How to properly water strawberries in open ground from spring to autumn

Often in gardens and on personal plots you can see the following picture: the neighbor on the right has perfectly even rows, clean soil between the rows and bunches of strawberries glowing brightly in the sun against a background of dark greenery underneath. On the left, behind the fence, there is an alternation of weeds and stunted berry bushes, drooping single berries.

Or even soil without weeds, even rows - but the strawberry bushes are stunted, with a yellow border on the leaves and also with lonely single berries. Yes, and they are deformed. The problem most often lies in the peculiarities of watering .

Both neighbors spend the same amount of water on planting, but the very structure of watering, its frequency, the timing of one is strict with measuring the temperature of the irrigation water with a thermometer, soil moisture with a hygrometer and even keeping a separate log of plant care, while the other is like God on his soul positive Hence the result.

Strawberries are an active consumer of water

Regardless of the variety, strawberries love water. In order for the gardener to receive juicy and tasty berries, we pay special attention to the quality of watering during the fruiting period. The amount of moisture should be sufficient. If you neglect this rule, hoping for rain, the plants will dry out. This happens during dry summers when there is no expected rainfall for weeks. Therefore, don’t be lazy, water the strawberries. Everything needs moderation: if the gardener overdoes it, the strawberries will rot.

When strawberries especially need moisture

Strawberries have several periods when they especially need moisture. If a gardener has a question about whether strawberries need to be watered, it is worth paying attention to the stage of plant development.

The most important periods during which watering should not be skipped:

As can be seen from the table, garden strawberries require watering throughout the entire growing season and at any age.

Principles of watering strawberries

According to the characteristics, the root system of the berry cannot lift moisture from the deep layers of the soil; the foliage quickly evaporates water. If you do not follow certain watering rules, the plant does not get enough liquid.

Basic recommendations (rules):

1. Strawberries love warm water; cold water is not absorbed by the plant.
2. Do not get too carried away with watering the soil: otherwise, fungal infections will appear.
3. Loosening the soil is optimal together with watering: this is necessary for moisture to flow to the root system of plants.
4. Watering should be done in the morning or evening. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure during the day, since evaporation occurs during daytime watering. The liquid does not have time to be absorbed by the plant.
5. If moisture remains on the leaves after watering in hot weather, there is a risk of burning the plant.

Following simple rules will help you get a good harvest and taste of strawberries!

There are many varieties of strawberries, for example, “Victoria,” a hybrid with strawberries: regardless of this, careful watering with a competent approach to the procedure is necessary. The best watering scheme is once in the evening, if possible, with loosening and mulching.

Strawberries can be planted in partial shade, the beds are located close to each other. The effect of heat weakens, so watering can be alternated from once every 2-3 days.

Strawberries do not grow in swampy soil and do not like soil that looks like dirt. In such soil, water will displace air from under the roots of the plant; without breathing, the roots will die.

How watering depends on the type of beds

Directly. Each method of organizing a landing area has pros and cons. Gardeners make choices based on the advantages, but take into account the disadvantages.

Raised beds

In the first days of spring, they warm up faster, the growing season begins earlier, is more active, and lasts longer. Especially if the bed is not just high, but also with long-lasting bottom heating - charged with organic matter according to all the rules. The layer-by-layer structure lasts 4-5 years - the full life cycle of garden strawberries. Only advantages.

But gardeners know that the main disadvantage of high beds is that the soil dries out quickly. Melt water disappears quickly, rain water does not linger. Therefore, from spring to autumn, intensive frequent watering, mandatory sprinkling in the first half of the growing season are indispensable conditions, without which a good Victoria harvest cannot be expected.

Indicators of water for irrigation: temperature, quantity

Cool water below 16 degrees is not used when irrigating bushes. Cooling the soil inhibits the growth and development of the plant. If you pour cold water onto heated soil, the plant will begin to turn yellow. Half a liter of water is enough for each bush.

Requirements for water intended for irrigation:

1. The water should be settled and warm.
2. Water intended for the well should be taken into the tank in advance, left for 24 hours, and then used for irrigation.
3. If you use cold water from a well, this can provoke the appearance of diseases and rot. Watering with cold water deteriorates the quality of fruits, reduces their quantity, and slows down growth.

Important! The water temperature recognized as optimal for watering strawberries is from 18 to 20 degrees!

Times of Day

Do not water strawberries during the day, especially if the weather is hot. Droplets of moisture that fall on the leaves, stems and ripening fruits act as collecting lenses that concentrate the flow of the sun's rays. The droplet remaining on the leaf will be evaporated by the rays of the sun, but the burn will remain. Soil watered in the heat of the day will turn the ground into a hot mess: the plants in it will burn alive.

Therefore, we water at sunset, in the evening or in the morning. If the weather outside is cloudy and the sun's rays are scattered, then it is allowed to water during the day. But very carefully.

How often do you water in the summer?

In the first summer months, strawberries go through the stages of flowering and fruiting. During these periods, plants are watered quite intensively. But during flowering it is necessary to reduce irrigation on the surface parts of the strawberry. Summer watering after harvest should prepare the further development of the bushes.

During the period when inflorescences are being laid, which will bloom next year, watering should ensure regular humidity at the level of 60% of the soil moisture capacity. The differentiation of strawberry generative buds must be guaranteed by a sufficient supply of not only moisture, but also nutrients.

Watering by season

Inexperienced gardeners monitor the plant only until the harvest is harvested, and then they do not care for it so carefully. This cannot be done; after picking the berries, another stage begins, associated with the formation of runners, flower buds, and preparing the plant for the winter. The berry harvest for the next year depends on the quality of watering.

Spring

Before watering, you need to peel the strawberries and check the soil. If there was snow in winter, watering is necessary. After the snow melts, after a few weeks it is necessary to water the plant with warm water. One bush will require 500 ml of water. It is better to water with warm water at the roots. Pests living in the top layer of soil will be eliminated.

From April to early May, strawberries are watered once every 6 days.

Summer

Abundant watering, especially during fruiting period. In July, you should water the plant more often than other summer months, up to 5 times a week.

Autumn

After picking the berries, the strawberries should get stronger and recover before the cold weather. In autumn, strawberries need to be watered several times before the onset of sub-zero temperatures. In terms of dosage, at least 20 liters of water are required per square meter. When watering for the last time, do not over-moisten the soil. If frost occurs, the moisture will cause the roots to freeze. The plant will die.

How to water

Strawberries consist of more than 90% water; in the leaves its content reaches 70%. Only by receiving the required amount of moisture in time will strawberries be able to gain the sweetness and juiciness for which this product is so valued. Gardeners believe that the biggest costs in caring for berries come from fertilizers, organizing irrigation, and watering itself.

Strawberries are not a drought-resistant crop. Plants react negatively to decreases in soil and air moisture. High yields can be obtained if the root layer of soil, about 40 cm thick, is constantly provided with moisture. Even short-term drying out of the soil can lead to a decrease in the size of the berries and the shedding of the ovaries.

In the open ground

Each gardener must determine the frequency of watering adult strawberry bushes in open ground independently, based on local weather conditions. Even if precipitation falls at least once a week, additional irrigation of the beds is still carried out to maintain the necessary soil moisture.

The highest level of soil moisture should occur during harvest. After harvesting, while new leaves are growing, soil moisture should be 20% lower. In order to get as close as possible to understanding the condition of the soil in the strawberry beds, it is better to carry out regular moisture measurements with special instruments. One such device is a tensiometer.

To monitor soil moisture on a daily basis, two tensiometers are used, which take measurements at a depth of 20 and 40 cm. The devices are placed between the rows. The measurement results will help owners of strawberry beds adjust the frequency and intensity of watering. Mulching the soil under the bushes will help reduce water consumption.

In greenhouse conditions

The harvest of strawberries grown in greenhouse conditions depends entirely on human efforts. In the initial period of the growing season, sufficient irrigation can achieve massive regrowth of flower stalks, then full flowering and fruit set. Water consumption and frequency of watering in the greenhouse at the beginning of the growing season should ensure that soil moisture is maintained at a level of 70% NV (lowest moisture capacity). Then, during strawberry flowering, soil moisture should increase by 5%.

During berry ripening and harvesting, soil moisture should be at 80%. It must be taken into account that the air humidity in the greenhouse at the level of the bushes should be high. When the air temperature reaches or exceeds 30 °C, not only regular root watering of plants is carried out, but also sprinkling in the ground layer of air above the strawberries.

Under the agricultural canvas

Spunbond is a good helper for the gardener. When planting strawberries in holes in the agricultural fabric, the need to control weeds and soil crust disappears, work to prevent plantings from becoming thicker is made easier, and the rate of soil drying out after watering is reduced. Agrofibre allows water to pass to the plant roots located under the spunbond and retains moisture in the soil around the strawberry bush.

Therefore, compared to open ground, the need for soil irrigation in strawberry beds is reduced by almost 3 times. When watering strawberries growing under spunbond, it is important not to use cold water. Water spraying is carried out when dryness and air temperature increase.

On the windowsill

Growing strawberries in an apartment is usually carried out in the cold season, when plant bushes cannot be placed on a balcony or loggia. At this time, air heating systems or devices usually operate, which increase its dryness. Not only the drying out of the roots in the soil, but also the lack of moist air in the area of ​​the above-ground parts of the plant are harmful to the yield.

Strawberries can be grown on a windowsill if it is possible to provide sufficient light, temperature and humidity conditions. Watering should be regular, almost daily, so that the roots of the plant can always be in moist soil. To increase the humidity in the growing area, spray the bushes regularly (2-3 times a day). Open containers filled with water are placed around the boxes with strawberries.

Methods for watering strawberries

There are several methods, each of which has its own characteristics.

Manual

The gardener takes a watering can and pours moisture under the bush. This method is good if there are only a few strawberries. The method requires a lot of labor.

Using a hose

When using this device, you do not need to bend down, as with a watering can. It's simple, but there is a risk of uneven distribution of water. Excessive water pressure in the hose can damage bushes, erode the soil, and spread fungus from an infected plant throughout the entire garden.

Drip method

Irrigation is effective because water is supplied directly to the roots, the area between the beds remains dry, which reduces the risk of weeds that are difficult to get rid of.

Drip irrigation is the most effective method in the strawberry irrigation system.

And there are several explanations for this:

• preservation of soil structure;
• water saving: two times less liquid is consumed compared to other types of irrigation;
• the ability to regulate the level of watering: reducing or increasing the amount of supplied moisture;
• the ability to receive watering at any time of the day: this is convenient for those who leave the dacha and do not permanently live outside the city;

• the ability to dilute fertilizers for the plant in water;
• strawberries remain clean, without droplets of water on the leaves and stems;
• simple assembly of devices for drip irrigation at home;
• The distribution of moisture among plants is not affected by wind.

Sprinkling

The process uses special devices equipped with nozzles that act as water distributors, which is supplied from a barrel (tank) using a special pump or other supply source (necessarily with pressure). The method allows you to quickly saturate the soil with water.

Advantages of sprinkling:

• Moistening the soil to the required depth without disturbing its structure.
• Improving the microclimate of a summer cottage.
• Possibility of use on land with complex terrain.
• Possibility of adjusting the intensity of water supply.

But sprinkling has disadvantages that the user should be aware of:

• the gardener bears the cost of electricity;
• risk of compaction of the outer layer of soil, formation of crusts on the soil;
• risk of blurring the end of the plant.

There are two sprinkling systems: stationary and mobile. The first system supplies water through pipes that are located underground at a depth of up to 49 cm, or installed on the ground. Only the sprinklers are visible above its surface. The second system consists of hoses designed for irrigation and equipped with sprinklers. The devices are on the ground. They can be easily moved around the site.

Important! The sprinkling method is best used in areas with rugged terrain and close groundwater.

Drip method

Watering, which occurs using special equipment from tubes, to which thinner tubes with droppers are connected using tees. Water is added to the strawberries in small portions. This watering option is often used when planting strawberries and other plants under covering material. Moisture is retained by the soil and frequent watering is not required.

Important! When properly assembled, a drip irrigation system lasts for many years, which justifies the gardener’s costs. In winter, devices intended for this type of irrigation are disassembled, dried, and cleaned. In the spring, before watering, they need to be cleaned again.

Watering the furrows

Furrows are created around each of the holes at a distance of 25-39 centimeters from the center of the bush. The hole is filled with water.

Benefits of watering:

• Simplicity.
• Instant replenishment of soil with water.

Flaws:

• Risk of root erosion.

Experienced gardeners advise adding fertilizer along with watering. These are fertilizers that are important for the plant. In liquid form, they are better absorbed by plants.

There can be several feedings:

To protect against pests use:

1. Copper sulfate. It is diluted in a dosage of 1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water. The solution will protect the bushes from fungus and mold.
2. Use of potassium permanganate: helps against pests. It is necessary to treat the bushes 2 weeks after the snow melts.
3. Iodine: prevents the appearance of rot on the leaves and stems of the plant. One tablespoon of iodine is needed per bucket. The solution is applied by spraying. Iodine is replaced with boric acid if necessary.

Leaves and stems, protected from pests and harmful microorganisms, create conditions for full flowering. Watering is combined with nutrition.

The main condition for obtaining a good harvest, with the aroma of tasty, ripe, sweet and large strawberries, is timely and competent watering of the plant. If in the summer the gardener does not allow the soil to dry out, fertilizes the plant, monitors its external condition, the harvest of delicious strawberries can be harvested before that time in the season!

Useful tips

Growing strawberries is full of strict rules and numerous nuances. Advice from experienced gardeners will help you get a good harvest:

• Ideal water temperature: +18…+20 °C. If you are lazy and do not heat the water, there is a high risk of developing diseases and rot. Cold water deteriorates the quality of berries and inhibits plant growth. But overheating should not be allowed either - water heated to +40 °C causes thermal burns on strawberries. Although strawberries cannot be watered with water not heated by the sun, there is a situation when the rule is allowed to be broken. Spraying cooling water protects the berry garden from drying out in extreme heat. It is produced through special rain installations and allows you to create a cooling cloud of micro-droplets.
• To protect plantings from fungal diseases during moistening, it is recommended to scatter an antibacterial cushion over the beds. The easiest and cheapest option is to use straw as mulch. Mulch becomes a barrier to fungi, absorbs excess moisture and keeps the berries clean.
• Stop watering in time. At least a few days must pass between the last moisture and the first frost, otherwise there is a risk of the strawberry roots freezing.

Information about watering strawberries can also be found in the following video:

If there is no water in your garden or summer cottage, and the climate does not spoil farmers with rain, you should not even try to grow garden strawberries. This berry needs constant care, including maintaining optimal soil moisture by regulating the frequency and rate of watering.

0

0

Copy link

Watering after harvesting

The temperature of the irrigation water also matters. Strawberries feel most comfortable if you water them with water at room temperature (about 20°). Cold water can negatively affect plant growth.​

​, the advantage of which is its mobility.​

​garden watering can.​

da4nikam.ru

​Before flowering begins, you can safely use sprinklers; after the first flowers appear, the watering method is changed to drip, directing water only to the roots.​

​- 65-70% (for sand);​

​If you dissolve a spoonful of honey in a liter of water and sprinkle the solution on the bushes, these insects will definitely gather on the plantation. By planting different varieties of strawberries nearby, you can create another condition for pollination, when the bushes exchange pollen carried by the wind. High-quality pollination is the key to an excellent harvest.​