How to plant strawberries in the fall

Therefore, casting aside all fears and doubts, let's begin to study the theory of strawberry growing and autumn planting (the correct approach) for error-free implementation. It's impossible to answer this question definitively or briefly; it's necessary to break it down into several sections to describe it in as much detail as possible, without missing a single detail.

Arguments in favor of fall planting

— the harvest is already in summer;

While spring planting will not yield a full harvest and you will have to wait a whole year, and not just wait, but carry out a sufficient amount of necessary work strawberry care.

— reduction of watering in summer;

In spring, the soil contains sufficient moisture for the already formed root system of strawberries, which cannot be said about spring planting of young bushes, which do not tolerate summer heat and dry winds very well.

— the cycle for obtaining the maximum yield is not shortened;

If strawberries of any variety typically have a 3-4 year cycle of full fruiting with the production of large berries, then in the case of spring planting, one year is simply missed out.

— reduction of spring work;

Considering how much needs to be planted in your garden or dacha in the spring, and only in the spring, the work that can be done in the fall should definitely be completed to the maximum extent. This will relieve the pressure during the busiest time of year, when everything needs to be planted not just on time, but on time. Therefore, planting strawberries in the fall (how to do it correctly, video) will be less labor-intensive.

— a more visual selection of planting material;

In the summer, you can also look at your neighbor's strawberries, or visit the plot where you plan to sell strawberry seedlings, try the variety, and take note of the bushes. Pay attention to strawberry variety "Elizabeth 2", because it is unpretentious in care and produces a large harvest.

Selection of planting material

First, you should decide how to obtain planting material, considering three possible methods: seeds, runners, or division. The latter two are the most popular among gardeners, while the first method is common in specialized nurseries with a solid scientific foundation and professional supervision.

We will describe the propagation of strawberries by runners or division of the bush in more detail, noting that to acquire planting material, gardeners, as a rule, use personal connections, rightfully distrusting those offered at the market.

- propagation by whiskers;

If you decide to plant strawberries in the fall, which is entirely reasonable and practical, you should prepare your planting material in the summer. To do this, either in your existing plot or elsewhere, identify well-producing strawberry bushes; the best seedlings will be those from the first row. Allow them to root well and receive sufficient nutrients throughout the summer. To achieve this, stop the subsequent growth of the runners by pinching them. By the time you need to plant your strawberries in the fall (you should carefully study the proper procedure), you'll already have them ready for planting in the fall.

The best option would be to plant a dedicated strawberry bed, intended solely for seedlings, and pluck all flowers from the strawberry bushes in this bed. However, this is the most ideal way to obtain planting material; it can also be obtained from fruiting bushes, provided the above conditions are met. It is also possible grow strawberries in pots.

It's especially important for those new to strawberry growing to trim the runners from the bushes expected to produce fruit throughout the summer. This is constant and painstaking work, but it's absolutely essential if you want to get a good strawberry harvest, especially from everbearing varieties.

- propagation by dividing the bush;

Another vegetative method for propagating strawberries is by dividing a well-developed bush, from which flowers are removed and runners are trimmed throughout the summer. Before planting, the bushes are thoroughly watered and dug up, taking extreme care not to damage the root system. After removing the bush from the ground, you can clearly see the numerous rosettes that have formed. These should be separated from each other, and the roots on each should be shortened to 10 cm.

In addition to the three options listed for obtaining planting material, it is also possible to purchase it in cups and peat tablets, but the manufacturer must be reliable and proven.

Soil preparation

It's important not only to prepare the soil for strawberry planting in the fall (we'll share our best practices on how to do this), but also to choose the right location from the start. This selection should ensure the full development of the plants and abundant fruiting.

The absence of drafts and plenty of sun are the main criteria for choosing a site for strawberry plants. However, it's also important to consider the crop that will be used in the area. Immediately before planting in the fall, it's best to sow the prepared area with onions in the spring, then harvest them in August, thus preparing the site.

In the first year, you can sow the selected area with so-called siderites, lupine and mustard, which will enrich the soil with essential microelements.

The next step, after choosing a site, is a careful examination of the soil. It should be borne in mind that strawberries prefer sandy loam soils with a neutral acidity pH of 5.5 - 5.6.

We recommend:Strawberry diseases and treatment methods, photos

The soil should be light, airy, and thoroughly dug to a depth of 25–30 cm. Weeds and pests should be removed beforehand. Peat soils are unsuitable for strawberries for a number of reasons and contribute to the development of specific diseases.

As a rule, in the middle zone, when planting strawberries in the fall (the correct method is easy to find out under black film), a small amount of sand, ash, 10 kg of humus per 1 m2, 100 g of superphosphate and 60 g of potassium salt are added under the strawberries.

It's also advisable to enrich the soil under strawberries using organic matter, adding humus at a rate of up to 2% of the total soil composition. This will help create light, oxygen-rich soil with sufficient amounts of essential nutrients and excellent aeration properties.

The landing process itself

Strawberries should be planted in well-watered soil, with holes dug in the soil to allow for easy maintenance. Typically, the distance between rows in a bed should be at least 30-40 cm. When planting strawberries in the fall (as is the correct practice) with agrotextiles, as well as under black plastic, it's necessary to mark the locations on these materials first, cutting holes no larger than 15 cm for the vines.

Instead of planting holes, you can use a raised mound for each strawberry plant. Place the center of the strawberry plant into this mound, and distribute the roots, pre-shortened, evenly. It's crucial that the center of the strawberry plant is optimally positioned; it shouldn't be planted too deep, nor should it be left too protruding.

If you're not using film or another material with similar properties when planting strawberries, mulching is essential. The choice of material is quite varied. Using both film and mulch will help make strawberry planting easier and optimize watering.

It's best to water using drip irrigation to avoid damaging the root system and washing away roots when using a hose. Watering should be more intensive during the first two weeks after planting, then reduce and adjust to a more optimal regime, depending largely on weather conditions. Read more Tips from experienced gardeners on growing strawberries.

When planted in the fall, strawberries (as has already been correctly established) have time to take root well, but for the winter they should still be covered with straw, especially if we are talking about the central region, which is quite cold for this crop.