Content
Autumn planting of strawberries produced from late July to early September. This period is considered the most favorable for planting. Gardeners already have enough seedlings and free time to plant.
Preparing the soil for planting is a mandatory step when organizing strawberries. The further development of strawberries depends on its quality and the availability of nutrients. If the requirements for the soil are met, you can get a good harvest of berries the next year.
Choosing a landing site
Strawberries prefer well-lit places where there are no drafts. Such areas should not be flooded in spring, and groundwater should be located at a level of 1 m or more.
When choosing a place for strawberries, the rules of crop rotation are taken into account. Planting is allowed after certain plants that enrich the soil with useful substances. This includes garlic, onions, beets, carrots, legumes, and grains.
It is not recommended to plant strawberries in beds where eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, turnips, radishes previously grew. These plants are susceptible to similar diseases and pests. Planting strawberries after these crops leads to depletion of the soil and a decrease in yield.
Onions, legumes, sorrel, sea buckthorn can be planted next to strawberries. In this case, the proximity to raspberries, cucumbers, potatoes and cabbage should be avoided.
Wider beds are more difficult to groom. Difficulties may arise when watering strawberries, eliminating weeds and harvesting. Planting of plants is carried out in the direction from east to west. This way you can avoid darkening bushes.
The optimum soil height for strawberries is from 20 to 40 cm. For such a bed, small sides are required, which are easy to install.
Soil for strawberries
Strawberries grow on light, well-hydrated soil. Although strawberries are considered an unpretentious plant, they give the maximum yield on sandy or loamy soil.
Water accumulates in clay soil. The abundance of moisture leads to the spread of the decay process of the root system and the ground part. As a result, diseases develop and a favorable environment is created for the spread of harmful microorganisms.
Useful microelements are washed out faster from heavy soil. As a result, the plants do not receive the necessary nutrition.
The first step in the process of how to prepare the soil is to dig up the beds. For this, it is recommended to use a pitchfork, which makes the soil looser. Weeds and remnants of previous crops grown on this site must be eliminated.
During this time, the ground will settle. If you plant strawberries earlier, then its root system will be on the surface.
When the beds are ready, they begin to plant strawberries. Planting work is completed at least a month before the onset of cold weather. Otherwise, the strawberry bushes will die. A cloudy day is chosen for planting.It is best to perform the procedure on a cloudy day, in the morning or in the evening, when there is no sun exposure.
Organic fertilizers
Garden land does not contain the full range of trace elements necessary for the growth of strawberries. Therefore, fertilizers are necessarily applied in the autumn. Their choice largely depends on the quality of the soil.
The composition of heavy soils can be improved by adding coarse river sand or sawdust. If sawdust is used, then they must first be moistened with urea. If the material is overwhelmed enough, then it can be applied with soil before planting strawberries.
The content of river sand should be no more than 1/10 of the total soil volume. Previously, river sand must be heat treated in an oven or microwave. This procedure will eliminate harmful microorganisms.
Peat includes components of plant and animal origin. Its use allows you to saturate the soil with nitrogen and sulfur. Peat is added to clay or sandy soil. Since this substance increases the acidity, a glass of wood ash or a few tablespoons of dolomite flour is added to one bucket of planting mixture.
Organic fertilizers can be used for feeding. Based on poultry droppings, a solution is prepared in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting mixture should be infused for two weeks. Mullein can be used to prepare the solution.
Mineral fertilizers
In autumn, when planting strawberries, mineral fertilizers based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be applied to the soil. When working with mineral fertilizers, the prescribed dosages must be strictly observed. Substances are applied in dry or dissolved form.
Strawberries are fertilized in autumn ammonium sulfate, which has the form of small white crystals. The substance is highly soluble in water. Before digging the soil, dry ammonium sulfate is scattered over its surface. For each square meter, 40 g of this substance is enough.
After disembarking strawberries in autumn the last feeding takes place at the end of October. During this period, potassium humate is used. This fertilizer is of organic origin and allows you to increase the yield of strawberries, stimulate their growth and strengthen the immunity of plants.
In autumn, superphosphate is introduced into the soil, which takes a long time to dissolve in the soil. 1 g of the drug is dissolved in 1 liter of water, after which the soil is watered between the rows with strawberries.
Treatment against diseases and pests
The garden soil often contains the larvae of harmful insects, as well as disease spores. Pretreatment of the soil will help to eliminate pests. For this, special preparations are used:
- Fitosporin... The drug is effective against bacterial and fungal diseases. Before planting strawberries, 5 g of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water, after which the soil is watered. The procedure is carried out one week before planting.
- Quadris... The tool is used to combat powdery mildew, spotting, rot. Quadris is safe for humans and plants, and has a short period of action. For irrigation, a solution with a concentration of 0.2% is prepared.
- Intavir... An insecticide against leaf beetles, aphids, thrips and other pests. Intavir destroys insects and then disintegrates into harmless components within 4 weeks. The drug is available in the form of a tablet, which is diluted with water and used for watering the soil.
- Aktara... The drug is available in the form of granules or suspension. On their basis, a solution is prepared, which is poured over the ground before planting strawberries. The remedy is effective against the May beetle, spider mite, whitefly and other pests.
Planting green manure
Before planting strawberries, you can prepare the soil by planting siderates.These are plants that can enrich the soil with nutrients. They can be planted in summer or autumn, and removed after flowering. Plant stems and leaves serve as compost to improve soil composition.
The following siderates are most effective:
- Lupine... This plant has a powerful root system, due to which nutrients rise from the deep layers of the soil to the surface. Lupine is used on acidic soil and enriches it with nitrogen.
- Phacelia... Phacelia tops enrich the soil and repel pests. This plant can be used for embedding in the ground instead of manure.
- Mustard... This green manure is characterized by increased cold resistance and grows under any conditions. The plant increases the content of phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil, loosen the soil, and suppress the growth of weeds.
Conclusion
The growth of strawberries and harvesting depend on the correct preparation of the soil. Before planting plants, components are introduced into the soil to improve its composition. This takes into account which crops grew in the garden.
Autumn strawberry beds fertilized with mineral or organic substances. The use of special preparations will help prevent the spread of diseases and pests. The composition of the soil is improved by green manures, which are grown before planting strawberries.
The video on preparing the soil for planting strawberries in autumn tells about the procedure for the procedure:
Thank you very much for the recommendations. Everything is very clear and accessible, especially for beginners.