How to get a good strawberry crop

Is it possible to achieve a good crop of strawberries, what are the ways? Gardeners with experience know how to harvest the fruit. There are a number of secrets how to get a great harvest without using pesticides and other additives.

Is it possible to increase the yield of strawberries?

Based on the quality of the soil, the result will be clear. The site must meet the following requirements:

  • The ground should receive sunlight;
  • The soil must not be oxidized;
  • The fertility of the soil.

For the next year to be productive, the berry should be planted at a clearly defined time. The ideal time is the end of July – the first ten days of August. If planted in the spring, you will not get a high yield in the end.

Each bush is planted in a hole with soil of a small area. You need to make sure that the leaves are clearly placed on the soil, not lower and not higher. In this way there will be instant rooting.

Garden strawberries should be planted at a distance of 6 in. It is convenient to plant the berries in a ribbon way, which implies two rows.

Each other row should be limited to 20 in, and the ribbons 30. Before planting, the seedling should be disinfected with a solution of vitriol.

Tips for planting strawberries in the fall:

How to achieve high fruiting in the open ground

To grow garden strawberries, regular watering is necessary, but without zeal, otherwise the leaves will rot. If it is not there, about a good yield can be forgotten.

strawberry beds

The frequency of watering is easy to determine: if the soil crumbles in your hands, the soil should be watered immediately. When the soil sticks, it is not necessary.

Raw soil is detrimental to the plant. Water about once a week. During the growth of fruits, watering increases to 1 time in 4 days. One plant requires half a liter.

Choosing high-yielding varieties for your garden

The selection of the variety is made according to the parameters:

  • resistance to insects;
  • resistance to diseases;
  • taste qualities;
  • guaranteed results.

Popular species are: Maheraucha, Festival, Red Gauntlet, Rujana, Elizabeth. Of the common varieties it is worth highlighting: Elvira, Zenga Zengana, Bogota.

Each gardener chooses his own varieties, because opinions, like people, are different.

Following crop rotation is a good way to get a great harvest

It is not necessary to experiment with many types of strawberries, it is better to choose three varieties or those that you already recognize. And 20 percent of the plot to leave for new ones. So check the resistance to cold, disease and yield.

A few weeds in the area will not harm the plants, but on the contrary will protect them from the heat. Large-fruited varieties are undesirable to plant after tomatoes and potatoes, otherwise it will be threatened by diseases of these crops.

Approximately 30 days before planting, the soil should be equipped with complex minerals. The soil should compact in a couple of weeks, then you can get down to business.

Shrubs age quickly, so they should not be kept for more than 5 years. To increase the yield, new rows should be planted every year, and after a while remove.

Not all varieties are prone to old age, there are long-livers. Frequent planting of new seedlings is the key to fertile soil and good yields.

Getting rid of unharvested bushes

There are aggressive varieties of strawberries that do not bear fruit, but only occupy the plot. They are easy to see: there are no flowers, empty blossoms are formed, and the berries are small and crooked, despite care. Characterized by powerful growth, they are larger and give more whiskers.

Even one such plant can spread throughout the garden, smothering the surrounding yielding varieties. To improve yields, keep an eye on your beds and find and remove weedy bushes.

Proper Berry Propagation

Plantation is laid with half of their own material and half of the purchased. It is desirable to prepare seedlings at the time of harvesting. In this period, choose the best bushes.

Harvesting the first strawberry crop

If only one berry grows on the bush, but it is large, do not be seduced, as it is inherently bad genetic data.

The most productive will be bushes with an average size of berries, as well as a flat shape. It is necessary to mark such plants, and when they give mustaches, in time to root.

On the new planting soil from strawberries rests about 4 years, from other crops 3 years. Well assimilate bushes in places where previously grew beets and carrots.

Increase fertilization

During the summer, you need to feed strawberry bushes about 4 times with complex fertilizers. This can be phosphorus, trace elements, nitrogen. It is done according to an algorithm:

  1. The first feeding is carried out in the spring. Dry poultry manure or manure is used, which are diluted with water in the proportions 1:20 and 1:10, respectively. Under each plant, 0.26 gallon of the mixture is placed.
  2. The stage of flower emergence implies the second feeding. Digested cow dung or poultry manure is added to the soil, diluted with 2.6 gal of water per 1 matchbox.
  3. Before flowering, apply 0.26 gal of cow manure.
  4. In mid-August, add a solution of manure and poultry manure, for every 10 liters, add half a cup of ash.

Additional actions in the first and subsequent years

Increase the fruiting in the open ground can be achieved by mulching. Mulching the beds in the countryside can be done with pine needles – this will help the plants to breathe.

If there are no needles, you can use grass clippings, straw. After harvesting in the fall, you need to collect the fallen leaves and cover the bushes with them, so that the berries do not freeze in winter.

It turned out to be a big strawberry.

The first years are very important for the berry, so the plant must take root, not multiply, or it will die quickly.

In any bush from which to harvest, whiskers are removed. Each whisker requires a lot of nutrients, so the berries become underdeveloped, watery and unpalatable.

Protection against pests is an important point in growing such a crop. After the last frost, it is necessary to treat each bush with a biostimulant, and after a couple of weeks. This will protect the plant from weevils.

Before flowering, all strawberries can be covered with a special material, thereby closing access to pests. Phytoncid plants with a bad aroma for insects will help: calendula, onions and garlic.

Strawberries are a popular crop grown by thousands of gardeners every year. Alas, not everyone gets a good harvest.

The reason is not following the rules and regulations of cultivation, from the wrong choice of tools, and, to the wrong fertilizers.

FAQs

1. What is the best fertilizer for strawberries?

The optimal fertilizer for strawberries tends to be a balanced one, which means it contains equal amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, commonly labeled as NPK 10-10-10. However, the final choice should be influenced by soil tests to identify nutrient shortages or surpluses in the soil.

2. How do I get more strawberry plants?

Propagating additional strawberry plants can be achieved by allowing the runners (long, trailing stems) to take root. Each runner has several nodes that can develop roots and grow into a new plant. Secure these nodes into the soil with a peg or stone to encourage rooting.

3. How do you grow an abundance of strawberries?

The key to growing an abundance of strawberries is to maintain optimum growth conditions. This includes well-drained, loamy, fertile soil, full sun exposure for at least six hours a day, regular watering, the use of suitable fertilizers, and good pest and disease management.

4. What soil is best for strawberries?

Strawberries prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. The soil must be well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter. Loamy and sandy loam soils are generally the best option.

5. Is coffee good for strawberry plants?

Yes, coffee grounds can benefit strawberry plants by adding organic material to the soil, improving drainage, water retention, and aeration. However, coffee grounds alone cannot replace a complete fertilizer as they lack certain essential nutrients.

6. What nutrients do strawberries need?

Strawberries mostly need three primary nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). They also require some secondary and micronutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and sulfur.

7. What fertilizer makes strawberries sweet?

Increasing the potassium content in fertilizers can result in strawberries that taste sweeter.

8. Is chicken manure good for strawberries?

Certainly, chicken waste can serve as an effective organic fertilizer when cultivating strawberries. It enhances the overall condition of the soil, stimulates the activity of earthworms and microorganisms, and supplies vital nutrients to the plants. Nevertheless, it is imperative to utilize only thoroughly decomposed or composted manure to prevent any harm or damage to the plants.

9. Should I cut strawberry runners?

Cutting back strawberry runners can be advantageous as it prompts the plant to allocate more resources towards producing fruits. Nonetheless, if you intend to utilize the runners to create new plants, you can let them continue growing.

10. Are tea bags good for strawberry plants?

Emptying used tea bags into the soil can add some nutrients and improve its structure to some extent, but it is not a substitute for a fully balanced fertilizer. It is important to make sure that the tea bags are compostable or simply empty the tea leaves directly into the soil.