Content
Autumn planting of strawberries produced between the end of July and the beginning of September. This period is considered the most favorable for planting work. Gardeners already have enough seedlings and have 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 presence of nutrients. If the soil requirements 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 the spring, and groundwater should be located at a level of 1 m or more.
When choosing a place for strawberries, crop rotation rules 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 cereals.
It is not recommended to plant strawberries in beds where eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, turnips, and radishes previously grew. These plants are susceptible to similar diseases and pest attacks.Planting strawberries after these crops leads to soil depletion and a decrease in yield.
Next to strawberries you can plant onions, legumes, sorrel, and sea buckthorn. In this case, you should avoid proximity to raspberries, cucumbers, potatoes and cabbage.
Wider beds are more difficult to maintain. Difficulties may arise when watering strawberries, eliminating weed and harvesting. Plants are planted in the direction from east to west. This way you can avoid darkening the bushes.
The optimal soil height for strawberries is from 20 to 40 cm. Such a bed will require small sides that are easy to install.
Soil for strawberries
Strawberries grow in light soil that is well moistened. Although strawberries are considered an unpretentious plant, they produce maximum yield on sandy or loamy soil.
Water accumulates in clay soil. The abundance of moisture leads to the spread of rotting of the root system and above-ground parts. As a result, diseases develop and a favorable environment is created for the spread of harmful microorganisms.
Beneficial 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 preparing the soil is digging the beds. To do this, it is recommended to use a pitchfork, which makes the soil looser. Weeds and remnants of previous crops grown in this place must be eliminated.
During this time the soil will settle. If you plant strawberries earlier, their root system will be on the surface.
When the beds are prepared, 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. Choose a cloudy day for planting. It is best to carry out the procedure on a cloudy day, in the morning or evening, when there is no exposure to the sun.
Organic fertilizers
Garden soil does not contain the full range of microelements necessary for strawberry growth. Therefore, fertilizers must be 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, it must first be moistened with urea. If the material is sufficiently rotted, then soil can be added before planting the strawberries.
The content of river sand should be no more than 1/10 of the total soil volume. River sand must first 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 acidity, add a glass of wood ash or a few tablespoons of dolomite flour to one bucket of the planting mixture.
You can use organic fertilizers for fertilizing. A solution is prepared using bird droppings in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting mixture should infuse for two weeks. To prepare the solution, you can use mullein.
Mineral fertilizers
In autumn, when planting strawberries, mineral fertilizers based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be added to the soil. When working with mineral fertilizers, you must strictly adhere to the prescribed dosages. Substances are added in dry or dissolved form.
Strawberries are fertilized in the fall ammonium sulfate, which looks like small white crystals. The substance dissolves well 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 disembarkation strawberries in autumn The last feeding is done 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 plant's immunity.
In autumn, superphosphate is added to the soil, which requires 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 of strawberries.
Treatment against diseases and pests
Garden soil often contains larvae of harmful insects, as well as disease spores. Pre-treatment of the soil will help eliminate pests. Special preparations are used for this:
- Fitosporin. A drug that 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 a week before planting.
- Quadris. The product is used to combat powdery mildew, spotting, and 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 effective against leaf beetles, aphids, thrips and other pests. Intavir destroys insects, after which it breaks down 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. Based on them, a solution is prepared, which is used to water the ground before planting strawberries. The product is effective against cockchafers, spider mites, whiteflies and other pests.
Planting green manure
Before planting strawberries, you can prepare the soil by planting green manure. These are plants that can enrich the soil with nutrients. They can be planted in summer or autumn, and removed after flowering begins. The stems and leaves of plants serve as compost to improve soil composition.
The following green manures are most effective:
- Lupine. This plant has a powerful root system, due to which nutrients rise to the surface from the deep layers of the soil. 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 incorporation into the soil 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, loosens the soil, and suppresses the growth of weeds.
Conclusion
Strawberry growth and harvest depend on proper soil preparation. Before planting, components are added to the soil to improve its composition. This takes into account what crops grew in the garden bed.
Strawberry beds in autumn 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 manure, which is grown before planting strawberries.
The video about preparing the soil for planting strawberries in the fall describes the procedure:
Thank you very much for the recommendations. Everything is very clear and accessible, especially for beginners