How to properly plant strawberries under a black film

Process description

There are a lot of methods for growing strawberries themselves. Growing under black cover is a relatively new and definitely effective way to get the desired result. Most often, this method is used in industrial production. For example, Polish farmers are very fond of this method and use it to grow various garden crops. Moreover, the beds are formed and the film is laid with special mechanical devices.

So, a bed of strawberries is covered with a black film, from which the leaves of the bushes peep out. In other words, the strawberries under the film are in the so-called sauna, where there is no light and no weeds can survive. In addition, the process of watering the planting is facilitated - the coating is able to retain moisture and for 7-10 days the garden bed can be left without watering. Also, the strawberries under the film do not come into contact with the soil, so the berries remain clean for a long time and rot from the ground does not affect them. The procedure for cutting the mustache is greatly facilitated, since they are also located above the cover.

The disadvantage of this method can be excessive heat. The black color attracts the sun's rays and the crop dries up. The next significant factor is that you need a drip irrigation system for this method. But on the other hand, thanks to such an irrigation system, you will significantly save water costs. If the above disadvantages are not a problem for you, then let's figure out what we need to plant strawberries under a black film.

Video "How to plant strawberries correctly"

In this video, you can see recommendations on how to plant strawberries correctly.

What is needed

Of course, the most important material in this method is film. Among professional gardeners, it is called agrofibre or spunbond. She can serve for a long time - about three years. There are several types of agrofibre, but the most effective of all, nevertheless, is black. Due to its color, it absorbs heat, and rapid heating ensures quick harvest.

You can choose a black and white coating - with a dark layer it is directed downward, which ensures warming of the strawberry roots. Light, in turn, is located on top, which is why the plants do not dry out. As mentioned, black or dark brown films are effective, but there is a risk of drying out the strawberries.

Agrofibre can be bought at any gardening store. The cover is sold with already cut circular holes for plants. The width is usually chosen based on the size of the garden. But the film thickness should not be less than 40 microns. The size of the material depends on the length of the beds and their number.

The second important fixture after coating is the hose. You will need it for drip irrigation of strawberries. The length of the hose should correspond to the length of all the beds (their sum). It is thanks to the installed irrigation system that the planting of strawberries will receive the required amount of water.You will also need scissors, a shovel, ropes, and gardening gloves.

Seed preparation

Already three months before planting, strawberry seeds must be prepared. For this there is such a procedure as stratification. With it, the seeds must be placed in a place with a low temperature (+ 2 + 4 degrees), while the seeds must be moist and subsequently they must be moistened. Remember to stir the seeds every two weeks. Just before sowing, they need to be slightly dried. Properly prepared seeds will make it possible to plant large strawberries.

How to plant under the film

First of all, you need to carry out preparatory work on the site. Choose a place where the maximum amount of sunlight falls so that the strawberries under the film will warm up well. It is important that nothing grows at the future strawberry planting site for two to three years. Before planting strawberries, the soil must be dug up and well fertilized.

Be sure to level the soil well, it should not contain large clods of earth. Fertilizers are best used natural... It can be horse manure, humus, compost. As a result, there should be light, loose soil. The garden bed can be about 80–90 cm wide, it is better not to exceed one meter. The convenient distance between the beds is 60–90 cm, then it will be more comfortable for you to monitor and pick the strawberries.

Next, you need to install an irrigation system. We lay a hose between the rows, make small holes in it for water to exit. The hose is sunk into the ground by about 4–6 cm. The remote end of the hose must be closed with a plug.

The next step is to prepare the film. On it you need to make markings, and cut holes for strawberry bushes. It is better to place the bushes in a checkerboard pattern, then they will not interfere with each other's growth. The optimal hole diameter is 10–15 cm. If you don’t want to do painstaking work, you can simply cut the film into two perpendicular lines, and simply hide the remnants of the film inside. The garden should be given time to settle - a maximum of two weeks.

Now we fasten and stretch the cover. To do this, we fix it near the ground, you can bury it with earth from all sides. Use a shovel to make slits where tuck the edges of the film tightly. You can also fix them with bricks or stones.

The final stage is directly planting strawberries. It must be planted in the already made cutouts on the black coating, the excess part of the film must be bent under the canvas. For the first time we water each planted hole with water manually, then the irrigation system will do it.

As you can see, everything is very simple. For this method of growing strawberries, you do not need to spend a lot on expensive tools and devices, all you need is film and the desire to try something new.

Video "Detailed instructions for planting strawberries"

In this video you can see detailed instructions on how to plant strawberries in black film.