Ways to cover strawberries for the winter

Strawberries are perhaps the most popular berry among gardeners. They delight us among the first, with some varieties ripening as early as late May. They have excellent flavor and a wonderful aroma. Therefore, they are used in many culinary preparations, preserves, and frozen. Next year's harvest depends largely on successful overwintering. Therefore, at the end of the gardening season, gardeners across the country begin to consider how to protect their strawberries for the winter.

Features of strawberry wintering

Most berry varieties survive winter well, as long as there's snow. If there's a blanket of snow (at least 30 cm), then in relatively moderate climates, there's no danger.

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The weather has been unstable in recent years, often throwing up all sorts of surprises. Therefore, every gardener must decide for themselves whether to cover their strawberries for the winter. Furthermore, much depends on the region and specific location.

Frost-hardy varieties thrive in Siberia, the Urals, and the North. On forums, for example, Siberians boast of growing strawberries without covering them and consistently enjoying a good harvest. However, it's important to remember that winters in this region are snowy.

Furthermore, the steps taken before covering the plants are preparation for the upcoming harvest. Much depends on the strawberry variety. To ensure good establishment and overwintering, it's best to choose varieties that are well-adapted to your region.

Insulating strawberry beds for the winter will not only protect them from weather surprises, but also prepare them for a smooth transition into spring, laying the foundations for a better harvest.

Preparation for insulation

At the end of summer, strawberries renew their leaves for the third time this season. During this period, the plant accumulates the nutrients needed for fruiting. Flower stalks are formed. Therefore, it is important to help the plant accumulate strength for the winter.

Regular strawberry varieties begin preparing for winter earlier, while everbearing varieties begin later. In the temperate zone, the main preparation activities take place in late August and September.

Important! Do not cover strawberries during this period, as they may rot.

Thinning and renewal

A frequently asked question, especially by new strawberry growers, is whether strawberry leaves need to be removed for the winter. No, this is not necessary. The foliage will provide additional cover under the snow during the winter. However, it is necessary to remove any runners, yellowed leaves, or diseased leaves.

It is important to note that strawberries are divided into types: long-day, short-day, neutral-day and everbearing.

Winter preparation for long-day strawberries begins in late summer, and for neutral-day strawberries, in late September. This is when the leaves have grown for the third time, and fruiting and vegetative buds (from which the runners grow) have formed.

Renewal and division of a three-year-old bush

Typically, the bush grows vigorously in the third year, after which the yield declines. Therefore, such bushes are renewed and replanted in the fall. For this purpose, the old bush is dug up. Numerous side shoots with small roots form around the main bush.

The mother plant is carefully divided, trying to preserve as many young shoots as possible. The mother plant's roots are trimmed with pruning shears. This produces seedlings for the new beds.

Weeding and loosening

After removing the runners and unwanted leaves, they are collected and burned. All weeds are pulled out. The bushes are hilled up. This must be done with extreme care to avoid damaging the roots. A few days beforehand, you can water the bed thoroughly.

Processing and fertilization

Along with hilling, apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (20 grams per square meter). To achieve this, hilling is done twice. After the first application, scatter the fertilizer, and the second, mix it into the soil. The fertilizer granules will dissolve gradually, providing a good spring boost. At the same time, they will provide additional nutrition and support the plant during the winter.

Some gardeners use ash as a fertilizer. Dissolve two cups of ash in a bucket of water and let it steep for a couple of hours. Add 0.5 liters per bush. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not recommended at all or in very limited quantities, as they can stimulate development and growth, and we need the growing season to end.

Step-by-step video:

Insulating strawberries for the winter

Once the beds are prepared for winter, don't rush to cover them. This should be done after the first frosts have passed and the ground has frozen a few centimeters deep. Covering them too early can actually harm the plant. For example, everbearing varieties bear fruit almost until the first frost.

In the middle zone

According to gardeners and scientists, strawberries survive winter well in temperate climates, provided there's a stable snow cover. Therefore, in these latitudes, light cover is sufficient. Once the ground has frozen slightly, the beds are covered with natural materials. Pruned grapevines, raspberry canes, and spruce branches are all suitable for this purpose. Cut corn stalks can be placed between the rows to provide additional snow retention.

Another method is deep mulching. Dry leaves, sawdust, peat, and rotted compost are used. Fruiting and vegetative buds form on a small root collar. This is the area that needs to be kept as insulated as possible. In the second or third year, the plant's roots rise slightly and emerge to the surface; these, too, need to be covered. Fruit tree foliage is not recommended, as it can introduce diseases to strawberries. Walnut and chestnut leaves, as well as pine needles, can be used.

Sawdust

You can also cover strawberries for the winter with sawdust—this is a popular method among gardeners. It's best to use a combination of sawdust and leaf litter, adding a little humus and peat. This will cover the stems, ensure drainage, and retain moisture. In the spring, the fertilizer will dissolve and nourish the plant, while the sawdust will prevent weed growth.

For northern latitudes, other methods are suitable.

In the Leningrad region

A particular feature of sheltering strawberries in the Leningrad region is that groundwater is close to the surface in many areas, a situation that worsens in the spring. Therefore, it's better to create raised beds for strawberries. Moreover, they retain fertilizer better and are easier to insulate.

The first half of winter is characterized by frequent temperature fluctuations, alternating between freezes and thaws. Therefore, snow cover can be unstable. The best insulation method for these latitudes is non-woven covering materials on a frame.

But many use a combination of mulching and covering with spruce branches. They apply mulch with the same mixture described above. When the ground freezes slightly, they cover the bed with spruce branches.

Instead of sawdust, peat and humus, you can use pine needles, and then cover them with spruce branches.

In Transbaikalia

This region is characterized by long winters with cold winds and little snow. Temperatures range from -15 to -37 degrees Celsius. These conditions are unfavorable for overwintering strawberries.

Therefore, the best insulation is an air-dry cover using agrotextiles. However, to be on the safe side, many gardeners dig up the strawberries, store them in the basement, and plant them in the spring.

In Siberia

Unlike Transbaikal, winters in the rest of Siberia are snowy, with temperatures dropping to -45 degrees Celsius. Therefore, even under a deep blanket of snow, strawberries in Siberia can freeze to death. Even if the bushes recover in the spring, the harvest will be poorer, with smaller berries.

Mulching with pine needles and covering with spruce branches is common practice in this region. However, since the advent of non-woven insulation materials, many gardeners have been using air-dry shelters with frames. Since snow cover can reach a depth of up to 2 meters, the frame is made more sturdy, for example, from wooden boards.

Covering material

According to experts and gardeners, the most reliable method of covering strawberries for the winter is air-dry insulation using non-woven materials. Unlike film, non-woven materials have micropores, allowing air to pass through.

This allows the plant to breathe, reducing the risk of rotting. On the other hand, it retains heat well. Depending on weather conditions, agrofibre of varying densities can be used, covering the strawberry plant in several layers. After this type of overwintering, strawberry yields increase, as they experience less stress, overwintering in comfortable conditions.

Cover sequence:

• carry out preparatory work as described above;
• mulch the garden bed;
• a frame is installed for stretching non-woven material: arcs, shields, construction metal mesh, etc.
• When the ground freezes to a depth of a few centimeters, that is, the first light frosts have passed, cover with agrofibre.

Depending on the climatic conditions, the optimal frame type and density of non-woven material are selected experimentally, preferably not less than 50 g per square meter.

There are many ways to cover strawberries for the winter, and everyone chooses the one that is most suitable for their region.