Can You Grow Strawberries in the Office? Here's How!

It's well-known that strawberries can thrive indoors, with commercial growers often cultivating them in vertical farms to ensure year-round production. But what about growing strawberries in other indoor environments, like an office? Surprisingly, the answer is yes!

Some innovative companies are now introducing systems that allow employees to grow and harvest fresh strawberries right in their office spaces. One notable example is the Japanese company Nippan. They have implemented a city farming system within their open office areas, enabling employees to enjoy fresh, juicy strawberries all year round.

So, how can strawberries be grown in an office setting? Let’s learn more details.

Why grow strawberries in the office?

Unlike commercial strawberry cultivation, where production and yields are primary concerns, growing strawberries in an office setting focuses on other benefits. Office cultivation, a part of urban horticulture, presents a unique opportunity to educate people about food production, the challenges of agriculture, and the environmental impact of food waste.

Many city dwellers are aware of issues like diminishing arable land and the need for sustainable practices, but these concepts often feel distant. Urban living provides easy access to a wide variety of foods, making it hard for some to grasp the difficulties involved in growing crops. By bringing cultivation into the office, employees gain firsthand experience with these challenges, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for sustainable food practices.

In addition to its educational value, office strawberry cultivation offers a relaxing activity that enhances the work environment. Caring for plants can be a therapeutic break from work, helping employees unwind and enjoy their surroundings. Moreover, because the strawberries are grown in open office areas, all employees share responsibility for the plants. This collective care can foster a sense of community and strengthen team bonds.

But why strawberries? Their suitability stems from their physical characteristics. Strawberries have a compact growth habit, making them ideal for vertical farming setups. They require minimal space and care while still yielding a significant amount of fruit. This combination of low maintenance and high productivity makes strawberries a perfect fit for office environments.

How to grow strawberries in the office

Growing strawberries in the office is similar to in an urban plant factory but on a much smaller scale. A city farming system is needed. Strawberries are grown in soil or substrate under CEA with the use of supplemental lighting in the farming system. Vertical farming is the common method for indoor cultivation to save space and grow more plants.

Here are some important factors for growing strawberries successfully.

Choosing the right strawberry varieties for your office

Picking the best strawberry varieties for your office is key to enjoying fresh, tasty berries. There are three main types of strawberries to know about: June-bearing, Everbearing, and Day-neutral.

June-bearing Strawberries

These strawberries need long days (about 14 hours of daylight) to start growing flowers. They bloom in the spring and give one big harvest in early summer. As the days get longer, these plants get ready to produce fruit.

Everbearing Strawberries

Everbearing strawberries aren’t as picky about daylight. They can grow flowers and fruit during the longer days of spring and early summer, as well as the shorter days of late summer and fall. They usually give two or three smaller harvests throughout the growing season.

Day-neutral Strawberries

Day-neutral strawberries don’t care how long the days are. They can grow fruit as long as the temperature is between 35°F and 85°F. This means they can produce fruit all through the growing season, from spring to fall, as long as it’s not too hot or too cold.

There are many different types of strawberries within these categories. If you're growing strawberries in your office, you don’t have to worry about picking varieties that are good for shipping or resisting disease. Instead, focus on finding strawberries that taste great. Albion, Seascape, and Eversweet are good choices.

City farming systems for office strawberry cultivation

Urban horticulture is making its way into office spaces to grow strawberries indoors through city farming systems that use vertical farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). By using vertical farming methods, offices can grow plants efficiently in limited spaces, making fresh produce accessible year-round.

Vertical farming involves growing plants in stacked layers or on vertical structures, such as towers. This method is ideal for offices because it maximizes space and allows for high-density planting without taking up too much room. Plants are typically arranged in multiple tiers, which increases the amount of produce that can be grown in a small area.

In Nippan, a city farming system specifically designed for offices features vertical stacks that are 180 centimeters high, 180 centimeters wide, and 70 centimeters deep. These stacks can hold about 60 strawberry seedlings, making them a practical solution for small spaces.

Since indoor environments lack natural sunlight, LED grow lights are essential in office farming systems. These lights provide the necessary light spectrum for photosynthesis, helping strawberries grow healthily. Advanced LED systems can adjust the intensity and spectrum of light, mimicking natural sunlight and improving energy efficiency.

In addition to lighting, office farming systems control other environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. This ensures that strawberries grow in the best possible conditions, leading to better yields and healthier plants. Automated systems often manage these factors, reducing the need for constant manual monitoring.

While both soil and soilless methods can be employed, hydroponics is often the preferred choice in office environments due to its efficiency and cleanliness. Hydroponics, a soilless method of growing plants, is commonly used in office farming systems. In hydroponic systems, plants receive nutrients through a water-based solution, which makes the process more efficient and reduces water usage compared to traditional soil farming. This method also helps maintain a cleaner environment, which is crucial in office settings.

Office strawberry challenges

Growing strawberries in an office setting can be both fascinating and beneficial, offering employees a unique experience and fresh produce. However, several challenges must be addressed to ensure successful cultivation.

One primary challenge is space limitations. Offices are not typically designed for agricultural purposes, and many lack the necessary room for a vertical farming system. Even when space is available, companies must invest in suitable urban farming systems to create an optimal growing environment for strawberry plants. This includes appropriate lighting, temperature control, and adequate ventilation to mimic outdoor conditions.

Another significant challenge is the lack of horticultural knowledge among employees, particularly those who have grown up in urban settings. Cultivating strawberries requires an understanding of plant physiology, the management of plant pathogens, proper propagation techniques, pollination processes, and the environmental conditions necessary for healthy growth. Without this knowledge, maintaining a thriving strawberry crop can be difficult.