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Today many gardeners grow strawberries. Despite the fact that caring for the berry is not so easy, the capricious berry occupies increasingly large areas not only in large areas, but also in summer cottages. There are many ways to grow sweet and fragrant berries. In recent years, thanks to the Internet, gardeners have been mastering new techniques.
If you look at where there are the most strawberry plantations, then Finland will be the leader. The climate in the country is quite harsh, somewhat similar to the conditions of central Russia. Therefore, Russians are closely monitoring the results of Finnish agronomists. Growing strawberries using Finnish technology is becoming increasingly popular. After all, it really works, the harvest is excellent. What is unique about the method, what do gardeners need to know in order to avoid mistakes.
About the advantages of Finnish technology
Before finding out the features of growing strawberries using Finnish technology, let's figure out why it is so attractive to gardeners around the world.
Advantages:
- Firstly, on raised beds the soil is rich in beneficial microorganisms that produce oxygen for plants and have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of strawberries.
- Secondly, Finnish technology assumes that the nitrate nitrogen needed by plants does not evaporate, but is stored in the soil under a layer of black film. Plants receive nitrogen in the required quantity.
- Thirdly, and also importantly, weeds cannot break through the film, therefore, the process of caring for strawberry plantings is simplified.
- Fourthly, film, as the basis of the Finnish method, retains moisture throughout the season. But extreme heat can cause the death of strawberries. The drip irrigation system is a necessary element of Finnish strawberry growing technology.
- Fifthly, thanks to the black film, a comfortable microclimate is created inside. The root system is always warm, and this allows you to get a harvest earlier than in ordinary soil. This allows you to plant strawberries in early spring.
- Sixthly, plants practically do not get sick and are not damaged by pests. After all, it is simply impossible to survive under film.
- Seventh, the harvested garden strawberries are clean, without a single grain of sand. The berries are not affected by gray rot.
The essence of technology
What is unique about Finnish technology for growing strawberries? Instead of mulch, gardeners use black film to cover the beds. Strawberry seedlings are planted in it.
It is black film, and not another color. After all, this color attracts heat, warming the soil, and, therefore, creates comfortable conditions in the garden bed. The Finnish technique can be used not only in open ground. Many Russian gardeners use technology created by Finnish agronomists in the risky farming zone. They have adapted to grow strawberries in greenhouses.
Secrets of growing strawberries using Finnish technology for beginners on video:
How the method is implemented
If you study the methods of growing garden strawberries using Finnish technology thoroughly, then there are no ambiguities left for experienced gardeners. But for beginners it will be a little difficult at first.
Let's see what stages Finnish technology consists of:
- First of all, you need to choose a place for the beds. Since the plant is demanding on lighting, sunny areas are chosen.
- After plowing, the fields are leveled and then beds are formed.
- A tape is stretched across the surface, providing drip irrigation - this is the basis of Finnish technology.
- Cover the ridge with black film.
- Seedlings are planted.
- They take care of the plantings and harvest the crops.
Setting the stage
Strawberries are a plant that requires special soil. The berries work best on neutral soil or with a slightly acidic reaction. Strawberries require fertile soil, enriched with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. According to Finnish technology, all fertilizers are applied before digging: wood ash, humus, bird droppings or mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen.
The fertilizer is evenly scattered over the future bed, then dug up. This procedure will enrich the soil with oxygen. The equipment cannot turn around at the dacha, so they dig up the garden with a shovel, and then level the surface with a rake.
The length of the ridge is up to the gardener.After all, each of us has different areas in size. As for the choice of width, it will depend on how many rows of strawberries will be planted. For a summer residence, it is best to use a two-row planting. As a rule, in this case, the bed will be at least 10 cm high, up to 80 cm wide, and the row spacing for ease of care and harvesting will be at least 50-60 cm.
On top of the bed, as suggested by Finnish technology, a mulching film is stretched and secured to the sides of the bed. In large areas, beds for growing strawberries are prepared using homemade or professional equipment.
Preparing beds for growing strawberries using Finnish technology with a homemade bed former:
How to plant seedlings
Preparing the film
Markings are made on the laid film, one line is drawn in the center, and two along the edges where the seedlings will be located. Between plants in a row you need to leave 25-30 cm, depending on the selected strawberry variety.
There should be at least 50 cm between the rows. The entire surface is divided into squares, and cross-shaped cuts are made on the intersection lines. The edges are folded inward to make a 7x7 cm square.
Planting seedlings
If the bed can be prepared using equipment (homemade or professional), then seedlings can only be planted manually when growing strawberries using the technology of Finnish agronomists. No machines can yet replace human hands.
The work ahead is difficult and painstaking. As a rule, seedlings grown in pots are planted under the film. It has a good root system.When planting seedlings, pay attention to the depth of the rosette. The growing point must be left on the surface. The seedlings need to be thoroughly pressed into the soil.
When all the bushes are planted in a permanent place, the drip irrigation system is turned on. You need to watch this procedure carefully, since strawberries do not need excess moisture. They also inspect each bush and check whether the roots are exposed and whether the growing point has gone underground. You will have to add soil under the plants or slightly lift the rosettes.
Features of care
With any technology, including Finnish, strawberries need to be properly cared for. In essence, there are no special differences. Let's look at this issue in more detail.
What do we have to do:
- Water the plants regularly so that the root system does not dry out or become waterlogged. The water is supplied through a drip system and must be warm.
- Feed the plants along with watering.
- It is necessary to inspect plants to prevent diseases and pest infestations. Preventive measures are mandatory.
- Strawberries can have a lot of tendrils, they weaken the plant, so they are removed in a timely manner.
Processing of plantings
Despite the fact that the Finnish technology for growing strawberries has many advantages over the conventional method, the plants can still get sick or be damaged by pests. Any treatments are carried out before harvesting. As a rule, this is done before the flower stalks appear in early spring.
Insecticides and fungicides are used for treatment when strawberries stop bearing fruit. This procedure prepares the plants for next year, paving the way for a rich harvest.
How to feed plants
Garden strawberries need fertilizing like air. The plant throws out a large number of flower stalks, all its energy goes into forming a crop. If the bushes are not fed in a timely manner, the weakened plant will not be pleased with the harvest. Fertilizing is carried out three times during the growing season:
- early spring;
- in midsummer;
- in the fall after harvest.
Features of spring feeding
As soon as leaves appear on the rosettes, it needs to be fed. At this time, strawberries are demanding of potassium and nitrogen fertilizers. It is best to use complex fertilizers specifically for strawberries.
The strawberries are fed a second time when the first berries are set. As an option - complex fertilizers containing calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and other microelements.
Summer nutrition strawberries
June is the best time to feed plants. You will need ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate. The solution is prepared strictly according to the instructions. An overdose can harm strawberries. If you are not confident in your abilities, do not use different fertilizers for fertilizing, but buy special preparations.
The fact is that such varieties form several waves of fruiting.
What to do in the fall
After strawberries grown using Finnish technology finish fruiting, they must be fed with sodium, phosphorus and potassium. There are special fertilizers for strawberries containing all microelements.
Preparing for winter
When the harvest is harvested, the covering material is removed, dried, rolled up and stored. The bushes themselves are examined and removed by patients. For prevention, the garden bed is watered with pink potassium permanganate or Fitosporin.
When the air temperature at night drops to +2 degrees, the plantings are covered with straw mats. In regions with harsh winters, more serious insulation is required.
Conclusion
Finnish technology for growing strawberries is just taking root in Russian spaces. Gardeners who have begun testing it have only positive feedback. There is nothing surprising here, because compared to traditional growing methods, the yield of beds using Finnish technology increases by 20%. That is why more and more Russians are switching to growing strawberries using Finnish technology on an industrial scale.
