Strawberry growing farms. How to open a strawberry growing business? Buying or independently building a greenhouse

Everyone talks about super-profits, about the strawberry business - if you listen, only the lazy don’t do it, and missed opportunities. They famously calculate the wild profitability and blatant profit of 144% from 1 hundred square meters. But do you know the ins and outs of beautiful numbers, do you have an idea of ​​all the expense items? Pseudo business plans won’t tell you about them. You can guess about unexpected expenses - it’s easy to go into the minus, easier than to get out of them - much easier than I imagined.

Do you believe in the possibility of making money so easily and simply from a peasant farmstead, but at the same time you have a hard time guessing where strawberry mustaches grow? Then I will try to dissuade you, save your money, energy and time. And also nerves - you will need them if you decide to seriously start growing strawberries for sale.

Strawberry business: why don’t the numbers work?

Why don’t business plans for making money on strawberries work in most cases? And because the figures given are average-ceiling. Many expense items are not taken into account - hence the profitability above 100%.

So, the average yield is up to 25 t/ha - such a yield when growing strawberries is considered enviable, believe me, on average 16-18 t/ha. This means that from our 10 acres we will get about 2000 kg with 3000-3500 in an average year on average varieties and up to 450-500 on the most productive ones - the calculations are correct for early, for remontant - completely different figures.

First, let’s estimate the scale of strawberry production: without them, all calculations of profitability are water, suitable only for dropout students of agricultural universities. It’s simple: with a larger gross harvest, the cost per unit of production, in our case 1 kg of sweet strawberries, is less. So, when purchasing seedlings in bulk, a farmer buys them 2 times cheaper than a gardener who buys 5-10 pieces, and 1.5 times cheaper than a small-scale producer who buys a couple of hundred. The same situation is with the wholesale of mineral fertilizers, organic matter and covering material - everyone who wants to know knows about this. So, about the scale.

• Drip irrigation - on a plot of more than a hundred square meters is not a cheap pleasure: you will need to calculate the cost of the entire system, which also depends on the area being treated.
• Costs for fertilizers: most agricultural enterprises do not recognize how much and what fertilizers are applied. Trade secret, you know. And in the articles they will only write general recommendations for amateur gardeners. You will have to delve into the art of agrochemistry yourself, look for economical and effective options.
• Costs of transportation, transportation and storage - no one knows how far a person starting his own business will have to transport goods: where can there be exact figures for transportation costs?

Unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions, the human factor - they did not find sales, product damage, etc. are not taken into account.

I'll tell you about the expense items first. I will give the figures in conventional units, cu. that is, for the respected Internet community, in different countries living and measuring goods in different tangas. I will not describe industrial cultivation - by the way, the expression is not correct: industrial means mechanized collection. Manual - simply producing berries, in my case - small-scale production.

Our wild market is wild, but there is plenty of variability

There are many ideas for industrial cultivation of strawberries - growing in a greenhouse, hydroponically, in bags - we will not touch on these topics. Our grandmothers also started their business of growing Dutch strawberries on their 6 acres; the grandchildren who remained behind the broken trough of the economy continue it - on a larger scale, and not at home, in the front garden, but on plantations, in greenhouses. Of course, indoor soil provides many advantages - but we are not talking about greenhouse farming, but about growing in a private backyard, in the field, so to speak.

About varieties - if you buy seedlings from famous nurseries, you are a wealthy person, but if you buy seedlings from unfamiliar farmers, without a guarantee, you will not be a wealthy person. Pure seedlings are expensive - but it’s worth it: it’s more profitable not to bother with the queen cell, but to make a profit from turnover by purchasing frigo seedlings. However, if there is something to buy for. And if not, we buy expensive ones in trusted nurseries, from well-known sellers, in trusted stores - and grow our own seedlings.

As for the best, they are a separate matter. The main thing is that it corresponds to its intended purpose - industrial, productive, transportable and tasty - there are many main things - but, alas, this is not what we are talking about.

Cost calculation: both as a joke, but seriously

If you are interested in the cost and profitability of strawberry production in Ukraine and Russia, pay attention to this point - practice is practice, it’s not about drawing beautiful numbers on paper. Pay attention, despite the author's humorous tone.

Let’s imagine a small cozy plot of land – a plantation of 10 acres. For every hundred square meters there are on average 500 bushes, 10 x 500 = 5000 pieces.
We further calculate: the price of planting material, each ZKS strawberry bush, is up to 0.2-0.5 USD. depending on the variety, class and type of seedlings - I take frigo class A, A+, A++ - it costs more if we take from 500 pieces. Total – 2500 USD (according to today’s exchange rate CU to UAH – 1:25).

If we want frigo, we will have frigo. And even better, the seedlings are clean, free from all kinds of bacteria, viral and fungal spores, have not seen pests, from nurseries - A class, the highest. This one is so expensive. It is good - there is no risk of a sudden disease of the entire planted plantation, means of prevention are needed, not protection - it is already cheaper. But the cost of production, alas, is rising, and the pocket is scared from such expenses, isn’t it - after all, we were promised a strawberry business with almost zero costs - were we really deceived? No, they simply kept silent about its real side - the real cost.

A small digression: we will talk about early varieties of strawberries. About growing remontant plants for sale - in the next article, a completely different conversation. By the way, in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, industrialists primarily grow early varieties, while remontant varieties are grown in a smaller proportion. Why - oddly enough, it’s more profitable, the turnover is faster despite the visible advantages of a larger number of repairmen, there are fewer risks.

Workshop

We will plant at the end of summer, when the heat subsides, not reaching autumn. At this time, every day is precious - it pushes back or brings the harvest closer next year. Late July – August depending on the region.

Saplings are exclusively ZKS. Or transplant with a clod of earth. The later we plant, the more soil there is.
There should be no heat that kills the seedlings - this is the main thing. And watering and mulching must be organized.

About mulch and covering material: under film or on film - you still need it

Mulch – you can’t live without it. It can be planted on agrofibre, on film, or on straw. Vegetable - an economical option. It will protect the soil from drying out, overheating, save watering, and weeds will not break through. But where did you see the same free straw - if you saw it, then tell me - I’ll come running for it. The pleasure is not expensive, but you will have to pay for it: at least 10-15 USD. leave in your wallet a satisfied straw truck who tossed you a couple of bales.

But the economical option is often not the best. Organic mulch, humus + peat on top of straw, will cost more, 30-35 USD. it will work if you're lucky - the option is good for a garden where a dozen bushes grow. Give us something cheaper. And cheaper - expensive film or agrofibre, on which you can plant. Its price - can you handle it? If not, let’s remember about straw and forget about agrofibre and film.

The worst thing is the covering material – 150-180 USD. didn't want to pay for a roll? Like it or not, even if you don’t mulch, you need to cover it from frost in winter and early spring and for early ripening.
Since we are talking about the open-ground strawberry business and its profitability, let’s remember about tunnels, sheds, not to mention greenhouses. No, we are not talking about greenhouses - just about shelter that accelerates ripening. We will cover it with either white agrofibre or film. Will we pay? One more roll please. We won’t - we’ll do without early ripening, when strawberries are so expensive.

So this roll may not be enough, you know. And without it, you can’t cover it with a newspaper. Tea, not in grandma’s garden, when you can mulch the bed with straw and litter: it’ll be covered with snow and everything will overwinter. Once you have decided to seriously engage in the industrial cultivation of strawberries, please, cover them correctly - icing of the roots with subsequent attacks is expensive nowadays.

Without water - not there or the cost of watering

Drip irrigation will cost us about 200 green tugriks, depending on the amount of drip tape. There is no need to be stingy: there is root watering, water saving, fertigation, and optional fog installation - any whim for your money.

Let's feed and feed: how much does garden and field chemicals cost?

Let's draw up our business plan for growing strawberries next. The next cost item is organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
Organics - manure in our style: per 1 hectare there are up to 100-120 tons for planting, i.e. per 1 hundred square meters - up to 10 kg, per 100 - hundred, centner. How much good is there in your places - you know, then enter the number yourself. In Nashensky, for the delivery and for scattering honey with a mechanical cultivator - it cost only 50 USD. – it’s cheap, very cheap – my friends helped in a friendly way. And organic production is good, of course, but it is a costly business - mineral fertilizers are cheaper, and many times cheaper.
Mineral fertilizers - we will calculate the application in the year of planting, and the next year - in the phase before flowering, budding and ripening - we will reach another 55-60 USD. This is also expensive - industrialists, due to wholesale, get sweet berries cheaper, as evil tongues say - or maybe good ones - who knows.

Everything is in the shade!

And also, due to the heat and drought, not only in the south, shading nets have become fashionable. It’s a brilliant invention, you know – the berries don’t bake, the leaves don’t burn: the strawberries stand vigorous and fresh, the berries are filled with juice and sugar.

Protect yourself!

And they haven’t yet calculated the main thing: not only we love sweets, but also pests: beetleworm and strawberry mites, etc. And also diseases - spotting, Alternaria and others like them. What to do - stock up on preventative means so as not to overpay for means of control. The pleasure of using the achievements of agrochemistry will cost 30-35 USD. for our site – not too much, not too little – just right. We will add it to fertigation systems, the newfangled way, but it’s not worth it the old fashioned way - it’s ineffective, and why would a drop sit idle.

Tired of cleaning up the economy? No - then we’ll move on externally to next year - we’ll harvest the harvest. Enjoy your profits early, gentlemen, young ladies, ladies and gentlemen: new expenses await us, and at the same time we will finally calculate the income and profitability of growing strawberries.

We waited for the harvest: how much does a meter of strawberries cost?

We talked about household chemicals - sorry, we talked about fertilizers and protective equipment above. We won't take it into account.
About the covering material - is there enough, is it worn out - even if it is enough for 2-3 years, but 2 rolls are needed. We’ll buy one in the year of planting to differentiate costs and minimize risks - in case we change our minds about suffering with agribusiness, the second - in the second year. We will cover with this material both in winter and spring. And on the third, when you have to arrange the sockets, you will still need it, don’t worry.
Pots for seedlings - in case you want to continue a good cause, for starting your own planting material and saving hard-earned money. they will come in handy. Seedlings in pots as planting material are much more valuable with an open root system.

Waiting for a miracle or the second year

Are you bored again? Then let's get down to the main thing - harvesting. You will need:
Containers (plastic containers, blisters, glasses for retail and others). And also - the same baskets, baskets made of simple veneer - only they are more expensive than plastic. You shouldn’t skimp on capacity: the less containers we fill for the fresh market, the more intact the product, the less losses. Europeans are smart: they pack almost 100 g for supermarkets. And we are baskets and baskets, broad is the Slavic soul!
Jokes aside: the collection container should not exceed 2 kg - bring compote. Delicious, but only you need it. Or maybe it’s not even necessary - because it’s tasteless.

The container will cost at least 20-25 USD. - this is really not enough, considering the area planted with strawberries.

Stop, whoever is coming, we protect what has been grown

As you might guess, it’s not just spider bugs that can encroach on your harvest. Moreover, if your plantation is far from the estate, or even in an open field outside the city. The latter is very risky, since even in the village there will be individuals who do not hesitate to profit from other people’s goods. This point should not be ignored: strengthening the fence, wire, installing an alarm system - I went through all this from my own experience.

Who would have thought that a 70-year-old neighbor would deftly bend under two rows of a stretched homemade signal and harvest our harvest with enviable speed? No, I didn’t even say anything to her - a couple of kilograms didn’t make me poor, and I had to treat her, although people are not poor, children and grandchildren come in such cars - oh, right. But in the event of an invasion by a dysfunctional family living on the outskirts of our dacha village, I had to involve my father as an honored electrician in the matter: he finally got it right.

And there are also video cameras - to see and intimidate potential thieves and other delights of civilization. If we are ready to include them in the budget for commercial strawberry growing, then we add them to our list of expenses.

As a result, modest attempts to protect the territory from invasion will cost from 50 USD. up to 250 – it all depends on your fantasies. I’ll take a modest minimum - for the wire and connection of the alarm system, lighting - lanterns and other Chinese things.

Don’t think down on implementers: when the time comes, you will go yourself. Maybe…

Sales: if you grow strawberries for the fresh market, even with 10 acres you will need lightning-fast sales speed. Lightning fast means fast: a perishable product will not wait. Do you otherwise have refrigerated, stationary circulation refrigeration units? Is a refrigerated minibus good for business - both transportation and storage - are you ready to buy it in case you expand your strawberry fields?

In any case, you will have to spend money on fuel and lubricants for your own transport or someone else’s. How much is fuel now - remember and multiply by the required distances. At a minimum, you will have to spend at least 25 USD in a season. Either toss straws, then run away to get the film, and when the shaft starts moving - oh, how you will run into it.

If not, then again, let’s remember about the fresh market and several retail outlets where everything should be in order with the documentation, the paperwork, the so-called. sanitary and epidemiological stations - we have heard about such organizations that love to check goods, and about the patents of an honest trader - individual entrepreneurs, etc. called in different states. By the way, we also need money to officially register our activities - we are law-abiding citizens, and we don’t want to risk our goods and profits.

The surest way is to hand over the good part remaining from the market deduction to good hands wholesalers or supermarkets (they also buy at a favorable price). And give it away quickly - otherwise the goods will be left behind. Another option is to hand it over for processing, but you need to worry about it in advance, at the flowering and ovary phase, so to speak - a spoon is good for processing plants for lunch, and lunch is prepared in advance.

Having managed to find all the points of sale, we will not leave the chance of losing at least a large share of the harvest, which, as it turns out, costs a lot of money.

About the hands of our workers, workers with you

By the way, we forgot about the main thing. The most important expense item in the harvest year is labor. you just won't have time on your own. You won’t have time and that’s it. At a minimum, your family contract should consist of 3 people who deftly operate both gardening tools and know how to trade and bargain. As necessary, which is most likely the maximum, you will need to hire one or two people for collection - for 10 acres this is enough under conditions of collection every day, and one more seller. How much you will pay is, of course, your commercial little or big secret. Just don’t forget to subtract this amount from the profit amount and add it to the cost of strawberries for sale. And, of course, don’t forget about it when calculating strawberry profitability.

Let's sum it up

Thus, summing up the main costs, we get a large amount.

For beginners - how much strawberries can be harvested per hundred square meters - from 220 to 250 kg in a good situation, more often - less. From our site we will count the minimum, subtracting substandard conditions, losses during transportation, etc., 200 kg.

• The cost of early strawberries on the market fluctuates 1.2-1.7 USD - depending on the region and time: in early May - more expensive, by June it becomes cheaper. Wholesale and processing are even cheaper. Let's take the average.
• According to our business plan, the cost of strawberry production is approximately as follows: 1 kg – 0.6-0.8 USD.
• Thus, we earned dirty, so to speak, 3700 USD. How much did you spend? Yes, about the same, count it. If in the first year we paid for all purchases - the same planting material, drip irrigation, film, fertilizers and protective equipment - then we did well. If you make money on top, you’re a svurkhumnitsa.

How so - you ask. But what about the profitability of the strawberry business - at least 50%, they say? This is how it will be in the following years. That is why you need to start with small volumes - if there is no free capital. Do not strive to purchase everything and everyone at once - if you are not prepared for the possibility of going into the red, not making a profit or even a payback.

Thus, to summarize the above - who said that growing strawberries as a business is 100% profitable, who talked about incredible benefits and virtually no costs? And we didn’t talk about possible losses, unexpected expenses and pitfalls waiting for strawberries - the further you go into the forest, the more wood you can break. However, it is beneficial. This is really beneficial - if you really imagine all the expense items - I described some of them in such an unusual way.

Growing strawberries as a business is an excellent solution for entrepreneurs who understand agriculture. The juicy and aromatic berry enjoys high demand in retail stores and catering establishments, your own farming will fully pay for itself within 2 years. Strawberry business not too complicated, but when organizing it you will have to take into account many important details on which the success of the project depends.

Technology for growing strawberries for sale

To achieve high profitability, it is better to combine open beds with greenhouses. This approach will help:

• save energy in summer time;
• extend the fruiting season from early spring before frost;
• harvest can be obtained in heated greenhouses all year round;
• the opportunity to experiment with varieties, selecting the most delicious and productive ones.

Industrial cultivation of berries has a number of features. To create open beds you need fairly large areas. To protect yourself from pests and simplify planting care, the beds can be made raised, and the space between the berry bushes and between the rows can be mulched with peat, sawdust or agrofibre. Growing strawberries in open ground makes it possible to get a good harvest; the berries have a particularly bright taste and delicate aroma. The beds have one drawback - they can be harvested no more than 1-2 months a year.

Greenhouses should be placed next to open beds. For successful cultivation of strawberries, structures made of cellular polycarbonate on a metal frame are suitable. The construction of such a structure is not cheap, but a permanent, permanent greenhouse will last for several years and will not require repairs.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round is quite an expensive undertaking. The colder the region, the more you will have to spend on heating and heating the plantings. It is most profitable to grow berries in the middle zone. In summer, the greenhouse can operate without additional heating; in winter, you can save on electricity by using biofuel.

How to start a strawberry growing business?

To understand how to make money growing strawberries all year round, you need to study several business plans for similar productions. They indicate a complete list of upcoming expenses, as well as calculate future income and overall profitability project. With proper operation, the enterprise will pay for itself in 2 years. The larger the production, the higher the profitability, but the initial and ongoing costs in this case also increase.

The easiest way to organize a strawberry business is on the territory of a former state farm, which has sufficient areas of fertile land. On this base you can arrange open plantations and greenhouses. Land is bought or leased, for this you can get government subsidy or preferential loan.

Register entity. The most convenient way to run a strawberry business is on your own farm. Such legal form allows you to significantly save on taxation and allows you to count on additional benefits and subsidies.

Build greenhouses. Designs from 100 to 250 sq. m. provide good profitability. m. You can start with 1 greenhouse, after a year the farm should be expanded. To grow strawberries all year round and make labor easier, shelters will be equipped automatic system watering and ventilation. Winter greenhouses require a reinforced foundation made of cinder blocks and a well-thought-out heating system. It is most profitable to combine electric or water boilers with biofuel from a mixture of rotted manure and straw. The mixture is laid out on the beds and covered with a layer of soil. Biofuel maintains the ideal temperature for 3-5 months and serves as additional nutrition for plants.

Choose the right strawberry variety. Hybrids of the latest generation of Dutch, Polish, and Russian selection are suitable for greenhouses. Consumers prefer large, juicy berries of bright red or red-pink color with a pronounced pleasant aroma. To increase profitability and reduce the number of defects, choose a strawberry variety with fairly dense berries that hold their shape well. These strawberries store well and can withstand transportation without problems.

Strawberries in open ground prefer nutritious light soil without stagnant moisture, moderate fertilizing and infrequent but abundant watering. During the flowering period, the bushes are watered at the root so as not to interfere with plant pollination. When planting, a generous portion of humus or rotted compost is added to the soil; single watering is possible aqueous solution complete complex fertilizer.

To prevent the berries from rotting and to remain clean and beautiful, cover the soil between the bushes with agrofibre. This technique will protect against weeds and maintain normal moisture levels, which will reduce watering and save on water. The business of growing strawberries is a costly endeavor; any opportunity to reduce costs should not be neglected.

The bushes are treated with insecticides against pests, but this can only be done before the berries are set. Mulching the soil will protect you from slugs; greenhouses need to be ventilated more often. To prevent strawberries from rotting, harvest on time, immediately after ripening.

Subtleties of implementation

The strawberry growing business requires not only investments in greenhouses, but also a well-thought-out scheme for selling products.

Future buyers need to be looked for long before harvest. Permanent contracts will bring success; if they are available, you can more clearly plan your own income. Good idea- organization own online store, as well as organizing the processing of berries into compotes, preserves, and confitures. Small production can be organized directly on site greenhouse farming, it will not require large expenses, but will significantly increase the profitability of the business.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round requires a constant search for new sales channels. It is important not only to sell the crop, but also to ensure a good margin. It is most profitable to work with small retail stores, fruit stalls and catering establishments. The remaining berries can be handed over to wholesale suppliers; this will not bring much profit, but will avoid disposal.

How much can you earn from growing strawberries?

Each square meter of greenhouse, subject to application modern technologies growing strawberries will bring you about 30 kg of berries. During the winter season, you can harvest three crops, that is, 90 kg of strawberries per 1 sq. m or 9000 kg from 100 sq. m. By selling berries at $5/kg, you will receive $45 thousand, but during this period your expenses for this project (purchase of seedlings, heating, advertising, transportation, etc.) will amount to $18 thousand. This means that the business organizer will earn $27 thousand for the period from October to May, and after taxes his net profit will be within $25 thousand.

Growing strawberries in open ground will bring less profit per 1 sq. m than in the above case. But the costs of organizing this activity will be lower (when compared with the greenhouse business).

How much money do you need to start a business?

Calculations carried out by many entrepreneurs involved in growing strawberries have shown that to organize your farm you need to invest:

• From 10 thousand dollars, if you grow strawberries in open ground.
• From 25 thousand, if you build a greenhouse.

In practice, the best profitability indicators are for companies that combine these methods.

To organize a strawberry growing business, you need to: register, rent land, conduct communications, buy seedlings and equipment, and also resolve the issue with the office.

Which equipment to choose

Choice necessary equipment for the business in question depends on the method of growing strawberries. If you do not plan to build a greenhouse, then you will need ordinary gardening tools (shovels, hoes, rakes, etc.), a lawn mower, a refrigerator, pipes, taps and hoses for watering plants, as well as containers for harvesting.

Entrepreneurs who plan to build a greenhouse, in addition to the listed tools and equipment, will need: a ventilation system, an electric heater, lighting and an electric generator. You also need to decide how the optimal air temperature in your greenhouse will be maintained.

Which OKVED code should I indicate for a strawberry growing business?

The line of business under consideration belongs to the category of farms for growing berry crops, which all-Russian classifier assigned OKVED code 01.25.1.

What documents are needed

The list of documents that the organizer of a strawberry growing business must complete, in addition to papers confirming the fact of registration with government agencies, includes permits from the SES and fire inspection. In addition, it is necessary to sign an agreement: with the owner land plot, suppliers of seedlings and other contractors. It is necessary to conclude a contract with each farm worker labor contract, which should take into account the interests of both parties.

Which tax system to choose

The choice of taxation regime for a given business depends on the organizational and legal form of your business. For example, for an individual entrepreneur or LLC, the simplified tax system (with the ability to pay 6% of gross income or 15 of the difference between income and expenses) is more suitable, and for farm– single agricultural tax.

Do I need permission?

AND good news for entrepreneurs who decide to make money growing strawberries. There is no need to obtain special permits or licenses for this line of business.

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

What are the advantages of a berry growing business?

The main advantages of this business are:

• relatively small investment at the 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:

• plant disease and harmful insects may appear;
• when not proper care the plant may deteriorate: wither, rot.

Therefore, to avoid loss and disappointment, thoroughly study all aspects of this business before you start.

Options for growing strawberries and their features

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

Home cultivation (indoors)

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

Suitable for growing your favorite berries at home Dutch technology. The essence of the method: a plastic bag is filled with perlite and peat. Next, holes are made in it for seedlings, irrigation pipes are installed and an artificial lighting system is set up. Three bags can be placed on 1 square meter.

At the initial stage, watering can be done independently, that is, manually. A drip system can be installed later. You will also have to pollinate the berries - at home, strawberries do not pollinate themselves. A brush with natural bristles is suitable for this. 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, just keep the window open. It should be taken into account that strawberries really need light. Therefore, it is advisable to choose the sunny side for seedlings.

Growing berries at home is suitable for beginner businessmen. In this case, it is more convenient to build a business on growing seedlings rather 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 corresponding costs: installation of a greenhouse structure, equipment for irrigation and heating, lighting of the greenhouse. The greenhouse method of growing strawberries requires many times more expenses than growing them in open ground. But, accordingly, the income is higher.

A plant in a greenhouse matures several months faster than in open ground. Artificial ones influence this optimal conditions for growing. With proper care, the berries will be beautiful and healthy.

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 shavings 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. There are also pros and cons here. The advantages, of course, include minimum investment compared to other methods. Strawberries are easy to grow in season and not difficult to sell. The taste and aroma of strawberries grown using this method cannot be compared with others. This growing method is great for beginners. this business.

The disadvantages include the risk of possible negative influence of nature. For example, strawberries can burn in the sun or, conversely, freeze. In addition, the plant must be replanted every 4 years.

Start-up costs

Costs directly depend on the plant growing option:

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

At the initial stage, home planting of berries requires the purchase of:

• 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:

• construction of a greenhouse;
• providing lighting and water supply to it.

Growing a plant in open ground requires the following costs:

• purchase of planting material;
• soil treatment against harmful insects;
• fertilizers

Which variety to choose for business

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

Early ripening varieties

Early varieties include:

1. Olivia is a winter-hardy variety that can withstand the difficult Russian climate well. This strawberry has a spectacular marketable condition- large berries correct form, withstand transportation well.
2. Alba is one of the best early varieties for the industry. Strawberries are resistant to disease, tolerate transportation well and have a long shelf life.
3. Clery is an excellent choice for business. This variety is perfectly preserved during transportation and produces a lot of planting material (whiskers). Clery's look is very impressive - a bright berry, like lacquered skin, the kind of strawberry you want to buy.

Early ripening varieties require special care:

• regular watering with water no colder than 25 degrees;
• mulching the beds with compost;
• ventilate the plant in sunny weather.

Medium ripening varieties:

To run a business, you can choose the following varieties:

1. Marmalada is a variety with the advantage of high yield. Strawberry of regular conical shape with shine.
2. Arosa too a good choice for growing. The berries of this variety are bright orange in color and slightly flattened in shape.
3. Asia – has a high sugar content, making the berries very tasty. Strawberries are resistant to frost, disease, and long-term storage. This is one of the best varieties for the industry.

Medium ripening varieties need mainly the following:

• correct control of temperature conditions;
• drip irrigation.

Late ripening variety

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

Variety care:

• This strawberry is characterized by leaf growth, therefore, to improve ventilation, light and ripening of the berries, it is better to thin out the leaves during the fruiting period;
• the variety requires fertilization with nitrogen substances, and it is very important that the application of fertilizing is moderate.

Remontant varieties

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

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

Caring for remontant varieties includes:

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

Garlic planted between the bushes will protect strawberries from pests.

The video provides tips on growing strawberries from a plant expert in the Green Garden community. The expert will tell you about seasonal features plant care:

Strawberry marketing options

The most acceptable ways to sell goods:

1. Home delivery of strawberries is a popular way of marketing in a populated area, for example, a million-plus region.
2. Sales through supermarkets.
3. Delivery of berries for processing.
4. Sales through your own outlets: market, supermarket store or mall. This option is suitable for selling large volumes of strawberries.

Each sales option requires the preparation of certain documents!

Profitability of strawberry business

To calculate the profitability of strawberry sales, you need to calculate all expenses: from the purchase of materials to the delivery of goods to the buyer. Don't forget about monthly expenses for electricity and heating. You also need to know the expected profit.

A square meter of seedlings yields 4.5 kg of fruit per month - this formula should be the starting point for calculating monthly profit. That is, a plantation with an area of ​​50 square meters will produce 225 kg of berries per month.

Depending on the season, the cost of berries varies dramatically. The average price is considered to be 400-500 rubles. per kilogram. Accordingly, a plantation with an area of ​​50 square meters will bring an income of 90 – 112.5 thousand rubles monthly.

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

Opportunity to receive high income from the sale of strawberry berries or seedlings – main reason, according to which amateur gardeners retrained as businessmen. Regardless of the season, competition comes only from imported expensive goods with average taste, which is also a big advantage of this business.

• Hydroponic strawberries
• Step-by-step opening plan
• How much can you earn
• Which equipment to choose
• • conclusions

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 with 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 new free marathon about passive income and smart investment money. 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 method. There are a number of objective reasons for this:

1. 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).
2. The technology is simple and clear. A little literature - and you can get a good harvest.
3. 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:

1. Seasonality. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, strawberries can be grown exclusively between May and September.
2. Dependence on weather conditions. Drought, frost, etc., and you can lose almost the entire harvest.
3. Diseases, pests, and weeds, which are present in abundance in open ground, will haunt the farmer.
4. Harvesting - you have to pick berries by literally crawling on the ground, which is extremely inconvenient. Hence we get higher costs for labor 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. There are others on this score, more expensive, but also more effective ways growing 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:

1. The plant always receives the right amount of nutrients, much more than from solid soil. Hence faster growth and faster harvest.
2. There is no need for daily watering.
3. Pests and diseases that are typical when grown in soil (mole crickets, fungal diseases, nematodes) are completely absent.
4. There is no need to purchase soil for transplanting strawberries and spend money on its delivery.
5. It is much easier to replant a plant without damaging the roots.
6. 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 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 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.

Growing strawberries in bags using Dutch technology

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, starting investments costs for organizing and equipping greenhouse farming are 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 strawberry agricultural production. 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.

Professional business plans on the topic:

• Farm business plan (14 sheets) - DOWNLOAD ⬇

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.

We also recommend that you read articles about TOP 5 business and investment methods, which the author of this blog, Andrey Merkulov, tested on himself. There you will also find valuable advice based on the experience of an entrepreneur.

The strawberry growing business is considered profitable. The sweet berry is in demand all year round, especially in winter time. Breeders have developed remontant varieties that bear fruit 5-6 times per season, and new growing technologies make it possible to obtain a harvest even indoors.

Important information! 80% of the market today is occupied by imported strawberries. If it is profitable to transport berries by plane from the Dominican Republic to Moscow or Irkutsk, you should think about plans and methods of implementation profitable idea at home. Experts estimate the annual growth of the strawberry market at 25-30%.

What you need to know before starting a strawberry business

There are differences in growing strawberries for yourself and for sale. On 3-5 acres of free soil, berries are grown for home consumption, but there is no talk of serious income from the sale of strawberries. To make money in this business, they develop an area of ​​20 acres or more or use new methods of harvesting: in bags, boxes, film or polycarbonate greenhouses.

A good plan to make money on domestic berries requires detailed elaboration. This is not necessarily a one-time summer income; you can earn income all year round. A profitable strawberry business requires fulfilling a number of conditions:

1. the selected variety is adapted to the local climate and gives maximum yield under the given conditions;
2. varieties are selected in such a way that the sweet product ripens at different times;
3. the berries are suitable for transportation (a plan for collecting and marketing the products has been thought out, suitable containers and equipment have been prepared).

Important to remember! The taste of the berry is directly related to its ripening period and tolerance to transportation. The sooner it ripens, the easier it tolerates travel, the less moisture and sweetness it contains. Therefore, they grow sweet late varieties for themselves, and early varieties that are resistant to unfavorable climate conditions for sale. The taste of the latter is usually worse, but the presentation is better.

Growing strawberries outdoors

The home method of growing berries on open ground depends on the weather, so the main task gardener - protect seedlings from rain, drought, cold and pests. For this purpose, they not only carefully select varieties, but also stock up on film to retain heat, a mulch coating to protect against weeds and diseases, mineral fertilizers for feeding, and chemical protection against diseases. Inclusion in the plan additional materials will require financial expenses, but will significantly increase productivity and income.

№	Expenditure	Prices, rub.
	Total	30000
1.	Rent of 1 hectare of land, per month	10000
2.	Planting material	10000
3.	Mineral fertilizers	2000
4.	Growth stimulator	1000
5.	Additional materials (protective film, agrofibre)	2000
6.	Watering, per month	5000

The maximum profit from a strawberry plantation will be received by those who follow the full cycle of work: independently germinate the seeds, prepare planting material from adult plants, independently (without intermediaries) pack, store, and export for sale. Good income give surplus strawberry seedlings (remaining after diving). In this case, it is not necessary to resort to the help of hired personnel. As a last resort, during the harvest period, businessmen hire seasonal workers to pick berries.

This is interesting! If you manage to grow a sweet product without “chemicals,” organic food stores will gladly take it. True, in this case you will have to obtain a certificate from Rosselkhoznadzor and a declaration of conformity from the SES.

The Dutch way of growing garden strawberries

Recognized as good and profitable home business on strawberries, organized indoors (Dutch method). A house, barn, garage - an area of ​​10 square meters - is suitable for this. m. is enough to start a business, because strawberry plantations are located on 3-4 “floors”. Using boxes or bags with substrate and humus instead of soil allows you to grow ripe juicy berries for sale all year round.

This is an expensive way to obtain a crop, because sunlight will have to be replaced artificial lighting, natural heat - received from home heating devices. In addition, you will have to take care of artificial pollination. But the price of a kilogram of strawberries in winter is from 300 rubles. In addition, the business does not depend on the time of year and the vagaries of the weather. In the summer (at this time the crops are harvested from the open ground), work takes place indoors. They germinate seeds, prepare planting material, and set up a mini-farm. Instead of soil, the Dutch method involves using plastic bags filled with peat and perlite. Slots are made in it in a checkerboard pattern, where the seedlings are planted. It is recommended to do this at the end of summer so that the harvest can be harvested in October.

The latest online business ideas relevant for 2019

In a room of 10 sq. m. grows 300 kg of strawberries. Selling at a price of 150 rubles in the summer will bring 45,000 rubles. In the winter season - at least 80,000 rubles. Since the berries ripen all year round, income is received several times.

№	Expenditure	Prices, rub.
	Total	125000
1.	Premises (rent), per month	10000
2.	Racks (shelves)	35000
3.	Lamps (sodium), 100 pcs.	15000
4.	Irrigation system	40000
5.	Seedling	10000
6.	Utilities, per month	15000

Important! If the premises are your own, the entrepreneur will make shelves with his own hands and come up with good plan automatic watering, this will significantly save start-up capital. There will also be no need for salary expenses - one person can easily manage a compact strawberry plantation.

The nuances of growing strawberries in a greenhouse

A good way to earn income is to combine both options by growing berries indoors in a greenhouse. For serious commercial enterprise glass structures or polycarbonate greenhouses are erected, but the most affordable option is a metal or wooden frame with a film coating.

Since the film will not protect against frost, the task of the greenhouse is to speed up the ripening of the berries and bring them to the market before competitors. It will also save plants from weeds, weather vagaries and reduce losses from diseases and pests. Construction of a greenhouse for 10 square meters will cost 30,000 rubles, and complete organization greenhouse business with a working area of ​​1 hectare will result in the amount of 1,000,000 rubles. But the profitability of growing berries in a greenhouse is more than 100%.

Important tip! The larger the working area, the lower the cost of 1 kg of goods. On an area of ​​20 hectares, a kilogram will cost 10-20 rubles, on an area of ​​less than 1 hectare - the cost increases to 50 rubles. For the profitability of a business in open ground, choose a plot of 0.5-1 hectares, in a greenhouse - 20-30 acres.

Issues of advertising, marketing and transportation of crops

The strawberry business has an obvious disadvantage: it is a perishable product; You can’t take it long distances, you can’t keep it in a warehouse for a month. So the question of where to start a business is decided not by purchasing seedlings, but by searching for someone who will sell the crop. To preserve the berries, a prudent businessman will take care of scales, plastic containers and a refrigerator. As for transport, its purchase is relevant if you plan to sell the goods yourself. If the manufacturer plans to sell on the local market, documenting business is not so relevant. But when delivering to a supermarket, you can’t do without it. The mini-farm must be registered as an official business; In addition, certificates for berries are obtained from a special laboratory or SES.