How to plant strawberries under black covering material - tips for gardeners

Our task is to grow only strong strawberry plants. Selected, all strong as one. The secret to success when growing strawberries is to ensure that all your bushes, as one, embody their 3-year fruiting program without hindrance. And here's what it is:

• you need to plant a strawberry mustache only on time - in July, and at the same time only the most powerful, then in the spring you will have a strong bush of the first year of fruiting, consisting of 2-4 horns, each of which will give 1-2 peduncles;
• the second and third years of fruiting is the time of the maximum yield of the strawberry bush, lush dense bushes have 10 or more horns and, with current feeding and watering, give their maximum yield.

Benefits of mulching

Planting strawberries under a black covering material has a number of advantages:

• The soil, covered with a special material, does not dry out and does not require frequent watering.
• An optimal microclimate is created inside.
• The soil under the film becomes attractive for earthworms, which loosen and fertilize the beds for the benefit of the crop.
• Thanks to the protective material, the sun does not shine on the soil and the weeds do not grow. That is, you do not have to resort to constant tedious weeding.
• Strawberry roots grow better under the film, saturating the berries with all useful microelements.
• It will be easier to get rid of excess strawberry tendrils - they will not be able to germinate into the ground, which means that it is enough to simply cut them off.
• The frost resistance of plants increases.
• Strawberries ripen faster.
• The berries do not have to be washed for a long time, because thanks to the covering material, they will not come into contact with the soil and remain clean.

How to grow in a film correctly

When planting strawberries under a black film, you need to adhere to the general rules for planting this plant. It is worth remembering that the culture is picky about the place of disembarkation, time and soil.

Growing strawberries requires a proper seed preparation procedure. Before planting seeds, they must be properly hardened (stratification). To do this, the planting material is placed in the refrigerator, you need to moisten it beforehand. Further, before planting the seeds, they are dried.

This method makes it possible to plant hardened seeds, which will subsequently bring a healthy harvest. Do not forget to regularly care for the plantings, water, feed. There are no weeds during planting under the film, so no control of them is required.

In this video, you can see recommendations on how to plant strawberries correctly.

Variety of covering materials

There are many types of special covering materials for garden crops. The following are suitable for strawberries:

• Agrofibre. It is considered one of the best materials for growing strawberries. It allows moisture and air to pass through better than others, while protecting from temperature extremes, sunlight and pests.
• Agrospan. Well protects roots from frost, provides air exchange.Its homogeneous structure affects durability - it can last up to 4 years.
• Spunbond. It is a synthetic canvas that is also durable and strong. Has the same service life - 4 years.
• Lutrasil. The material is slightly less resistant to the sun, but it repels moisture well and the greenhouse effect is not terrible with it.
• Spunbel. Lightweight and durable polypropylene fabric that allows moisture and air to pass through.

In principle, any of the listed materials does a good job with its tasks. The choice is yours. Most importantly, keep in mind that it is not recommended to use ordinary plastic wrap. It does not allow air to pass through and creates a greenhouse effect, which can have a detrimental effect on the entire berry harvest.

It is also worth noting that in harsh climatic conditions, it is worth choosing a denser material, and in the southern regions - a lighter one.

Planting technology

Rooted sockets need to be planted in the holes. You can grow seedlings yourself or buy planting material in the store (it is advisable to purchase seedlings in small pots, since it is easier to transplant). An important condition is that each plant must have at least three leaves and be healthy.

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Suitable varieties

The following varieties can be planted under the film:

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• Ruby pendant - a versatile variety that is used both for processing and as a dessert. Dark ruby, shiny, dense and juicy berries, weighing 10-12 g, are easily separated from the bush. With good care, it has a good yield, is resistant to fungal diseases and frost. Semi-spreading bush reaches medium size, peduncles are below the level of the leaves;
• Asia - large-fruited strawberries with high yields, long shelf life at moderate temperatures and medium early ripening. Elongated cone-shaped bright red glossy one-dimensional berries have a sweet taste of delicate red flesh. A universal drought-resistant variety with average winter hardiness, immune to fungal diseases, but suffers from chlorosis, powdery mildew and anthracnose. Bushes are large, wide, with large leaves and thick whiskers (grow in small numbers);
• Alba - a large-fruited variety of early ripening with a high yield, long-term storage at a moderate temperature, juiciness, sweet-sour taste of conical bright red berries. The variety is universal, winter-hardy and drought-resistant, only anthracnose is susceptible of diseases. It belongs to vigorous, densely leafy varieties, the leaves are large, the mustache is small, the peduncles under the weight of the berries can lie on the ground;
• Honey - a non-repairing universal type of medium early ripening, with compact, powerful bushes and a well-developed root system, with strong peduncles, dark red juicy conical sweet-sour berries of medium size. The variety is sensitive to drought and excess moisture, susceptible to diseases of the root system;
• Gigantella - high-yielding large-fruited type of medium late ripening. Differs in round-conical dense bright scarlet berries with a pineapple flavor and strawberry aroma. The bush is tall, the leaves are large, the root system is well developed. Differs in average frost resistance, susceptible to gray rot;
• Marvelous - refers to high-yielding varieties of early ripening. Bushes are tall, compact, densely leafy, with strong and long peduncles. The cultivar is resistant to verticillium and gray rot, but may suffer from purple spot and spider mites in early spring or autumn. Hardy, drought tolerant.

It is also recommended to cultivate varieties Victoria, Festivalnaya, Zenga, Mashenka, etc.

Planting strawberries under black covering material: in spring or autumn?

What time of the year is it better to plant strawberries - in the spring or autumn? There is a constant debate around this issue. After all, both options have their advantages.

It is believed that spring strawberries take root quickly and winters better. However, in this case, the bushes of plants do not always yield a harvest in the first season.

Autumn strawberries (we are talking about strawberries planted in mid-late August in the northern and central regions) will bear fruit by the new season. The disadvantage is that at very low temperatures, not all plants will be able to overwinter.

Hence the conclusion: if you live in the South - calmly plant the berries in the fall. But northerners should make a choice in favor of planting strawberries under the covering material in the spring.

Film selection

The choice of film is influenced by many parameters: color, size, manufacturer. It should be noted that the films on the market are presented in various colors: from transparent to dark brown and black, as well as double-sided, black and white and black and silver versions.

The laws of physics and many years of experience of gardeners speak in favor of black and double-sided films. The transparent film accelerates the heating of the soil, does not cause burns in plants, saves water with the help of condensate, but does not get rid of weeds.

Black film does not have this drawback, because it absorbs the sun's rays. But in extreme heat, it overheats, and plants can get burned. Black and white film has all the advantages of other films.

Thanks to the black bottom layer, the material retains heat and prevents weeds from growing. And the top white layer prevents overheating and burns.

Where is the best place to plant strawberries?

• Juicy strawberry prefers to grow in high and well-lit areas. She loves quiet corners, sheltered from strong winds. The ideal place is a garden bed or an area between low trees.
• Strawberries grow well in soil after garlic, onions, carrots, legumes and cereals.

You cannot plant strawberries:

• after cucumbers, cabbage, peppers and potatoes. It is believed that the berries in these places will not yield;
• in lowlands and places that are constantly heated. Capricious strawberries cannot stand strong humidity.

Testimonials

1. Maria. I have been using Agrospan for a long time. I cover the prepared area, make a straight cut and plant a bush, I refused from cruciform cuts. Minus - every time the leaves begin to become covered with brown spots. But after gradually recovering from the illness (I remove the diseased leaves), the bushes give new healthy foliage, and soon healthy large bushes are formed, on which the jays flock - that's what agrospan won't help from! And pebbles keep the coating from the wind.
2. Andrew. Strawberries just feel gorgeous when planted through mulch (black material). Applied last year. The antennae, although they cling to the fabric, are easier to remove, and there is no need to talk about watering, since the ground is constantly wet, and what pleased the family most of all is that the strawberry is neat and beautiful.
3. Sonya. The covering material is just super! The strawberry is healthy, I rarely water it, no diseases and pests. The berries are incredibly tasty and sweet, absolutely delighted!

Preparatory work

Before planting strawberries, the garden must be prepared. The soil must be dug up and all weeds and any remnants of rhizomes must be removed. After the soil is fertilized. Suitable for fertilization:

• compost;
• humus;
• straw;
• special purchased products.

It is also important to consider the type of soil. Strawberries love chernozem soil. However, not everywhere there is black soil. How to fix the situation? There is an exit.

Sandy soil properties can be improved by adding white clay, peat and organic fertilizers. Experienced gardeners advise adding ash, sand or compost to clay soil.

If a large area is expected for strawberries, it is important to carry out an irrigation system in advance so as not to irrigate each bush separately.

How to plant strawberries under black covering material: technology and basic rules

• After preparing the soil, we proceed to the main stage. It is better to start work in warm weather. Immediately before planting, the soil must be watered and form rows in the garden.
• If you are not going to run an irrigation system, it is best to make indentations between the rows. This will make it easier to care for the bushes. Plant 3-4 rows in each mini-bed, no more.

  

• The soil is leveled with a rake. And then the covering material is attached. For this, heavy stones, bricks, boards, and so on are used. Some people just drop in the edges of the material.
• Then, cuts are made at the planting site of the bushes. Most often these are cruciform incisions, the edges are unfurled, folded under the film.
• Some create small round holes for the fit. But it takes more time.
• About 30-35 cm should remain between the seedlings, and at least 40 cm between the rows.

  

• For planting, dig a small hole, no more than the depth of the scoop. Plant the strawberry bush so that the growth point is level with the ground. The roots remaining on the surface must be sprinkled with soil.

Care after landing

After planting on black agrofibre, you need to care for strawberries in almost the same way as after the usual procedure. But as already written above, it is much easier to care for garden strawberries on a covering material.

In order for agrofibre to last as long as possible, it is not recommended to walk on it. Therefore, you need to do between the rows of the path, you can lay, for example, boards, paving slabs, sawdust, straw, pieces of linoleum. Example in the photos:

For strawberries on black cover material, it is best to use a drip irrigation system. When sprinkling plants with a hose, be sure to use nozzles, because too powerful a jet of water can wash out the soil around the roots. It is not recommended to use cold water; it is advisable to water it with settled water.

Regular watering after planting will help the bushes take root faster. The first two weeks after the event, moisture should be applied as the soil dries out. Then about once a week. But in dry and hot weather, it is necessary to water garden strawberries about three times a week. Water consumption rates are 10 liters per square meter.

Growing strawberries on black agrofibre is the choice of many gardeners who are very pleased with them. If you have not tried this option yet, now is the time to do it. Thus, you can compare an ordinary garden bed in the open field and planting garden strawberries on a covering material, and understand which option you like more.