Strawberry Growing Guide

Strawberry, or rather Strawberry Gardening, is one of my favorite berries that I grow in my garden. I have been doing this for 10 years already. During this time there were a huge number of mistakes, but I did not despair. Over and over again I have planted this wonderful berry, correcting mistakes, and finally, I can say with confidence that I can do it like a professional. Believe me, every gardener can grow this berry on his site, you just need to know how. And today I want to share my knowledge with you.

The very first and most important thing is to choose the right strawberry variety that will grow in your latitudes. You must admit that strawberries intended for cultivation in the south will never give a rich harvest in the north. Therefore, take this choice seriously.

You can plant strawberries using seeds or vegetatively, using plant parts, mainly shoots (whiskers) are used.

Strawberries are light-loving plants and require at least 8 hours of sunshine. They prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8. If the soil in your area is mostly alkaline, then you can acidify it a little. To do this, apply organic fertilizers such as peat, manure, leaf compost, sawdust, or try growing strawberries in large containers filled with suitable soil.

Planting strawberries.

Buy disease-resistant plants from a nursery or grow your own seedlings from seeds. Once again, choose the varieties that are most suitable for growing in your area.

In nurseries, you can buy strawberries with two types of root system, closed and open. Closed, sold mainly in cassettes or containers. Those. all roots are in the ground. The entire root system is visible, cleared of the ground. Strawberries with a closed root system take root better. But if you did not find one, then make sure that the roots of the open one are alive.

The seedlings themselves should look healthy. They should have 2-3 leaves. In young bushes, the roots should be light, not black.

Treat the soil before planting. Loosen it, treat it with a product that destroys fungus, mold, insects and their larvae. Apply fertilizer. If the soil is wet, wait a few days for it to dry out.

Sprawling strawberry plants. Therefore, it is necessary to plant at a great distance from each other, about 30-40 cm. The distance between the rows should be at least 70 cm. Otherwise, the bushes will shade each other, and the mustache will intertwine with each other.

Before planting, it is better to hold the seedlings in hot water, about 45 degrees, this will help get rid of pests that may be on the seedlings.

The hole in the soil should be wide and deep enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending it. If your roots are too long, you can shorten them to 10-15 cm. The roots should be all in the ground, but the upper bud (heart) of the strawberry should be level with the ground, not higher or lower.

It is better to plant bushes in a checkerboard pattern, so it will be easier to access them. After planting, be sure to spill the soil well.

Try planting strawberries on a cloudy day or late afternoon.
The planting site must be well-drained. It is better to raise the strawberry beds to a small height of 15-30 cm.

2 weeks after planting, inspect the strawberry bushes, if after rains and watering, the strawberry heart is bare, cover it with earth, and if it goes into the ground, release it.

Leaving after landing.

Mulching.
Strawberries are very sensitive to low temperatures after planting. Therefore, if you planted bushes in the spring, it is better to cover the soil with mulch to a depth of 7-10 cm.Mulch will protect plants from cold temperatures that can kill buds and damage roots and leaves. In addition, mulch helps control weeds and retains moisture.
As soon as the threat of freezing passes, the mulch can be removed.

Watering.
In the spring, so that the roots do not begin to rot, the plants do not need to be watered very abundantly, since the ground is still wet after winter.
In summer, water as soon as the ground becomes dry. Remember that plants need a lot of water when they start to bloom and bear fruit.
The soil in containers dries out faster than soil in the open field.

Fertilization.
Feed strawberries, before planting, before flowering, during flowering, during berry growth and after harvest. After adding fertilizer, pour it well with water so that it reaches the roots. Fertilizers can be applied both organic and mineral.

In the spring we apply fertilizers containing nitrogen, they will help the plant to wake up. Stimulates the growth of foliage and shoots. Before flowering, those that contain potassium, it promotes budding. During flowering, fertilizers containing boron improve yields and reduce the number of barren flowers. With boron we shed the green part of the plant, not the roots. During the growth of berries, we apply fertilizers containing salts of humic acids. After picking the berries, you can apply dry fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium in order to set the buds of growth for the next year.

Pest and disease control.
For these purposes, use either purchased drugs or alternative recipes, which are also very effective.

Growing high-quality, tasty strawberries is quite difficult, but possible. She, like all plants, needs your care and attention. Try my advice. Good luck in growing your delicious strawberries.