerboard pattern measuring 7-8 cm into which to plant the seedlings. It is necessary to install pipes for irrigation. Filled containers can be placed in any place - barn, garage, balcony and others, taking into account their number per 1 m2 - 3 bags. Artificial lighting is also an important point to remember.

How to care for strawberries

First of all, it is necessary to plant the plant seedlings in peat bags with drainage holes. Soil can be purchased at a specialized store, or you can collect it in the garden. The soil must first be moistened with a strong concentration of manganese solution. If the soil is brought from the garden, it needs to be fed with fertilizer, which contains nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. In the last days of March, strawberries are ready to be transplanted into the ground. In order to increase the yield level, at the end of one season the land should be plowed again. It is also necessary to water the seedlings without fail. Watering is done purely at the root as needed, while the leaves and berries should remain dry. A drip irrigation system works great in this regard.

In winter, strawberries must be protected from frost. Therefore, it is necessary to set a suitable temperature regime for the crop, preferably within 18-20 degrees. In addition, strawberries need fertilizing with fertilizers that contain nitrogen, and the plants also need to be pollinated artificially.

Difficulties encountered during implementation

In the development and success of the strawberry business, it is important to collect the berries well. This must be done very carefully, do not sprinkle the strawberries or move them to avoid damage to the fruit. It is best to collect strawberries in those boxes in which the berries will be delivered to the place of sale. The most suitable container is a basket, as well as a plastic box, with a capacity of 1 to 3 kg. Depending on the season, there are other ways of implementation. Life experience suggests that in the summer it is most profitable to sell strawberries on the market. In winter, the bulk of the goods, about 80%, are sold to supermarkets. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to control the quality of strawberries, since stores are very demanding in this regard.

One of the ways to market strawberries is to sell them to those who process the berries into juices, jams, add them to yoghurts, etc. About 30% of all products are sold through this channel.

Strawberry business profitability level

The profitability indicator tells how well a product pays for itself; it is related to the cost of production. The profitability of strawberry production is determined by the cost of the berry or, in other words, by the sum of all funds spent on growing it.

The cost includes expenses for seedlings, fertilizers, rent for premises, payment of wages to workers, etc. Using the “Dutch” method greatly reduces costs. Single entrepreneurs do not need to attract additional labor, and therefore labor costs are significantly reduced. On average, in 2012, the cost indicator was $1.5 per 1 kg.

During the off-season, it is difficult for consumers to find strawberries, and a businessman has the opportunity to set any markup on his product. This indicates a chance to get easy income. Thus, on average, 1 kg of berries was sold at a cost of $6. Today's methods make it possible to achieve yields in the range of 40-50 tons. At the same time, net income is $225 thousand, and the profitability of the enterprise is quite decent - 75%.

Difficulties while growing strawberries

The business of growing berries has its own difficulties.

It is necessary to pay attention to the issue of heating in winter. Insufficient heating or its absence makes the idea of selling berries in winter impossible.
Plants need continuous, regular care. Not everyone is able to take care of plants all year round, which consists of various types of work. This situation requires the involvement of additional labor.
Growing berries in a greenhouse is quite a costly process from a financial point of view. But, at the same time, the payback period is short - only one season.

Strawberry production as a commercial activity

Growing berries is a costly and labor-intensive process, but a serious and correct attitude to the matter quickly brings income. If you decide to engage in this type of business, you need to ask and consult knowledgeable people (dacha owners, farmers) about cultivating crops in winter, reconsider the above material, and study other sources on this topic. It must be remembered that strawberries are in demand in any season, in summer and winter. This suggests that this product will always be bought, and therefore make a profit.

Among the various business ideas, not the least are those related to the cultivation of various vegetable and berry crops. For example, some, and others - strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers. Looking at people earning big money in the gardening industry, you involuntarily begin to think about creating your own business. Strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business are one of the most profitable ideas in the field of entrepreneurship related to gardening.

Everyone loves strawberries, especially children. At the same time, not only juicy and fresh berries are respected and loved, but also preparations from the fruits of this crop - preserves, jams can become an excellent culinary ingredient or a real table decoration in winter. And “their own” fresh berries in the cold months are completely unattainable for many - unless they defrost frozen ones, but that’s a completely different story. That is why fresh and aromatic strawberries have always been and will be in great demand in the market, especially in winter.

Strawberries in their own juice - a delicious treat for sale

In a typical summer cottage, the strawberry season usually begins in early or mid-summer. If you plant the bushes in a greenhouse, you can get another harvest 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 an excellent way to make money.

On a note! Profits from strawberries can be made all year round. In the summer, this is the sale of berries for preparing preparations, but in the winter, most likely, they will end up on the table fresh.

If you believe the statistics, then every year there are more and more strawberry lovers in Russia. The consumption rate of this berry is constantly increasing by about 30%. This is why the idea of investing in strawberry farming is a pretty good one. Moreover, organizing such a business is not that expensive even for a novice businessman, especially if he is an avid gardener who is well acquainted with growing strawberries. Moreover, sometimes you only need to make a capital investment once.

On a note! Don't expect immediate profit from growing strawberries. First you need to work hard so that you can then enjoy the fruits of your labor.

However, it is important to remember that strawberries are a capricious plant; it is important for them to receive constant attention and proper care. Otherwise, there is a high risk of losing everything. But a plantation that is carefully looked after will repay you handsomely, giving you a large harvest.

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

Advantages of strawberry business in a greenhouse:

the opportunity to get a large harvest from a modest area - about 50 tons of berries can be collected 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 regular consumer and establish regular sales of goods.

Disadvantages of growing strawberries as a business:

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

In order to organize a strawberry growing business, you will have to worry about preparing permits. Of course, you can cultivate this berry illegally, but then you are unlikely to have regular customers, and it will be difficult to expand your business, because you will not be able to legally open retail outlets. The easiest way to register an individual entrepreneurship at first. At the same time, since you will be engaged in agricultural activities, your taxation will be more lenient.

Video - Unified agricultural tax

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

To grow strawberries, you will also need a plot of land of at least 120 m2 on which you will install, which should 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 various gardening tools and labor - all this is important to take into account when creating a business plan and calculating profitability periods.

You can rent a plot of land or grow berries on your own (to begin with, in small quantities). But it is better to immediately tune in to capital production, since “everything that is done for a while remains forever.” This is our mentality.

It is also important to think about how to ensure a constant water supply for the plantation. There is no point in installing 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 they are sold. With an established sales system, it will be snapped up quickly, but until 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. You can grow strawberries from seeds yourself or purchase already grown seedlings and simply plant them on your plot. In the second case, fruiting will begin earlier, but the cost of purchasing planting material will be higher.

Profitability and sales

Experts say that growing strawberries pays off quickly. As a rule, it takes no more than one season for profitability to reach 100%. The thing is that there will always be demand for strawberries. In the summer, of course, it drops somewhat, but in the winter you will be able to easily sell all the products grown. 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 equipment, seedlings, renting a plot, etc.

In order for the strawberry growing business to be successful, it is important to establish connections through which the products will be sold. Sales can be established in three ways.

Sales to shops, supermarkets, restaurants. It is important to establish ongoing supply contracts with these institutions. However, it should be remembered that both restaurants and stores will set high demands on the quality of the berries - they should not only be tasty, but also attractive.
Sales through our own retail outlets. This is not always a successful and profitable option; there are often unsold goods left. But you can sell the berries at a higher price than in the first case. You will also have to spend money on commercial equipment, rent and salary to the seller.
Home delivery of berries. An option that can be organized in a large populated area. 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 period of the year that the demand for them increases.

Also, when you have a berry, you will have to obtain another series of documents in order to be able to sell the product. This is a declaration of conformity to 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 a greenhouse be like to grow strawberries all year round? To begin with, it is thoroughly built, equipped, and insulated.

It is best to build a greenhouse for strawberries from polycarbonate - this material retains heat much better than glass, but 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 consider a heating system for it. It would be good if the structure also had a special vestibule for the winter period, so as not to let warm air out of the room.

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

On a note! Strawberries can be grown in garden beds, or they can be cultivated using the so-called Dutch technology - in bags. In the second case, you will need to arrange special shelving. By the way, they will perfectly help to use the space in the greenhouse more efficiently.

The greenhouse must be equipped with a drip irrigation system. The fact is that strawberries do not like chaotic moisture; 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 a 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 informing that strawberries for growing in a greenhouse are usually chosen:

self-pollinating, which does not require the presence of pollinating insects;
remontant, which is capable of blooming several times per season and bears fruit constantly.

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

Table. Strawberry varieties for growing in a greenhouse.

Name, photo	Description
	It bears fruit with very large and beautiful, quite dense and juicy berries, which can weigh 50 g, and sometimes even 125 g. The variety has a high yield - from one bush you can collect up to 5 kg of sweet berries per season. The disadvantage is the need to annually renew the bushes to avoid crushing the crop.
	Produces 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 harvest. From one bush you can collect up to 1.5 kg of berries.

	It produces small, but very tasty and aromatic berries. High-yielding variety (2 kg per bush). It begins to bloom immediately after rooting and therefore bears fruit early. Forms few whiskers.
	A variety that does not form a mustache and actively bears fruit. It produces aromatic and sweet berries weighing about 40 g. By the way, these are not even strawberries, but wild strawberries.

When choosing a variety, be sure to think about what conditions a particular species needs for normal development and growth, as well as fruiting. For the strawberry business, the best ones are those that do not react strongly to changes in daylight hours, constantly bloom and bear fruit abundantly, and produce very tasty and aromatic berries.

Growing strawberries

You can grow strawberries by seed or seedlings. The second one 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 from a first or second order mustache. Having purchased seedlings, you need to plant them in a greenhouse. Berries can be grown using various technologies - traditionally in garden beds and in the Dutch way. Let's take a closer look at the traditional method.

Step 1. In the greenhouse, be sure to form the beds correctly. They are usually 1 m wide, with small passages between them. The best soil for strawberries is layers of crushed stone, sand and black soil (layer thickness 6, 10 and 8 cm, respectively).

Step 2. Fertilize the soil by adding a little mineral fertilizer (for example, Sulfoammophos) - approximately 10 g per m 2.

Step 3. Make holes for the strawberry seedlings in a checkerboard pattern, approximately 30 cm apart and 10 cm deep.

Every person's favorite berry is a ripe and sweet strawberry. Indeed, in the summer, every resident of our country tries to pamper themselves and their loved ones with the taste of this amazing berry. Therefore, the business of growing strawberries can be considered a profitable and profitable business. But before you start growing strawberries on a significant scale, you need to study all the advantages and disadvantages of such a business.

Why do you need a strawberry growing business?

Everyone loves strawberries. But unfortunately, such a berry can only be enjoyed at the beginning of summer. It is in May and early June that there is great competition in the markets between farmers who offer their customers to purchase this product. But when the season ends, this berry disappears from the markets. The strawberries can be seen on supermarket shelves.

It is only sold frozen. Unfortunately, frozen strawberries cannot bring happiness. Therefore, the demand for such a product is relatively small. It follows from this that fresh berries are always in price. Moreover, statistics claim that in Russia the demand for fresh strawberries is increasing every year. Therefore, a successful person should think about how to make a profit from a strawberry growing business.

Strawberries are a demanding plant. But if you carry out proper care and follow all the important rules, you can get a good harvest from each bush. The strawberry growing business is an affordable solution for everyone. Firstly, it does not require significant costs. Secondly, it brings good profits.

: advantages and disadvantages

It is very convenient to grow strawberries in a greenhouse. And this can be confirmed by the following advantages. So, the greenhouse will allow:

Strawberries sing all year round, regardless of the weather outside.
Save the harvest from the negative influence of weather conditions.
Use less land.
Receive significant profits after harvesting the first harvest.
Get the finished product onto supermarket shelves in the shortest possible time.
Sell strawberries at high prices in winter and during periods of poor harvest.
Fully recoup your costs.

Despite the above advantages, such a business has some disadvantages. For example, high primary costs, which are much higher than the costs of growing strawberries in open ground, can be considered a disadvantage. For high-quality and proper cultivation of strawberries, you will need artificial pollination of the crop. You will also need to artificially increase the length of daylight hours. In addition, berries grown in greenhouse conditions will have a taste that will differ from the taste of “natural” strawberries.

Primary costs

The strawberry business cannot be imagined without the strawberries themselves. Therefore, first of all, you should take care of purchasing seedlings. Strawberries are a perennial plant that reproduces by "whiskers". For a profitable business, absolutely healthy plants that were grown from first- or second-order “whiskers” are suitable. When purchasing strawberry seedlings, you need to pay attention to varieties that have a developed rosette and powerful and strong roots. In addition, you need to pay attention to the yield of the variety. The most productive varieties are strawberry varieties:

Elsanta;
Kama;
Will;
Red Capulet;
Kama;
Vizhe;
Glima.

To grow strawberries, you will need to acquire a special room, which you can buy or rent. Greenhouses for growing berries can be:

glass;
polycarbonate;
frame ones, which have a film as a covering.

If strawberries are grown in frame greenhouses covered with film. This way you can avoid high costs. Therefore, this greenhouse option is suitable for novice businessmen who want to try their hand and understand the essence of this matter. It is worth saying that the film does not protect the crop from the effects of frost. Therefore, this greenhouse option is suitable for seasonal growing of berries.

Glass greenhouses will need a foundation. In addition, they look very bulky. But they can be heated.

Polycarbonate greenhouses for growing strawberries are overpriced. Such structures can be operated even without a foundation. In addition, these premises have a long service life. Therefore, this greenhouse option will be an excellent solution for organizing a strawberry business.

At first, you can run a strawberry business on your own. No additional force is needed. Therefore, there will be no need to hire workers. This means that you can save your money at this point.

The Dutch method of growing strawberries

It was already mentioned above that the business of growing strawberries in a greenhouse requires significant investments at first. However, there is no need to worry too much! After all, you can use the “Dutch method” of growing strawberries. This method of growing this crop will help you grow strawberries not only in a greenhouse, but even at home.

We need to tell you more about this method. So, to grow strawberries you need to take plastic bags that measure 2 or 2.5 meters. Holes of 7 or 8 cm need to be made in these bags. Tubes from the irrigation system must be routed to the bags. Bags of strawberry seedlings can be placed not only in the greenhouse, but also in the barn and even on the balcony. But for normal fruiting, you need to take care of artificial lighting and normal temperature conditions.

The “Dutch method” of growing strawberries with minimal input can bring real profits. In order to start such a business, it is not necessary to buy expensive premises. For example, you can convert an old garage or a barn that is no longer needed.

How to care for plants

So, first of all, the finished seedlings must be planted in special containers that are filled with peat and have drainage holes. It is also worth adding soil to these containers. The soil can be purchased at a specialized store or taken directly from your own plot.

It should be noted that the soil is spilled with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate before use. In addition, the soil is fed with fertilizers that contain: potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen. In the last days of March, strawberries are transplanted into the ground.

After the strawberry harvest, the field must be plowed. They do this in order to harvest a significant amount of strawberries again next year.

When growing strawberries, much attention is paid to watering the seedlings. Usually this is done as needed and watered exactly at the root. In this case, you should be careful not to touch the strawberry leaves and fruits with water. Drip irrigation technology helps ensure high-quality watering of strawberries.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse allows the plants to constantly be in comfortable conditions. In addition, the greenhouse protects strawberries from frost, heavy rain, wind and hail. The normal temperature for growing strawberries is +20 degrees. Therefore, it is important to maintain this temperature regime all year round. In addition to a comfortable temperature, strawberries need feeding and artificial pollination. And these points also deserve a lot of attention.

Where to sell strawberries

In order for the business of growing strawberries to flourish and make a profit, you need to think about the correct and high-quality collection of berries. In order not to damage the strawberries, you should not pour them over or shift them. It is best to collect strawberries in special boxes that will go directly to the place of sale. The best containers for picking strawberries are plastic boxes or special baskets that have a volume of 1 to 3 kg.

Today there are about three ways to sell strawberries. For example, in the summer it is more profitable to sell strawberries at markets. In winter, berries need to be sold to supermarkets. It is worth noting that such organizations place high demands on strawberries. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the quality of the berries sold.

There is another option for selling strawberries to processors who produce juices, jams and other similar products from the berries.

Strawberry business and its profitability

Profitability is the return on production, which shows the relationship between profit and cost. It is worth noting that the profitability of the strawberry business depends on the cost of all costs, its cost and trade margins.

The cost includes all costs for seedlings, fertilizers, employee salaries and premises rental. These costs can be reduced. The Dutch method will help achieve this goal. Moreover, the Dutch method is suitable for all businessmen who plan to cope with basic work on their own. In 2012, the average cost of strawberries per 1 kg of berries was $1.5.

It is very difficult for the average buyer to purchase fresh strawberries out of season. And this situation is taken advantage of by entrepreneurs who set high prices for their products in winter. Therefore, such a business brings them a lot of income at absolutely any time of the year. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain a good harvest from the field. For example, entrepreneurs manage to collect 50 tons of berries from 1 hectare of land. It should be noted that the average cost of strawberries per 1 kg is $6. Through some calculations, it can be revealed that an entrepreneur is able to receive an income of $225 thousand in one season. This is a very good result. The profitability in this case is 75%.

Growing strawberries and problems

The strawberry growing business has its own problems that every entrepreneur may face.

Strawberries are considered the most popular berry, which both adults and children enjoy eating. Surely everyone has noticed that in the summer there are plenty of them on sale, but during the cold periods of the year, when you most want juicy and aromatic berries, it is almost impossible to find fresh strawberries. Why not try to take advantage of this and start your own business? Growing strawberries as a business can bring huge profits: it does not require a lot of cash investment, and even that pays off in the first year. Strawberries are a popular product, so the risk of incurring losses is minimal. But to achieve the greatest success, you should carefully study all the nuances associated with this business. This includes choosing a place to grow strawberries, caring for the crop, possible difficulties, questions regarding the sale of finished products, financial aspects, etc.

The main goal of any business is profit, so it is important to study all the methods of growing berries and choose the most profitable one. It all depends on the type of soil used, of which there are three:

Open;
Closed;
Protected.

Open ground is ordinary beds located in the open air. This method is not suitable for growing berries on a large scale, as there is a high risk of crop damage due to weather conditions. In addition, strawberries ripen under natural conditions at the beginning of summer, and this indicates high competition.

Growing strawberries in open ground is not profitable if you plan to consider this activity as a business

Closed ground - containers (bags, pots, boxes) located inside special structures or rooms in which artificial substitutes (heaters and lighting devices) are used instead of natural heat and light. The essence of the method is to organize an ideal microclimate. The method is unprofitable: the cost of paying for electrical energy is so high that the income from the harvest will be little noticeable.

You can grow strawberries in bags, but expect higher energy costs.

Protected soil - standard type film greenhouse. Due to the film, conditions suitable for growing strawberries are created inside the greenhouse - there is no need for additional heating. It also protects plants from rain and other climatic phenomena. Result: the quality and quantity of the harvest are much higher (about 20-25%), the properties of the product are improved (the berries are easier to handle storage and transportation). The protected soil method is divided into two subtypes: plants are planted in ordinary soil or substrate - they are peat and other substances. It is more practical to use a substrate: in this case, the greenhouse can be located in the same place as long as you like. On the other hand, this entails additional costs.

The most cost-effective way is to grow strawberries in a greenhouse

Business requires a serious approach, so you need to objectively evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the greenhouse method.

Quick return of funds spent;
The ability to grow strawberries at any time of the year and not worry about weather conditions;
High demand for products in winter entails high income and high business profitability;
Possibility to supply berries to supermarkets.

Insufficiently high taste compared to strawberries grown in natural conditions;
The need for artificial pollination of plants.
Primary expenses.

Initial budget and expected profit

To set up a business, you should calculate the approximate cash costs that will be required at the initial stage. The most profitable type of growing strawberries has been determined, so you need to take care of the territory on which the greenhouse will be located, materials for its construction, soil for plants and related tools, devices, etc. The greenhouse can be built not only on the basis of a film covering - this is the simplest and most affordable option. If you intend to seriously grow strawberries for a long time, then you can build a glass or polycarbonate greenhouse. The second option is the most reliable, but also expensive. However, in such a greenhouse the plants are not afraid of frost.

The next step is choosing a specific crop variety. It is recommended to use strawberry varieties that are characterized by high yields and strong roots. The highest quality varieties: Elsanta, Cambridge, Kama, Volya, Red Capulet, etc.

An interesting nuance regarding the choice of varieties: you need to ensure that the amount of harvest is at a certain level. When all the plants in the greenhouse bear fruit at the same time, the ripening process turns into a long period of “downtime”, so you need to stock up on different varieties of strawberries: early, mid and late ripening.

At the initial stage, as a rule, there is no need for additional personnel: all work can be done independently. Hiring workers is justified if a large number of greenhouses are planned.

To start a strawberry growing business, a greenhouse with an area of 10 m² will be enough. To build a greenhouse, you need to spend about 15 thousand rubles. You also need to add the monthly costs for its lighting. 1 m² of area can accommodate about 100 strawberry seedlings (taking into account the possibility of planting plants in two levels). Thus, for 10 m² approximately 1000 seedlings will be required, which will cost the gardener 12 thousand rubles. Additional costs include the costs of transportation, packaging, storage of products and are individual for each case.

From 1 m² you can get from 25 to 35 kg of strawberries, and from 10 m² – 250-350 kg. In June, 1 kg of strawberries can be sold at a price of 40-50 rubles, that is, you can earn at least 10 thousand rubles - this is the first minimum income. In winter, the cost of 1 kg of strawberries rises to 280 rubles, which means that the minimum profit will be 70 thousand rubles. The first income can be expected two to three months after planting the seedlings. Thus, all expenses will be recouped with the first profit, and during the year you can harvest 4-5 times.

In an equipped greenhouse, you need to place containers, pots, boxes and other containers for planting seedlings rationally - this is one of the secrets to successfully starting a business. To place as many plants as possible, it is enough to equip the room with shelves in several rows.

The “Dutch” method of growing berries is popular among gardening entrepreneurs, which has proven itself to be more economical compared to traditional methods. Its essence lies in the fact that polyethylene bags are used as containers for planting seedlings. The size of one bag is from 2 to 2.5 m. First, holes are made in the bag for the plants and their watering is ensured. It has been established that the most effective is a drip irrigation system: strawberry leaves and berries do not tolerate excess moisture, so you need to water the plants right to the roots and not too much. Peat with a mixture of perlite is used as soil.

Supporters of standard methods of growing berries need to plant seedlings in soil purchased from a specialized store. You can use ordinary soil and treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate, and also fertilize it with substances containing phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and magnesium. The optimal temperature for growing strawberries is 18-20°C. Fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers occurs periodically.

An important stage in the process of growing strawberries is artificial pollination, which is mandatory in protected/closed ground conditions. Pollination occurs during the flowering period of plants, which lasts 1-4 days for one flower, in general – several weeks, depending on the crop variety.

Pollination methods:

Manual method - suitable for small greenhouses, consists of daily processing of each flower with a soft brush (for painting);
Using a fan - the device is placed in the greenhouse and turned on towards the flowers;
Installing a hive with bees is effective on large plantations; the hive should contain a bumblebee family that quickly pollinates the plants without causing damage to them.

Harvesting, storage, sales

Subject to strict adherence to all rules and recommendations regarding crop cultivation, the approximate amount of crop that can be harvested from 1 m² is from 30 to 40 kg. Growing strawberries is only half the battle, since it is important not to destroy the harvest and sell it, delivering it to the buyer in perfect condition. It is not recommended to pour berries from one container to another, as this negatively affects their appearance and shelf life. It is best to immediately prepare boxes for harvesting and sell strawberries directly in them. You should take care of the refrigerator compartment, the purpose of which is to store berries. Strawberries will last much longer in a cool environment.

The last stage that concerns the entrepreneur is the sale of goods. It is necessary to find a buyer and establish trade relations in advance, since strawberries do not tolerate delays. One of the best options for selling the product is selling to supermarkets, which readily purchase greenhouse vegetables and fruits due to their properties (long-term storage and attractive appearance). Another opportunity to profitably sell strawberries grown in a greenhouse is to offer them to industries that process the berries for further use of raw materials. This is how preserves and jams, juices, etc. are made. Finally, health-improving institutions, such as children's camps, are always happy to have good quality fruits and berries. The type of marketing of strawberries depends on the time of year. Supermarkets purchase berries in large quantities in the winter; strawberries sell well at the market in the summer.

In summer it is best to offer strawberries at the market, in winter it is best to sell them to supermarkets

Business profitability

To determine how profitable the sale of a particular product is, it is enough to compare two financial indicators, in this case, the money spent on growing strawberries, that is, the cost, as well as the money earned from selling them. The cost includes all expenses required to open and develop the business up to the delivery of the crop to the buyer. The profitability of this business is at the highest level, especially if you try to keep costs to a minimum (use economical methods for growing strawberries, abandon working personnel, etc.). The maximum income can be obtained by selling strawberries in winter, when it is most difficult to purchase berries. This gives the supplier the right to significantly increase the cost of its products. Growing strawberries can be effectively used as a profitable business idea, turning it into an established process that will generate good income. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules, take into account all the subtleties and possible difficulties that may get in the way of a novice entrepreneur.

Hydroponic strawberries

Step-by-step opening plan
How much can you earn
Which equipment to choose
- conclusions
  - - Similar business ideas:

Strawberries are a popular berry that is loved not only in our country, but throughout the world. Strawberries are consumed both fresh and used in processing to make jam, jam, juices, etc. With the appearance of the first harvests in the spring, the berries are literally sold out. And sometimes it doesn’t matter what the price tag is. A kilogram of early strawberries in large cities costs at least 250 rubles...

You can start your own mini-business growing strawberries even from a summer cottage. To sell the first batches of berries, no documents are needed, since the products are sold from personal plots. Registration of individual entrepreneurs, tax deductions, all this later, when industrial scale appears. At first, berries can be sold through fruit shops and kiosks, as well as by handing over berries in small wholesale quantities to resellers. Do you want to learn more about business and earn stable money? We offer you free book about investing money wisely. By choosing the method that interests you, you can earn a good income while doing something clear.

Growing strawberries in open ground

Growing strawberries in open ground is the most common way. There are a number of objective reasons for this:

Low investment. No buildings of any kind, in the form of greenhouses (read more about growing in a greenhouse) and hydroponic setups are not required. You can start with your own garden, and then, as necessary, either rent a plot or buy it. Main investments: fertilizers, planting material and drip irrigation (not counting the land plot).
The technology is simple and clear. A little literature - and you can get a good harvest.
Strawberries grown outdoors are juicy, sweet and more “natural”. Selling such a product is much easier.

In open ground, strawberries are planted in rows, at a distance of 35 - 40 cm from each other. The soil must be covered with spunbond-based agrofibre. This material protects the plant from direct sunlight, while retaining moisture, allowing air to pass through and accumulating heat. The most common varieties for open ground: Gigantella, Elizabeth II, Albion, Honey. The fruits of these varieties are large and appetizing. Thus, the fruits of the Gigantella variety grow up to 100 grams. Just 10 berries - we get a kilogram of marketable strawberries.

The disadvantages of open ground are obvious:

Seasonality. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, strawberries can be grown exclusively between May and September.
Dependence on weather conditions. Drought, frost, etc., and you can lose almost the entire harvest.
Diseases, pests, and weeds, which are present in abundance in open ground, will haunt the farmer.
Harvesting - you have to pick berries by literally crawling on the ground, which is extremely inconvenient. This results in higher labor costs during the harvest period.

With all its pros and cons, growing in open ground is the surest way to start a strawberry business. Firstly, it is cheaper and therefore less risky. Secondly, you don’t need to have any serious knowledge to plant a field and reap the first harvest. Finally, this will allow you to try to sell the berries. And sales in this matter, as practice shows, is the most difficult stage. Having learned to sell, you can think about how to increase production volumes. In this regard, there are other, more expensive, but also more effective ways to grow strawberries.

Video about a successful farm growing strawberries in open ground:

Hydroponic strawberries

Hydroponics is a very popular method of growing plants indoors. Thus, in Israel, hydroponics is used by more than 80% farms. This method involves planting plants in a thin layer of organic substrate (peat, for example), laid on a mesh and placed in a tray with a nutrient solution. In simple words, with hydroponics the plant is fed not from the soil, but from a mineral solution, the composition of which is formed depending on the type of plant. Strawberries are also actively grown hydroponically, although there are few such farms in our country. What are the advantages of hydroponics:

The plant always receives the right amount of nutrients, much more than from solid soil. Hence faster growth and faster harvest.
There is no need for daily watering.
Pests and diseases that are typical when grown in soil (mole crickets, fungal diseases, nematodes) are completely absent.
There is no need to purchase soil for transplanting strawberries and spend money on its delivery.
It is much easier to replant a plant without damaging the roots.
The resulting berry is environmentally friendly, since no toxic chemicals or pesticides are used during the growing process.

Particularly successful farmers manage to produce up to 45 kg of strawberries per 1 sq. m. using hydroponics. m., or 450 tons from 1 hectare! The hydroponics method is extremely popular among homeowners who grow berries as a hobby. People plant strawberries this way not only in greenhouses, but also on window sills. And fresh berries, when choosing the appropriate varieties, grow all year round. Ready-made hydroponic installations and systems can be purchased from specialized companies. You can also construct a hydroponic installation with your own hands; fortunately, there are many videos on this subject on the Internet. For example this:

As the basis for the installation, you can use ordinary plastic containers placed on racks. If we talk about large planting areas, then the obvious disadvantages of the system include the high cost of structures and high energy costs, because plant growth requires a continuous supply of oxygen to the solution. Moreover, if an entrepreneur decides to grow strawberries on an industrial scale in this way, the construction of greenhouses will be required, which makes the project very expensive. Discount costs. A hydroponic installation for 30 seats will cost about 10,000 rubles, for 3,000 bushes - 1,000,000 rubles. In terms of area, this number of installations will occupy about 50 square meters. m. A fully equipped greenhouse of this size will cost about 150,000 rubles. In total, the total cost of the project exceeds a million, excluding the costs of planting material and substrate.

Trukars - growing strawberries vertically

An interesting device called “Trukar” was invented by Alexander Naseichuk from the Leningrad region. Trukar is a pipe with pockets, installed vertically. A strawberry bush is sown in each pocket and connected to a drip irrigation system. What are the advantages of Trukar? Firstly, the greenhouse area is significantly saved (by about 300%). One trukhar occupies only 0.5 square meters. m. and holds 90 strawberry bushes. That's only for 1 sq. m. we can place 180 strawberry bushes, thereby increasing the profitability of the entire greenhouse. Secondly, the trukar is very convenient in terms of planting plants and subsequently caring for them. You can watch more details about growing strawberries in trucers in the following video:

During the season (2-2.5 months), up to 12 kg of strawberries are harvested from one farmer. Accordingly, from 500 trukars (500 sq. m.) you can get 6 tons of strawberries. In monetary terms, this is approximately 1.2 million rubles. revenue if you sell strawberries for an average of 200 rubles/kg. This is if we take into account ordinary varieties. With remontant varieties, the yield and income, accordingly, may be slightly higher.

A variation of the vertical method is growing strawberries in plastic bags using the so-called Dutch technology. The essence of this technology is that seedlings are planted at a certain interval, after 2 - 3 months. This allows you to harvest continuously without using remontant varieties. In order for strawberries to begin to bear fruit, regardless of the time of year, they must be preserved, that is, sent into hibernation, as happens under natural conditions. To do this, well-developed strawberry bushes are cut in the fall and stored in a refrigerated place. A regular refrigerator is suitable for these purposes. The result is seedlings called "Frigo". Such seedlings can be “awakened” at any time by planting them in closed ground in a greenhouse (Recommended reading greenhouse business plan). And it doesn’t matter when you do it, in January or May. The main thing is that the greenhouse is ready for planting. A couple of months after planting, the strawberries will bear their first harvest.

The best varieties for Dutch technology are Elsanta, Darselect, Maria, Sonata, Gloom, Polka, Tristar and, of course, Albion (the most popular greenhouse strawberry variety). Strawberries are planted in bags made of white plastic film. The length of the bag is 2 meters and the diameter is 16 cm. The bag is filled with a substrate, including soil and fertilizers. Next, holes of 7 cm are made in the bag in a checkerboard pattern in four rows, at a distance of 25 cm from each other. Then the bags are hung on special supports, 2-3 bags per square meter. You can do it a little differently by placing the bags horizontally on regular racks. In this way you can make several tiers. Plants are fed using droppers, which are supplied in three parts of the bag every 50 cm. Strawberries are pollinated by hand, using a soft brush or using a fan.

Step-by-step opening plan

Having a certain amount of money to start with, you need to decide which method of growing strawberries is right for you. Based on this, choose: · Place (or room) for planting strawberries; · Equipment for growing berries; · Planting material - the variety that is most profitable for a given growing method; Product sales plan

How much can you earn

When grown in open ground, by the second year, 10 acres provide both seedlings and enough berries - 700-800 kg. In this case, all costs of the first year are covered: planting material, drip irrigation system, film or agrofibre. You can expand the planting area. But the third year already gives a clean and good income. I guarantee up to 2 tons of excellent berries from approximately 5 thousand strawberry bushes. The profitability of growing strawberries in a greenhouse exceeds 100%, and the payback is usually predictable in the first season. But, the starting investment for organizing and equipping a greenhouse farm is 30-50% higher than for agricultural production in open ground. When grown in the Dutch way (in bags), you can get up to 30 kg from one square meter. garden strawberries. When selling berries in the summer, with an average price of 70 rubles. per kilogram, from one square meter you can earn more than 2 thousand rubles. And in the cold season, the price for a “vitamin product” will be on average about 200 rubles/kilo, the benefit accordingly will be up to 6 thousand rubles. With a berry yield of 50 sq.m and taking into account expenses, the profit will be under 300 thousand rubles.

How much money do you need to start a business?

On average, to build a greenhouse with a planting area of 1 hectare, you will need 1300-1450 thousand rubles. To set up a 1 meter square room for producing berries in bags you will need about 300 rubles (including planting material). If you have problems with start-up capital, we offer the opportunity to earn at least part of the money. The one we offer is suitable for this purpose. set of 50 ways. From it you can choose starting options without investment.

Which equipment to choose

Equipment for growing: · in open ground - drip irrigation (pipes, fittings and filters, drip tape), mulching film or agrofibre; · Dutch method - room (barn, garage, etc.), polyethylene bags 200-220 cm long, 15-16 cm in diameter. For each bag there are 3 irrigation pipes and a mixture of peat and perlite; · for hydroponics - trays, pumps, tubes and nutrient substrate; · for the trukar method - a pipe with pockets, a substrate, an irrigation system.

Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business?

Code 01 is responsible for agricultural production of strawberries. Agriculture, hunting services in these industries, namely 01.1. Plant growing. And its clarifying subclause 01.13.21. Growing fruit and berry crops.

What documents are needed to open a business?

Registration of a peasant farm (peasant farm) is necessary when there is sufficiently voluminous work and cultivation area (more than 1 hectare). Otherwise, farming on a personal plot is allowed without any taxes.

conclusions

We looked at the 4 most well-known methods of growing strawberries on an “industrial scale”. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages and requires careful study before use. Which method is best to choose is up to you, because a lot depends not only on the growing conditions, but also on the available financial resources for the implementation of the project. You can also consider the option with raspberry growing business.