Strawberries grow in almost every suburban area. Gardeners know that to get a good harvest, it requires careful care. One of the issues that are often controversial is whether or not different types of strawberries can be planted nearby. The answer will be presented in today's article.
Pollination risk
Many summer residents believe that different varieties of garden strawberries should be located in different places, they should not be planted nearby. Similar advice is sometimes given by the sellers themselves. It is the mixing of varieties and subsequent pollination that is called the cause of the low yield and small berries.
In fact - this is nothing more than a myth. Over-pollination is double fertilization, as a result of which the seeds receive both maternal and paternal qualities. This necessarily affects the quality of the crop.
Strawberry is a plant that does not have real fruits. The berry used in food is an overgrown receptacle with exclusively maternal properties. It does not depend on which pollen was involved in the pollination process. Therefore, different varieties of strawberries on the same bed cannot affect the quality of the crop.
Why should varieties be separated?
Recommendations for planting different varieties of garden strawberries separately from each other are related to the fact that a person can subsequently get entangled in them. One way to propagate this culture is to use daughter rosettes from the mother plant. Since each bush gives a lot of mustaches, which can become a planting material, so as not to confuse the varieties, it is recommended to separate them. Is it possible to plant different types of strawberries nearby? Yes, but for breeding only your favorite species, you should group them. You can also plant in separate rows or distribute in different beds.
The distance between the bushes
Having decided to settle garden strawberries on their plot, summer residents often wonder about the optimal distance between the bushes.
There are several methods for locating outlets in the area. The distance between the strawberries during planting depends on the chosen method.
Separate bushes are located at a distance of about half a meter from each other. Most often, strawberries are planted in rows. This method is the most convenient and gives a high-quality crop. The distance between the bushes should be about 25 cm, and between the rows - up to 60 cm. The easiest way is to plant a "carpet". The sealed placement of outlets protects against weeds, but requires careful handling of the mustache. Otherwise, strawberries will spread far beyond the habitat.
Another option for placing garden strawberries on the site is to plant nests. The meaning of this method is the location of one bush in the middle, and 5-6 are planted around it. The distance between the strawberries when planting the nests is about 7 cm. In this case, between the nests themselves it is necessary to leave about 30 cm.
Strawberry propagation methods
To plant strawberries on the site, planting material is required. It can be bought in the form of seedlings, grown independently from seeds or use the mustache of existing plants.
The rules for planting strawberries in the spring are known to many. Seedlings need to be hardened by placing it for a while in a cool place. It is important to pay attention to the root system. It should be well developed and always with soil on the roots. Before planting, you need to prepare the soil and dig holes. The rules for planting strawberries in spring and autumn are the same. It is important that the roots in the pit are vertical. Holding the bush with one hand, with the other you need to fill the roots, not forgetting to ram the ground.
Propagation of garden berries with the help of a mustache has its own subtleties. To get a strong planting material from the bush, you need to remove flowers from it, preventing the appearance of berries. In this case, all the food will be given to the mustache. When they appear, you need to leave the strongest, and the rest to eliminate. After the roots appear, the plants must be buried in the ground or immediately in a pot. At the end of July, the daughter bush can be separated from the mother and planted in the garden.
Getting seedlings from seeds
Growing strawberries from seeds is the most difficult way to produce seedlings.
Observe the sowing time. This is done in late February or early March. The soil should be light and fertile. A baking powder should be added to it. Is it possible to plant different types of strawberries nearby? It is possible, but it is better to separate the seeds and determine them in different places. This will allow in the future not to get confused and evaluate the most successful options. If you germinate the seeds in advance, you can immediately select weak specimens. They are also recommended to be tempered, placing in a place with a temperature slightly above zero. Strawberries love the mind, so you need to constantly water it. Sufficient lighting must be taken into account. Germination can take from two to seven weeks.
Planting strawberries in open ground with seeds is possible in the spring. In autumn, it is necessary to transfer the grown plants to their permanent place.
Strawberries
In order for the bushes to bring a good harvest, chernozem with the addition of ash is considered the optimal soil for them. In order for the strawberries to winter well, the bushes must perfectly retain the snow. For this purpose, some use spruce branches as additional covering material.
Can strawberries of different varieties be planted nearby, how can this affect the size of the crop? Some gardeners note that the berries on some bushes are getting smaller. They blame it on the location of several varieties in one place. Small berries appear for other reasons. Most often, a poor-quality crop appears due to depletion of the soil and degeneration of the variety. Therefore, it is recommended once every 5 years to transplant strawberries to a new place. It is also necessary to replace varieties, especially if the bushes are affected by pests.