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Autumn planting of strawberries is carried out from late July to early September. This period is considered the most favorable for planting. Gardeners already have enough seedlings and have free time for planting.
Preparing the soil for planting is a mandatory step in organizing strawberries. The further development of strawberries depends on its quality and the presence of nutrients. If the requirements for the soil are met, you can get a good harvest of berries the very next year.
Selecting 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 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 reduced yields.
Next to strawberries, you can plant onions, legumes, sorrel, sea buckthorn. In this case, the neighborhood with raspberries, cucumbers, potatoes and cabbage should be avoided.
Wider beds are more difficult to care for. Difficulties can arise when watering strawberries, removing weeds and harvesting. Planting is carried out 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. For such a bed, you will need small boards that are easy to install.
soil for strawberries
Strawberries grow in light soil that has received good moisture. Although strawberries are considered an unpretentious plant, they give the maximum yield on sandy or loamy soil.
Clay soil accumulates water. The abundance of moisture leads to the spread of the process of decay of the root system and the ground part. As a result, diseases develop and a favorable environment is created for the spread of harmful microorganisms.
Useful trace elements are washed out faster from heavy soil. As a result, plants do not receive the necessary nutrition.
The first step in the process of how to prepare the soil is digging the beds. To do this, it is recommended to use a pitchfork, which makes the soil looser. Be sure to eliminate weeds and the remains of previous crops grown in this place.
During this time, the soil will settle down. If you plant strawberries earlier, then its 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. A cloudy day is chosen for planting. It is best to perform the procedure on a cloudy day, in the morning or in the evening, when there is no exposure to the sun.
Organic Fertilizers
Garden soil does not contain the full range of trace elements necessary for the growth of strawberries. 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, then they must first be moistened with urea. If the material is sufficiently overripe, then it can be applied to the soil before planting strawberries.
The content of river sand should not exceed 1/10 of the total soil volume. Pre-river sand must 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, a glass of wood ash or a few tablespoons of dolomite flour is added to one bucket of planting mixture.
For top dressing, you can use organic fertilizers. On the basis of bird droppings, a solution is prepared in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting mixture should be infused 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 applied to the soil. When working with mineral fertilizers, the prescribed dosages must be strictly observed. Substances are applied in dry or dissolved form.
Strawberries are fertilized in autumn with ammonium sulfate, which looks like small white crystals. The substance is highly soluble in water. Before digging the soil, dry ammonium sulfate is scattered on its surface. For each square meter, 40 g of this substance is enough.
After planting strawberries in the fall, the last dressing 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 plant immunity.
In autumn, superphosphate is introduced into the soil, which takes 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 rows with strawberries.
Treatment for diseases and pests
Garden soil often contains larvae of harmful insects, as well as spores of diseases. Pre-treatment of the soil will help eliminate pests. For this, special preparations are used:
- Phytosporin. 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.
- Kvadris. The tool is used to combat powdery mildew, spotting, 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. Insecticide against leaf beetle, 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 suspensions. On their basis, a solution is prepared, which is used to water the ground before planting strawberries. The remedy is effective against the May beetle, spider mites, whiteflies and other pests.
Planting of ciderates
Before planting strawberries, you can prepare the soil by planting green manure. These are plants that can enrich the soil with nutrients. You can plant them in summer or autumn, and remove them after flowering begins. The stems and leaves of plants serve as compost to improve soil composition.
The following siderates 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 embedding in the ground 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 earth, inhibits the growth of weeds.
Conclusion
Strawberry growth and harvest depends on proper soil preparation. Before planting plants, components are introduced into the soil that improve its composition. This takes into account which crops grew in the garden.
In autumn, strawberry beds are 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 on preparing the soil for planting strawberries in the fall tells about the procedure for the procedure:
