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In recent years, more and more gardeners have been growing strawberries. There are many ways to place it. Traditional berry growing is more suitable for private plots. If strawberries become the basis of the business, then you have to think about profitable growing methods.
One of the methods that allows you to grow a large crop at minimal cost is hydroponic. Strawberry on hydroponics - a relatively new method for Russians. But we can safely say about its growing popularity, because the harvest is obtained all year round. The peculiarity of the technique worries not only young people, but also gardeners who have been working with strawberries for decades.
What is hydroponics
Word "hydroponics"is of Greek origin and is translated as "working solution". The hydroponic substrate must be moisture-absorbing, have a porous structure, and good air circulation. Hydroponic materials for growing remontant garden strawberries include coconut shavings, mineral wool, expanded clay, crushed stone, gravel and others.
Nutrients are supplied to plants through this system. The solution can be supplied in different ways:
- drip irrigation method;
- due to periodic flooding;
- aeroponics or artificial fog;
- deep-water method with the roots completely immersed in a nutrient solution.
Most often, gardeners grow strawberries on a nutrient layer. A solution with nutrients constantly circulates at the bottom of the hydroponics, and strawberry seedlings are placed in special cups. As the roots grow, they enter the nutrient medium and obtain food for the plant.
Strawberry growing technology hydroponics must be mastered using inexpensive varieties. The following strawberry varieties are suitable for beginners:
- Fresco and Mount Everest;
- Yellow Miracle and Generous;
- Vola and Bagot;
- Olivia and others.
Advantages of a hydroponic system
Let's see why gardeners prefer growing strawberries hydroponically.
- Firstly, plants develop better because they do not need to obtain food from the soil and spend their energy on it. All the energy of strawberries is directed towards fruiting.
- Secondly, it makes caring for garden strawberries easier. It does not need traditional processing: loosening, weeding.
- Thirdly, the presence of a hydroponic system does not allow the root system to dry out; along with the solution, the strawberries receive the required dose of fertilizing and oxygen.
- Fourthly, strawberries grown hydroponically do not get sick and insects do not breed on them. The berries are clean and can be eaten immediately.
- Fifthly, harvesting is easy and quick, since the plants are grown vertically or horizontally at some elevation.Any room can be adapted to set up a hydroponic installation for growing strawberries, as long as it maintains the appropriate climatic conditions for continuous fruiting of strawberries.
It should be noted that the method of growing strawberries using a hydroponic system improves not only the yield, but also the quality of the fruit. They contain slightly less harmful substances absorbed by plants from the soil and air. Laboratory studies have not shown the presence of radionuclides, heavy metals, or pesticides in strawberries grown using a hydroponic system.
Compared to the advantages, the disadvantages are not so obvious:
- Professional hydroponic installations are expensive and require constant energy costs.
- A gardener who does not know the secrets of technology may not get the desired result.
Hydroponics at home, gardener's experiment:
Climatic conditions
You can harvest delicious berries at home in heated rooms using the hydroponic method of growing strawberries. You can train right in your home, creating the necessary comfortable microclimate.
Lighting
Strawberries develop well and bear fruit with sufficient lighting. In open ground it has enough natural light. It will not be possible to grow a strawberry crop indoors using a hydroponic system without lighting. In summer, lighting is needed to a limited extent, but in winter you will need powerful lamps, at least 60 thousand lumens. Light for growing strawberries using an innovative method requires at least 12 hours a day, the optimal option is up to 18 hours.
Temperature
Strawberries are a heat-loving berry. In a room where hydroponics is installed, strawberries are grown at a temperature of + 23 to + 25 degrees during the day, with the temperature decreasing at night to + 18 degrees. Strawberries are no less demanding on the air temperature in the room.
Air humidity
Hydroponic systems are installed in fairly humid areas, approximately 70%. This parameter needs to be controlled. When humidity decreases, strawberry bushes may stop growing; at high levels, the risk of fungal diseases is high.
DIY hydroponics setup
Gardeners are concerned not only with how to grow strawberries using new technology, but also with the question of whether it is possible to set up a hydroponic system on their own. Most often this is hydroponics with drip irrigation.
The liquid not consumed by the plants flows back into the pan.
What you need
Hydroponics for growing strawberries can be installed vertically or horizontally, depending on the size of the enclosed space. Let's consider the procedure for horizontal batteries:
- In a large-diameter PVC pipe, holes are made slightly smaller than a pot (about 10 cm) at a distance of 20-25 cm. Thick plugs are inserted into the pipes and connected into a single whole, as in the photo below. The pipes can be installed on a rack, as shown in the photo, or laid at the same level.
- You can use coconut shavings and mineral wool as a substrate for strawberries.
- Pots with seedlings are inserted into the holes.
- A tank with a nutrient solution is installed under the hydroponic battery.A pump is connected to it.
- Liquid circulation in the hydroponic system is carried out using a hose with holes. They pass tubes to each pot.
Vertical hydroponic system
The design of a vertical hydroponic system for strawberries is somewhat more complicated than a horizontal one. After all, the nutrient solution will need to be raised upward. In addition, care must be taken to drain excess liquid.
What to make from
To make a vertical hydroponic system at home, you need to stock up on:
- strawberry seedlings;
- substrate;
- large diameter PVC pipe with a plug;
- container for nutrient solution;
- drill and compactor;
- pump and thick hose.
Beginners will be interested in learning in detail how this system is made:
- The PVC pipe is measured and a cap is placed on one side. Markings for holes are made along the entire length of the pipe and sawed through with a drill with an attachment. The first planting nest is at a height of 20 cm. When planted low, the grown fruits will come into contact with the ground. Pests can climb up the tendrils and flower stalks. All other holes are drilled in a checkerboard pattern in increments of up to 20-25 cm, depending on the selected strawberry variety.
- In a thick hose, small holes are drilled with a drill for watering. They should be located opposite the large holes where the strawberries will be planted. To prevent the substrate from clogging the holes, experienced gardeners recommend wrapping the hose with burlap or a nylon stocking.
- The hose is placed exactly in the center of the PVC pipe, drainage is poured at the very bottom, and the selected substrate is placed on top.
Watering is carried out through a hose.
In this video you can see how to assemble a horizontal hydroponic system at home:
Let's sum it up
Growing strawberries hydroponically is an effective method. It really works not only in large production facilities with professional equipment, but also in small summer cottages.
The main thing is to understand the principle of growing strawberries without soil to obtain a harvest of aromatic berries throughout the year. Our readers often write in their reviews that hydroponics is profitable. For the most part they are positive. There are, of course, negative ones, but most likely the reason lies in the incorrect application of technology, in the mistakes of the gardeners themselves.
