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It is difficult to find a garden that would not be decorated with strawberries. These tasty and juicy berries are easy to grow, but still some gardeners make blunders when caring for plants, especially when transplanting. After all, not everyone knows when it is best to transplant strawberries, or how to choose the right place for berries. And periodic transplantation is one of the most important stages of growing plants, so if you do everything right, the berries will bear fruit well and delight you with the result.
What is a transplant for?
Each new year, plants form an increase. It is characterized by the appearance of a peduncle, mustache, leaves. Depending on the variety, one mother plant can form up to 35 mustaches. The peak yield of berries falls in the second year. By the fourth year of plant growth, growth stops, which leads to a decrease in yield. Therefore, if you do not want to deprive your family and friends without juicy fragrant berries at the peak of the season, strawberries need to be transplanted to another place.
The best time to transplant
The main question that interests many gardeners is when to transplant strawberries. Some argue that this can be done both in spring (in April) and in autumn (in September), moreover, with equal success. But it is important to remember that for an autumn transplant it is better to use young bushes that have managed to form over the summer from the whiskers of old plants. In the spring, you can transplant bushes that you have grown over the winter from seeds in pots.
If you decide to transplant berries in the spring, then you need to do this only in early April.
But still, most gardeners argue that for our climatic zone, autumn transplantation is a more traditional phenomenon. Why? Moderate air temperature and high humidity of rainy autumn days favorably affect the survival rate of strawberries, as well as the rooting of the rosette.
After all, it is these two factors that determine whether strawberries can survive the winter successfully or not. Therefore, when you choose the time for a transplant, remember that it is better to carry it out in September, and not in the spring. But this does not mean at all that you should rest in the summer. After all, preparations for transplantation should begin in August. The earth should be completely dug up and all weeds removed. It is also necessary to fertilize the piece of land on which you plan to transplant the berries. As a fertilizer, you can use manure, with the calculation of 5 kg per square meter, 20-25 grams of superphosphate and ammonium nitrate will also come in handy. At the beginning of autumn, you should directly prepare the holes in which you transplant the plants. It is better to transplant strawberries to a new place in cloudy weather.
After which crops is it better to plant
Choosing the right place for transplanting strawberries in the fall is an important preparatory step that you must take seriously. The first and main factor that should influence your choice is the predecessors. After nightshade crops (tomatoes, potatoes), it is better not to plant berries. The same applies to cucumbers, as well as cabbage, because these plants suck out all the useful elements from the soil, so strawberries will simply not have anything good left after them. Remember also that these crops have common pests with berries. The best option is to plant berries after legumes, cereals or onions. In addition, if the tops of beans and peas remain on the site, do not rush to remove them. After all, it can be used to make an excellent straw mattress for strawberry bushes.
When choosing a site, you must remember that it must have a slope (2-3 degrees). Indeed, on flat areas in the spring, saucer pits can form, which will be flooded during heavy rains. Well, if in winter the site is protected from the cold wind, then a lot of snow will remain on it. The groundwater level should be low.
Transplant technology
When starting a transplant, the first step is to choose the right plants. If three years have passed since the bush was planted, then it will no longer be suitable for us for transplanting, since the result from this will be zero. Biennial plants are in their prime, so the effectiveness of their transplantation will be maximum. Too young plants that grow in your garden for no more than a year will not suit us either. Although for transplantation, you can use annual plants that you grew from the first mustache. Therefore, the propagation of berries with a mustache is one of the most accessible and simple methods. Everyone knows that mustaches appear on the bushes, on which rosettes form. At first, they take all the nutrients from the mother plant, but when 4 to 6 leaves appear on the outlet, it can be safely separated from the bush and planted in a new place. At the same time, it should be emphasized that the strongest rosettes are the first two from the mother bush. Keep this in mind if you propagate berries with a mustache.
Before planting, it is better to cut the leaves, leaving only a couple of leaves in the very center of the outlet. So you can reduce the area of evaporation of water from the bushes, as well as contribute to the successful rooting of seedlings. When you start planting, then remember that the roots need to be pinched one-fourth. Then you should dip them in fertilizer.
Strawberries should be planted in rows. The distance between the bushes should be about thirty centimeters. At the same time, remember that the root collar must be placed at soil level when planting. Do not bury the seedling too far into the ground, but the roots should not remain on the surface. Therefore, gently spread them in the landing hole. After all this, do not forget to thoroughly water the soil with peat. You can also use sawdust instead.
If you plant strawberries with a weak root system, then the roots can be pre-treated with a growth stimulator. Therefore, when you start transplanting strawberries, carefully inspect your seedlings. It is better to show extra foresight and do everything right than to lose later in the season without tasty berries.
Video “How to transplant strawberries”
The recording shows how to care for strawberry bushes, how to transplant it and how to fertilize it.
