This International Fruit Day, July 1, Jiffy Group celebrates the delicious and nutritious fruits that support humanity’s health and wellness. We thank the growers who produce these foods worldwide.
With resources top of mind for the agriculture industry as the global population grows, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) marks a new chapter in fruit production. Growing fruit hydroponically in greenhouses and indoor farms can use up to 10 times less water than soil production in fields. At the same time, CEA growing methods shorten crop cycles and extend seasons.
When it comes to fruits grown in CEA, some of the most popular crop choices are berries, including blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Here, we look at these berries’ production requirements and how Jiffy Group is helping growers achieve healthy plant propagation and berry yields.
Fruitful production
Booming berry sales reflect growing demand among health-conscious consumers. Berries’ high vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and fiber contents just scratch the surface of their health benefits. They can lower the risk of heart attack and improve learning and memory*. It’s no wonder CEA growers are including berries in their repertoire.
Let’s look at some elements of berry cultivation, starting with blueberries. As members of the Ericaceae plant family, blueberries are perennial flowering plants. They prefer very acidic soils with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. Blueberries can be propagated using softwood or hardwood cuttings. Trellising is typically not required.
Raspberries and blackberries, meanwhile, belong to the Rosaceae family. They prefer acidic soil, with an ideal pH of 5.6 to 6.5 for raspberries and 5.5 to 6.5 for blackberries. Cultivation of these biennial woody crops involves long cane production, followed by fruit production. Raspberry and blackberry canes usually require trellising to support the weight of their fruits.
Strawberries are also members of the Rosaceae family. They thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soils in the 5.5 to 7 pH range. Strawberry mother plants produce runners that produce new plant roots in the ground.
When grown indoors and on specialist growing media compared to in field soil, berries are less prone to pests and diseases, produce more attractive fruit, and experience a far longer growing season. Their roots remain strong and firm as growers reduce labor costs and are less reliant on weather patterns.
Jiffy Growbags ensure coir quality
CEA growers specializing in berry production or considering adding these crops to their operation can utilize Jiffy Growbags for their growing media needs.
Made with 100% coconut fiber, Jiffy Growbags are a lightweight, fast, and easy-to-install multipurpose growing medium with minimal storage requirements. Growers can use the bags right away, with no washing or additives required. Simply give them a good watering.
Growbags foster raspberry and blackberry mother stock production, prolific growth and high yields of strawberries, and blueberry mid- and long-term production. Our Growbags last up to three or four seasons.
Jiffy Group oversees the entire Growbag supply chain, from procuring raw materials to providing grower support.
We start the process by harvesting coconuts. Next, we wash the coconut shell fibers and compost the bags of fibers for six months to eliminate unstable components, while keeping the bags aerated and free-draining. We also buffer, dehydrate and compress the shell fibers. Once we manufacture the Growbags, we ship them to growers.
Certified by the non-profit foundation RHP, Growbags are guaranteed to have consistent pH levels and conductivity, and to not contain any weeds or pathogens.
Growbags’ stable, granular growing medium facilitates optimum oxygenation and root system development. They can also be customized with different planting hole options to suit your individual operation.
Jiffy Preforma Plugs are quick and customizable
Jiffy Preforma Plugs offer CEA growers a tailor-made growing media solution for propagating berries.
Growers can choose from an array of Preforma Plug tray and substrate selections. The plugs are ready to go so that you can get growing right away — whether you’re starting with blueberry tissue culture or young plants, or raspberry or blackberry long canes.
Consistently retaining an air content of 30% or more, Preforma Plugs have no compaction, even under heavy misting. This allows for quick and uniform rooting.
Jiffy Preforma Plugs contain a binder that protects young plants during manual and mechanized handling. The binder prevents young berry plants from experiencing transplant shock, allowing growers to quickly transplant or ship out their plugs and free up valuable space and time in propagation. Preforma plugs are perfect for rooting cuttings that may otherwise have trouble establishing themselves.
Providing you with solutions
If you are looking to improve upon efficiency in your berry propagation or cultivation, you can reach out to us. From our responsible and reliable supply chain to your indoor grow, Jiffy strives to provide growers with better results. Let’s get you rooted today!
*Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health