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Hydroponics strawberry: do it yourself
Modern technologies make it possible to grow berry crops without using beds and without land at all. The name of this unique method is hydroponics, in this case, strawberries are grown with the help of a nutritious substrate that goes to its roots. Hydroponics technology is most often used in large farms, but experimental summer residents are also able to master this science.
The simplest hydroponic system for strawberries – do it yourself
The simplest hydroponic system is a wick-like device. Plants should be kept in individual containers filled with a mixture of perlite and peat in a 1: 1 ratio. And also for work you will need a synthetic cord, synthetic winterizer and a special nutritional mixture.
Hydroponically grown strawberries don’t need weeding
Steps for creating wick hydroponics:
- At the bottom of the container, place a synthetic winterizer 3-4 cm thick;
- Insert one end of the cord into the drainage hole of the box and lay it in a spiral;
- Fill the container with the prepared perlite-peat substrate;
- Plant the plant so that its rosette is at the level of the substrate;
- Dip the opposite end of the cord into a container of nutrient fluid.
The essence of the technology is as follows: under the influence of capillary force, the liquid flows through a cord directly to the roots of the strawberry. It is best to purchase a ready-made food mixture in specialized departments, since it already contains all the necessary fertilizers and trace elements.
Hydroponics advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the method include the fact that with the creation of suitable conditions, it becomes possible to obtain a harvest throughout the year. It should be noted that hydroponically grown strawberries taste no different from berries ripened in the beds, and at the same time do not lose their useful qualities. Other benefits include:
- No need to spend time and effort weeding;
- Increasing the quantity and quality of the crop;
- Faster ripening of fruits;
- Ability to monitor the state of the root system;
- There is no depletion of the soil, the nutrient liquid can be supplied as much as necessary.
The disadvantages of the technology include only the need for material and financial costs for the manufacture of the system and the purchase of a nutrient mixture. The result of growing directly depends on the skill and experience of the gardener. But if you are planning to seriously start cultivating strawberries on a large scale, this method deserves the utmost attention.