When and how to plant strawberries in 2022 with seeds and tendrils

Strawberry

- a very popular and tasty berry, so it is often grown in gardens and summer cottages. It is planted in beds and on agrofibre, and even grown on a windowsill. We will tell you how to properly prepare the soil and plant strawberries in open ground in the fall, spring, and summer in this article.

To avoid buying strawberries for planting, many gardeners grow seedlings themselves. This is not difficult to do, besides, home cultivation allows you to get seedlings of any variety or hybrid, the main thing is to buy good seeds, and they are cheaper than ready-made sprouts! But when to sow strawberries for seedlings in 2022? You need to choose the time for sowing seeds carefully. If sowing is done late, the seedlings will not have time to develop, and if it is early, the sprouts will stretch too much.

Landing dates

It is very important to know when to plant seedlings in the spring, otherwise you may not get berries in the summer. The approximate dates for planting strawberries are:

This is only in theory, but in practice you need to take into account soil conditions and weather. Depending on these factors, the deadlines can be shifted in one direction or another. It should be remembered that in any case, garden strawberries in the spring need to be planted as early as possible.

Answers to frequently asked questions

How often should you pick strawberries?

If you sow immediately in separate containers, then not even once, but in general you need to focus on the growth and condition of the seedlings.

In general, can you grow strawberries from seeds?

Certainly. This is an exciting activity, but quite difficult and expensive.

What soil should I buy?

Regular - for seedlings. It meets all requirements.

How to sow strawberries correctly?

Sowing should be superficial. The maximum is to press down the seeds so that they do not scatter.

What fertilizers are needed?

Liquid universal mineral. Buy 1 bottle of Kemira or Mortar. It will be enough for you for the entire period of growing seedlings.

Site selection and soil preparation

First of all, you need to choose the right place for the future plantation. Sunny areas, not swampy or dark, are suitable for growing strawberries. Small-fruited varieties grow well in partial shade. Ideally, the planting area should have a slope towards the southwest.

Berry bushes bear fruit well in places where parsley, radishes, radishes, beans, peas, herbs, garlic and any flowers used to grow. It is not recommended to plant strawberries in areas where tomatoes and potatoes grew, since a sufficient number of fungi can accumulate in the ground that can destroy the plantation.

Almost any type of soil will do. But preference should be given to soil whose acidity is no more than 5.5-7.5 pH, with a humus content of no less than 2-3%. Groundwater must lie at a distance of at least 1 m to the surface of the earth.

Having planned planting in the spring, it is advisable to plant annual green manures - lupine, beans, phacelia - in place of the beds in the fall. Before frost they will have time to germinate and perhaps even bloom. The first cold weather will turn green manure into real biomass, which will rot before spring and enrich the soil with all the necessary microelements.

In the spring you need to dig up the soil and apply fertilizer. Compost or humus work well. For 1 sq. Two buckets are enough. For better absorption, compost can be mixed with ash (1 cup per 1 bucket).

Planting seedlings in open ground (in beds)

After preparing the seedling and the site, they proceed directly to planting. It is advisable to carry out the work in cloudy weather. If this is not possible, then you need to water the plants immediately after planting and mulch the bed for a week. This way the seedlings will take root better.

If strawberry seedlings dry out during transportation, soak them in water an hour before planting.

How to plant strawberries in beds:

1. Dig fairly deep holes to accommodate the root system. In this case, the roots should not be curled.
2. Seedlings are placed in the holes and the roots are straightened.
3. Sprinkle them with soil and compact the soil well.
4. Water if necessary.
5. Mulch the ground next to the plant.

Mulching the beds

The most suitable material for mulching strawberry beds is straw. It is best to use wheat, rye or oatmeal. This straw is light and loose, which allows air to penetrate to the root system of plants.

Mulching with straw retains moisture and prevents weeds from germinating. It also reduces the likelihood of diseases or parasites.

What to look for when buying seedlings?

Strawberry bushes will take root faster in open ground if they were grown in individual pots. But you need to be sure that the plant was not stuck in a glass before being sold. This can be checked in a simple way: inspect the bottom of the cup; if the tips of the roots are visible from the drainage hole, then the plant is rooted in this cup. You can take it.

It is safer to buy seedlings with bare roots. Of course, rooting will take more time, but we will be confident in the quality of the planting material. High-quality strawberry seedlings look like this:

It is also worth paying attention to the storage of planting material. The roots should be slightly damp. This means that the seller periodically sprayed the seedlings with water.

Inspect the purchased seedlings again at home. If the roots are too long, shorten them to 10 cm. To make the seedlings take root faster, dip the root system in a clay mash. It is prepared like this:

The roots for strawberry seedlings need to be dipped into this mixture. They will be protected from drying out, and their survival rate will also improve.

How to plant strawberry seedlings step by step instructions

Now directly the algorithm for sowing seeds for seedlings.

1. Pour the soil into one container and moisten it evenly.
2. We pour soil into containers where the seeds will germinate.
3. Carefully sow the seeds by surface sowing. Planting step – 2 cm.
4. You can lightly press down the grains, but under no circumstances cover them with soil.
5. Moisten with a spray bottle. The water should be warm and settled.
6. Place the containers in a plastic bag or wrap them in cling film.
7. Place in a warm (not lower than +25) place. Please note that even at this stage it should be very light.

How to plant strawberries in spring

Many people are interested in how to plant strawberries correctly so that they take root better in open ground. Planting technology depends on the growing region. In the Urals and the Middle Belt, it is customary to plant bushes in high beds. The plant is planted at the very top, where the ridge warms up faster, the bushes do not get wet and the crop ripens much faster. In the south, strawberry beds are set up on the field or small trenches up to 8 cm deep are dug.

When determining the distance between bushes, you need to take into account the size of the plant 1-2 years after planting. The limit of root growth in the ground approximately coincides with the size of the crown of the bush. This means that the bushes should be planted so that their crowns do not touch each other, that is, at a distance of 35 cm from each other. The distance between rows should be at least 60 cm. Small-fruited strawberries can be grown as a carpet.

A hole for each berry bush must be dug to a depth so that the roots fit completely into it. The approximate dimensions of the hole reach 20*20*20 cm. Place the seedling in the hole so that the heart is on the surface of the ground. Fill with earth mixture: 1 bucket of earth + 1 bucket of rotted manure + 1 bucket of compost + 1 cup of ash. If the site has clay soil, add peat or sand to the mixture.

Afterwards, lightly compact the soil with your palms, water and mulch the soil. As mulch, you can take seed husks, straw, spruce branches or sawdust.

Planting stages

To grow strawberry seedlings from seeds at home, use a wide, shallow, plastic container. If you choose a transparent container, it will be easier to observe soil moisture and the development of the root system. When there is enough space in the house, it is better to sow the seeds in disposable individual containers. The staged planting of strawberries using the seed method includes: preparation of planting material and soil mixture, planting seeds, caring for seedlings.

Seed preparation

The first thing you need to do when growing seedlings at home is to treat the seeds. It is enough to soak them in a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate, rinse and dry after 30 minutes. For seeds purchased in a store, this procedure is not required, since they are sold already fully processed. The next stage of their preparation is divided into several stages:

1. You need to carefully transfer the seeds onto a damp cloth so that they do not come into contact with each other. Periodically moisten the fabric additionally.
2. Select for planting only those seeds that have already noticeably swollen, but have not yet sprout.

Additionally, it is necessary to examine the type of planting material. Those that are not swollen or have any visible damage are not suitable for deepening into the soil. Most likely, they will not sprout, and if this happens, the sprout will turn out thin and weakened.

Soil preparation

Experienced gardeners and gardeners for planting and replanting summer cottages recommend purchasing ready-made land in stores. It is already ready and does not require any processing, just move it from the bag to the container. You can prepare the soil for deepening the seeds yourself; you will need to mix the following components:

• sand – 1 part;
• vermicompost – 1 part;
• peat – 1 part;
• turf land with - 2 parts.

Combine all components and mix thoroughly; sand can be replaced with leaf soil. The resulting soil must be disinfected; to do this, it must be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or placed on a dense cloth and kept over steam for 20-25 minutes.

Seed planting scheme

After stratification, the planting material is left at a temperature of 20-24*C for a couple of hours so that the seeds get used to the new temperature. Then fill the containers with the prepared soil mixture to ¾ of the volume. The seeds are placed on the surface of the earth at a distance of 2 cm from each other and sprayed with warm water. You need to plant seeds without deepening them; they germinate faster in the light. Cover the top with film material. The temperature is raised to 22-24*C. The first shoots appear on about 13-15 days; the film is not removed immediately. Twice a day it is opened, ventilated, and droplets of moisture are removed from the polyethylene.

Garden strawberries do not like picking. Strawberry seedlings should be planted in a convenient container, peat cups or tablets, so that young plants can be planted in the beds with them without damaging the rhizome. Seedlings from plastic cups are moved into the soil along with a clod of earth. For the development of young animals, light is needed; strawberries are provided with good lighting at a short time of day.

Watering and fertilizers

Strawberries need light about 10-12 hours a day. The room temperature is maintained at 22 degrees. In winter, the days are short, additional lighting is needed for strawberry seedlings, otherwise they will stretch out and weaken.

When the seedlings have 3 leaves, the soil is moistened more often - 2 times a week. The first 6-7 days do not water the sprouts; the fungus can destroy the plants. Over-watering should not be allowed, so water is added in small doses. Use warm, settled water for irrigation; it must be clean and free of chlorine.

Fertilizing is done when 2-3 leaves appear. They use complex fertilizer, Kemira Lux, Mortar are suitable, you can add iron chelate. The composition of the preparations should include potassium and phosphorus and a minimum amount of nitrogen. All products are diluted strictly according to the instructions. Fertilize the plants every 9-11 days. The size of the seedlings is taken into account; for small plants, the dose of complementary foods should be minimal.

It is better to underfeed strawberries than to overfeed them; an overdose of drugs is detrimental to young animals.

Alternative planting methods

In addition to, so to speak, the traditional method of planting strawberries in the spring, there are others. They are more labor-intensive, but in the end the result can be very satisfying in the form of a generous harvest. Next, we will analyze 2 schemes for planting strawberries - planting in tunnels and planting on agrofibre.

Landing in tunnels

You can speed up the flowering and ripening of strawberries by using shelter - film tunnels. This structure allows you to pick berries several weeks earlier.

Let us immediately note that only early varieties should be planted in tunnels. These include Vima Zanta, Sudarushka, Darselect, Alba, Elsanta. The seedlings need to be planted in the same way as described above. Next, installation work begins:

When the temperature under the film rises above 25 degrees, the tunnel needs to be opened. When the temperature drops, the film is lowered to retain heat.

Planting on agrofibre

This method of growing strawberries has a number of advantages: there is no need to weed, the bushes need to be watered less often, and harvesting is much easier. Agrofibre for strawberries can be bought at a gardening store. For this berry, you should take black material with a density of at least 60 gsq.m.

Planting strawberries on agrofibre in the spring goes like this:

Spring planting in open ground for strawberries is fraught with many consequences. Seedlings may not take root, die from unexpected frosts, or produce a small harvest. But, if planting is done correctly, the strawberry bushes will delight you with a good harvest in the first year. In the second and third years after planting, the number of berries with proper care will only increase.

Source

Caring for strawberries for a good harvest

Strawberries are considered to be very demanding and capricious crops. To get a good harvest, you need to work hard. Spring work on strawberry beds must be carried out in stages:

1. Cleaning up old dried leaves. You can rake them. Don't be afraid to pull out bushes. Healthy specimens are firmly held in the ground by their roots.
2. Trimming old leaves and removing rooted tendrils. Each strawberry bush must be carefully processed. Older leaves are darker and may have spots. It is better to cut them with scissors or pruners. To prevent the plantings from becoming thickened, the mustaches must be removed, even if they have taken root. Only the mother bushes should be left.
3. Transplanting the mustache to a new place (if necessary). Strawberries bear fruit well for no more than 3 years. In the fourth year, it is recommended to remove old plants and plant new ones. In order not to be left without a harvest, since the crop bears fruit poorly in the first year, you need to plant several new rows every spring. By the time it’s time to uproot the old strawberries, new ones will be growing.
4. Watering. In spring, strawberries really need a sufficient amount of moisture. It needs to be watered every week if there is no rainfall.
5. Loosening, weeding. The culture loves loose soil. Therefore, around the bushes and between the rows, it is imperative to remove all weeds and regularly loosen the soil.
6. Feeding. First of all, nitrogen fertilizers are applied in the spring. This should be done immediately after processing the bushes. Diluted manure (1 kg per 10 liters of water), bird droppings (1 kg per 12 liters) or urea (2 tablespoons per 10 liters) are suitable. If the bushes look weak, you can repeat feeding after 14 days. During the flowering period, strawberries need potassium. You can use potassium nitrate (1 tsp per 10 liters of water). This amount of solution is enough for 20 bushes. After the end of fruiting, you can distribute complex fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium over the garden bed. It must be dosed in accordance with the instructions.

You can use the ash as potassium fertilizer (1 kg per 10 liters of water, leave for several days). Strawberries respond very well to the addition of fishmeal. It is recommended to use it during the flowering period. Each bush will require 1 tbsp. l. flour. You can pre-dilute it in water or simply scatter it on the garden bed.

Don’t forget about treating plantings against diseases and pests. You can use Fitosporin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or iodine. If there are signs of damage, you should give preference to more effective chemicals, these include:

• Aktellik;
• Fitoverm;
• Inta-vir.

It is best to replant strawberries in the spring and in accordance with the lunar calendar and regional recommendations. It is very important that the threat of frost has passed, but hot weather has not yet set in outside, during which strawberries take root very poorly. Spring crop care is extremely important. It helps to get an excellent harvest.

How and when to plant strawberries in open ground in summer and spring

Tasty, sweet, juicy strawberries, or to be more precise, garden strawberries (this is the scientific name of this plant) are the true reward of a gardener and summer resident who grows crops on his plot. In order for the cultivation and fruiting of strawberries to be successful, it is necessary to properly plant the seedlings in open ground. Read on to learn how and when to do this in spring and summer.

Spring transplant

The productive period of strawberries depends on the variety and agricultural technology. On average, garden strawberry bushes live 10–15 years, but bear fruit well only for 3–4 years. Further, the yield drops even with proper care.

You can move garden strawberries to a new place in spring or autumn. When transplanted in spring, the rosette will have time not only to grow a powerful root system, but also to adapt to other conditions.

If the strawberries have grown, but have stopped blooming and bearing fruit, then it’s time to eliminate the bed. Due to the large number of horns, the soil is depleted, the bushes lack nutrition and moisture. The abundance of tendrils, leaves, and flower buds obscures the plantings, reducing the quality and quantity of the harvest.

It is better to occupy the vacated area with cereals or legumes so that the earth can rest.

It may be different. Two- to three-year-old plants stop bearing fruit, but at the same time form a lot of green mass. Such activity of strawberries may indicate a viral infection. You cannot take tendrils from diseased plants and replant them - they will not produce a harvest. The bushes will have to be dug up and burned. And root the purchased seedlings in a new place.

When a transplant is not needed

If strawberries bear fruit abundantly and produce high-quality berries, replanting is not necessary yet
. Strawberry replanting is not required if the plants are doing well, the distance between the bushes is more than 20 cm, and the berries were clean and large last year. It is enough to cultivate the soil, apply fertilizer, remove the tendrils and wait for the harvest.

Favorable and unfavorable neighbors of strawberries

When planting different crops in the garden, it is very important to take into account proximity and compatibility, because different crops can have both positive and neutral effects on each other, as well as negative ones. Because of the latter, growth inhibition, reduction or absence of fruiting is possible.

Unfavorable neighbors

If you want to grow healthy strawberry bushes and get a good harvest, then you need to protect your garden strawberries from their proximity to bad companions:

Positive neighbors

You can and should plant strawberries next to:

Legumes have a particularly beneficial effect - they help loosen the soil and enrich the soil with elements useful for strawberries. And garlic, onions, marigolds, parsley and sage repel crop pests and prevent some diseases.

Mistakes when growing strawberries

Beginning gardeners need to know what mistakes can lead to a decrease and deterioration in the quality of the crop:

1. First of all, this is excessive fertilization of the soil with fertilizers, especially nitrogen, which provokes the development of the plant crown, which is why the plant no longer has enough strength to set fruit.
2. It is also dangerous to use organic compounds undiluted - they can burn strawberry roots.
3. If the central bud is located deep underground, this can lead to the death of the bush due to rotting of the root shoots.
4. It is also not recommended to plant plants too close to each other - due to strong condensation and insufficient air penetration, strawberries may be affected by gray rot, which will cause the berries to shred.

When to plant strawberries in spring: optimal timing

When is it better to plant strawberries in the spring, in what month? The optimal timing for planting in open ground is determined by weather conditions. The right time comes when the air temperature begins to stably stay above 15 degrees Celsius .

The deadlines differ in different regions of our country:

The listed dates are arbitrary, because weather conditions may differ, so you need to focus on the air temperature.

Also, when choosing the optimal time, the lunar calendar will come to the rescue. The best time to plant strawberries in the spring according to the lunar calendar 2022:

Planting strawberries according to the lunar calendar in 2022

When performing any agricultural work, they are often guided by the lunar calendar. Strawberries also have their own favorable days, on which they sow seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar of 2022, plant seedlings and actively care for the crop. Strawberries are sowed and planted during the growth phase of the celestial body. The moon at this time has the most favorable effect on plants whose fruits ripen above the ground.

There are unfavorable and neutral periods for planting. Neutral numbers include the waning phase of the Moon. And during the Full Moon and New Moon, it is better not to do any gardening at all.

When to plant strawberries in summer

As you know, you can plant strawberries in the summer. But when is it better to plant a berry crop during this period so that it takes root and bears fruit well in the future? It is best to choose a period when the weather is not very hot and not very dry . But since different regions of our country have different weather and climatic conditions in the summer, it is quite problematic to name the exact dates.

In regions with hot and dry summers, it is better to avoid planting in early and mid-summer; the optimal time is August. In cooler areas, garden strawberries can be planted all summer long if conditions are optimal.

Important! If you plant strawberries during a hot, unfavorable period, there is a high probability that the bushes will not take root. Due to the high temperature of the soil and air, the root system will not be able to receive normal nutrition, and moisture will evaporate intensively from the surface of the leaves.

Is it worth buying strawberry seedlings?

If you have extensive experience in cultivating strawberries, you will probably be able to grow seedlings yourself. But for novice gardeners this can be a difficult task, so for the first time it is better to purchase seedlings from well-established manufacturers. Take a few tips from us to help you choose healthy seedlings:

• It is best to buy strawberry seedlings directly from nurseries or at fairs. Avoid purchasing seedlings on the market from private traders, because they will not be able to give you any guarantees, while nurseries will not risk their reputation for short-term gain;
• carefully examine the seedlings before purchasing: their hearts should be strong and elastic, the seedlings should have a well-developed root system, and there should be no damage to the stems, leaves and roots. The color of healthy seedlings is light or bright green;
• the root collar must have a diameter of at least 5 mm;
• There should be no more than three leaves on the rosettes, and there should be no spots on them. Inspect the undersides of leaves for pests.

Step-by-step instructions for planting strawberries in spring and summer

Successful cultivation of garden strawberries begins with a successful and high-quality procedure. In order for the event to be carried out correctly, it is necessary not only to plant the seedlings according to all the rules, but also to carry out preparatory measures. All steps are detailed in the following step-by-step guide.

Note! Planting strawberries of remontant varieties is done in the same way as ordinary garden strawberries.

Selection of planting material

If you want to plant good, strong strawberries and get a sweet and tasty harvest in the future, then you need to be responsible when choosing seedlings. It is recommended to purchase from garden centers and specialty stores that have an excellent reputation. It is also better to buy zoned varieties that are most suitable for growing in your region.

Strawberry seedlings can be:

The following characteristics can help you choose high-quality strawberry seedlings:

Important! You should not choose garden strawberry seedlings with wrinkled, pale leaves or dots on the leaves.

Selecting a location

The importance of choosing a place in the garden for planting cannot be underestimated. After all, if you provide strawberries with comfortable growing conditions, you will be able to get a rich harvest, and the berries will be large and sweet.

The following recommendations will help you choose a suitable place for planting strawberries:

Note! A flat place or area with a slight slope on the southwest side is ideal for berry crops.

Suitable soil

As practical experience in growing the crop has shown, the best option for planting and growing strawberries is sandy loam, loamy and chernozem soils. But at the same time, the soil should be light and slightly acidic! The optimal acidity level of the earth is 5.5-6.5 pH.

Note! Growing a crop is possible on any soil, but it is important to prepare it before planting and then properly care for it.

Site preparation

Garden strawberries will grow in one place for more than one year, so a good start is important for them. You need to prepare the soil and place for planting strawberry seedlings in advance. If you are going to plant in the spring or summer, then in the fall you need to perform the following activities to prepare the bed:

If you have unsuitable soil (swampy, acidic soil, etc.), then you must engage in cultivation, otherwise there will be trouble with the harvest. Depending on the type and characteristics of the soil, it can be processed and improved through the following manipulations:

Preparing strawberry seedlings

Before planting, you need to prepare strawberry seedlings. For five days before the event, it is necessary to place the seedlings in a cool and shady place in an open box.

If you notice that the roots of planting material (PS) are too dry, it is recommended to treat them by soaking them in water for 40 minutes with the addition of a root formation stimulator, for example, “Kornevin”, “Heteroauxin”.

If you have material with a closed root system (ZRS), then as preparation, immediately before the procedure, such seedlings need to be watered thoroughly.

Seedlings with an open root system (ORS) with long roots must be trimmed to 10 centimeters at home.

It is also recommended to dip seedlings with ACS in a clay mash of creamy consistency. The chatterbox will speed up the survival rate of the seedling.

Direct landing

The scheme for planting strawberry seedlings in open ground is very simple, even novice gardeners can cope. But in order to achieve success, it is necessary to correctly carry out all the preparatory activities and know the basic rules and features of the event. So that you can do everything using the right technology, you can use the step-by-step planting instructions:

Growing strawberry seedlings at home

Soil for seedlings

The soil for strawberry seedlings should be loose and crumbly, but not oversaturated with fertilizers.

We offer you several soil options for strawberry seedlings:

• three parts of compost or humus, three parts of garden soil and half of wood ash;
• two parts of turf land and one part each of peat and sand;
• three parts sand and five parts humus;
• one part coconut fiber and one part vermicompost or humus;
• three parts of peat and sand and four parts of vermiculite;
• three parts sand and one part each garden soil and humus.

After you thoroughly mix the ingredients, the soil should be disinfected - baked in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 150 ºC, frozen or spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After disinfection, the soil is placed in a warm place for 2-3 weeks so that bacteria beneficial to the seeds appear and multiply.

Growing seedlings from seeds

You can buy seed material, or you can grow strawberries from seeds you collect yourself. The only exceptions are hybrid varieties - their seeds do not transmit varietal characteristics from generation to generation, so you will have to buy new seeds each time.

Growing strawberry seedlings begins with disinfection of the seed. The seeds are placed for half an hour in a half percent solution of potassium permanganate, then thoroughly rinsed in clean water and proceed to stratification: laid out on a moistened linen napkin, covered with the same damp napkin, then rolled up a roll from this “sandwich”, placed in a plastic container, covered with a perforated lid and keep warm for two days, after which they place the container in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for two weeks. Do not let the napkins dry out - ventilate the seeds and sprinkle them regularly with water, and dry them a little before sowing.

The seeds will be ready for sowing when they swell, but try to prevent them from pecking, because when sowing small sprouts easily break off, and you will wait in vain for seedlings.

Place the disinfected soil for seedlings in a container washed with potassium permanganate solution, compact and moisten it, spread the seeds on the surface in rows at intervals of 3-4 cm using a damp toothpick and do not cover them - strawberry seeds germinate in the light. Cover the container with a transparent plastic lid with small holes for air exchange and place it in a bright and warm place where direct sunlight does not reach - the window sills of western or eastern windows are most suitable for such purposes.

There is another way of sowing seeds, which allows you to combine direct sowing with stratification of strawberry seeds. Disinfected seeds that have not been subjected to stratification are laid out in the manner just described on the surface of dry soil, which does not reach the edge of the container by 2 cm, and a layer of snow is placed on top of the seeds to the edge of the container, after which the container is covered with a lid and placed in the refrigerator for two weeks. In the vegetable box, the snow will gradually melt and draw seeds into the soil, as usually happens in the garden in the spring. After two weeks, the container is moved to a windowsill under bright but diffused light, but the lid is not removed until the first shoots appear.

How to grow seedlings in tablets

Strawberry seedlings from seeds develop well in peat tablets. They are convenient because you don’t need to bother with preparing and disinfecting the soil, and you can skip picking the seedlings.

Peat tablets are placed in a container and filled with water so that they increase in size, after which the seeds that have undergone the disinfection and stratification procedure are placed into the tablets using a damp toothpick. To prevent moisture from evaporating quickly, cover the container with a transparent lid and then place it in a warm, bright place.

You will need to ventilate the crops daily and remove condensation from the lid to prevent mold from appearing on the substrate, but if you suddenly find it, remove the mold and water the area with a fungicide solution. Remove the covering as soon as the seedlings begin to develop their first true leaves.

Frigo strawberry seedlings

In recent years, a new practice has emerged: digging up developed annual rosettes of first- and second-order strawberries for the winter, storing dormant bushes with an open root system in sealed packages at a certain temperature and air humidity, and planting these rosettes in the garden in the spring. The advantage of frigo is that such strawberry seedlings quickly take root and grow in the spring, since during the winter, if properly stored, the normal biorhythms of the plants are not disturbed.

By choosing the timing of planting frigo at your discretion, you can get a harvest by the planned date. In addition, frigo strawberry seedlings take up little space during storage.

Specialists from the UK and the Netherlands, who developed this method of growing strawberries, have already completely switched to frigo seedlings, which are divided into three classes:

• class A
  - seedlings with a rosette diameter of 12 to 15 cm, usually forming no more than two peduncles;
• class A+
  – seedlings with a shortened shoot with a diameter of more than 15 cm, forming 2-3 peduncles;
• class A+ extra
  - the diameter of this seedling is more than 20 cm, it has lateral horns and at least 5 peduncles.

Frigo seedlings also have disadvantages - it is difficult to determine the time of digging out rosettes and to maintain the temperature (from 0 to 1 ºC) and air humidity (90%) required for storage at home. The disadvantages also include the high cost of frigo, although gardeners claim that the price of seedlings is fully recouped due to its productivity.

Growing seedlings in a greenhouse

Typically, seedlings of remontant strawberries are grown from seeds, as well as those varieties that do not form mustaches. You can get strawberry seedlings at home and continue growing them in open ground. Or you can plant mature seedlings in a greenhouse and grow strawberries in it all year round. We will tell you how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse in a separate article.

How to care for strawberries after planting

Proper and complete care helps strawberries to quickly take root in the soil after planting. At first glance, it may seem that caring for the crop is too troublesome. In part, this is true. But this is true for almost any inhabitant of your garden, so don’t worry, because thanks to quality care you can get a strong plant and a wonderful, tasty harvest.

Regular watering is very important for strawberries, especially after planting. The first two weeks after the procedure, it is necessary to water the plants regularly so that the soil does not dry out. And then you need to add moisture as the soil dries. Just like a lack of moisture, an excess of applied water is very dangerous; because of this, plants become weak, and the likelihood of fungal diseases and root rot increases. Therefore, you should not water strawberries too often.

There should be no weeds around the beds, so you need to regularly weed out weeds as they appear.

After spring or summer planting in open ground, it is necessary to mulch . The thickness of the mulch layer is 3-5 centimeters. You can use rotted compost, sawdust, straw, hay.

If your site has poor soil or you did not apply fertilizers when planting, it is recommended to fertilize . For example, you can use the following solution: a tablespoon of the drug “Nitroammofoska” is diluted in ten liters of water. You can also use organic fertilizers, for example, an infusion of bird droppings diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20. A liter of the substance should be applied to one bush.

Note! It is after summer planting that strawberries especially need enhanced care. The successful survival of the plant depends on your care. In the summer, it is necessary to water the plants almost daily using the sprinkling method (in the evening, when the sun has set), and it is necessary to mulch the area so that the roots are protected from overheating and the moisture evaporates less.

Video: how to properly care for strawberries.

The ideal vegetable garden is the one you created with your own hands, investing your efforts and soul. And the strawberry beds planted by you take pride of place on the site. By spending very little time planting garden strawberries, you can enjoy a generous harvest for several years.

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Strawberry predecessors: good and bad

Strawberries have their best and worst predecessors - after one plant it grows and bears fruit better, after others it grows worse or even worse. Therefore, when choosing a place for spring and summer planting strawberries, it is recommended to pay attention to crop rotation.

How to plant strawberries in spring

A classic agrotechnical technique is to plant strawberry seedlings after the end of the fruiting period in August-September. Planting strawberries in spring has its advantages and disadvantages:

Landing dates

The optimal period for planting rosettes in open ground is mid-April. However, the timing is adjusted depending on the climate zone and weather conditions. Temperature indicators will tell you when to plant strawberries:

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Seedlings grown from seeds are planted later than those propagated by mustaches. Warmth arrives in the northern regions of Kazakhstan later. When to plant strawberries in spring in this region?

We will find a clue in the lunar calendar. The best time for planting berry crops in these areas is the second ten days of April. Earlier planting dates are allowed if the seedlings are covered with spunbond before the onset of warm weather.

Strawberry planting dates: YouTube/smoldache

Selection of seedlings

Strawberry varieties are grown from seeds or by rooting. Rosettes have a closed or open root system. Such features affect the period of planting seedlings in the ground:

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Annual rosettes, ready for planting, have two main leaves and one in the bud. The greens look strong and juicy, without spots or holes. The diameter of the root collar reaches 6–7 mm. The light roots have a fibrous shape and a length of up to 7 cm.

An important condition is the choice of variety. The early-ripening Victoria strawberry variety is suitable for spring planting. Planting Victoria in the spring gives a high survival rate of seedlings if you adhere to agrotechnical standards.

Selecting a variety: YouTube/Russian Gardeners and Gardeners Support Center

Preparing the bed

For strawberry beds, a place on a summer cottage that meets the following requirements is suitable:

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To plant strawberries in the spring, prepare the soil in the garden bed in advance. In the fall, weeds are removed from the site and the soil is dug up along with humus and compost. In the spring, two weeks before planting, add mineral fertilizers and loosen the soil again.

Strawberries: planting in spring

Seedlings prepared in sufficient quantities give a start to planting activities. How to plant strawberries in the spring to get the desired result? Choosing the appropriate technology for planting seedlings:

Planting onions in spring and caring for them

Planting strawberries in spring: YouTube/Poleznoe TV

When deciding how to plant Victoria in the spring, they usually resort to the proven method of planting in holes. Only in swampy areas is this variety planted on ridges.

After choosing a scheme for planting strawberry bushes, work begins:

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After completing the work, check the reliability of planting the strawberry bushes - lightly tug the seedling from above. If the plant is planted correctly, the roots will remain in the ground.

Planting strawberries step by step: YouTube/Roman Burov

When to pick

If the plants are planted in separate glasses or pots, there is no need to replant them. But densely sown seeds should be picked when the cotyledon leaves fall off and 2-4 true leaves appear.

You can transfer from small containers to pots with a diameter and height of 10 centimeters. It is necessary to pull out the seedlings with a ball of earth, lightly trim the roots that are too long and place them vertically in new soil of a similar composition, carefully straightening the root system.

Most inexperienced farmers make the mistake of placing the plant too shallow or deep in the ground. The main rule is to keep the neck of the bush at ground level.

After transplanting, do not forget to add a little of any stimulating solution to the soil to strengthen the roots. Further cultivation of strawberries should take place at a temperature of 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Strawberries: care after planting

In order for strawberry seedlings planted in spring to develop, they will need careful care. The plant requires regular watering, fertilizing, and protection from pests. To make strawberries at your dacha happy with delicious berries, the following events are held:

Watering strawberry beds

The root system of strawberry seedlings takes root faster if the soil is moist. But the thin roots do not tolerate swampy soil. Watering is carried out according to the rules:

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The watering schedule is based on the weather. If there is no rain, strawberries are watered every other day. At the same time, observe the appearance of lateral roots near the root collar. When they appear, add soil so that the bushes take root.

A convenient way to water strawberry beds is a drip irrigation system. It allows you to regulate moisture in the ground and prevent rotting of the root system.

Weeding and caring for seedlings

The beds where we plant strawberries in the spring become overgrown with weeds faster than the strawberries take root. Therefore, after each watering or rain, it is necessary to loosen the row spacing.

If strawberries are planted on film or roofing felt, there will be no problems with weeds. But then there will be a problem with insect pests that settle under the shelter.

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Quickly taking root, the bushes send out additional shoots (whiskers) and throw out the first buds. It is necessary to shorten the mustache and pluck the buds so that the young seedlings gain strength.

In the Victoria variety, the ovary is left in the first season. But it is better not to rush with the berries in the first year of planting, so that the plants become stronger and produce a good harvest the next season.

Caring for strawberry seedlings: YouTube/smoldacha

Fertilizing and protecting strawberries

In addition to humus and compost added to the soil, strawberry seedlings require nitrogenous fertilizers for active growth. Fertilizing in spring is carried out in different ways:

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Spring planting of strawberries does not require foliar feeding. The soil contains enough useful microelements for rapid rooting of seedlings and the formation of green mass.

Diseases of strawberry seedlings and their treatment

With good care, strawberry seedlings do not suffer from diseases, but with chronic waterlogging they can be affected by blackleg - rot of the root collar of seedlings, which manifests itself from the beginning of seed germination to the stage of development of 2-3 leaves. Against the background of high humidity, within 4-6 days the base of the stem turns black, softens, breaks, and the seedling lies down.

If the disease is widespread, pick up healthy seedlings in separate sterile containers into disinfected soil, place them in a warm place and protect them from direct sunlight. As soon as they take root, the temperature can be lowered, and a fungicide (Fitosporin, Baktofit or Maxim) must be added to the water for the first watering.

It is inspiring that seedlings growing in peat tablets practically do not suffer from blackleg, since the tablets are disinfected and impregnated with fungicide.

Sometimes, at home, seedlings can become sick with powdery mildew, and then a whitish coating appears on its leaves and stems, which gradually darkens and becomes dense and brown. Affected plants stop growing and die. The cause of infection may be:

• excessive fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers,
• sudden temperature fluctuations,
• air humidity.

To combat powdery mildew on strawberry seedlings, use solutions of biofungicidal preparations - Alirina-B, Fitosporin, Gamaira or Planriz - prepared in accordance with the instructions.

In conditions of low humidity, strawberry seedlings can be occupied by spider mites, which make small punctures in the leaves of the seedlings and suck out the cell sap through them. In addition, ticks carry incurable viral diseases, such as mosaic. They destroy pests with an acaricide solution - Aktary, Aktellika, Karbofos, Fitoverma.

Unfavorable days for strawberries

You can’t plant strawberry seeds on a full or new moon—the seedlings will be rare and the berries will be sour. Astrologers do not recommend planting on days when the moon is in the constellations Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio - strawberries will actively grow green mass, not fruit.

Important!

You cannot plant strawberries during periods of lunar eclipses.

The above dates are unfavorable only for planting. It is allowed to water, weed, loosen the soil, apply fertilizers, and pick up seedlings.

Harvest and storage

Strawberries planted in the spring produce their first full harvest in the summer of next year. Berry picking takes place throughout June. If you plan to process or sell the crop, then the berries must be harvested when ripe. For transportation over long distances, unripe berries with a stand are required.

Place the harvest in small 3 kg baskets. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, and for long-term storage, the berries can be frozen or homemade preserves (compotes and jams) can be made from them.

Remove berries from the bushes as carefully as possible, trying not to cause injury

Now you know how to properly plant strawberries in the spring to ultimately achieve strong, productive plants. If all procedures are carried out in a timely manner and in accordance with the above recommendations, the growing process will bring pleasure, and subsequent care will not be a burden.

Growing methods

Seeds can be planted in different ways. The choice depends on the location where the seedlings will be transplanted. The most practical options for a personal plot:

• into containers;
• in open ground;
• into peat tablets.

With any method, it is necessary to provide the seedlings with good lighting up to 12–14 hours a day. In the room where containers and boxes are stored, the average temperature should not fall below +18+20°C. When seedlings appear, drafts should be avoided and strawberries should not be placed on a cool windowsill.

Sowing in containers

To grow seeds, you can use boxes or boxes made of natural wood, food-grade plastic, and disposable cups. They should be pre-washed and dried, and several holes should be made for improved drainage. A thin layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom to remove excess moisture.

For planting, it is better to use a mixture of coarse sand, peat and vermicompost. For late varieties, add a third of turf soil and dilute the soil with vermiculite. Before use, its composition is spilled with boiling water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy fungal spores, pathogens, and pest larvae.

Thin grooves are made in slightly compacted soil into which the prepared seeds are sown. They do not need to be sprinkled with soil mixture or buried with fingers. The containers are covered with a transparent film without a pattern or glass, and additionally illuminated for 10–12 hours. The first shoots appear after 7–10 days.

Planting in tablets

In specialized stores you can purchase peat tablets for planting strawberry seeds. They contain useful microelements and accelerate germination and formation of the root system. They make the gardener’s work easier, eliminating the need to make and disinfect the soil.

Algorithm for working with peat tablets:

• Soak them in warm water for a few minutes.
• After increasing in volume, the tablets are transferred to containers with low sides.
• Place 1-3 strawberry seeds on each piece of peat, pressing lightly with your finger.
• The boxes are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.

Peat increases the soil temperature, warms the seeds, and accelerates the emergence of seedlings. As the tablets dry, they are sprayed to maintain humidity in the greenhouse.

Figro technique

The agricultural method is rarely used in domestic practice, but is well suited for growing strawberries in cold regions. Young seedlings are carefully dug up with roots and wrapped in tight packaging. Planting material is placed in containers until spring and sent for storage in a room with high humidity.

After planting in the ground, seedlings germinate faster and produce a harvest of berries in the new year. But the Figro method is not economically profitable for small farms: it is difficult to create ideal conditions for storage. It is recommended when transporting strawberry bushes for sale to another region.

Planting strawberries in a hole

Strawberry bushes are usually planted in holes. To do this, you need to make a hole 10 cm deep. If you did not apply fertilizer in advance, you can do this at this stage. A small amount of ash and humus is poured into the bottom of the hole, then sprinkled with a small layer of earth. Seedlings are planted on top.

If you are planting strawberries with bare roots, then you need to straighten the roots so that they are not tied in a knot, do not look like a tangle, or bend to the side. If the seedling was purchased with soil, it must be planted directly in this soil.

Pay special attention to the seating level. The upper and lower parts should be located evenly in the ground, that is, the roots should not be open and the above-ground bushes of the plant should not be buried under the ground. The place called the “heart”, that is, the transition from the plant to the root in the form of a compaction, should be at soil level.

Distance between strawberries when planting

The distance between strawberry bushes should be about 30 cm. The distance between two adjacent beds should be 40-70 cm.

It is also recommended to mulch the soil after planting and place a layer of mulch or humus on top.