Fragrant, tasty and healthy - a favorite of children and adults. How to grow such a wonderful berry in your garden and get good harvest.
Many gardeners encounter difficulties when growing strawberries. This berry can be capricious and requires careful care. In order for strawberries to be large and sweet, it is necessary to carry out timely feeding, watering and processing.
Spring work on caring for strawberries begins as soon as the snow has melted and the ground has dried out a little. If the beds were covered in the fall, then after the end of frost the covers are removed. Next, you need to clean the beds from last year’s debris, and the plants themselves from dried leaves. You should also trim off old tendrils and flower stalks.
If some plants have died, they need to be removed. You can plant a new one in their place, but this must be done as quickly as possible so that the new bushes have time to take root before the onset of hot days.
The beds need to be slightly loosened without damaging the horse system. It is also necessary to update the layer of mulch, if any. Pine needles, sawdust or wood ash are suitable for mulching. This will also help prevent some pests, such as slugs, from appearing in your garden beds.
Cut leaves and dry grass should be removed away, or better yet, burned to get rid of last year's diseases and diseases. It is better to treat the cleared bushes immediately in order to prevent diseases. To do this, you can use Bordeaux mixture or other preparations containing copper. This procedure can be carried out 2 times in the spring.
Spring feeding of strawberries
Fertilizing strawberries in spring plays main role for the future harvest. It will help the plant revive faster after winter and form new buds. But it is worth noting that fertilizing should be timely and in the right amount. If there is an excess of fertilizers, the plant will begin to grow excessively, and the color and fruit will be weak and late.
Fertilizing young bushes
Feeding of young bushes planted last year in the spring can be omitted at all, or done with the following solution: dissolve 0.5 liters of chicken manure or cow manure and 1 tbsp in a bucket of water. a spoonful of sodium sulfate. Water the plants with this mixture - 1 liter for each bush.
Fertilizing adult strawberries
After 2-3 years, the soil in the beds becomes infertile and the plant has nowhere to take nutrients from. Therefore, in order to reap a good harvest, you need to know when and what to feed strawberries. In spring, fertilizing is done 3 times:
- When the first 2-3 leaves appear
- Before color starts
- During fruit formation
The first fertilizer is applied in mid-to-late April, depending on the region. Organic fertilizers are ideal for such feeding: mullein or chicken droppings. They need to be scattered under the roots of the bushes, and a little earth should be placed on top (about 2-3 cm). You can also make a liquid solution. Take a bucket of water and dilute it with 1 liter of manure. Water each bush with the resulting slurry (1 liter per bush).
An excellent remedy for this is regular yeast. They include large number useful substances: amino acids, proteins, minerals. Fertilizing with yeast will ensure good growth and strengthening of the root system. It is necessary to dilute 200 g of live baker's yeast in 0.5 l warm water, let them stand for 20 minutes. Then pour the mixture into a container with 9 liters of water. Water each bush generously with this solution.
The second feeding should be carried out during the strawberry blossom period. For this it is better to take mineral fertilizers. They have a positive effect on the taste and size of the berries. The strawberries will be large, beautiful and sweet.
For feeding you need to prepare a solution: 2 tbsp. spoons of nitrophosphate, 1 tbsp. spoon of potassium and 10 liters of water. Each bush should be watered under the root system with this solution. 0.5 liters of mixture per plant is enough.
Nowadays there is a huge selection of mineral fertilizers that can be purchased in specialized stores. But they must be used strictly according to the instructions indicated on the packaging. Wrong dosage will harm the plant.
A good remedy for the third feeding would be an infusion of weeds. After weeding, you need to collect the weeds, chop them and fill them with water. Let it sit for about a week in a warm room, and then pour over the strawberries. This feeding is absolutely harmless for both plants and people. But it will help increase the number of fruits and have a positive effect on taste qualities. Fertilizing weeds will protect plants from some harmful insects. An excellent supplement is nettle infusion.
We would like to note that for proper feeding To grow garden strawberries, you need to know exactly how old the bushes are and where they grow. It is best if they are located on different beds, this will simplify care. Thus, young plants need not be fed only when a sufficient amount of useful substances is provided during planting. In the second and fourth years of strawberry life, you can take both organic and mineral mixtures, but three-year-old bushes will prefer mineral fertilizers.
During the first application of fertilizers in the season, we recommend using mixtures with a high nitrogen content so that the bushes can gain green mass. You can trim at the same time. Then this will reduce the number stressful situations for your strawberry. Instead of manure, you can take nitroammophoska.
You can also use ash. It is beneficial for plants primarily due to its significant content of potassium and phosphorus, accelerates the decomposition of organic matter, and also helps in the fight against fungal diseases and root rotting. You can put a small pile under each bush. In addition, during planting of young annual plants It is recommended to mix a little ash into the soil.
One of essential elements fertilizing during flowering is potassium. Its deficiency may be indicated by browning of the leaves. This is a symptom of a serious problem that can lead to crop loss. To compensate for the lack of nutrients, we recommend using potassium nitrate. Usually it is diluted at the rate of one teaspoon per bucket of liquid. You need to pour about half a liter under each bush.
Foliar feeding of strawberries
When feeding in spring, not only the root system is often fertilized, but also the bush itself.
Strawberries are sprayed with nitrogen-containing solutions or organic matter. Feeding promotes good growth and enlargement of the ovary. When sprayed, beneficial substances are absorbed immediately into the foliage. The procedure must be carried out in dry and windless weather, in the evening.
There are two types of mineral fertilizer compositions: highly mobile and low mobile. The first, which include phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and nitrogen, are characterized by rapid absorption. They instantly get into the roots, buds and foliage. The second ones are iron, boron, copper and manganese, which act more slowly.
Therefore, it is important to spray the plant with special care so that the nutrients get to the right place.
Which fertilizers to choose – mineral or organic?
Many gardeners have a question: what is better to feed strawberries in the spring - organic matter or minerals?
The mixtures are quite effective and give good results. But they must be used correctly and with extreme caution. You should follow the instructions and avoid overdose. This can have a detrimental effect not only on the harvest, but also on human health. You should not add minerals later than 12-14 days before the first fruits ripen.
Fertilizing with organic matter will not provide much large berries. But it is safe for human body. In addition, manure and chicken droppings can be added in any quantity. Plants will take from them as many useful substances as they need, no more.
It is very good to saturate the soil with wood ash. It can be used to nourish the roots, and also carry out foliar feeding. To do this, use an extract from ash.
Caring for strawberries after harvest
The fruiting period of strawberries is quite short. Already in mid-July, the plants stop bearing fruit.
And it is from the end of July to September that the foundation for the harvest is laid next year. Therefore, during this period, strawberries also require proper care:
July and August are the time when plants begin to form new leaves, old leaves that have fulfilled their function die off, and intensive growth of runners begins. It is necessary to carefully cut off the old foliage, leaving only the young and hearts. The mustache should also be trimmed.
Once put in order, the soil needs to be fed. Good to take advantage of organic fertilizers– cow or horse manure. This will improve the soil structure and help the plants survive the winter.
It is very important to remember about strawberries after the harvest is over. The soil must be protected from drying out. You need to water abundantly, but not too often.
Regularly rid plants of tendrils so that the bushes do not spend all their energy on forming new rosettes. Trimming the mustache promotes the formation of new buds.
While watching the video, you will learn how to care for strawberries in the spring.
If by autumn the bushes have healthy, overgrown leaves, this will ensure a good wintering and high yield for next year.
Strawberries are one of the most beloved and always desired berries on our tables. When breeding it, you need to take into account some subtleties seasonal care behind the plant, then the safety of the bushes and productivity are guaranteed.
Did you know? Strawberry - healthy treat. Contains vitamins C, E, P, salicylic, oxalic, folic acid, carotene, potassium, calcium, fluorine, iron, silicon, copper, magnesium, zinc, iodine, chromium. All these vitamins and micro-, macroelements are involved in metabolic processes in the body, are responsible for the formation of immunity and the health of the nervous system.
This article will tell you about the agricultural technology of strawberries and the features of caring for them in the spring, based on the advice of experienced gardeners.
How to care for strawberries in spring
Winter is over, the snow has melted, strawberries have appeared in the beds, caring for them in the spring, although simple, is necessary so that the bushes begin to grow after hibernation. Let's take a closer look at how to care for strawberries in the spring in order to reap a good harvest in the summer.
Cleaning strawberries from debris
Before processing and feeding strawberries in the spring, you need to clear them of debris, thin them, trim them, and, if necessary, replant them. 
Clean strawberries from last year's leaves, if you did not do this in the fall, or from those that froze in winter. You need to collect the old mulch, tear off or cut off all the withered tendrils, shoots, peduncles and leaves - remove everything, leaving only a bush with a few green leaves. If there are basal leaves (which spread along the ground), they are also removed. The collected rubbish is thrown away or burned.
Important! Always start caring for strawberries after winter by clearing them. The more carefully you remove all dead parts from the bush, the better and more friendly the growth and fruiting will be in the end. In addition, by removing garbage from the garden bed, you destroy the pests that remained in it over the winter, thereby preventing plant diseases.
Thinning, pruning, replanting
If the foliage is thick, it is thinned out, a few leaves are cut off - this is in order to ensure maximum sunlight the remaining ones. The basal leaves are also removed. It is also necessary to remove rosettes that began to develop in winter. Pruning is done with pruning shears, or with ordinary sharp scissors. From the 3-4th year of growth, with active growth, the strawberry yield decreases, so it needs to be replanted - take young shoots from the mother bushes and plant them in another place. The transplantation takes place around the beginning - mid-May. Seedlings from mother bushes should have healthy, strong stems and leaves, and developed roots. They are carefully disconnected from mother bush, remove the tendrils, shorten the too long root shoots and plant them in a new place. Before planting, it is advisable to treat the roots with a growth preparation (Kornevin, etc.).
The area for seedlings is prepared in 1-1.5 months. – add organic matter or mineral fertilizers, dig deep, level, sprinkle with wood shavings, sawdust, cover with film or agrospan. The day for planting is not hot, cloudy, or windless. Optimal distance between bushes - 25-35 cm, between rows - 45-65 cm. The soil is well moistened and the seedling is planted at ¼ height so that the “heart” remains completely above the ground. The planted bushes are watered and mulched.
Important! Only fresh shoots are replanted. They cannot be stored.
Mulching is also caring for strawberries in the spring, until fertilizing is applied. In addition to the fact that mulch retards the growth of weeds and eliminates the need for loosening after watering, it will maintain sufficient soil moisture until the flowering phase and prevent it from overheating. For mulch, use peat, sawdust, straw, and pine needles.
Did you know? It is advisable not to use hay, sunflower husks, buckwheat, or rice - they quickly cake and rot.
You should also add mulch under the bushes when the ovary appears - the litter will protect the berries from dirt and rotting when watering from contact with wet soil.
Spring feeding and watering of strawberries
Caring for strawberries in the spring is also a must for feeding them after winter. At the same time, they monitor proper watering beds.
How often and how much to water strawberries in spring
In dry weather, water up to 4-5 times a week. If it rains periodically, then, of course, less. Strawberries need constant moisture, but not excessive moisture. Moreover, during the growing season (before flowering), the bushes are watered along the foliage, and when flowers appear - at the root or between the rows.
Important! Do not use for watering cold water from a well, well - let the collected water stand or heat it until slightly warm.
Water in the late evening and in the morning (preferably before sunrise). Afterwards they definitely loosen it.
Features of spring feeding of strawberries
Strawberries have their own characteristics of care in the spring: they are fertilized twice during the spring.
When to fertilize strawberries in spring
Strawberries are fertilized after spring clearing and pruning, then during the flowering period. Regarding the question of what fertilizers are needed for strawberries in the spring - these should be fertilizers that give maximum growth and development to the plant.
How to fertilize strawberries in spring Use organic and mineral compounds. Dung, mullein - 30 g/10 l of water, nitroammophoska, potassium or ammonium nitrate - 25-30 g/10 l of water, etc. are suitable.
When deciding what else to feed strawberries in the spring, you can try folk remedies - for example, yeast.
Did you know? Yeast is rich in protein (amino acids), carbohydrates (glycogen, polysaccharides), vitamins, and nitrogen. Contain phosphoric acid, potassium, zinc, iodine, iron, lipids.
There are several ways to feed strawberries with yeast in the spring. Most best option– 500 g of pressed non-dry yeast per 2.5 liters of water. You need to thoroughly dissolve the yeast in this volume, and then add another 5 liters of water to the solution and mix again. You can add 80-100 g of sugar to the resulting mass and let it brew for 1.5-2 hours before watering.
Treatment of strawberries from diseases and pests
Before processing strawberries in the spring, make sure once again that you have cut off all diseased leaves and that all shoots and stems of the plant are healthy. Because the first spring treatment is preventive, and all diseased parts of the plants must be identified and destroyed in order to prevent the disease from spreading to the entire planting.
With the arrival of spring, many summer residents are worried about the condition of their strawberry bushes. These plants, after a long and cold winter necessary special processing, which will allow increasing the berry yield in the future. Many questions arise about dried leaves and topsoil, disease prevention and pest protection, as well as fertilization. Let's try to understand each of them.
Instead of the usual tearing off old foliage, loosening the soil, spraying and fertilizing, you can get by. These activities take up a lot of free time and provide minimal benefits. Try organizing your work like this:
- First of all, collect a layer of mulch on the strawberry beds that did not have time to rot over the winter.
- If necessary, repair or adjust the wooden borders that surround the bed.
- Add fertilizer to the soil (organic or mineral at your discretion).
- Swipe preventive measures on protecting plants from pests and diseases. Use special preparations for spraying.
- Mulch your strawberry beds.
The most important thing in the spring is to clear the strawberry beds of the remaining mulch. It will also come in handy for compost. Such cleaning will allow the soil to warm up faster, and this has great value for the growth and development of strawberry bushes. Warm soil will speed up the onset of green mass and ovary formation.
Fertilizers are necessary for this crop to stimulate growth and development. Each summer resident can choose one of the types of fertilizers, depending on professional preferences - mineral or organic.
You can enter complex fertilizer, consisting of water (large bucket), cow manure (half a liter), ammonium sulfate (1 tablespoon) or water and nitroammophoska (1 tablespoon).
For farmers who have chosen organics, the following recipes are offered:
- Mullein and water in a ratio of 1 to 10.
- Bird droppings and water in a ratio of 1 to 12.
- Herbal infusion based on young nettle.
When applying fertilizer, do not allow it to get on the leaf mass; water only under the bush.
Spraying strawberry plantings must be carried out at an air temperature of at least 18 degrees Celsius and always before flowering begins. Such preventive treatment will prevent harmful insects and protect against many diseases in the future. These would be suitable chemicals, like “Caesar” or “Taurus” or natural-based preparations (for example, “Fitoferm”).
Experienced summer residents recommend using in a non-standard way processing strawberry bushes. For processing you will need hot water, heated to about sixty degrees. Using a watering can with a fine sprinkler, you need to water every bush and, if possible, every leaf. Such a “shower” for strawberry bushes will not only protect against insects, but will also affect the size of the berries in the near future.
Next important stage caring for strawberry bushes is to mulch the soil. Last year's mulch was collected so as not to interfere with the warming of the soil. Now that the beds have warmed up enough, you can spread out a new mulch layer. This reliable and proven protection is applied to the surface of the beds around the end of April - beginning of May.
It is recommended to choose a material for mulch that will not only retain moisture in the soil and fight weeds, but will also become a natural antiseptic. Pine and spruce needles are simply ideal for this purpose. The specific aroma of these plants will help resist any diseases.
If this type of mulch is not available to you, you can use straw. True, it has its pros and cons. Plus, it allows water to pass through perfectly and will prevent the fruit from rotting. The downside is that straw often harbors harmful insects.
As for last year's leaves on strawberry bushes, they will fall off on their own over time - there is no point in picking them. Dried leaves will complement the mulch layer on the strawberry beds.
Features of spring strawberry care (video)
Strawberry ( garden strawberries) is a rather capricious culture. Therefore, it needs to be carefully looked after early spring to late autumn. We will tell you what work needs to be done and when.
They begin to look after the strawberry bed even before the snow has completely melted (usually in March), and work is completed with the onset of frost.
March
When the first warm days arrive and the snow partially melts from the beds, cover the strawberries with plastic film or agrofibre. This will allow you to get early harvest berries
The covering material is placed on arcs so that there is an air gap between it and the plants. Please note: the greater the volume of air under the shelter, the more low temperature will be able to withstand strawberry bushes.
As soon as the snow has completely melted, the bed is cleaned: dried leaves and flower stalks are removed, and the remains of the mustache are cut off using scissors. Young rosettes are planted in the places where the dead bushes grew.
After restoring the beds, they carry out preventative treatment from diseases and pests. Plantings are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture or any chorus-based preparation.
When the ground thaws, the soil in the strawberry bed is loosened. This will help retain the moisture accumulated over the winter. At the same time, the bushes are lightly hilled so that root system grew faster.
April
If you plan to plant strawberries in the spring, do it as early as possible. In April, the weather can be different: sometimes in the middle of spring there is still a dense layer of snow, and sometimes at this time the buds are already in full bloom. Therefore, when setting a suitable time for planting strawberries, they focus more on weather conditions rather than time.
Strawberry seedlings are planted in the spring. It is important that by this time the soil has warmed up to about 10°C
When the strawberries begin to grow, the plantings are mulched with organic matter or a special mulch film. During the period of massive foliage growth, a second preventive treatment against diseases is carried out.
If they appeared in April harmful insects, the bushes are sprayed with chemical insecticides (Aktellik, Teldor, Envidor, Calypso, etc.). Also in lately The complex drug Teovit Jet has proven itself well - a contact fungicide and acaricide.
If garden strawberry bushes have been growing in one place for more than 3 years, they will need additional feeding. At the beginning of the growing season, garden strawberries need nitrogen fertilizers, during the flowering period - in phosphorus, and after fruiting - in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
May
Garden strawberries grown in tunnels are ventilated daily so that the plants do not overheat under the rays of the spring sun. In the morning, one or both ends are opened slightly, and closed at night.
Strawberries grown in open ground, cover with spunbond at night, since return spring frosts (and sometimes even a drop in temperature to 1°C) can destroy the plants.
When strawberries bloom, strawberry weevils may appear on them. The bushes are sprayed with garlic infusion or other folk remedies for pest control.
The weather is often dry in May. For proper plant development and fruit formation, the strawberry bed is watered regularly. In the second half of May (depending on the region and weather), strawberries begin to bear fruit. early varieties. The harvest is harvested in a timely manner, then watering is carried out after collecting ripe berries.
If there is frequent heavy rain at this time, the plants are protected from rot and powdery mildew. They also remove weeds if necessary.
In May, garden strawberries begin to actively produce tendrils, which take a large amount from the plant. nutrients. If you grow strawberries for berries, and not for propagation, then the tendrils should be removed regularly.
By correctly adjusting the number of mustaches on the bushes, you can get planting material, and a good harvest of berries
June
The harvest continues. In the second half of the month they begin to bear fruit and late varieties. To prevent the berries from getting dirty and rotting, black leaves are laid under the bushes. non-woven material or add shavings. This helps protect garden strawberries from gray rot and weeds.
Also in June, strawberry rosettes are rooted in separate cups or cassettes. Such plants will be ready to be transplanted to a new location in 2-3 weeks.
July
After the end of fruiting, all old, diseased and damaged leaves are removed from the bushes. Water the bed well, loosen the soil around the bushes and remove all excess tendrils from them.
In July, strawberry mites can settle on strawberry bushes. Leaves are cut off from damaged plants and burned. Then the entire bed is sprayed with water (about 60°C) or a hot solution of potassium permanganate.
If other insect pests appear on the plants, the strawberry bushes are sprayed with chemical or biological insecticides. You can also resort to folk safe means. In addition, during this period strawberries are often affected by spotting, powdery mildew, gray rot. 1% Bordeaux mixture with the addition of colloidal sulfur (100 g of the drug per 10 liters of water) helps to cope with diseases.
August
At the end of summer, the soil in the strawberry bed is deeply loosened and complex fertilizer is applied: 1 tsp. under each bush. By the end of the month, they finish planting the mustaches, and the bushes are watered regularly.
In the second half of summer - early autumn, you should take care of timely watering of the strawberry bed
September
This month they are forming flower buds, from which berries will appear next year. Therefore, in September it is important not to forget to water the plants.
October
In October they create for plants favorable conditions which will help them survive the winter well. To do this, water the beds, loosen the soil, and remove weeds. Strawberry bushes are covered with peat, humus or compost.
November
When the top layer of soil (to a depth of 5-7 cm) freezes, the beds are mulched. This will prevent plants from being pushed out of the ground. To hold back the snow, brushwood, Jerusalem artichoke leaves, and raspberry or corn stalks are placed on top. In this form, strawberries overwinter.
Thanks to proper and timely work on caring for strawberries, you will be able to grow healthy plant and collect a good harvest of sweet berries. Follow these recommendations - and everything will work out for you!
Among all berry crops, strawberries are different high yield, but at the same time it is quite demanding on growing conditions. To regularly reap a rich harvest, you need to provide strawberry bushes proper care.
This article describes what activities should be carried out in the beds in spring and autumn and what features differ in caring for different varieties strawberries
Strawberries are one of the first garden plants waking up after winter. And in the spring you need to make every effort to get a good harvest.
As soon as the snow has melted and the weather has improved, you need to collect dry leaves, the remains of the mustache, as well as all plant debris.
Dead residues should be removed carefully in a dry sunny weather. Old leaves should be trimmed carefully to avoid damaging young leaves and the core. You should also remove any remaining mulch. Thus, the roots of the plants will warm up better and grow quickly. But do not add a thick layer of soil in the spring; this will slow down the process of plant growth and ripening of berries. If you do not want to remove the autumn litter, then thoroughly loosen the soil to a depth of seven centimeters.
After loosening, the beds are sprinkled with peat chips, straw, sawdust or humus. At the same time, you need to feed the bushes with nitrogen fertilizers.
When green mass appears, a solution of mullein and ammonium sulfate must be added to each bush. In early May, they are fed with complex mineral fertilizers.
To protect against diseases, the plantings should be sprayed with a solution before buds open. copper sulfate. Needs watering warm water once a week in the morning. Before flowering, you can use sprinkling irrigation, and after the flowers appear, only under the bush.
Spring care in open ground
All spring activities in the garden are aimed not only at obtaining a rich harvest, but also at protecting plants from diseases and pests, so special attention should be paid to such work.
Highlights
Spring work in the garden begins with inspecting the bushes and collecting the old layer of mulch or plant debris. But that's not all necessary measures(Figure 1).
The main points for caring for strawberries in spring include:
- Loosening: after the snow has melted, the soil around the bushes has warmed up a little and green leaves have appeared, you need to loosen it, removing the shelter before doing this. This allows the roots to “breathe”, warm up faster and begin to grow. Plants that did not survive the winter, dry and diseased leaves should also be removed and burned.
- Watering: It is recommended to water the crop generously once a week in the morning with warm water. Watering is carried out along furrows made along the rows of plants. Before flowering begins, you can use the sprinkling method.
- Fertilizer application: With the appearance of leaves and before flowering, plants need to be fed. For this you can use ready-made fertilizer or make it yourself from mullein. Water a liter of the diluted mixture onto each bush.
- Pest treatment: After the first loosening, it is recommended to spray the soil against fungus with a solution of copper sulfate. Immediately before flowering, it should be treated for pests. The treated bed must be covered with film for several hours.
- Mulching: Mulch protects the beds from drying out and overheating of the soil, as well as from the appearance of weeds. For these purposes, agrofibre and black film are often used; you can also cover the beds with sawdust, straw, peat chips or humus.
It must be remembered that sawdust and pine needles strongly oxidize the soil, so be sure to scatter ash on top.
Outdoor cultivation technology
Figure 1. Main steps spring care
The seedlings are planted shallowly in the ground, so that the heart is at ground level. After planting, each bush should be well watered so that the connection between the seedling and the soil is better. After some time, the strawberries need to be fed, this will speed up the growing process. For this purpose, complex and nitrogen fertilizers. It is also necessary to mulch the plantings to prevent rotting of the fruits.
Care Tools
For spring care of strawberries you will need: a hoe, a bucket, pruning shears and a sprayer. In addition, you should stock up on mullein, chicken droppings, nitroammophos, potassium nitrate or other mineral fertilizers. It is also necessary to prepare chemicals to kill pests and diseases in advance.
How to care for strawberries in autumn
After fruiting is completed, you need to inspect the bushes. Determine the type of disease or pest and treat the plants.
Note: Unfortunately, there is no one drug to get rid of all diseases and pests at once. Must be used prophylactic agents for the fight. Next, remove dried and diseased leaves, blackened and damaged parts of plants and burn. Then all tendrils and weeds are removed. If you are replanting plants, leave the first two rosettes from the mother bush and dig them in.
Then the bed needs to be loosened. You can feed both in spring and autumn. In this case, you can use organic mixtures and wood ash(Figure 2).
Autumn care also involves frequent watering until the end of the season. Avoid surface irrigation, it will not give any result.
In August or early September you can replant the bushes. Bushes planted at this time will produce their first harvest the following year. To get planting material in July, dig up the resulting tendrils and when they take root, cut them off from the mother bush.
Figure 2. Autumn work in the beds The final stage autumn care is a shelter. Two days after feeding, the bushes are covered with pine needles, straw, and fallen leaves. Such a shelter will protect the bushes from winter frosts and will be a good organic fertilizer.
Growing from seeds at home
This method of growing is not very labor-intensive, but it requires following some rules. It allows us to get exactly the look we want. It is also used to breed new varieties.
When to dive
Basically, strawberries from seeds begin to sprout when 2-4 dense true leaves appear on the plant. The seedlings themselves are strong and stocky. For transplanting seedlings, it is best to use separate pots, but you can also use ordinary disposable cups. The main thing is that the plant has enough space, and in the bottom there must be drainage hole(Figure 3).
Note: If the seedlings were previously grown in greenhouses, be sure to harden the plants before planting.
After picking for about a month and a half, the seedlings will still need to be kept on the windowsill. And as soon as the spring warmth replaces the cold, you can plant in open ground. Seedlings should be planted at a distance of 30-35cm, being careful not to damage the upper buds.
Growing and gardening tricks
After the first leaves appear, you need to provide them with proper care. The main factor is light. Young seedlings need to be provided with long daylight hours. You can use a regular table lamp for this.
It is necessary to constantly monitor humidity. The lid will help you with this at first. If there is condensation on the lid, then everything is fine, but if it collects in drops, the lid should be opened slightly. If there is no condensation, the plants are watered.
Figure 3. Features of picking seedlings For watering, use a medical syringe so as not to flood the tiny plants and damage them. The air temperature in the room where the seedlings are located should not fall below +20 degrees.
Strawberries from seeds, growing and care: video
To fully master the technology of growing this crop from seeds, we recommend that you watch the video, which shows the main stages of this process.
Growing strawberries using Finnish technology
When growing strawberries using this technology, black strawberries are used when planting. plastic film. It is produced in Finland and has high quality. Planted using single-row and double-row methods (Figure 4).
The advantages of mulching with black film when growing using this technology are:
- IN upper layers Nitrate nitrogen accumulates in the soil, which improves the nutritional environment of plants;
- A barrier to the growth of weeds is formed, which simplifies the care of the plantings;
- The activity of microorganisms in the soil increases;
- Moisture is retained longer;
- The soil warms up evenly;
- The berries do not come into contact with the ground, which reduces diseases and also preserves the presentation of the product;
- Thanks to the black film, a special microclimate is created inside. The roots are constantly warm, which allows seedlings to be planted earlier and harvested earlier;
- Plants practically do not get sick and are not damaged by pests.
The essence of the technology is that instead of mulch, a black film is used to cover the bed. Then the seedlings are planted.
Figure 4. Arranging beds using Finnish technology The film is used in black color, because it attracts heat and this creates comfortable conditions. This technique can also be used for growing strawberries in greenhouses.
Finnish growing technology is focused on growing in the northern regions.
The Dutch method of growing strawberries
Growing strawberries Dutch technology is that the seedlings are planted in closed ground. These can be special bags, boxes, pallets, greenhouses (Figure 5). Choose a place for year-round cultivation Strawberries cost based on the volume of harvest you want to receive.
Figure 5. Growing berry crop using Dutch technology This growing method involves “awakening” strawberries to produce a harvest. This can be achieved by creating necessary conditions for plant growth. To do this, they are provided with the necessary nutrients using drip irrigation. In addition, plants need to be provided with additional lighting.
When using this technique, vertical and horizontal placement of bushes is allowed, it all depends on you and free space. To get the harvest all year round It is necessary to constantly plant new bushes.
Growing horizontally in PVC pipes
Today you can see quite a lot in various ways growing strawberries. You can find pyramids from car tires or from garden pots, also vertical plantings (Figure 6).
We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of growing strawberries using the horizontal method in PVC pipes.
This growing method has its advantages and disadvantages. First, let's look at the advantages of this method.
Planting strawberries horizontally in PVC pipes has many advantages:
- Saving planting area: if horizontal beds are positioned correctly, you can harvest twice as much harvest as from a regular bed.
- The mobility of the beds, since they can be moved to another place at any time.
- The soil does not need to be cultivated, since in horizontal beds it is practically absent. Pests, weeds and other misfortunes are not scary for strawberries.
- The berries are always clean, since they are located at a great distance from the surface of the earth.
- Harvesting is very easy, especially if the beds are located 1-2 m above the ground.
Figure 6. Horizontal cultivation in pipes In addition, such an unusual bed will be an excellent decoration for your site. But this method also has certain disadvantages. Firstly, during cultivation you need to constantly water the beds. Secondly, you will have to incur some additional costs, since you need to purchase in advance plastic pipes. But, if you have recently completed renovation or construction, you can use the leftovers. In addition, with this growing method, the beds must be moved indoors for the winter.
Materials and manufacturing technology
Before you start making horizontal beds, you need to decide on materials and tools.
We will need:
- Cuttings of pipes with a diameter of 15cm, also pipes with a diameter of 4-5cm;
- Plugs suitable for the diameter of the pipes;
- Drill or other tool for making holes on the surface of pipes;
- Expanded clay, brick fragments, ground coal or other material for drainage;
- Prepared soil.
Next we move on to making the beds. First of all, we cut the thick pipes to the required length. Pipes of small diameters are adjusted to fit the dimensions of large ones, shortening them by 15 cm. In all large pipes you need to drill holes at a distance of 10-15cm. In thin pipes we also drill holes at a distance of 8-10cm.
Thick pipes are closed on one side with plugs, a pipe with a smaller diameter is inserted in the center and filled halfway with expanded clay. Then they fall asleep fertile soil, then strawberries are planted. Don't forget to install a watering system.
Growing strawberries vertically
By building vertical beds on your plot, you can grow twice as many vegetables and berries, as well as decorate it beautifully and unusually (Figure 7).
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
Most types of vertical beds are ordinary containers various designs. Therefore, they have both pros and cons.
Advantages of vertical beds:
- Decorative: beautifully made vertical design with plants will always decorate any area. And there are many ways to construct such structures.
- Minimum soil tillage, since the plants are constantly in closed space and are not overgrown with weeds.
- Space saving: when there is not enough land, but you want to plant a lot, vertical beds come to the rescue, which can be placed anywhere: along a fence or on a fence, along the walls of a house, barn or summer kitchen and so on.
- Mobility of structures: many structures can be easily moved. Some options allow you to rebuild, combine and complement.
However, along with the advantages, vertical beds also have disadvantages that must be taken into account when arranging. Firstly, you should take into account that vertical beds require regular watering, since the soil in them dries out faster than in the garden.
Figure 7. Arrangement of vertical beds Secondly, such beds are not suitable for all plants, and planted crops require extra food. Thirdly, the soil can freeze in winter. Perennials, such as strawberries, in this case it is problematic to grow. In winter, the soil will freeze and the root system will die. This should be taken into account when choosing designs.
The disadvantages of vertical beds can be slightly reduced by using hydrogel when planting. It is able to accumulate moisture, and if necessary, plants will take water from it. You can also use a drip irrigation system.
Remontant strawberries: cultivation and care
Remontant strawberries are increasingly found in the beds of lovers of this berry. True, not everyone knows how to grow it correctly. Growing remontant varieties has its own characteristics that should be taken into account.
This species bears fruit throughout the season, so it is demanding on growing conditions. For example, by removing the first spring flower stalks, you get the opportunity to get a second harvest in large quantities and at an earlier date
In addition, these varieties have a short growth cycle. This is due to rapid growth and constant fruiting. The best predecessors for remontant varieties there will be green manure, carrots, peas, garlic, radishes, onions, lettuce, beans, beets, and grains. You should not plant it after tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
Proper care consists of regular loosening and subsequent mulching, frequent and abundant watering, removal damaged leaves and whiskers, as well as feeding and prevention from diseases and pests.
Climbing strawberries: care and cultivation
There are varieties of strawberries that produce long tendrils, on which rosettes appear, and soon flower stalks. If you root such rosettes on a vertical base, you can easily get climbing strawberries (Figure 8). To do this, you need to purchase any type of hanging strawberry and plant it correctly.
Growing and care curly strawberry not much different from regular varieties. There are several simple rules, by completing which you will receive your delicious harvest:
- You cannot water the bushes from above. Water should be poured only at the root;
- Weed the bed from weeds in a timely manner, because they take a lot of moisture and nutrients;
- Apply fertilizers on time. Plants need frequent feeding;
- Without pity, remove excess bushes and tendrils if they do not bear fruit;
- Bushes require a lot of sunlight and do not tolerate drafts. Therefore, you need to choose a sunny and protected place.
Figure 8. Growing climbing varieties
Ampel strawberries: care and cultivation
Growing and caring for ampelous strawberries has some features related to the conditions of growth and formation of bushes (Figure 9).
The following features should be noted:
- Watering should be constant and moderate. Neither drying out nor overmoistening should be allowed. To do this, you can use hydrogel or drip irrigation systems.
- Throughout the growing season hanging varieties require increased nutrition, so feeding should be done regularly. If you are growing ampel strawberries indoors, use complex mineral fertilizers for fertilizing. If in open ground - various organic matter.
- During cultivation, remove excess shoots and rosettes in a timely manner. The bush is capable of feeding two rosettes on the mustache; the rest are removed. The number of mustaches should also not be too large. Usually the first five whiskers are left.
Figure 9. Cultivation of hanging varieties Before cold weather, plants need to be buried in the ground and mulched with straw or fallen leaves. If you have space in your house or outbuilding, you can move them there. When planting on a trellis, the tendrils are untied and laid next to the bushes, covered with mulch on top.
Spring care is very important for strawberries and promotes plant development and a good harvest.
Besides general rules care experienced gardeners highlight some nuances that help grow a good and tasty harvest.
The first thing to do is to successful cultivation, is to install drip irrigation. When choosing a place for planting, give preference to those areas where onions, garlic, beets, carrots, herbs, and celery were previously grown. The soil should be light. It is recommended to add sand and peat to dense soil.
Note: If you are planning spring planting, then the bed needs to be prepared in the fall.
Young shoots require microelements. To do this, you can use a mixture of potassium permanganate, ammonium molybdate, boric acid and water. It is also recommended to carry out spring treatment using folk remedies: onion infusion, mustard solution and wormwood decoction (for watering). To protect your crops from pests, plant garlic, onions, mustard, fennel, marigolds, and in order not to miss important points To care for the crop, it is recommended to draw up a plant treatment plan.
Having familiarized yourself with the theoretical information on caring for strawberries, it will be useful to review and thematic video, which contains practical recommendations for growing this crop.