Crops · Fruits · Protected cultivation
Strawberry cultivation in polyhouse and hydroponics
Grow sweet, bright red strawberries in a polyhouse, in A-frame cocopeat troughs or grow bags fed by drip. Fruit hangs clean off the ground, away from rain and rot, for retail, hotels and quick commerce, with a farm designed, built and supported by Kryzen.
First fruit in 60–80 days
Pick for 4–5 months
Clean fruit off the ground
Why protected cultivation
Can strawberry be grown in a polyhouse?
Quick answer
Yes. Strawberry is one of the best fruits for a polyhouse. Runner plants are planted in A-frame cocopeat troughs or grow bags and fed by drip. The first fruit comes about 60–80 days after planting, and picking goes on for 4–5 months.
A polyhouse keeps rain off the fruit, which causes grey mould and rot in open fields. Raised troughs keep berries off the ground and clean, insect net keeps out thrips and aphids, and drip feeds every plant the same.
| Point |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | One winter season | Longer season | Longer season, with cooling in warm months |
| Picking period | 2–3 months | 3–4 months | 4–5 months |
| Fruit quality | Muddy, rotted and bird-damaged fruit | Cleaner fruit, fewer rots | Clean, even, bright fruit off the ground |
| Pests | Thrips, mites, aphids and birds | Insect net and traps keep pressure low | Insect net and traps keep pressure low |
| Soil diseases | Root rot and wilt build up in soil | Still a risk; soil disease builds up over cycles | None; clean cocopeat |
| Water and fertiliser | Flood irrigation; much is lost | Drip into soil; some is lost | Exact drip doses to every plant |
| Revenue per acre per cycle | ₹2–3 lakh | ₹4–6 lakh | ₹5–10 lakh a month |
| Setup cost | Low | Medium | Highest; see your quotation and subsidy |
Expected revenue
How much revenue to expect per acre, per cycle
Expected sales from one acre of strawberry for one crop cycle, and the risks you have to fight with each way of growing.
Open field
₹2–3 lakh
per acre, per crop cycle
Seasonal crop in soil, exposed to rain, heat and pests.
Risks11 risks to fight
- Insect attack
- Climate attack
- High cost of fertiliser
- High cost of water
- High cost of labour
- Cost of pesticides
- Cost of growth boosters
- Cost of land preparation
- Mulching paper
- Uneven quality
- Unpredictable quantity
Polyhouse + soil-based growing
₹4–6 lakh
per acre, per crop cycle
Protected crop planted in soil beds with drip irrigation.
Risks5 risks to fight
- Insect attack (avoided)
- Climate attack (avoided)
- High cost of fertiliser (avoided)
- High cost of water (avoided)
- High cost of labour
- Cost of pesticides
- Cost of growth boosters
- Cost of land preparation
- Mulching paper
- Uneven quality (avoided)
- Unpredictable quantity (avoided)
Polyhouse + hydroponics
₹5–10 lakh
per acre, per month
Protected crop in cocopeat with drip fertigation.
RisksNone of these risks
- Insect attack (avoided)
- Climate attack (avoided)
- High cost of fertiliser (avoided)
- High cost of water (avoided)
- High cost of labour (avoided)
- Cost of pesticides (avoided)
- Cost of growth boosters (avoided)
- Cost of land preparation (avoided)
- Mulching paper (avoided)
- Uneven quality (avoided)
- Unpredictable quantity (avoided)
Struck-through risks are ones that protected cultivation takes away. Revenue depends on variety, season, market price and how well the crop is managed. Our team prepares a crop projection for your farm before you build.
Where it grows
Best growing systems for strawberry
Strawberry is a low plant whose fruit hangs over the edge. Raised A-frame troughs and grow bags keep fruit clean and easy to pick. It does not do well in NFT A-frames.
Most usedTrough
A-frame vertical cocopeat troughs fit more plants on the same floor and keep fruit clean.
Cocopeat grow bags
Cocopeat bags on raised stands with drip.
Inside the right polyhouse
What to plant
Types of strawberry grown in polyhouses
Our agronomy team suggests short-day or day-neutral varieties for your region and season.
Strawberry
Sweet, bright red berries for retail, hotels, bakeries and quick commerce.
Climate and feeding
Ideal growing conditions for strawberry
A polyhouse lets you hold these ranges for most of the year. Vents, shade nets, foggers or fan and pad cooling keep heat in check, and drip fertigation sets the feed. Values are from the Kryzen Plant Wiki.
The Kryzen Plant Wiki on alpha.kryzen.com, prepared by an experienced agronomist with more than 35 years of work and hands-on experience across 100+ crop cycles. See the Agronomy Wiki.
| Factor | Ideal range for strawberry |
|---|---|
| Season | Planted in autumn in the plains; longer seasons in cooler regions |
| Growing temperature | 15–26 °C by day; cool nights help fruit set |
| Relative humidity | 60–75% |
| Feed TDS | About 1,000–1,200 ppm |
| Feed pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Plant density | About 8–10 plants per m² in A-frame troughs |
| Planting material | Runner plants or plugs from a certified nursery |
| Growing system | A-frame cocopeat troughs or grow bags with drip |
Crop cycle
From seedling to last harvest
One strawberry crop runs about 6–7 months from planting to the last picking.
- 01
Day 0
Planting
Healthy runner plants are planted with the crown just above the media.
- 02
Weeks 1–4
Establishment
Plants root in; the drip is kept light and runners are removed.
- 03
Weeks 4–6
Flowering
Flowers open. Bees or a soft brush help pollination for well-shaped fruit.
- 04
60–80 days
First harvest
The first berries are picked when fully red.
- 05
Every 2–3 days
Picking
Fruit is picked every 2–3 days, and old leaves and runners are removed.
- 06
6–7 months
Crop end
Plants are removed and the troughs refreshed for the next season.
Plant protection
Common strawberry pests and diseases
A polyhouse with insect net, double doors and sticky traps keeps most problems out. Catch the rest early. See the Agronomy Wiki for full guides.
| Pest or disease | What you see | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Grey mould (Botrytis) | Grey fuzzy rot on fruit | Low humidity, good airflow, remove rotten fruit daily |
| Powdery mildew | White powder and curled leaves | Good airflow, avoid humidity swings |
| Thrips | Bronzed, seedy fruit | Blue sticky traps, insect net |
| Spider mites | Speckled, dry leaves | Check leaf undersides weekly, early control |
| Aphids | Sticky, curled leaves | Insect net, yellow sticky traps |
| Root and crown rot | Plants wilt and collapse | Clean planting material, well-drained cocopeat |
Harvest and selling
Pick, grade and sell
Careful picking and grading decide the price you get.
- Pick fully redPick berries when they are fully red, in the cool morning, with the green cap on.
- Handle gentlyPick straight into punnets so the fruit is not handled twice.
- Chill fastCool berries to 1–2 °C within an hour; they bruise and rot fast in heat.
- Sell with live pricesTrack rates on Price Watcher and reach buyers through Buyers Connect.
Cost and running
What a strawberry farm needs
Your quotation lists every item, and our team prepares a strawberry crop projection for your farm before you build.
Steady power
Drip runs on a timer. We connect your generator or solar backup for long power cuts.
Good water
A water test before you start tells us how to plan the nutrient solution.
Daily EC and pH checks
Check the feed and the run-off every day and adjust the dose for the crop stage.
Trained workers
Picking every 2–3 days and removing runners. We train your team for 4 days at the start.
Plan your doses and your sales
Use the nutrient calculator to plan feeds for each stage. Current prices from Price Watcher go into your project report, and Buyers Connect helps you sell after harvest.
Included free
- 6 months of virtual agronomy
- 4-day training for your farm team
- Hydroponic Masterclass logins
- Farm management software
- Buyers Connect
Worth ₹1.08 lakh
Kryzen fully managed farm
Plan a managed mega farm with Kryzen
Starting at 10 acres+
Ready to invest in 10 acres or more of protected cultivation? We help you set up the farm, run it and find a market for the produce.
- We set it upSite survey, design, construction and all farm buildings.
- We run itOur agronomists and trained team manage every crop cycle.
- We find the marketBuyers for your produce through Buyers Connect.
Why you should plan it
- Up to ₹2–2.5 crore a yearIncome potential from a 10-acre managed protected cultivation farm.
- Tax-free agricultural incomeAgricultural income is exempt from income tax under Section 10(1).
- 35% project subsidySupport on the project cost under eligible government schemes.
- AIF: 3% loan interest subsidyInterest subvention on your project loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
- 10-year concession periodA long-term agreement for running and managing the farm.
- Build-Operate-TransferWe build the farm, operate it and transfer it to you.
Subsidy and finance
Subsidy for your strawberry polyhouse
Polyhouse projects built to National Horticulture Board (NHB) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) norms can apply for government subsidy. A bank loan is usually part of the project, and the subsidy is paid after the project is checked.
NHB subsidy provider
Kryzen is a registered National Horticulture Board subsidy provider for all states.
NHM state subsidy provider
Enrolled with the National Horticulture Mission in Maharashtra and Karnataka for state horticulture schemes.
Project report for your bank
We prepare the detailed project report (DPR) your bank and subsidy file need, with cost, finance and profit projections.
Subsidy amounts depend on the scheme, your state and current government guidelines. The final decision is made by the government department.
How we build
From first call to first harvest
Ten steps, one team. Most projects are built in 45 to 90 days after material reaches the site.
1Free online consultation
We discuss your land, water, budget and goals on a video or phone call.
2Site inspection
Our team checks level, slope, sunlight, soil, water, power and road access.
3Design and quotation
We design for your climate and crops, and share a detailed quotation.
4Project report and finance
We prepare the DPR for your bank loan and subsidy file.
5Subsidy and loan
We help you apply for NHB or NHM subsidy and your bank loan, with the documents each office needs.
6Manufacturing
We cut, shape and quality-test the material at our factory in Satara.
7Construction
Our team builds the foundations, structure and growing systems on your land.
8Testing and handover
We test every system and hand over a working farm.
9Training and agronomy
Hands-on training for your team and 6 months of virtual agronomy support.
10Harvest management
We help you plan harvests, grading and sales, with market prices from Price Watcher and buyers through Buyers Connect.
Can strawberry be grown in a polyhouse?
Yes. Strawberry is one of the best fruits for a polyhouse, grown in A-frame cocopeat troughs or grow bags with drip.
How long does strawberry take to fruit?
About 60–80 days after planting runner plants. Picking then goes on for 4–5 months.
Can strawberry be grown in NFT?
Not well. We grow strawberry in raised cocopeat troughs or grow bags instead.
How much revenue can strawberry make per acre?
Expected revenue per acre for one crop cycle is about ₹2–3 lakh in open field, ₹4–6 lakh in a polyhouse with soil-based growing; in a polyhouse with hydroponics it is about ₹5–10 lakh a month. It depends on variety, season, market price and how well the crop is managed.
Where can I sell strawberries?
To retail chains, hotels, bakeries, quick commerce and local markets. Use Price Watcher to track rates and Buyers Connect to reach buyers.
Talk to our team
Plan your strawberry farm with us
Tell us your land, water and market. We’ll suggest the right polyhouse and growing system for strawberry and share a detailed quotation.