How and how to protect strawberries from frost for the winter

It is best to cover strawberries for the winter with agrofibre or other non-woven material. In this case, it is possible to create an optimal microclimate, and the protective layer is not exposed to wind or precipitation. Sheltering should begin after the first frost - usually the middle or second half of October.

Do I need to cover strawberries for the winter?

Strawberries must be covered for the winter in almost all regions, with the exception of the Krasnodar Territory, the North Caucasus and other southern regions. You can’t count on there being enough snow cover because:

1. Winters may have little snow.
2. The weather forecast is not always accurate.
3. In winter, in the middle zone, the Volga region, and the North-West, there may be short-term thaws, the snow will melt, and then frost will set in - the strawberries may die.

There are other reasons why it is recommended to cover the crop for the winter:

1. Drying of the soil. At the beginning of winter, the snow has not yet fallen, but there are strong winds that have a detrimental effect on the plant, as if drying it and the soil.
2. Protruding – Newly planted strawberry seedlings may bulge due to soil freezing (the volume of ice is greater than the volume of water). Then the roots become exposed and freeze, and the bushes often die.
3. Freezing of the roots - if you do not cover the strawberries for the winter, then even a relatively mild frost (below -10 °C), lasting for several days, will lead to the death of the root system. It will be difficult for such plants to recover in the spring.

Strawberries are covered in all regions except the south of Russia

Therefore, it is worth insulating the crop for the winter in any case, even if the variety is frost-resistant and the weather is expected to be snowy. This is not so difficult to do - the main thing is to choose a suitable covering material and lay a layer of a certain height. In the south, shelter is not necessary, but mulching the roots with dry leaves and sawdust will not hurt.

At this time, there will likely be return frosts that can damage the branches. Therefore, you need to look at the plants. If a quarter of the seedlings have new shoots, the protective layer can be removed.

When to cover the berries

You need to cover strawberries for the winter exactly on time, focusing on the weather:

1. If you cover it too early, during Indian summer, the plants will rot, which will have a bad effect on their development (they may rot). The soil will warm up worse and then cool down faster.
2. If you cover it for the winter already during frosts, the roots may freeze and not survive the more severe frosts in December - January.

Strawberries should be covered for the winter after the first frost.

Autumn can be too different even in the same region. Therefore, it is difficult to give specific dates - it is necessary to rely on the weather forecast. The best time is considered to be the second half of November - the beginning of December, when temperatures reach negative temperatures both day and night. If this weather lasts 7-10 days, you need to immediately cover the strawberries for the winter.

In this case, on the eve of laying the protective material, the bed and bushes must be prepared:

1. Remove debris, branches, weed thoroughly.
2. Trim off any wilted leaves on the strawberries.
3. If there are affected bushes, carry out a total treatment with Bordeaux mixture, Fitosporin or another fungicide.
4. Pour over warm water with the addition of wood ash (100 g per 10 l).
5. Loosen carefully after a few days.
6. Wait for the right moment and cover the plantings for the winter.

When to cover strawberries for the winter in Siberia

In Siberia, as in the northern regions, they start sheltering first of all. The first frosts here may occur at the end of September. But there is no need to rush, since in October, as a rule, Indian summer or a short-term thaw arrives. Stable negative temperatures are established in the middle or second half of October: it is at this time that plants can be covered.

When to shelter in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region and other regions of the central zone, you can cover strawberries for the winter no earlier than the beginning of November.As a rule, positive temperatures during the day and even at night remain throughout October; Indian summer can be late. Therefore, the creation of a protective layer begins in early November (less often at the end of October).

When to cover in the Leningrad region

The climate in the Leningrad region and other regions of the North-West is characterized by high humidity and abundant precipitation. Therefore, gardeners can focus on approximately the same periods as in the middle zone - i.e. at the beginning of November. If you cover the strawberries early, they will rot, and in winter they may freeze due to the formation of ice crystals on the stem and leaves.

In the North-West, strawberries can be covered at the end of October

When to shelter in the Urals

The climate of the Urals is somewhat milder compared to Siberia, although early autumn frosts at the beginning of October and even at the end of September are not uncommon here. Therefore, it is recommended to cover strawberries around mid-October (no later than the end of the month). When forecasting weather, it is important to monitor not only the air condition, but also the soil temperature.

How to protect strawberries from frost for the winter

There are several types of covering materials - natural and artificial. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when choosing.

Covering strawberries with agrofibre for the winter

Agrofibre is one of the most suitable materials with which to cover strawberries for the winter. It has a number of advantages:

• affordable price;
• possibility of use on large plantations where natural materials are in short supply;
• allows plants to breathe;
• creates an optimal microclimate;
• does not attract mice or insects;
• does not interfere with the access of light.

The only negative is the labor intensity of the work.For shelter, an arc frame must be installed along the rows with beds at a height of 25–30 cm from the ground or more (it is necessary to ensure that the agrofibre does not come into contact with the bushes). If you cover strawberries without installing a frame, they may freeze in winter: the necessary microclimate is formed by an air “cushion”.

Instead, you can use other artificial analogues - obernite, lutrasil, spandex.

Is it possible to cover strawberries with sawdust?

Sawdust is one of the best options for reliably covering strawberries for the winter. They are accessible, do not fly away in the wind due to getting wet, retain heat well and disinfect the soil, saturating it with organic substances.

To create a protective layer, it is better to take rotted (last year’s) sawdust. If there is only fresh material, it is laid on a flat surface and watered with water, and covered with film on top. Then they wait 2 weeks, after which they can cover the strawberry plantings with sawdust.

Needles, spruce branches, sawdust - the best natural materials for mulching crops

Straw, hay

You can cover strawberries with hay or straw, but then the layer should reach a height of 20–25 cm. This is an affordable material that is mainly suitable for regions with relatively warm winters. The fact is that it does not hold heat and snow well, it gets wet and freezes. Mice and other rodents often make nests in straw. Therefore, in most cases it is better to consider another option.

Leaves

Dry foliage is an affordable material, but it is only suitable for regions with mild and snowy winters - the North-West, the middle zone, the Volga region.In addition, the leaves should be carefully examined for spots and other signs of fungal infections. One more point - if possible, it is better to use the leaves of oak, poplar, and horse chestnut. This is heavy foliage that will not be blown away by the wind.

Spruce spruce branches

Spruce branches are an optimal covering material that holds snow well and provides a normal microclimate even in a frosty winter, thanks to which all strawberry plantings are preserved. But it is not always possible to find spruce branches in large quantities. It is usually used in private farms in the Urals and Siberia.

If you use it for several years in a row, it is recommended to regularly add wood ash in the fall (100–200 g per 1 m²). Also, once every 4–5 years you can add slaked lime (100–150 g per 1 m²).

How to properly cover strawberries for the winter

When covering strawberries for the winter, you should follow several rules:

1. There should be enough material - excess is better than shortage.
2. You need to completely cover all plantings. Winter-hardy varieties should also be insulated.
3. It is necessary to cover not only the bushes themselves, but also the spaces between the rows. Here the soil also freezes heavily in winter.
4. Care should be taken to ensure that the material does not fly away due to the wind, and that it holds the snow well.
5. The height of the layer depends on the material and region, but it should not be lower than 10 cm.

How to properly cover strawberries for the winter in Siberia

In Siberia, it is recommended to cover the bushes with agrofibre and other non-woven materials (with preliminary installation of the frame). You can use spruce branches, sawdust needles. The layer must be at least 15–20 cm in height (it is possible to mix different components).If possible, it is better to surround the bed with boards around the perimeter, since in winter in the northern regions there is strong wind and an abundance of snow.

In Siberia, agrofibre, spruce branches, and sawdust can be used for shelter

How to properly cover strawberries for the winter in the Moscow region

Plantings in the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone can be covered with sawdust and agrofibre. The height of the layer is 10–15 cm. To additionally retain snow, corn stalks are laid between the rows; you can take spruce and raspberry branches.

How to cover strawberries for the winter in the Urals

In the Urals, the shelter technique is approximately the same as in Siberia. A layer of natural materials at least 15 cm high. It is optimal to use agrofibre, securely fastening the frame (winters are often snowy and windy).

Recommendations and common mistakes

Strawberries are a rather demanding crop, so even experienced gardeners often make mistakes when covering them for the winter. Therefore, it is important to strictly follow the recommendations that have been proven in practice for many years:

1. There is no need to rush into shelter: in autumn the weather is unstable, negative temperatures give way to positive ones. The landmark is the first frost, lasting several days in a row.
2. The best material to choose is agrofibre, which you can cover with after installing the frame. This is the most reliable and effective way. Simply throwing straw or leaves of unknown origin is a mistake for novice gardeners.
3. Even the best material is exposed to wind and heavy rainfall. Therefore, in regions with snowy and windy winters, the installation of wooden boards to protect the mulch is required. As for agrofibre, it is enough to simply tie it to the supports.
4. There is no need to rush to remove the covering material.It is usually appropriate to do this in early or even mid-April.

Conclusion

It is necessary to cover strawberries for the winter in all regions except the southern regions. For large farms it is better to use agrofibre or other artificial material. Small beds can be mulched with sawdust, spruce branches, pine needles, laying a layer at least 10 cm high.

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