Agrofibre for strawberries or how to simplify growing berries

In recent years, progressive methods of cultivating strawberries in garden plots have greatly facilitated the work of gardeners and made it possible to obtain the maximum and stable yield. These include the cultivation of strawberries on agrofibre - a method that is rapidly gaining popularity among professionals and amateurs, due to its economy and high efficiency.

Benefits of growing on agrofibre

The greatest advantage of planting strawberries on agrofibre is a significant reduction in the time and effort for caring for the beds. There is no need for exhausting constant weeding, loosening of the soil, frequent watering during a hot period. On strawberry plantations under agrofibre, it is much easier to remove growing whiskers, since they do not grow with a carpet and do not take root. This mulching material allows you to pick always clean berries and minimize the damage to plants by gray mold. He will also rid the site of such pests as slugs, bear, beetle, flower weevil, the fight against which can be protracted or permanent.

Under agrofibre for strawberries, moisture evaporates much slower, therefore, the plantation will have to be watered less often, even in summer. Since it dries quickly, the berries also dry out and do not lie in the mud, this prevents them from rotting during the long, rainy summer. In addition, agrofibre can shorten the ripening period of berries by more than 6-8 days. And strawberries planted in early spring under agrofibre take root better and faster and give a greater yield, in comparison with uncovered beds. Among other things, agrofibre is a very economical and practical material. You can easily buy it in garden stores or hypermarkets.

Material selection

A dark film, spunbond or agrofibre is most often used as a ground cover material. But it is agrofibre that is better suited for strawberries than others. It does not oppress the plant during the heat, when even with drip irrigation under another mulching material, the soil does not breathe, overheats, as a result of which the roots begin to rot and rot, the bushes get sick and die. It does not crack, turning into rags in the fall; with proper care, it can last more than one season.

Agrofibre for strawberries comes in different densities. As a rule, it is preferable to buy material with a density of at least 60-70 g / sq m, since its service life is 3-4 years, just such a period the plantation will bear fruit well without transplanting. Depending on the planned width of the beds, a roll of material suitable for the width is also chosen. For strawberries, it is preferable to take dark agrofibre, rather than light, it retains moisture better.

Arrangement of beds and paths

Often, strawberries under agrofibre are grown on high beds, ridges, which are formed using a cultivator or special equipment. However, with relatively small planting volumes, it is more profitable to form beds on a flat surface. Since the covering material is cut into strips to cover the ridges, there is nowhere to adapt the remaining trimmings due to their size, that is, the material is not used practically. In the summer heat, the soil on the shafts dries out faster, in winter it freezes more and more quickly.And when the time is right for replanting the bushes, the vacated area for planting other crops will have to be carefully leveled.

Soil preparation

Before covering the soil with agrofibre for strawberries, additional work is carried out. In the selected area, the earth is deeply dug, while removing the rhizomes of perennial weeds and other debris. Then at least 1-1.5 buckets of humus, 1.5-2 cups of wood ash, potash and nitrogenous fertilizers, 150-180 g per sq. M. Are added. After that, the site is re-dug up and leveled with a rake.

With the help of pegs, future beds are marked, leaving a distance between them of at least 1.1-1.25 m. flat stones. The fiber is laid in such a way that the strips overlap each other by at least 18-20 cm. On a well-stretched, pinned material, markings are made along the cords, marking the planting sites with a rail.

Creating tracks

The paths are essential not only for easy movement between the beds, but also for longer fiber life. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, in order to avoid rapid wear and tear, it should not be walked on. To do this, use special cover paths, or cover the aisles with straw or sawdust. At the same time, sawdust retains moisture better and longer than straw. When wet, they become heavier and thereby additionally press the fiber, preventing it from rising from the wind to the ground. In addition, if necessary, you can pin a mustache on them, which very quickly form roots in such conditions.

To calculate the approximate length of the path, you need to sit down between the bushes and stretch your arms forward. The distance from the hands to the feet, multiplied by two, is the most optimal between adjacent lanes. If there are joints on the beds during laying, paths should definitely be laid in their place so as not to spoil the fiber.

Landing

Planting strawberries on agrofibre is carried out by a two-line method, with a distance between rows of 60-65 cm, between rows - 45-50 cm, between bushes - 25-30 cm. This is the most optimal scheme for planting using fiber. A cross-shaped hole measuring 5 by 5 cm is made along the designated rail for each outlet, placing the corners outward.

If using seedlings with closed roots in an earthen cup, then dig a deeper hole with a small scoop. If ordinary seedlings are planted, then the roots are cut to 7-9 cm, and the holes are no longer made so deep. A bush is placed in the incised hole and the corners of the fiber are wrapped inward. The rosette of leaves should be at ground level. After complete planting, the beds are watered abundantly. Re-irrigation is carried out in 2-3 days, and then drip irrigation is used every 3-4 days in the evening.

Strawberry care

Caring for strawberries under agrofibre is practically the same as growing plants in the open field. Since the soil was well enriched before planting, the plantation is not fed in the first 1-2 years after planting. In the future, organic fertilizers in the form of mullein, chicken droppings or humus and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied three times per season. The first feeding is carried out before the beginning of the growing season in early spring, the second - before the beginning of flowering, the third - after fruiting, when the flower buds of the harvest for the next year are laid.

Watering is carried out in 5-6 days, since agrofibre by 25-35% delays moisture evaporation. Watering with a hose or sprinklers, depending on the possibilities. In both cases, the fiber does not interfere with the soil being saturated with water.

Video "Planting and growing strawberries under agrofibre"

This video describes how to plant bushes under fiber.