Not every region can boast of an early warm spring. Using the technology of planting strawberry seedlings under film, it is possible to achieve best results, accelerating the harvest 2-3 weeks earlier.
Advantages and disadvantages
The technique of planting strawberries under film is called “Finnish”. With its help you can get clean berries without damage from slugs and other insects in the ground. There are many advantages to using film for planting strawberries:
- There is no need to weed the beds. Weeds do not grow through the film, so the plantings remain clean all season. Only the “selected” lucky ones will be able to grow through the holes next to the strawberry bushes; removing them is not difficult. Growing and caring for strawberries on film is incomparably easier.
- You can water much less often. Usually, perforated hoses are laid under the film, allowing for drip irrigation. Covered soil dries out much more slowly, which reduces water consumption when planting strawberries under film by several times.
- The berries do not come into contact with the soil. This protects them from dirt during watering and during rains, as well as from pests. If slugs enter the area, it is much easier to collect them from the film. Diseases that spread to berries from the soil will also remain under the film. Early strawberry under the film it always turns out very clean and beautiful.
- The mustache does not take root. You can freely remove them, or carefully cut them to expand the plantation. In this regard, film for mulching strawberries also makes the gardener’s work easier.
Among the disadvantages is the impossibility or undesirability of planting strawberries under film in the fall. At this time, manure or other organic matter is added to the soil, and the soil is covered with a film to protect it from drying out. It is recommended to plant young bushes in pre-prepared beds either in the summer - early August, or in early spring.
Some people tend to consider the need to buy film and hoses for drip irrigation. However, these materials last for many years and pay for themselves quite quickly, so the number of supporters of the method is only increasing every year.
Durable and lightweight material has become so firmly established among agricultural enterprises that today manufacturers offer specialized bed formers with a film layer for strawberries, facilitating the planting process over large areas.
The benefits can only be fully appreciated in practice, because personal experience always more valuable. And since it is recommended to plant young bushes for the first time on rested soil (empty for 1-2 years), it is from this bed that it is most convenient to start testing the method. Even one year is able to demonstrate all the nuances, which will allow you to completely switch to this agricultural technology or abandon it.
How to choose a film
There are several types of films on sale used to cover beds:
- Black and black-and-white film for strawberries, 40-50 microns thick. It can be purchased in specialized stores for gardeners, as well as in construction stores. The material is quite versatile and is sold in rolls of various widths. Black color was not chosen by chance, since it heats up more than any other in the sun. It's better to choose black and white version. This film is laid with the black side down and the white side up. The black bottom warms the soil well and prevents weeds from growing. The white top does not overheat in the sun and does not burn the strawberry leaves when the weather is too hot.
- Film with holes made for planting strawberries. This is a completely ready-to-use material. If you still have to tinker with ordinary film, cutting holes for bushes, here the manufacturer has already taken care of high precision distances between individual holes in rows and row spacing.
- Mulching film for strawberries with perforation more than 60 microns thick Guaranteed to last for several years. This is very convenient, because strawberries can grow in one place for several years, after which they are completely removed. At the end of the season, the film is inspected for damage, after which the remaining intact and undamaged strips can be reused.
The most commonly used weed film for strawberries is 1.6 or 3.2 m wide. The second option is cut lengthwise into two strips, but a wide ridge can be formed if desired. The width of a standard bed is 1 m, and the remaining overlaps are used to secure the film from being blown away by the wind.
How to properly plant strawberries under black film (step-by-step method)
The sequence of planting strawberries under film looks like this:
- Soil preparation. Before planting strawberries on black film, prepare the soil. It must be carefully dug up, loosened, enriched with humus or organic matter. If the soil is too heavy and loamy, then add some sand to improve aeration. This work is carried out in the fall so that young seedlings can be planted in the spring.
- Marking future beds. Planting strawberries is carried out on average with row spacing of 50 cm, and the distance between individual plants in a row - from 35 cm. You can bring two ridges closer together, but then there should be free passages on both sides of them.
- Stretch watering hoses. It is better to bury them at a shallow depth along the planting line, stepping back a little to the side. Thus, the water will flow exactly where it is needed, without spreading to the sides of the plantings.
- Laying out beds. It all depends on exactly how you decide to attach the film. You can press it along the ends with metal pins, punching them through pre-prepared squares of linoleum or foam. They use digging in narrow trenches along the beds, as well as any weighting agents available to the gardener.
- Planting strawberries under film. If the material is perforated, then simply fill the holes with seedlings. If there are no holes, then we mark the locations of the holes using a measuring tape or a previously prepared standard (a stick 35 cm long or more). Cross-shaped slits are made with a sharp knife. The edges are folded inward. You should get holes with a diameter of about 15 cm - no more.
- First watering- are performed immediately, and subsequent ones will be required once a week - no more often. If in a given area it rains all summer and spring with stable regularity, then artificial irrigation may not be required at all.
At this point, the care process can be considered completed. Watering with periodic additions of fertilizers and timely collection of ripe berries is all that needs to be done on the site. When the time comes (August), the strongest of the remaining tendrils are cut off for rooting in the selected bed.
When wondering how to plant strawberries under black film in the fall, it is worth considering that plants need a certain time to take root in a new place. On average, it takes about 2 months for one bush to develop a healthy and strong root ball. If you carry out this work in August, then there will be enough time. Later, there is much less heat and sun, which means there is a high risk of losing all the seedlings after the first severe frost.
High-quality covering material lasts for more than one season. If you walk on the film in soft shoes or barefoot, then it is not at all in danger of being damaged. Having spent once on all the beds, in the future you can transfer the film as the plantations move from one place to another. No environmental damage summer cottage or agricultural land such material does not apply.
Garden strawberries, also known as strawberries, are one of the most favorite berries for summer residents. Almost all gardeners grow strawberries on their plots. All kinds of preparations are made from it: jam, strawberries, grated with sugar. The berry also has healing properties. Every summer resident knows that growing strawberries is not easy. You have to put in a lot of work. This includes watering, cutting the tendrils, and weeding. But there is one way not to bother yourself especially, not to stand hunched over the garden bed almost every day. This is growing strawberries under a special black covering material.
Disadvantages of growing strawberries without shelter
Let us remind you that planting strawberries is not easy. Gardeners constantly face some difficulties when planting berries. The first difficulty is the weeds. These harmful plants not only take away nutrients from the plants, but also take moisture from the planted sprouts, thereby preventing them from growing. The second difficulty is the mustache. These are long shoots of strawberries that allow the bushes to reproduce. Sometimes there are so many of them that summer residents do not have time to keep track of the growth of the berries. Because of this, the berries are small and completely tasteless. Today there are new varieties of berries without whiskers. But not every gardener may like their taste.
Harmful insects that interfere with the full growth of strawberry bushes are one of the biggest problems for gardeners. Most of the damage to plants is caused by slugs. These creatures are capable of destroying almost the entire crop garden strawberries. They eat leaves and berries. Even the largest leaves.
Fight slugs with chemical substances Not recommended. Chemicals that get into the soil can seriously poison the berries. When ripening, strawberries will accumulate harmful substances. Therefore, it cannot be eaten. The material will help cope with such difficulties when planting bushes.
Advantages of black material
Black material has a lot of useful features for the strawberry harvest:
- The material prevents abundant weed growth. A weed, like any other plant, needs sunlight. However, the covering film is not afraid of the sun's rays. Thanks to this advantage, weeds under the material cannot grow profusely. The only place where the weed has the opportunity to grow is in the cut-out areas, specially prepared on film for planting bushes. For an amateur gardener, this drawback will seem very insignificant.
- The soil under the film always remains slightly moist. Gardeners don't need to worry about frequent watering strawberries Moisture under the black special material does not dry out immediately. She will be delayed. This process is very convenient on the hottest days.
- The taste quality of the berries increases. Since the berries on strawberry bushes do not touch the ground, they do not rot or get sick. They are not afraid of various pests and always remain very clean. At the same time, the berries become larger. This means that you can reap a large harvest from one bush.
- The latest feature of covering material for planting strawberry bushes– this is a convenient way to remove strawberry mustaches. They will not be able to take root, as they will lie on the surface of the film. This will ensure control over their growth. Removing the mustache will be much more convenient than doing it in the open ground.
Lack of film
Covering material is good for everyone because of its advantages. But it has one small drawback. Just one: strawberries are very difficult to water through the planting slot. Especially if strawberries are planted over a large area of land. But you can get out of this situation with the help of special watering.
Drip irrigation system
Using a drip irrigation system in your garden is very beneficial. It is quite natural that the system will not be exactly cheap, but due to the advantages of the irrigation system, all costs will be reimbursed double. And that's why:
- energy savings with drip irrigation are significantly reduced;
- By eliminating the evaporation of water, it is saved: approximately by 50%.
And this is not a complete list of all the advantages of drip irrigation. Thanks to them, harvesting is significantly increased. Combining a new method of watering and planting strawberries under a special black film will definitely give excellent results.
Strawberry planting dates
If we talk about the timing of planting strawberries, then it must be said that seedlings can be planted both in summer and autumn. But if you take into account the black covering material when planting, then the most best time the year is autumn. It is at this time that all activities for planting strawberries can be carried out within one and a half or two months. When a summer resident is very busy, such a stretch of time helps a lot.
In spring, gardeners planting material much less than in the fall. Another advantage of planting strawberries in the fall is this fact: having planted seedlings in the spring, the harvest can only be harvested a year later. And in the fall, the period for harvesting fruits is much shorter. The choice of time of year depends on the gardener himself. From his skills and preferences. The most important thing is to choose healthy seedlings.
Healthy seedlings- the key to a good harvest
Before planting new strawberry seedlings, it is necessary to give great importance some of their features under dark covering material. The first feature of planting is that the bed is formed for more than one year. The lifespan of a garden bed should be three or four years. Actually, it is for this period that it is recommended to plant strawberries in one place.
The second principle of planting is the selection of seedlings. Young shoots are best suited for planting. Their fruiting will begin in the first year of planting. Gradually, year after year, the yield will increase. The choice of berry variety also depends on the preferences of the gardener.
No need to choose different varieties berries The whole choice depends on the wishes of the gardener himself. However, when buying a certain variety of seedlings, you need to carefully look not only at the age of the sprouts. Appearance also plays a big role in the choice. Seedlings must be free of damage and any symptoms of disease, with well-developed roots. This also applies to young seedlings. Then you can choose based only on your taste.
What is needed for planting
Planting strawberries during spring or fall is common. The most important thing in this matter is good the right tool and the material itself. Black covering material can also be called mulch fabric or agrofibre. This fabric has many names. This is “Agrotex” or, for example, “Spunbond”. You can find black mulching fabric in any city. They are sold in special stores and have a varied assortment. Therefore, there is no need to worry about tissue shortages.
The tools you will need are scissors to make holes in the fabric for the strawberry seedlings. You can use a simple sharp knife. To secure the material, thick wire will help. To prevent the material from being blown away by the wind, you can place heavy cobblestones along the edges. If there are no such ones, then you can replace them with something similar. To carry out work on organizing a garden bed you will only need one garden tools- shovel.
Place for a future garden bed
Having found Right place For digging a bed for strawberries, we can assume that the harvest is guaranteed. Warmth and sun rays - best friends strawberries The berries do not rot under the sun and ripen well. Why can we conclude that the bed needs to be dug on sunny side vegetable garden Strawberries are not at all afraid of drafts or wind. Therefore, they will not interfere with its growth and production. good harvest. The sun is the main friend and helper of strawberries.
The soil and its quality also play a huge role when organizing planting. In the event that the quality is low, this problem can be corrected. Help here mineral fertilizers or organic fertilizers. It is recommended to mark the bed taking into account the length of the fiber. Its size should be one and a half or two meters.
Soil preparation
It is necessary to prepare the soil for the garden bed very carefully. You need to start by digging it up. If there is a lack of nutrients in the soil, then it must be “cured”. One square meter of land is covered with organic fertilizers: manure - one bucket, and if it is not there, then wood ash - one and a half cups will do. This procedure must be done before digging the beds.
Compost and wood ash can be replaced with other fertilizers, for example, mineral ones. They must be added strictly following the instructions. When all preparations are completed, the beds are made. In order for strawberries to grow well, it is necessary to create earthen mounds. Only then can you correctly spread the black mulching fabric, that is, the covering material.
Amateur gardeners have been actively planting and growing strawberries since March. Its early varieties bear fruit a couple of weeks earlier regular strawberries, and the yield is higher. In addition, there are no pests at this time yet.
To more early varieties include "Zarya", which is usually considered the most productive, "Kokinska rannyaya", "Ranaya Makheroukha" from Germany and the Latvian "Junia Smidts".
To get a good early harvest of these varieties, the planting site is covered with a light-proof polymer film, thereby accelerating ripening. If the weather also cooperates, then under the film the yield increases by 50-70%. Many people use the film method also because it inhibits the development of gray rot.
It is recommended to cover the plantings with film when the air warms up to a stable +5 degrees. For the Moscow region this is usually the end of March or the beginning of April. It is pre-strengthened onto portable frames along the length of the bed. In such tunnels both humidity and increased temperature are created compared to open areas. At http://plenka-kursk.ru/ mulch film of different transparency and density for growing strawberries.
If there is bright sunshine outside and it is not cold, then the film is lifted for ventilation. It is lowered again at night. On the tenth day, when the berries begin to ripen, it is recommended to remove the film altogether.
In addition, do not forget that soil cultivation and watering for strawberries at this time are necessary every day. Some people use perforated film. Then it is not necessary to ventilate the seedlings.
For those who have small plots of land, experts recommend vertical method growing strawberries, which increases productivity with square meter 5-8 times. However, not every strawberry lends itself to it. In this case, large-fruited is recognized as the best remontant strawberry, which can be tied to a net and any other devices. On a coarse mesh it will grow like a wall, like a beautiful twisted green fence.
Some amateur gardeners even created original pyramids from this type of strawberry. To do this, they do not dig very deep into the ground. metal pipe with holes drilled up to 7 mm. Several boxes without a bottom are placed on top of it, starting from the largest and ending with the smallest. Moreover, first the soil mixture is poured (from garden soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 3: 1: 1), and then another box is strung together. A strip of soil remains between it and the previous one, and the seedlings are placed there.
These pyramids spend the winter in snowdrifts, and when spring comes, they are covered with mulch film to warm up faster. When the seedlings begin to flower, the film is removed.
Strawberries are the favorite berry of gardeners. Caring for strawberries is not easy; many difficulties arise in the process. The berry is attacked by weeds and suffers from drought. The solution to the problem is to plant under black covering material. It's very easy to use. Watering strawberries becomes even easier than before.
The covering cloth, first of all, prevents weeds from growing throughout the area. Experienced gardeners They know how much damage weeds cause to strawberries. They take moisture and nutrients from the soil. To get rid of weeds and forget about weeding, gardeners use non-woven covering material.
Due to its features, it allows air, water to pass through and retains sunlight. Strawberry bushes planted under a covering cloth, reliably protected from pests. The berries do not rot and always remain clean. Non-woven agrofibre is marketed under different names.
Regardless of the name, non-woven is divided into types: light, medium and dense. Difference in density. It is customary to cover beds with light canvases during frosts. The bushes are covered with black material, as it perfectly accumulates heat.
The service life of the covering film, depending on the density, is 4-12 years, then it needs to be changed.
Advantages and disadvantages of using agrofibre when planting and growing berries
Under the black material, the berries will not be disturbed by weeds in the spring. This happens thanks to a mulching film that does not let the sun's rays through. Inside, under the film, a microclimate favorable for plants is formed.
Main advantages:
- the soil well ventilated and does not dry out;
- the soil does not require mulching and loosening;
- the berry under the film forms adventitious roots;
- the mustache practically does not require trimming;
- under black material the berries will ripen faster;
- the occurrence of diseases and pests is practically excluded.
This method allows you to grow delicious berries with minimal labor time. There is no need for weeding, loosening, frequent watering and trimming the mustache. Weeds, dying under the covering blanket, acts as an organic fertilizer. If we talk about shortcomings, they were not found.
One of the difficult moments is the process of equipping a bed for planting strawberries with a black covering cloth.
Types that can be used for mulching
There are a wide variety of products on sale color solutions films of different densities. Black agrofibre is readable high-strength shelter to protect the plant from aggressive influences external environment. The non-woven material contains no toxins or allergens.
The types of black material that can be used to cover plants can be divided into two types - polyethylene and non-woven.
- Proven over the years black polyethylene sold in the form of sleeves and rolls. The thickness of polyethylene is from 0.03 to 0.4 mm. The film copes well with the task, but its strength is enough for 1 season.
- Non-woven black material- an excellent alternative to fragile polyethylene. Externally, the materials are similar, with differences in composition and production method. It can also be called spunbond
- Produced made of polypropylene fibers, under influence high temperatures, the film is in demand in organic farming, it's called agrofibre. It must be laid on the correct side.
IN last years Gardeners prefer mulching and covering strawberry beds with black film. 100% ecological covering material will protect from sultry sun rays. Using agrofibre, you can cover plants and get rid of weeds. Strawberries will be provided with favorable conditions for growth.
Black non-woven material - spunbond
How to choose material for planting berries
If you choose black polyethylene film, you should know that it absolutely air- and moisture-proof. While agrofibre or spunbond allows watering to be carried out through the bed. Moisture penetrates through the canvas, the soil is enriched with air, receives required amount warmth and light.
All non-woven spunbond materials have approximately the same properties, the difference being their density. Agro-canvas with a density is ideal 40-60 g/m2.
Preparing beds for planting using covering material
The process of preparing a bed for planting strawberries is as follows:
- First you need to prepare the ground - dig up a garden bed, remove weeds and add organic fertilizers.
- The beds should be raised, double-leafed, this will make it easier to secure the canvas.
- Carefully spread covering material over the prepared bed. Secure the edges tightly. Sandbags or do-it-yourself pins are best suited for this purpose.
- Place the fabric so that the waterproof side is on top.
- To ensure that the bushes grow evenly, you can use a cord to mark the holes, which must be pulled in a straight line along the entire length of the bed.
- Make holes for bushes at a distance 25 cm., between rows - 40 cm.
- After the covered bed has been prepared, you can plant the strawberry seedlings.
Black fiber has two sides: one protects the soil from moisture evaporation, the other allows water to pass through.
Planting under black covering material
When planting strawberry bushes, gardeners often prefer to make ordinary cross-shaped cuts. For this purpose you need a sharp knife and gloves. Another option requires a more painstaking approach. It involves cutting with scissors holes round shape . The holes should be small; if they are made too large, weeds will crawl through them.
Seedlings need to be planted in each hole; a wooden peg can be used for this purpose. It needs to be placed in the hole and turned to create a hole. After planting, the bed should be watered abundantly. Experienced gardeners drip irrigation is placed under the film - this is a separate issue.
Caring for strawberries under spunbond
Growing strawberries under a covering cloth involves minimal care. All difficulties are associated with preparing the beds. To you you will need to monitor the integrity of the film so that it is not damaged by birds and animals. Provide regular watering. Apply organic fertilizers. If necessary, trim the antennae. Harvest on time.
Having considered the advantages of this type of growing berries, you can make a choice in favor of covering material. By equipping a garden bed, you will ensure good fruiting of strawberries on your plot for several years to come.
When asked about the advantages of growing strawberries in beds, covered with film or spunbond, gardeners who have tried this method give a positive answer. The advantages really exist, and they are noticeable even in the first season after planting using this method:
- Completely free of weeds. Plants cannot get through the film to the light. Even perennial weeds will be suppressed and grow less aggressively. Those herbs that manage to grow through the holes where the strawberry bushes are planted will be quite easy to remove: incomparably easier than weeding the entire ridge.
- Penetrating under the covering material, moisture remains in the soil much longer. Thanks to this, the plantings are less susceptible to drying out in the absence of rain. And the impossibility of the owners coming to the dacha for watering also becomes less dangerous: the need for watering is delayed by 7 - 10 days compared to growing berries in open ground.
- Another advantage of the method is that the berries do not have contact with the soil. This allows them to remain clean even after heavy rain and prevents the development of gray rot, the spores of which fall on the berries from the surface of the ground.
- Removing tendrils on a plantation under film becomes much easier, because they cannot take root and gain a foothold in the soil.
Along with the advantages, gardeners note one drawback to such planting: a drip irrigation system may be required. But this same innovation on the site will significantly save money on water and electricity bills.
Implementation process
It is very convenient to transfer the strawberry plantation under film in the fall gradually, over 3 to 4 years. This will make it possible to draw conclusions about the advantages or disadvantages of using film and will not interrupt the cycle of natural replacement of plantings on the site. After all, the specified period is exactly the time at which it is recommended to grow strawberries in one place without replanting. You can start replacing your old bed and at the same time try new way cultivation of berry bushes. And on next year
, replacing another bed, continue or abandon it. In order to prepare the bed for planting, you need to add rotted manure, compost (1 bucket per 1 m²), wood ash (1 - 1.5 cups per 1 m²) or use complex fertilizer according to the instructions for the preparation. If it is not possible to start planting immediately, then the bed can be watered abundantly and covered with film. This is relevant if strawberries are planned to be planted locally. winter garlic
or onions, and it is still too hot and dry for planting berries at this time.
It is also important to know that the film for planting strawberries must be chosen with high density (thickness 40 - 50 microns). Then it will be enough for the entire period of operation of the ridge, and at the next replanting it will be clear whether the covering material needs to be replaced. When growing strawberries on spunbond or agrofibre, a density of 60 g/m² is quite acceptable. Manufacturers guarantee the service life of material of this density for just 3 years. The width of both film and non-woven is 1.6 m and 3.2 m. Calculate the quantity the required material
- When purchasing it, you can do this: with a width of 1.6 m, 1 ridge is formed required length
- , i.e. you need to purchase material based on the following calculation: the length of the ridge plus 50 - 60 cm to cover the ends and secure the material;
with a width of 3.2 m, the film can be cut into strips of 1.6 m or covered with it in 2 ridges at once; in the 1st case, the length should be 2 times less than the desired length of the ridge plus a margin for securing the film.
- When using a strip 1.6 m wide, it is necessary to form a ridge of 90 - 100 cm, unfold the material over the soil, and fix the end parts. Mounting can be done like this:
- Make narrow cracks in the soil with a shovel and tightly clamp the film there with wooden planks;
- wrap the edge of the film around metal tube or wooden block;
- sprinkle the edges with earth or cover the ridge with stone or brick.
After fixing the ends of the film, fasten the sides too, using a width that extends beyond the ridge.
Mark places for planting: on the edge of the ridge - 1st row, at a distance of 25 cm in a checkerboard pattern - 2nd row. Then you need to leave 40 - 50 cm in the center for easy processing and repeat the 2-row row with an interval of 25 cm and a staggered arrangement of plants. If the material is 3.2 m wide and the beds are located side by side, you can cut the film sleeve on only one side, unfold the canvas, completely covering the 2 beds and the passage between them. In this case, after marking the 1st ridge, you need to leave 50 - 60 cm for the passage and start marking the 2nd ridge according to the same pattern: 2 double-row lines with an interval of 40 cm between them. (Fig. 1) To prevent the central part of the film or non-woven material from being damaged in the aisle, you can lay it out on top of it smooth boards, paths made of linoleum or other similar material, or fill the passage with a thick layer of sawdust or straw.
Plant the bushes in cross-shaped cuts made in the marked places. Parts of the film are folded under the canvas, and a hole is dug with a scoop into which a strawberry seedling is placed. The video clearly shows how to form a ridge and plant strawberries. (video 1)
After planting, it is advisable to water each bush by hand to provide it with a sufficient amount of moisture immediately after transplanting. A drip irrigation system can be installed a little later if necessary.