Secrets of proper strawberry cultivation

Undoubtedly, one of the most delicious berries that can be grown in the country is strawberries. But growing it takes a lot of time and effort, and sometimes nerves, but in almost all cases the result is worth it. But not every gardener knows how to grow strawberries correctly, so we hope that this article will make it easier for novice gardeners or gardeners. We will tell you the general rules and some secrets of growing strawberries, while covering the whole range of actions - from choosing a variety and a site for a plant to tips on caring for it.

Variety selection

So, first of all, you need to decide on the variety, the taste of the berries of which you would like to enjoy. And to do this is not as easy as it seems to many, because after familiarizing yourself with the variety of types of strawberries grown in our area, you will be at a loss and can hardly give preference to any variety. To simplify your task, make a kind of list where you write down your preferences: the taste of the berries, their size, the yield of the variety, the ripening period.

By using these criteria, it will be much easier for you to choose the right variety. It is very good if you have the opportunity to try growing several varieties. If possible, ask an experienced gardener for advice.

How to choose a seat for landing?

Your next step is choosing a landing site. First, you need to think over everything well, since you need good conditions in terms of soils, climatic characteristics, and nutrients. Not all soils are suitable for strawberries, it is better to grow on medium loamy soils, they are quite fertile. The area under the strawberries should be flat, it is recommended to dig up the area under the plant, level it so that the soil is soft. There is a technique that will help get rid of snails from living - sprinkle on top with a thin layer of sand.

The site should receive a lot of sunlight, but at the same time it should be well protected from the winds, since the wind will blow off snow in winter, and significant snow accumulation is the key to successful wintering of plants. In advance, about a month in advance, the place should be cleared of weeds and a moderate dose of compost or humus should be applied, and already before planting, potash and ammonia fertilizers should be applied. It is highly recommended to take into account the crops that have grown in the selected area before.

Hint: Strawberry seedlings grow very well after legumes, parsley, garlic, but extremely poorly take root in the soil where cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes or potatoes were grown earlier.

What time to plant?

After the landing site, you need to choose the right time. It is better to plant seedlings in spring (late April - early May, while it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the climatic conditions of your region, so that the plants do not die during late frosts), but it is possible in the fall (in this case, it is advisable to do this before mid-September, about 3-4 weeks before the first frost).

If you decide to plant in the summer, then you need to do this on a cloudy day, if hot days have already come, then late in the evening. If you decide to grow remontant strawberries from seeds, you also need to follow the rules, think carefully and scrupulously follow everything.

For planting, use pre-prepared soil with high moisture content (about 80%), also prepare the most suitable containers (for example, there are special plastic containers with a diameter of 10-15 cm).Next, you need to sprinkle seeds on top, while lightly sprinkle with dry earth and sprinkle a little with water.

This way you will reproduce as much as possible the conditions under which the seed grows in nature. Seeds require constant sunlight to accelerate their growth. After about 3 weeks, the first shoots will appear, which need periodic watering.

How to fertilize?

The yield of your "plantation" will largely depend on how you fertilize correctly. They need to be brought in not only at planting, but every year. In advance, about a month in advance, the place should be cleared of weeds and a moderate dose of compost or humus should be applied, and already before planting, potash and ammonia fertilizers should be applied.

The applied fertilizers are enough for a year, so there is no need to feed more. In the second year, experienced gardeners apply organic matter and mineral fertilizers, the dose should not be greater than when planting (about 20 g of potash and up to 40 g of ammonia, humus somewhere 3-4 kg). Fertilize in the same way in the fourth year, but in the third year, only mineral fertilizers are applied. Don't forget about spring mulching.

When to water?

Strawberries need constant abundant watering, although it all depends on the amount of precipitation, because if it rains a lot, then the moisture in the ground may be quite enough for the normal development of remontant strawberries. If the weather is constantly dry, then it is necessary to water immediately after planting and the beginning of intensive growth of leaves and before flowering. because you cannot do this during flowering. The best time of day for watering is evening or early morning.

Watering should be abundant, but not excessive, because this is also harmful. The amount of moisture should be as optimal as possible, the taste of the fruit depends on it (with a lack of moisture, the berries will be slightly sour).

How to accelerate ripening?

But not only abundant watering and fertilization will help the early ripening of strawberries, there are other ways. The easiest way is to grow strawberries in greenhouses, the second way is to grow under plastic, which will also make it possible to harvest about 10 days earlier.

Both black and white or transparent films are used, each with its own disadvantages and advantages. The main advantage of the black film is the absence of weeds, but there may be a "burnout" of plants, when using a white one - the opposite is true: weeds will appear, but there is no risk of "burnout".

Optimal breeding method

Strawberries bear fruit for a couple of years, so if you want to grow them constantly, you need to learn how to propagate them. You can do this in one of three ways: by seeds, whiskers or division, this is which method is more suitable for you. The first method is little used by ordinary gardeners, since it requires scrupulousness, it is not suitable for all varieties, because when grown from seeds, some properties may be lost.

As a rule, remontant varieties are propagated by dividing plants, because they give little whiskers. For this process, old bushes (three to four years old) are used, because it is in these that increased branching of shoots is observed. The selected bush is divided in such a way that each has an intact horn and at least 3-4 leaves. The newly formed elements are transplanted to a new place.

The most common method (probably because of its simplicity) is mustache propagation. The first of them appear after flowering, but a huge part after fruiting. The mustache should be removed, leaving only those that you want to use for breeding.

After a while, they will begin to take root, sockets will appear. Only after rooting can the ends of the whiskers be cut off, leaving the strongest rosette. After a while, feel free to transplant to a new place. We hope that these tips for growing and caring for strawberries will help you with your difficult gardening business, and soon you will be able to tell others how to grow strawberries yourself.

Video “Growing strawberries.The right approach"

A video from an expert in the field of large-scale strawberry cultivation, he will explain how to act after a harsh winter, what drugs should be used to protect plants from diseases.