The best time to plant strawberries is the end of July. After all, next year there will be a harvest. But what if it did not work out in the summer? How to plant strawberries in the spring? What is needed for this and how to properly land? Let's figure it out!
We determine the place of landing
To grow strawberries, you need to know what type of soil on your land
plot. Berry productivity will depend on this. If the site is peaty or light gray soil, then strawberries are not particularly fruitful. The best crop will be on dark gray forest or chernozem soils.
The surface should be flat or with a slope. You can not plant strawberries in lowlands, as the cold will accumulate, and the risk that the plant will suffer from diseases will increase. Also, the harvest will be late. Do not plant strawberries on steep slopes for the same reasons. The growing area must be protected from the winds because the root system may freeze. All these nuances need to be clarified before planting strawberries in the spring.
Site preparation and transplanting
The place where it is planned to plant the berry must be sprinkled with humus, dug up and cultivated 12-15 cm deep. The ground should settle one day. It is also worth checking the soil for pests: wireworm and May bug. If any, an alkaloid lupine is planted in the ground or watered with ammonia solution. A site that has been very clogged with weeds is best treated with a chemical, such as Roundup.
It is important to choose good strawberry seedlings for a high yield. Frigo plants are the best option - these are seedlings that were dug up in the fall and stored at low temperature during the winter. Also, for planting strawberries, you need to use sorted seedlings. Pay particular attention to the root system. It should be strong and well developed, up to 10 cm long.
Strawberries are often grown in the country. This is a great place to tinker with seedlings. It is always nice to pamper with the juicy berry of your family and friends.
Landing
Strawberry seedlings are planted in early spring or autumn. This is the most favorable time. To get started, let's figure out how to plant strawberries in spring. First, you need to plan the site. Between the rows you should make a distance of 80-90 cm, and between the bushes - about 30 cm. Secondly, you should take into account the depth of the holes, make them no more than 20 cm. Thirdly, choose a favorable day and time. Cloudy weather or evening is best.
The more you know about how to plant strawberry seedlings, the less trouble the process of plant care and growing will bring. We must not forget to water the seedlings and sprinkle the surface of the plot with dry soil so that a crust does not form. The yield and juiciness of the berries will depend on when and how to plant strawberries in spring. It is necessary to do this with the beginning of field work, if you delay in time, then most of the plants will simply die. And the remaining seedlings will be poorly developed.
Seed planting
Growing strawberries in the country is not a very difficult process, but it requires constant attention and care. There are several types of planting material:
1. Kids.
2. Seedlings.
3. Seeds.
Of course, many choose the first two methods, this is the minimum cost and maximum result. Such methods do not burden and bring an early harvest. But true gardeners grow strawberries from seeds. This is a painstaking and long-awaited process, but with it you can breed rare and unusual varieties. Also, a plant grown in this way is completely healthy. Let's look at how to plant strawberries properly.
Seedlings on the windowsill
First you need to buy planting material. Strawberry seeds are sold at any
store for gardeners. You can make blanks in the summer. It is enough to pick a few berries and dry them well. For seed cultivation, a remontant (fruiting year-round) or bezosushny strawberry is suitable. You need to start landing in December. Grains are placed in pre-prepared soil, watered with settled water. Pots are placed on the window. The main requirement: there should be no drafts. The soil should be watered regularly; you should not let it dry.
When the first leaves appear, you need to dive seedlings. Already in early May, strawberries can be planted in open ground (how to plant strawberries in spring, we examined at the beginning of the article). Harvest will appear only next year.
Landing
It is important to properly place the root in the recess. Need him
to straighten. Pour a small mound of earth into the hole and place a plant on it. Fill the soil, but so that the core is at surface level. Otherwise, the bush may either rot or dry. It is better to water the seedlings from a watering can, by sprinkling. The first few days, strawberries will need to be hidden from the sun (you can use sheets of paper). If the young seedlings bloom, the peduncles must be cut short.
At the end of summer, the beds need to be fluffed up, and in the autumn mulched. If the strawberry planting was correct, then strong bushes will form by winter. They will go through a period of adaptation and survive the frosts. Of course, it is important to know how best to plant strawberries. It will be right to create three beds: the first - the first year of fruiting, the second - the second and, accordingly, the third - the third. It is better to plant strawberries in the place where crops were previously grown .
Seedling Care
A proverb says: “What you reap, you will reap!”, But in our case
sowing a little. Strawberries - moody berry, requires regular attention and care. But the main points are watering and weeding.
In the summer, moisture evaporates quickly, so it is better to mulch the beds. Dry grass, sawdust or hay are fine. This approach will not only help to save moisture, but also protect the berries from rot. When the strawberry blossoms, it must be watered from a watering can, and during the harvest period - under the bush. Water should not be cold, a temperature of 18-20 degrees is ideal. During prolonged rains, it is advisable to cover the plant with a film.
For strawberries, weeds are not terrible enemies (after all, this is a wild berry). But if you want to get large and juicy fruits, then weeding should be done.
Old red leaves constantly appear in strawberries, they must be removed. This contributes to the rejuvenation of the plant. Sometimes for this purpose, after the end of the harvest, the entire foliage is mowed. What for? To get rid of pests and infections.
Strawberry bushes fertilize, but here you need to be careful not to overdo it with the frequency and dose. It is best to use ash for top dressing or to make a small amount of manure during the initial planting.
Pros and cons of planting strawberries under the film
Growing any plant is always a laborious process. Each person wants to minimize costs, and get the maximum crop. Mulching film is suitable for strawberries. Such material is inexpensive and easy to use. But often people just don’t know how to plant strawberries under the film. This is not difficult, but the method has several disadvantages. So let's get it all in order. On the site where the seedlings will grow, you need to spread a black plastic film. Then cuts are made into which strawberry bushes are planted. The film helps in the fight against weeds and allows you to get an earlier crop.
But each material has its drawbacks. Firstly, the film does not allow fresh air to pass through, which in the summer contributes to soil overheating. Secondly, it has a short life, the maximum is enough for two seasons. Thirdly, the film is not intended for cold weather. At the slightest freezing, heating is required, since condensate forms inside, which turns into ice.
All the work of growing strawberries seems like a trifle when you pick up a juicy berry. Its aroma and taste do not leave anyone indifferent.