Strawberries are prized for their sweetness, vibrant color, and consumer appeal. With greenhouse cultivation, growers can extend the season, protect crops, and deliver fresh berries throughout the year.
This guide explores the key benefits, environmental requirements, and growing systems for successful greenhouse strawberry production.
Why Grow Strawberries in a Greenhouse?
Extended Season & Higher Market Value
Greenhouses allow for precise climate control, enabling growers to produce strawberries from fall through spring—when market prices are highest.
Unlike field production, which is limited to cooler months, greenhouse systems maintain optimal conditions for plant development year-round.
Improved Pest & Disease Management
A protected environment significantly reduces the risk of pests, pathogens, and wildlife damage. With proper ventilation and sanitation, growers can minimize chemical use while promoting healthier, more vigorous plants.
Enhanced Quality & Yield
Strawberries grown in controlled environments benefit from optimized light, temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels. The result: larger, sweeter berries with consistent quality. Controlled conditions also reduce crop loss due to unpredictable weather or animal interference.
Local, Sustainable Production
Greenhouse systems support local farming by reducing the need for imports and long transportation chains.
This not only lowers carbon emissions but also improves freshness and preserves nutrient content—since strawberries begin losing flavor and nutrients immediately after harvest.
Greater Variety Options
Greenhouses make it easier to grow everbearing and day-neutral varieties that yield fruit multiple times a year. This enables better space utilization and higher returns per square foot.
Creating the Ideal Growing Environment
Watering & Irrigation
Strawberries prefer evenly moist conditions—never soggy. Drip irrigation into pots or troughs is standard practice for controlling root zone moisture. Some growers are exploring hydroponic techniques like NFT (nutrient film technique) for added efficiency.
Temperature Management
Strawberries thrive at daytime temperatures between 70°F–75°F (21°C–24°C) and nighttime lows near 60°F (15°C). Heating is straightforward in greenhouses, but proper ventilation (vents or fans) is essential to prevent overheating and condensation issues.
Lighting & Shading
Strawberries need full sun, but excess light in summer can cause heat stress. Shade systems help regulate intensity and extend the growing season. In winter, supplemental LED lighting maintains consistent photoperiods, supporting fruit production during high-value months.
Pollination Support
While strawberries are self-pollinating, air movement improves fruit set. In larger greenhouses, adding bumblebees or manually assisting with pollination (e.g., paintbrushes) may further enhance results.
Types of Greenhouse Structures for Strawberry Production
Glass Greenhouses
Glass structures offer the highest light transmission and long-term durability. Ideal for high-tech operations, they’re often used in large-scale commercial strawberry production. Glass is also well-suited for cold climates where insulation and light control are critical.
Gutter-Connected Greenhouses
These modular greenhouses link multiple bays together with shared gutters. They are scalable, energy-efficient, and suitable for both substrate and hydroponic strawberry systems.
Gutter-connected greenhouses work well for mid to large-sized commercial growers looking to expand over time.
Freestanding Greenhouses
Freestanding greenhouses are individual structures that stand alone. They offer flexibility in placement and are easier to manage for small to mid-sized growers.
They’re commonly used in combination with raised gutters or bench systems.
High Tunnels
High tunnels for strawberries are cost-effective, passive structures that extend the growing season by protecting crops from wind, frost, and rain.
While they have less climate control than heated greenhouses, they are ideal for growers looking for affordable season extension with minimal infrastructure.
Strawberry Growing Systems in Greenhouses
- Fixed Gutters (Ground-Mounted or Hanging)
These systems involve planting strawberries in gutters filled with substrate, paired with drip irrigation. Hanging gutters allow for easier ground maintenance but require stronger structural support. Ground-mounted versions are easier to install and work well in most setups. - Mobile Gutters in Pots
Adapted from leafy green production, mobile gutters rotate along tracks toward workers, improving labor efficiency and canopy density. Workers handle planting, maintenance, and harvesting in designated zones as the system cycles through the greenhouse. - Multi-Layer Mobile Systems
To maximize yield, some operations stack gutters on multiple levels. Lower tiers use LED lighting while upper levels benefit from sunlight. Although energy input is higher, this method can double production within the same footprint—an attractive option for high-output operations.
Conclusion
Growing strawberries in a greenhouse offers clear advantages: extended harvests, premium fruit quality, local production, and scalable systems. With the right setup, growers can enjoy consistent yields and strong returns while meeting market demand year-round.