Who said strawberry can only grow in cold places like Cameron Highlands? In fact it can grow at your backyard if proper care is taken. This is one successful story by green fingers, Babuk Andrea.
Babuk Andrea started growing strawberries at his backyard after he visited the much commercialised strawberry farm at Cameron Highlands in 2004. He bought one pot of the plant and had since successfully cultivated the fruit to a few pots.
According to Babuk Andrea, it is not difficult to care for the plant. He placed the strawberries under farm netting to block it from direct sunlight. In terms of fertilizer, Babuk Andrea goes natural by using chicken droppings. He further explained that the plant requires constant watering, if not it will wither and die.
The berries are red when ripe and its size are quite big. However, a little bit sourish if compared to its Cameron Highland’s cousins.
Babuk Andrea is growing these fruits as a hobby to past time in the evening after a busy day in the office. Perhaps, he should go commercial once he retires at the end of this year. 
GROWING STRAWBERRY
1. SOIL
Strawberry can grow practically on all types of soil, be it clay, sandy, silt or loamy. My potted strawberry grows equally healthier as those planted on the ground. However, the condition and soil texture as follows are crucial:
• Not acidic
• sufficient moisture
• not waterlogged
• not too hard and easily dry
• most ideal is loamy and fertile soil
• roots penetrate easily through loose soil
2. FERTILIZER
Both organic and inorganic fertilizer can be used but with proper application. Strawberry is supersensitive to fertilizer. Overdose or inappropriate fertilizing kills the strawberry. What the strawberry needs are:
(i) N (Nitrogen) for leaves and shoots
(ii) P (Phosphorus) for stalks and roots
(iii) K (Potassium) for flowers and fruits
(iv) Mg (Magnesium Phosphate) promotes photosynthesis
Inorganic fertilizer NPK + Mg 12:12:17 +2) are easily available in the market.
Organic fertilizer (compost, chicken dropping, burnt earth) is excellent
3. SUNLIGHT AND WATERING
Strawberry needs adequate sunlight but grows healthier under sun netting. It needs lots of water. It withers and finally dies if the soil is let dry.
4. FLOWERING AND FRUITING
Never spray pesticide when it is flowering
5. PESTS
My strawberry is almost free from pests and diseases. However, grasshoppers and rats love the fruit.
NOTE: Proper cultivation of the strawberry can produce healthier plants and fruits.
hi babuk andrea..i’m ram from UNITEN and doing my project tesis about strawbery.. i just want to get a full detail from u how to grow it in a normal place like what u are doing now… ur reply will be such greatfull for my project and complete my degree..
remarks..
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Great! Very productive experience, idea and inspiration for the Barios, Lawases or Puncak Borneans Mr. Ajang. Hope to buy juicy berry from them.
try planting them in bario or lawas lah
lol. those are so tiny.
anyways, I used to plant strawberrys in my backyard too.
it need cool environment otherwise it wont grow big.
i love stroberi..hmm…nyummm
Yes Apple! the redberry is similar to the sister berry in Cameron Highlands, but just not as sweet as what they have there. Silverstar, please spread the news to our brothers and sisters living around puncak borneo- a lucrative source of extra cash. Try grapes too there, cos i planted grapes at my backyard before. Fruiting with besautiful bunches, but not sweet. I guess at puncak borneo, strawberry and grapes are sweeter than what i have here. Don,t waste the vast fertile land there.
Looks so beautiful and red! Yea, kinda agree with what silverstar said.
why don’t we try planting it on our highland i.e. puncak borneo area? it will a good way to help the poor folks in the longhouse to earn some cash!
Babuk Andrea even fried Rambutans