Arbutus , the bush with beautiful flowers and colorful fruits
Scientific name : Arbustus unedo
Common name : Strawberry tree
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Family : Ericaceae
Genus : Arbutus
Origin : The arbutus is a shrub native to the Mediterranean area of the European continent. Today, given its ease of adaptation, it has spread to a large number of countries (Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, France, Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico, Cuba, Central America and part of South America). In Portugal, it is found throughout the country, with a large focus on the lower Alentejo and the Algarve mountains.
Best known for the fruit....
The arbutus is a red fruit and belongs to the category of “small fruits ”, being a round and warty berry, of an intense red color when ripe.
Before reaching its intense red state, it goes through various stages of green, yellow and orange coloration. The best-known component of the strawberry tree is its fruit.
Can you eat the arbutus? The arbutus is an edible fruit , used in cooking, baking and other areas for its recognized antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, depurative and diuretic properties.
From the medronho tradition to new ways of tasting it. What is the medronho used for?
Despite all the potential uses, the oldest and most popular use continues to be Medronho Brandy.
Medronho brandy is a spirituous, aromatic and colourless drink. Its versatility allows it to be added to various cocktails or simply drunk with coffee, a common practice throughout the country and especially in the lower Alentejo and Algarve where the drink is best known and appreciated.
Other applications :
- fresh food and culinary applications for its antioxidant properties, sugar level (sweets, jelly, jam, yogurts, cakes, chocolates, bread, vinegar, gelatin...)
- Arbutus honey is a very specific honey due to its bitter taste, reminiscent of coffee. It crystallizes quickly and has a dark brown color.
- alcoholic liqueurs . gin, vodka and medronho beer are already available on the market
- use of its leaves for infusions . The diuretic and antiseptic power can be used for homeopathic purposes
- Its leaves and bark are also used for tanning leather, as they are rich in tannins.
- strawberry tree branch for ornamental purposes
- The wood from this bush, in addition to being good quality firewood, is also used to make charcoal.
- cocktails with medronho brandy
The Strawberry Tree with Christmas decoration
Between November and December, this strawberry tree has colors that remind us of a Christmas tree: green, yellow, orange, red fruits and white and pink flowers.
Strawberry trees grow favorably and spontaneously in poor, schist soils , especially in the regions of Alentejo, Algarve and the interior of the Central and Northern Regions of Portugal.
The strawberry tree normally grows like a shrub up to a height of approximately 5 meters with erect branches that sprout from the trunk 0.50 meters above the ground and are also quite spaced apart.
The strawberry tree's crown is rounded with persistent, elliptical leaves that take on a dark green color similar to that of the cork oak, and also have a waxy shine on the upper surface.
The flowers of this strawberry tree are white or slightly pink in color and are very decorative . If you want to know more about the exploitation of the tree , contact us !
Looking at the future of strawberry trees and the medronho,
The best agricultural and forestry practices are now also being used in the exploitation of this species.
Knowledge of other fruit trees reached Medronheiro, allowing for a higher quality final product for the consumer.
Some practices such as : the arrangement of strawberry trees in orchards, the choice and selection of trees with the best fruits, watering, pruning operations, pruning, among others, allow a higher quality product to consumers.
How to plant or sow the strawberry tree?
The most common practice is to plant the strawberry tree in the ground when it is about 15 to 30 cm tall and has a developed root system . Techniques such as sowing the seeds directly into the soil or propagation by cuttings have a very low success rate.
In the lower Alentejo, under dry conditions, the common practice is to plant at the end of winter .
The time of year to plant the strawberry tree will depend on several factors such as the climate of the area, soil quality and access to water for irrigating the strawberry trees.
Highly recommended for areas with high exposure to frost, the placement of micro-perforated protective tubes. If you want to know more about planting, contact us .
How should the land be prepared to plant strawberry trees?
Each location is unique, but some factors are critical for good site preparation such as:
- Soil analysis (measuring the richness of the soil in terms of macro and micronutrients, organic matter and pH levels are the minimum that should be assessed). Based on these, it will be possible to assess whether there is a need for any treatment or correction of the soil necessary for the correct development of the plant after planting.
- Land mechanization , with a view to developing the strawberry tree, you should take some actions such as:
- Deforestation (cleaning, removing existing vegetation, reducing competition with plants and increasing their exposure to sunlight) with incorporation of plant matter into the land.
- soil corrections such as organic matter, pH correction or others necessary taking into account soil analysis.
- Ripping the soil , ripping allows, when the ripper is used on dry soil, to fracture the compacted horizons, thus increasing the volume of available soil. This operation is extremely important, as it will facilitate the penetration of roots into the soil, while also facilitating drainage and water infiltration.
The operations can be more or less complex depending on the location and its condition . If you want to know more about preparing land for the installation of strawberry trees , contact us.
What are micro protective tubes for in planting?
Micro-protective tubes, despite being yet another investment in planting, have numerous benefits, including:
- Ensures efficient and correct growth of the aerial and root parts.
- It retains moisture directly to the root zone. It produces a microclimate that is favorable to the survival and growth of the plant. It protects from direct sunlight.
- Protects the plant from rodents and larger animals, strong winds and frost.
- Reusable and/or Recyclable
An investment to consider not only for the reduction in mortality rates but also for bringing forward the plant's entry into production.
Note : buy tubes suitable for strawberry trees (micro-perforated, with a border at the top, 40 to 50 cm)
How long does it take for the strawberry tree to bear fruit?
The search for profitability with the Medronho fruit makes this one of the most recurring questions. How long until it bears fruit?. Strawberry trees grown in dryland conditions in the lower Alentejo come into production between 3 and 5 years , with the most common period being the 4th year.
This time can be reduced depending on some factors such as: choice of plants, land preparation, quality of the plantation, irrigation systems, among others.
What is the difference between cloned strawberry trees and those of seminal origin?
Cloned strawberry trees are a replica of the tree from which they originated, thus having characteristics exactly the same as the original.
Strawberry trees of seminal origin are collected from the seed of a fruit taken from the mother tree, but they do not guarantee that they are the same as that tree (as they are influenced by the mother tree and the father tree).
Cloned strawberry trees are obtained through micropropagation or cuttings techniques, and their value is 4 to 10 times higher than that of a strawberry tree of seed origin.
There are several topics to address when selecting plants and their origin. To find out more, do not hesitate to ask for more information.
Should I choose colonized or seminal arbutus trees?
At the end of the day, it should always be a choice based on the objectives you have for the plants or orchard. If you want to maximize fruit production, colonized strawberry trees are undoubtedly the choice (a higher investment).
However, you should bear in mind:
- What is the origin of the clones?
- ensure genetic diversity in your orchard, to reduce exposure to potential pests and diseases
- There are good orchards of seed origin with much lower investments (correct choice of nurseries)
Where should I buy strawberry trees? Associated with your choice of the origin of the plant is where to buy it. Given the variety of supply available, take into account several factors other than price, especially:
- ICNF certified nurseries
- origin of the seed or clone. Have a phytosanitary passport - DGAV
- ask for references and visit orchards that your potential supplier has used
To find out more about productivity and tests carried out with several plants , contact us.
How many strawberry trees should I put per hectare?
Strawberry tree orchards should have between 400 and 1000 plants per ha .
The three main factors in defining the number of strawberry trees to plant per ha are:
- definition of what purpose we want from plants (branches, fruit, forest and association with other species)
- slope and inclination of the land where the orchard is installed
- How the orchard will be managed in terms of pruning and formation of strawberry trees
When and how should I prune strawberry trees?
Strawberry trees should always be pruned during their dormant period .
In most cases, the strawberry tree grows as a bush, without any intervention that would allow the renewal of new branches. Most pruning interventions are aimed at reducing the size of the bush and making harvesting easier .
Training and training pruning are critical for those seeking to increase the fruit production of their trees. When “choosing” the shape of the tree, you can opt for “vase” training, “covered central axis” training or others.
Pruning, debranching or rolling, more aggressive interventions, may be necessary in large trees, trees in areas burned by fire or other conditions.
How do you prune strawberry trees? The basic principles of pruning are in line with the pruning of other fruit trees and are widely tested and disseminated knowledge. The main question to answer is what shape you want to give your trees and how you want them to be trained.
Contact us to learn more about pruning strawberry trees.
What characteristics determine strawberry tree pruning?
The general pruning principles are common to several fruit trees, but the Medronho has some specific characteristics such as:
- Evergreen shrub or small tree. In good conditions for development it can reach several meters in height.
- Without great apical dominance
- Older wood has dormant buds that, after stress (intense pruning or destruction of part of the burned part by fire), sprout and produce new shoots.
- Great capacity to regenerate from the rootstock. The thicker roots have reserves and dormant buds
- The flower clusters originate from ready terminal buds (they are formed in the same year in which they develop) that is, they always bear fruit on new branches.
- From flowering to harvesting, 10 to 12 months pass; the harvest season usually coincides with the flowering season that will produce fruit the following year.
- Maturation and flowering normally occur between October and December; there are also plants that, under certain conditions, have ripe fruit in August.
Should I water strawberry trees? Can I do fertigation?
The strawberry tree, like any tree, likes to have the optimum water conditions for its development.
In most of the country (Portugal) the orchards installed do not have irrigation systems for 2 reasons:
- high investments in irrigation system
- difficulty in accessing water
In mainland Portugal, the strawberry tree benefits from irrigation as the hot months of May-August are too aggressive and cause water stress for the plants, compromising the development of the plant and the fruits.
The irrigation plan must assess the age of the plant, the phenological cycle, and the humidity and rainfall conditions of the location.
Fertilization via irrigation will be important if the plant has any nutritional needs, pest control or other needs. Note that this should also take into account the phenological cycle and soil analysis.
How much water do strawberry trees need?
A very common question and a simplistic attempt to find out more is "how many liters of water do I put in the strawberry trees?" The answer is simple but not linear, it depends on each case and requires the analysis of 5 factors:
- the soil and climate conditions
- the phenological state
- the age and leaf and root development of strawberry trees
- The strawberry tree can withstand water stress, so it is necessary to understand the objectives of watering (plant survival, type of fruit)
- irrigation system installed
When do strawberry trees bloom?
Floral induction and differentiation occurs between June and September.
From October to January, its small white flowers bloom in hanging clusters, at the same time the ripe fruits from the previous year's flowers are ready to be picked.
At this time of year, the strawberry tree is one of the most striking species in our forests due to the number of colours it comes in (white, pink, green, yellow, orange and red).
What are the most common disease pests in strawberry trees?
Strawberry trees are a rustic species that have only recently begun to be planted in orchards, always with great genetic variety.
As such, there are not yet many pests and diseases in this crop.
The most common are: Aphids (such as the green louse and the black louse), strawberry tree butterfly or "strawberry tree caterpillar" and strawberry tree moth, there are several fungi, such as the one that causes the so-called black spot.
When does the arbutus harvest begin?
The harvest season for the medronho fruit begins in October and can last until January. Between November and 15 December is usually, in the lower Alentejo, the time when 90% of quality Medronho is harvested.
This is a manual process of extreme importance for the quality of the famous Aguardente de Medronho . Only ripe fruits should be chosen, they cannot be “pecked” by birds or fermenting. Leaves and peduncles cannot be collected. All these factors contribute to the chemical and sensorial quality of Aguardente de Medronho.
How much does 1 kg of medronho cost?
Medronho for fresh consumption costs €6 to €12/kg . The market for fresh medronho fruit has little presence in the national market.
The Medronho harvested to produce Medronho brandy costs between €1.5 and €3/kg , depending on the origin of the product and the quality of the harvest.
If you want to buy or sell medronho , contact us
Is strawberry tree cultivation profitable?
Many farmers and foresters wonder about the financial sustainability of their orchards. Questions such as "Does the strawberry tree make money?" or "How much can I earn per hectare?" are common. The answer is not universal, as it depends on several factors. However, there are critical points that influence profitability and that deserve attention.
Profitability depends on several factors:
- Choice of variety and planting density.
- Irrigation system, soil quality and marketing model.
- Financing is crucial : Support programs and community funds can make investment more viable.
- With adequate planning and good management , the strawberry tree can be a productive crop with a growing market.
How to obtain subsidies to plant strawberry trees?
Access to EU funds and national support can be crucial to the viability of the project, but requires a well-structured process.
- There is community and national support for agriculture, but the process can be bureaucratic.
- Common requirements:
- Minimum area required.
- Initial investment and maintenance commitments.
- Solid technical and financial project to make the application viable.
- Process: feasibility analysis → application → evaluation → project execution.
- Having an experienced partner increases the chances of success in financing approval.
Is it possible to set up a strawberry tree orchard without major investments?
The question is very simple and common among farmers. Many farmers seek to reduce initial costs without compromising productivity... is it possible?
- Yes, but it requires efficient management of costs and available support .
- Strategies to reduce costs:
- Choosing the most suitable terrain.
- Optimization of planting density.
- Phased implementation of the project.
- The balance between initial investment and expected return is fundamental.
- Leveraging community funds can minimize costs and accelerate profitability.