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Experienced summer residents know for certain that not all cultivated plants can be planted after strawberries. This is explained by the fact that the plant greatly depletes the soil, drawing out the maximum amount of nutrients from it. This begs the question, what should I plant after strawberries? What plants will give a good harvest?
In this article we will discuss the importance of crop rotation and the basic rules. You will also learn how to quickly restore the soil after planting this plant. In addition, we invite you to watch a video about what and when you can plant after strawberries.
The importance of crop rotation
A necessary measure in agricultural technology is crop rotation. This means that the next time the plants are planted, they need to be planted in a new place. This applies to both many annual and perennial crops, including berries.
Strawberries can grow and bear fruit in one place for 4 to 6 years. It all depends on the fertility of the soil and the frequency of applying fertilizers to it. After the specified time has passed, the bushes need to be transplanted to a new location.
In view of all of the above, you should take crop rotation seriously if you are interested in a bountiful harvest. You need to familiarize yourself with information about which cultivated plants can precede strawberries, and which can be planted after them.
Thanks to crop rotation, gardeners use the land rationally, which also helps to restore the mineral composition of the soil and its saturation with microelements. Strawberries absorb nitrogen, potassium and various microelements from the soil. Therefore, when growing it, the soil must be fertilized with organic matter and sufficiently loose.
Plants react differently to weeds, diseases, viruses and pests. What can harm strawberries will not harm carrots. This is why crop rotation should be adhered to.
Basic rules of crop rotation
The looseness, nutrient composition, structure, density and structure of the fertile soil layer must meet the requirements of each individual crop. In addition, different plants have their own threshold of resistance to pests, diseases and weeds. The principles of crop rotation are based on knowledge of all of the above points. So, by alternating planting crops, you can maintain soil microflora and the productivity of cultivated plants.
There is one set of rules that apply to the cultivation of all cultivated plants:
- Planting of crops is alternated based on what part of them is used for food - fruits, roots, leaves or berries.
- For the Rosaceae family, the degree of looseness of the soil and the presence of microelements in it play a significant role. Instead of strawberries, plants should be planted that are resistant to diseases characteristic of Rosaceae.
- The roots of this berry go deep into the ground, which means that after it you need to plant plants with a shallow root system.
- Vegetables that will be planted in the soil next year after strawberries must have the ability to restore the level of potassium and nitrogen in the soil.
How to restore the condition of the fertile layer
If strawberries have been growing in one place for more than 4 years, then the plantings need to be rejuvenated. Moreover, they should be planted in a new place. Since, as mentioned above, the bushes deplete the soil, it needs to be revived before planting other crops. How to do it?
- Collect any remaining strawberries and weeds from the garden bed and burn them. Thus, strawberry diseases will not spread to other crops that can be planted instead of bushes.
- Dig the bed deeply, because during the strawberry growing period the soil has become very compacted.
- Before planting other crops, thoroughly weed the area. During the digging process, it is necessary to remove all the roots of perennial and annual weeds.
- Before digging the soil, organic fertilizers should be added to it. This may be humus or rotted manure.
- To revive the soil, you can sow green manure in the beds. Mustard and legumes are best suited for this.
- You can judge what to plant after strawberries by the condition of the soil. Summer residents have noticed that the soil after strawberries is contaminated with various pathogenic bacteria and pests. To improve the soil health, plant garlic or onions in the garden. To repel slugs, you can plant celery and parsley between the rows.
- Flowering plants restore the soil perfectly. If you have enough land, then instead of strawberries you can plant tulips, peonies, garden violets or daffodils.
What not to plant after strawberries
Crops from the Rosaceae family cannot be planted in the place where they grow.Plants from the Rosaceae family include raspberries, rowan, hawthorn, rose hips, strawberries and cloudberries. This is due to the fact that these plants have common soil requirements - it must be rich in organic matter and fertile. And on the other hand, these plants die from the same viruses, diseases and pests.
What to plant after strawberries
Now let's talk about what and why you can plant after strawberries. According to many gardeners, after the berries you can grow greens, root vegetables and leafy vegetables. The best way to restore the condition of the soil is to plant legumes. Why?
The roots of legumes contain bacteria that help absorb nitrogen from the air. Moreover, these plants do not absorb nitrogen from the soil, but, on the contrary, enrich it with this microelement. This way, you will get a good harvest from depleted soil and next year you will be able to grow a bountiful harvest of other crops.
If the strawberries have not grown in the beds for long, then after them you can plant garlic or onions, which cleanse the soil of pests, diseases and viral infections. If the berry has been growing in the beds for a long time, and you still decide to plant onions or garlic on it, then these plants will need to be fed, otherwise you should not expect a good harvest. Depending on weather conditions, all plantings should be watered moderately. This should be done approximately once every 2-3 days. Monitor the condition of the soil and adjust the frequency of watering based on this.
So, after strawberries, the soil needs to be restored. Plants from the legume family contribute best to this.Do not plant plants from its own family after this berry. Otherwise, you shouldn’t expect a harvest. Such actions are useless. If legumes are planted in this area in the first year after the berries, then the next year any other cultural plantings will bear fruit well there. It will be advisable to plant plants from the Rosaceae family in this area only after 5–6 years.
