Growing strawberries is a labor-intensive business, but very grateful. The berry has excellent taste and is one of the first to keep up.
At the end of the growing season, strawberries continue to consume nutrients, laying new flower buds for next year's harvest and renewing the root system.
How to cover strawberries for the winter and what measures to improve the frost resistance of juicy berries?
Autumn chores
Strong healthy plants grown according to all the rules of agricultural technology, tolerate winter frosts well. How to cover strawberries for the winter must be taken care of ahead of time. It is necessary by the beginning of September to make all fertilizers and stop loosening the soil so as not to injure the root system. In October, rooting out of peat or humus should be carried out.
Strawberries winter well without any shelter, if the snow cover reaches 30-40 cm. But in conditions of changing climate, snowy winters are not uncommon.
When to cover strawberries
You need to warm the bushes for the winter no earlier than the first frosts settle. The soil should freeze completely, otherwise the plants will vanish. In addition, the strawberries must be hardened in order to survive the cold easier.
Uncovered bushes in the absence of snow cover begin to freeze at temperatures below -8 0 C. When the temperature drops below -12 0 C, they can die.
When planning events, it is necessary to take into account the climate and the location of the site. In some regions, it is enough to protect the mulch roots without falling asleep at the growth point, in others it is necessary to cover.
How to cover strawberries for the winter
The methods depend on the region of cultivation. It is important not only to keep strawberries from frost, but also to prevent them from drying out. Shelter for wintering bushes should be not only warm, but also breathable.
Snow is the best blanket for strawberry beds. If a sufficient amount of it falls in winter, the simplest fences are installed around the planting, and several branches are placed between the bushes for better snow retention. In winter, you can move snow on strawberry beds from other areas.
How to cover strawberries for the winter, if there is little or no snow? You can use natural covering material: spruce branches, leaves, straw and so on. Young outlets should be covered completely, adult bushes will be enough to impose a roundabout.
With frequent thaws and increased dampness, some plants may spring out by spring. In addition, mice like to settle in straw, and foliage can fall down and increase the likelihood of decay. Spruce spruce branches are preferred. It should be thrown on the beds when the snow falls. You can use coniferous litter: one bag is enough for 25-30 bushes.
What and how to cover strawberries for the winter, if it is not possible to use spruce branches and other natural materials? It is very convenient to wrap strawberry ridges with agrofibre.
It can also be used at the beginning of the growing season to prevent freezing of flower buds during spring frosts and to achieve a harvest about 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
In small areas, you can install arcs and pull artificial materials on them (spunbond, agrospan and so on). With this air-dry method, plants are perfectly protected from the cold, the evaporation of moisture passes unhindered, and the sun's rays penetrate the bushes. In addition, the covering material does not come into contact with plants, which excludes their freezing.
Simple events will save the plants until spring and enjoy a new rich harvest.