Soil and Tissue Sampling in Strawberries

By Gandhi Gutierrez and Miguel Gutierrez, Crop Advisors

In strawberry production, keeping nutrition in balance is critical, and one of the best ways to do this is through consistent soil and tissue testing. A soil test gives growers an idea of what nutrients are present in the field, but it does not always reflect what the crop is using. That is where tissue sampling comes in, showing how well the plant is absorbing those nutrients. Strawberries can be sensitive to even small imbalances, and issues often appear in yield or fruit quality before any visible symptoms show up. Micronutrients play a crucial role here—boron improves fruit set, iron keeps leaves green and healthy, and zinc drives growth and hormone activity. By combining soil and tissue results, growers can finetune fertility, prevent excesses, and protect both crop performance and long-term profitability.