When and how to plant strawberries in the fall of 2020: propagation methods, planting techniques

Strawberry

Delicious and aromatic garden strawberries are planted in spring and fall. They thrive in a variety of climates and produce fruit successfully. To ensure a good harvest, the berries are replanted regularly. Planting strawberries in the fall is most favorable. Before the cold weather sets in, the bushes have time to establish roots, and in the spring, they receive the necessary moisture and begin to grow. The planting date is chosen according to the lunar calendar, taking into account the regional climate.

Favorable days

Many gardeners prefer plant strawberries in the fall Or even in August. This method of cultivation increases the fruiting rate of the berries. Furthermore, this method leaves gardeners more free time for other tasks in the spring.

The advantages of autumn planting include:

Faster harvest. When planted in spring, the berries are harvested only a year later.
The bushes take root successfully before the onset of cold weather.
In the fall, after the vegetable harvest, space is freed up for planting berry crops in the open ground.
Autumn weather is rainy and moderately cool. Plants thrive in these conditions.
In the fall, there's a wide selection of fresh seedlings. In the spring, the selection is very limited, and not all varieties are available for sale.
Autumn strawberry seedlings are cheaper.
When transported over long distances in autumn, the bushes are preserved better.

The disadvantage of this growing method is the high risk of freezing if the planting time is chosen incorrectly. If cold weather sets in early, the plants don't have time to establish roots. First, the foliage is damaged by frost, then the root system suffers. To avoid this, garden strawberries are planted 1-1.5 months before the onset of sustained cold weather.

According to the lunar calendar

When planning autumn gardening, many gardeners choose the best time based on the phases of the moon. The Earth's satellite's gravity influences the development of all plants. The waxing moon is more favorable for planting and transplanting plants that bear fruit above ground, such as strawberries. At this time, sap rises upward, and the aboveground parts of the plant actively develop. The waning moon is a good time to plant root vegetables and bulbous plants. The New Moon and Full Moon phases are not suitable for planting.

Month	Favorable days	Unfavorable days
July	4, 27, 28	5-20
August	1, 2, 28, 29	3-19
September	24, 25, 29, 30	2-17
October	21-23, 26, 27, 31	2-16

Note!

The most favorable time for planting occurs on dates when the Moon passes through the zodiac constellation of Taurus, Cancer, Pisces or Capricorn.

By region

In the Moscow region and other regions of the central part of the country, strawberry planting is possible in August, at the end of the month, or in September. During the remaining months before the onset of cold weather, the plants have time to establish roots and successfully survive winter frosts. The following year, the berry bush produces a bountiful harvest. In the Far East, strawberry seedlings are planted from early August through September.

The south of the country, in the Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, and the Caucasus, has a warm climate. There's no need to rush strawberry planting. Gardeners begin this work in the second half of September and in October. In Siberia, the cold weather sets in early, so strawberry planting is usually completed by mid-August. The Ural climate is cold and windy. Strawberry bushes are planted here from late July to September 10.

Methods of reproduction

Garden strawberry bushes are usually replanted in the fall. This time is also used to separate the plants if they are growing too densely. During replanting, mature bushes are often divided, rejuvenating them. Bushes between 2 and 4 years old with a well-developed root system are suitable for this growing method. The rosette is cut into several pieces, leaving the growth buds on each.

Mature garden strawberry bushes develop tendrils during flowering. These can also be used for propagation. The number of tendrils depends on the variety and growing conditions. The tendrils from the first plant are used for planting. They are pressed into the ground with a metal or wooden fork. By mid-August, the tendrils have rooted, and fruit buds have formed. After separating from the mother plant, the tendrils can be transplanted into the garden bed.

Planting strawberries

When choosing a site for a strawberry bed, consider crop rotation rules. The best predecessors for strawberries are green manure, legumes, root crops, corn, and celery. Areas previously planted with nightshades, melons, or other berries are unsuitable for planting, as these plants can harbor late blight pathogens. Parsley, marigolds, and garlic are good neighbors for strawberries, as they repel pests.

Soil preparation

To ensure your strawberry yield remains high and your plants grow healthy, it's important to choose the right location. Shaded areas cause small berries and deteriorate their flavor. Therefore, choose a well-lit location for your seedlings. Berries thrive in sandy or loamy soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Groundwater levels should be no higher than 60 cm. Heavy or waterlogged soils are unsuitable for planting, as the root system will rot in such soil.

To improve soil composition:

heavy soil is lightened by adding 20-30 liters of river sand per 1 m²;
10-20 liters of peat per 1 m² are added to sandy soil.

To ensure good flavor, strawberries require organic fertilizer. Fifteen to thirty days before planting, dig the bed to the depth of a spade. At the same time, add 5 to 15 kg of compost per square meter and two cups of wood ash. Another fertilizer option is 10 liters of compost, 1 tablespoon of potassium salt, and 50 g each of urea and superphosphate. After applying the fertilizer, form a raised bed and level it with a rake.

Important!

Before applying fertilizer, soil infested with insects is treated with a solution of Confidor or Marshal.

Preparing seedlings

Seven days before planting, the roots of the seedlings are trimmed to 10 cm and sprayed with antifungal solutions. After covering the root system with soil, the plants are left in a dark, cool room. Immediately before planting, the seedlings are sprayed with water and excess leaves are removed, leaving 4-5. To protect against pests, you can spray the root system with garlic water. To improve survival, use a clay slurry. To stimulate growth, the seedlings are sprayed with a biostimulant solution.

Strawberry planting patterns

Step 20 cm from the edge of the bed. Then make two rows, 60 cm apart. Leave 30 cm between the holes. To ensure adequate root system placement, the holes should be at least 10 cm deep. Step-by-step instructions for planting seedlings in open ground:

holes are dug according to previously made markings;
a little water is poured into each one;
the seedlings are lowered into the holes up to the root collar and covered with the removed soil;
the soil is carefully pressed down around it;
the seedling is watered generously, trying not to get water on the leaves;
When the moisture is absorbed, the soil is mulched with peat or dry humus.

Care and feeding

After waiting a few days after planting, remove the protective covering from the plants. Choose a cloudy day or evening to protect the bushes from the scorching sun. Since the bed was well fertilized before planting, additional feeding is not necessary during the first year of cultivation.

The bushes are watered after the top layer of soil has dried out. If the weather is rainy, irrigation is avoided. In hot weather, pour 500 ml of water warmed to room temperature under each bush. Young plants do not need pruning after planting. A large number of leaves helps strawberries survive the winter. In the fall, carefully inspect the bushes, cutting off all flower stalks and formed runners.

To protect strawberries from insects that overwinter in the soil, spray them in the fall with a solution of 10 liters of water and 3 tablespoons of "Karbofos." Before spraying, loosen the soil, then cover it with plastic wrap for 3 hours. To protect plants from infection, spray them in the fall with a 2% Bordeaux mixture solution. After the onset of frost, cover the plantings with a layer of mulch.

Helpful tips

When growing garden strawberries, don't leave the plants in one spot for too long. Without replanting, the berries become small and their flavor deteriorates after four years. Therefore, the growing site should be changed regularly, following crop rotation guidelines. Some gardeners don't trim the roots before planting. This results in them bending upward in the hole. This reduces the supply of nutrients to the root system. Trimming the root system to a length of 7-10 cm will help prevent this.