イチゴ用の LED 成長ライト: 成長する前に知っておくべきこと

Strawberries are no longer just a seasonal fruit—thanks to modern cultivation techniques, they can now be grown year-round in greenhouses and indoor farms. One of the key technologies making this possible is the use of LED grow lights. By providing the right spectrum and intensity of light, growers can improve flowering, increase yields, and enhance fruit quality even in low-light seasons. But lighting alone isn’t enough. Successful strawberry cultivation also depends on careful control of temperature, humidity, nutrients, and pollination. For commercial growers, understanding how to balance these factors is essential to producing high-quality fruit consistently.

Why Use LED Grow Lights for Strawberry Cultivation?

1. Mitigating natural-light gaps with precise supplemental lighting

In winter-grey Northern Europe or the high latitudes of Canada, short days and cloud cover can throttle photosynthesis. LED grow lights for strawberries give producers a reliable source of supplemental lighting, maintaining a controlled photoperiod and consistent daily light integral. By fine-tuning intensity hour-by-hour, plants stay on schedule instead of stalling under overcast skies or freezing temperatures.

2. Targeted strawberry light spectrum for faster, more efficient growth

High-PPFD LED fixtures let growers deliver a custom strawberry light spectrum rich in blue (430-460 nm) and red (640-660 nm) photons, plus adjustable far-red. These wavelengths maximise chlorophyll absorption and push plants through the vegetative phase faster, shortening the overall growth cycle and triggering earlier, more uniform flowering.

3. Premium strawberry quality with fewer pests

Balanced, cool-running LEDs enable tight humidity control, which curbs Botrytis and powdery mildew pressure—meaning fewer chemical sprays. At the same time, the tuned spectrum raises soluble-solid content, deepens red pigmentation, and intensifies aroma, giving fruit the colour, sweetness, and enhanced flavour that win shelf space and consumer loyalty.

4. Higher yield and stronger ROI for commercial strawberry production

Strawberries are a high-value, quick-turn crop, so gains in output translate directly into profit. Energy-efficient LEDs (PPE ≥ 2.8 µmol/J) cut electricity costs, while their spectrum uniformity boosts fruit weight and count per plant. Commercial strawberry production trials regularly show 15–30 % higher yield and a faster payback, delivering a compelling ROI of LED lighting for professional growers.

What Spectrum Do Strawberries Need for Optimal Growth?

Strawberries, like most fruiting crops, respond strongly to specific wavelengths of light. Each part of the light spectrum plays a unique role in plant development, from early vegetative growth to flowering and fruit ripening.

Blue Light (430–460 nm)

Blue light supports vegetative growth, helping to build compact plants with strong roots and healthy leaves. It also regulates stomatal opening, improving water efficiency and nutrient uptake.

Red Light (640–660 nm)

Red light is essential during flowering and fruiting. It promotes blossom development, increases fruit size, and accelerates ripening. A strong red component is critical for high-yield strawberry production.

Far-Red Light (710–730 nm)

Far-red light affects flowering timing and can influence plant stretching. In controlled amounts, it can help synchronize flower formation and improve fruit uniformity.

Green Light (500–570 nm)

Though less absorbed, green light penetrates deeper into the canopy and supports lower leaves, contributing to overall photosynthesis and plant balance.

Recommended Spectrum Ratio for General Strawberry Cultivation:

A balanced full spectrum LED grow light for strawberries typically includes:

Blue: 15–20%

Red: 60–70%

Far-Red: 5–10%

Green/White: 10–15% (to improve visibility and full-canopy coverage)

This combination ensures strong vegetative growth, efficient flowering, and improved fruit quality.

Custom Spectrum Recommendations by Strawberry Type:

Day-neutral strawberries (e.g. Albion, Seascape):

Favor a higher red-to-blue ratio (~4:1) with added far-red to encourage continuous flowering and fast cycling.

Short-day varieties (e.g. Chandler, Camarosa):

Benefit from moderate red light with enhanced blue (ratio ~3:1) to strengthen vegetative growth before the flowering stage.

Ever-bearing varieties in vertical farms:

May require higher blue content (~25%) to keep plants compact in space-limited systems, while maintaining strong red for fruiting.

By adjusting the light spectrum according to the strawberry type and growing system, growers can optimize yield, shorten growth cycles, and enhance fruit quality under LED cultivation.

Key Features to Look for in LED Grow Lights for Strawberry Cultivation

Choosing the right LED grow lights is critical for achieving consistent, high-quality strawberry yields in commercial operations. Here are five essential features professional growers should consider:

1. High Efficiency (PPE ≥ 2.8 μmol/J)

Photosynthetic Photon Efficacy (PPE) measures how effectively a grow light converts electrical energy into usable photons for plant growth. For strawberries, which are light-hungry during both vegetative and fruiting stages, a PPE of 2.8 μmol/J or higher ensures lower energy costs while maintaining strong growth. High-efficiency LED grow lights reduce operational expenses and improve ROI over time, especially in large-scale strawberry farming projects.

2. Uniform PPFD and Light Distribution

Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) determines how much light reaches the plant canopy. For even fruit development, PPFD should be consistent across the growing area, with minimal hot spots or drop-offs. Uneven lighting leads to irregular flowering and variable fruit quality. A well-designed LED system with uniform light distribution ensures every strawberry plant receives optimal light exposure, boosting overall productivity.

3. Suitable Power Output Based on Installation Height

Strawberry growers often use multi-layered or greenhouse systems. The power of the LED grow light (measured in watts) must match the installation height and plant spacing. For example, a 200W–400W fixture may be ideal for vertical racks at 30–60 cm, while 600W–800W may suit high-bay greenhouse setups. Underpowered lights won’t deliver the required PPFD, while overpowered ones can waste energy or cause leaf stress.

4. Dimmable and Spectrum-Tunable Features

Dimming functions allow growers to adjust light intensity during different growth stages—low for early vegetative growth, high during flowering and fruiting. More advanced systems offer spectrum tunability, enabling targeted wavelength adjustments (e.g., boosting red during fruiting) for maximum strawberry yield and quality. These flexible lighting systems adapt to different strawberry varieties and growth environments, making them ideal for precision agriculture.

5. Daisy Chain Compatibility for Centralized Control

In commercial strawberry production, managing hundreds of lights individually is inefficient. LED grow lights that support daisy chaining—linking multiple units into a single control system—enable synchronized dimming, scheduling, and spectral tuning. Centralized control improves energy efficiency, reduces labor, and ensures uniform crop development across all growing zones.

By selecting LED grow lights with high PPE, uniform PPFD, adjustable output, and intelligent control capabilities, strawberry growers can optimize their cultivation environment for both yield and quality—key to staying competitive in today’s precision horticulture landscape.

Beyond Lighting: Other Key Factors for Successful Strawberry Cultivation Indoors

While LED grow lights play a crucial role in modern strawberry farming, lighting alone cannot guarantee high yields or premium fruit quality. For consistent success in greenhouse and indoor environments, growers must also manage several other environmental and cultivation factors. Here are the key considerations:

1. Temperature and Humidity Control

Strawberries thrive in temperatures between 18–24°C (64–75°F) during the day and slightly cooler at night. If the temperature gets too high, plants may stop flowering or produce malformed fruit. At the same time, maintaining relative humidity between 60–70% helps reduce the risk of diseases like Botrytis (gray mold). LED grow lights produce minimal radiant heat, which makes it easier to regulate the climate accurately without stressing the plants.

2. Pollination Management

Unlike leafy greens, strawberries require pollination to form well-shaped, marketable fruit. In greenhouses, this often involves the use of bumblebees or manual pollination tools. Proper airflow and a slight vibration of the flowers are also helpful. LED lighting ensures consistent flowering, which in turn allows for more predictable pollination cycles.

3. Nutrient Delivery and Substrate Choice

Strawberries are sensitive to both nutrient imbalances and root-zone conditions. Many growers choose soilless substrates like coco coir, rockwool, or hydroponic systems to provide stable root environments. Precise nutrient dosing, especially with calcium, potassium, and magnesium, is essential for fruit firmness, flavor, and shelf life. Automated fertigation systems are often used in commercial setups.

4. Air Circulation and CO₂ Levels

Good air movement prevents moisture buildup around leaves and flowers, which reduces disease risk. In closed environments, active ventilation systems and horizontal airflow fans help maintain even temperature and humidity. Additionally, maintaining CO₂ levels around 800–1000 ppm can enhance photosynthesis and boost fruit yields when combined with high PPFD LED lighting.

5. Plant Density and Support Systems

Overcrowding can lead to poor airflow, light blockage, and uneven fruiting. A well-planned layout—whether in vertical racks or horizontal rows—ensures each plant receives enough light and space. For fruit-bearing varieties, using support wires or trellises helps keep strawberries elevated and reduces bruising or rot from ground contact.

By combining professional LED grow lights with precise environmental control, nutrient management, and pollination strategies, growers can create an ideal indoor setting for strawberries. This integrated approach is key to achieving consistent, high-quality harvests year-round.

Global Strawberry Cultivation Market Overview

Strawberries are one of the most widely consumed berries in the world, with growing demand driven by their flavor, health benefits, and versatility in fresh and processed foods. As global consumption increases, so does the need for more efficient, year-round cultivation methods—including greenhouse and indoor farming supported by LED grow lights.

1. Major Strawberry-Producing Regions

Countries like China, the United States, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey dominate global strawberry production. China leads in total volume, while the U.S. and Mexico are major exporters to North America. In Europe, Spain is a top producer and supplier, especially during the winter season. These regions are now adopting controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) technologies to increase production efficiency and meet off-season demand.

2. Rising Demand for Year-Round Supply

As consumers expect strawberries to be available throughout the year, especially in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, producers are turning to greenhouses, vertical farms, and LED grow light systems to stabilize production. LED lighting enables consistent yields even in low-light climates or winter months, which helps reduce reliance on imported fruit and shortens supply chains.

3. Shift Toward Indoor and Urban Farming

In urban centers and areas with limited arable land, indoor strawberry farming using hydroponic or aeroponic systems is gaining traction. Countries like Japan, the Netherlands, and the UAE are investing in high-tech indoor farms where strawberries are grown under full-spectrum LED lighting. This trend is expected to grow in response to climate change, water shortages, and the need for local food production.

4. Economic Opportunities for Growers and Distributors

Strawberries are a high-margin crop, especially when sold fresh or as premium organic fruit. By adopting advanced LED lighting and environmental control systems, growers can improve both yield and fruit quality, increasing profitability. Distributors and wholesalers benefit from stable, off-season supply and better shelf life. This makes commercial strawberry farming with LED grow lights a strong business opportunity in both developed and emerging markets.

5. Market Forecast and Technology Adoption

According to industry reports, the global strawberry market is expected to grow steadily over the next five years, with an increasing share of production moving to controlled environments. LED grow light technology is a key enabler of this transition, offering energy-efficient, scalable solutions tailored to berry crops. Manufacturers and suppliers who support customization and technical guidance are well-positioned to serve this expanding segment.

With strong market demand, favorable economics, and rapidly advancing technology, strawberry cultivation under LED grow lights is set to become a global standard for modern fruit production.

Case Study: How LED Grow Lights Improve Strawberry Yields and Quality

As more growers adopt LED grow lights for strawberry cultivation, real-world results are demonstrating the value of optimized lighting systems in improving yield, fruit quality, and overall operational efficiency. Here are key outcomes observed from commercial strawberry projects using high-performance LED grow lights:

1. Increased Yield and Faster Crop Cycles

In controlled environment trials, switching from traditional HPS lighting to full-spectrum LED grow lights with high PPE (≥2.8 μmol/J) has led to yield increases of 15–30%. With targeted red and blue light, plants flower earlier and more uniformly, reducing the overall crop cycle by 7–10 days. For growers with multiple planting cycles per year, this can significantly raise annual output.

2. Improved Fruit Quality

LED lighting enables precise control over light spectrum and intensity, which directly affects the Brix level (sugar content), fruit firmness, and color. In one greenhouse project in Northern Europe, strawberries grown under tunable spectrum LEDs showed richer red coloration and stronger aroma, making them more attractive to high-end retailers. Fruit size also became more uniform, improving marketability.

3. Reduced Disease Incidence

Cool-operating LED grow lights reduce excess heat and allow for better humidity management. This helps to limit the spread of common fungal diseases such as Botrytis cinerea, especially in high-density systems. Some growers reported a 30–40% reduction in crop losses compared to previous setups using traditional lighting.

4. Operational Efficiency and Flexibility

Growers using dimmable and daisy-chainable LED grow lights benefit from centralized control, easier scheduling, and lower labor requirements. One vertical farming operation in Japan used spectrum-tunable fixtures to customize light recipes for different strawberry varieties across growth stages—all managed from a single controller. This flexibility improved both crop performance and operational efficiency.

5. Real-World Example from a Commercial Grower

A U.S.-based indoor farm cultivating day-neutral strawberries (e.g., Albion) switched to LED grow lights provided by Signlite. By optimizing the red-blue-far-red spectrum and using dimmable features during different growth stages, the farm achieved:

28% yield increase per m²

2-week reduction in average cycle time

95%+ marketable fruit rate

Energy savings of over 30% compared to HPS

These results highlight how LED grow lights, when properly selected and integrated into a controlled cultivation system, can transform the economics and quality of strawberry production—especially for growers targeting premium or off-season markets.

Where to Buy Professional Strawberry Grow Lights in Bulk

Choosing the right grow light supplier is just as important as choosing the right spectrum. For commercial strawberry cultivation, it’s essential to work with a manufacturer who understands both horticultural lighting requirements and project-specific needs. At サインライト（キングロウライツ）, we specialize in high-efficiency LED grow lights designed for fruiting crops like strawberries. With over 15 years of experience, in-house R&D, and a track record of global projects, we offer customizable solutions—whether you need standard full-spectrum lights or tunable systems for advanced indoor farms.

Looking to scale your strawberry production with reliable lighting?

Contact our team today for bulk pricing, technical consultation, or to request samples for testing.