Winter sowing of strawberry seeds in peat tablets
I achieved the best results by sowing the seeds of small-fruited strawberries in peat tablets. Difficult-to-sprout strawberry seeds and capricious seedlings when growing seedlings in peat tablets sprout and develop just great!
Growing strawberry seedlings in peat tablets is also very convenient. After all, tiny seedlings of strawberries then do not need to dive. You can place a tablet with a grown plant in a larger glass or immediately plant it in open ground.
In the photo: peat tablets after swelling; strawberry seedlings
The optimal time for sowing strawberry seeds in peat tablets is from the beginning of the third decade of January to the end of February.
In general, of course, strawberry seedlings can be grown at least all year round. But sown in these winter periods, strawberries by the beginning of the garden season will already gain enough mass and root system for planting in open ground. This will allow young plants to start bearing fruit this year, from the end of June.
For comparison: last year I sowed strawberries on February 10 and February 25. In the process of growth, the first seedlings were noticeably ahead of those sown later and were ready for planting in open ground as early as May. And the berries of the first seedlings ripened two weeks earlier.
However, sowing seeds in such early dates followed by seedlings of strawberries. Indeed, in winter there is a short daylight hours, and strawberry seeds germinate only in the light, and light is vital for small seedlings. I use .
If you do not plan to illuminate the seedlings of strawberries, then the seeds should be sown in March.
It should be noted that if you sow strawberries in late spring, then the first harvest will not be this year, but the next. After all, from the appearance of shoots of strawberries to the collection of berries, at least 5 months will pass. Although at favorable conditions an insignificant first harvest in young strawberries is possible in the fall.
Advantages of peat tablets for growing strawberries
Tablets for growing seedlings are made of peat, placed in a thin mesh (to prevent it from scattering). Peat is filled with mineral fertilizers that feed the young plant during the first few weeks of life.
The advantages of peat tablets in terms of the development of small strawberry seedlings in them are natural qualities peat: excellent water and air permeability, the possibility of unhindered development of the root system of plants.
Growing seedlings in peat tablets, we get a healthy and strong plant, which we place without any difficulties together with a growing tablet in a larger pot or immediately plant a tablet with a grown seedling in open ground.
The main advantage of peat tablets is that root system plants are not injured during transplantation. Seedlings are planted along with the tablet; plant roots penetrate the paper/mesh casing, which decomposes.
I noticed that at the same time it is still better to remove the mesh from the tablet - without it, small strawberry plants develop better. I do this with small nail scissors. Stress during plant transplantation in this case is minimized. Thus, the root system remains undamaged, and young strawberries continue to grow and develop successfully.
The advantage of peat tablets is that they have enough nutrients for the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings, it is only necessary to moisten the tablets in time.
Peat tablets are sold in different diameters - 24, 33, 38, 41, 44 mm. Considering that the root system of strawberry seedlings is not as powerful as that of other plants, I sow strawberries in tablets with a diameter of 24 or 33 mm.
Sowing strawberries in peat tablets and keeping seedlings
For successful germination of strawberry seeds, it is necessary to provide a sufficient amount of water and air, to maintain the microclimate parameters within the required limits: temperature, relative humidity, illumination.
Having placed the purchased peat tablets on a pallet or in cassettes (at the same time, you should pay attention to the fact that the recesses for the seeds are at the top of the tablets), you need to fill them with warm water.
Tablets are quickly saturated with moisture, completely swell in 5-10 minutes. At the same time, the peat tablet increases in height by 7 times, retaining its original diameter and turning into a peat cylinder.
After swelling of the peat tablet, excess water must be drained.
Then we place (using a toothpick) in the recess in the upper part of each peat tablet one grain of strawberries.
Strawberry seeds germinate only in the light, so they can not be buried in the ground. The natural light coming from the window at this stage is still sufficient for seed germination.
Tablets with strawberry seeds should be placed in a greenhouse or mini-greenhouse to maintain a constant humidity of peat and air.
The first shoots of strawberries may appear in 7-10 days, and the seeds germinate completely in about 20-30 days (this depends on the quality of the seeds and the conditions of the crops).
The germination of strawberry seeds in peat tablets occurs under conditions of slightly elevated temperature and relative humidity, which can be achieved by covering containers with tablets with transparent plastic wrap, plastic or glass. This means that our goal is to create an airtight structure for strawberry crops so that it is warm and humid inside the container with enough air.
It is better to take a transparent and plastic container for growing seedlings of strawberries, because plastic is the least susceptible to the spread of fungi. Beforehand, the container should be thoroughly washed and disinfected - wipe it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
Ideal for growing seedlings of strawberries plastic containers with lids in which salads are packed, as well as plastic boxes from under cakes, pastries, etc. A five-liter bottle cut in half, laid on its side, is quite suitable.
It is very convenient to grow strawberries in a special plastic mini-greenhouse purchased at the store.
I close the greenhouse with strawberry crops with a lid (bag, film or glass) and place it on the window.
Optimum temperature for the germination of strawberry seeds is 20-22 degrees, then a wet "fog" forms on the transparent lid or glass. But if it is warmer and drops form, they must be removed both from the lid and from the walls of the container.
If the temperature of strawberry crops is too low (less than 20 degrees), then besides mold and algae, it is unlikely that anything will grow.
Before the sprouts of strawberries appear, I moisten the dried tablets by pouring water directly into the tray of the container, and not spraying water from above with a spray bottle.
For irrigation, I use only soft water (snow or boiled), since an excess of mineral salts negatively affects the growth of strawberry seedlings.
When growing strawberry seedlings, it is necessary to carefully control the moisture content of peat tablets: they should not dry out, but waterlogging is also harmful. Sufficiency of watering can be determined by the appearance of a dark spot on the surface of the peat column. It is important that the peat has time to dry out a little between waterings. Condensation that appears on the container should be removed regularly (i.e., remove excess moisture) from the lid and walls with absorbent paper towels. To prevent water from dripping onto tiny strawberry sprouts from above, which can cause them to get sick with a “black leg”, it is necessary to regularly remove condensate and water it into a pan.
We must not forget to ventilate the greenhouse with strawberry crops for several minutes every day; this procedure can be combined with the removal of condensate.
If the peat tablets are very wet, then under them you can put paper towel and when it gets wet, change it.
If direct sunlight falls on a greenhouse with strawberry crops, then drops will form on the lid even if the peat tablet is completely dry - this should not be allowed. You can scatter sunlight by attaching a piece of paper to the glass.
Prevention of diseases in strawberry seedlings
It is desirable to bring strawberry crops closer and developing seedlings to natural light put extra lamps daylight or phytolamps. Additional lighting I turn it on when it becomes clear that the strawberry seeds have hatched.
Strawberry seeds germinate in the light, and daylight in winter is usually not enough - the day is still short, and it is often overcast. With a lack of light, the development of strawberries is slower, seedlings often get sick.
Additional lighting for 12-14 hours is quite enough for strawberries. In clear weather, the light can be turned off for several hours during the day, and in cloudy weather it should be left on all the time.
So, for normal development healthy seedling strawberries, you need to monitor the air humidity in the greenhouse, ventilate it daily and remove the accumulated condensate from the container.
It is necessary to ensure that peat tablets with strawberry seedlings are not too wet and do not dry out.
After the emergence of seedlings of strawberries, I add water to the containers from below, since moisture on the seedlings stimulates the development of diseases.
If you notice that the peat tablet turns green or blackens, or white cobweb fibers begin to form on it, you need to urgently get rid of the harmful fungi that have appeared. To do this, remove the foci of the spread of the fungus from the peat tablet using soft paper or cotton wool moistened with potassium permanganate.
After that, it is advisable to water the seedlings for some time with antifungal agents (for example, Previkur or its equivalent), and then regularly ventilate the seedlings.
Care for grown strawberry seedlings
After the seedlings of strawberries have two or three true leaves, you can open the greenhouse longer - at this time, young plants have already developed a small root system.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can be detrimental to understrength strawberry seedlings.
I begin to feed strawberry seedlings when the seedlings have a second true leaf. I use fertilizer "Kemira" or "Master" for fruit and berry crops. Any other complex mineral fertilizer with a low nitrogen content is also suitable.
When 3-4 true leaves appear at strawberry seedlings, I place peat tablets with seedlings in a glass with purchased universal soil for seedlings.
I remove the mesh from the tablet so that the roots are free for further successful development.
Ordinary plastic disposable cups with drain holes made in the bottom are suitable for planting strawberries. excess water(you can also use seedling cassettes). The transparent walls of the cup will allow you to monitor the moisture content of the substrate.
If the strawberry seedling is slightly stretched out, when planting in a glass, it is necessary to add soil to the cotyledon leaves.
When picking strawberry seedlings and planting seedlings grown in peat tablets in cups, it is very important not to fill up the growth point of the strawberry rosette from which the leaves grow.
During the period of further growth in a cup, strawberry seedlings should acquire a good branched root system.
When the roots of strawberry seedlings sprout into the substrate of the cup, you need to accustom the seedlings to natural light and fresh air, that is, harden them.
From April, it is desirable to take seedlings to a cool, bright balcony for several hours during the daytime. But you need to ensure that the temperature there does not fall below 0 degrees, and protect from the hot sun.
At first, the period of access of strawberry seedlings to fresh air should be short, and then, with warming, I gradually lengthen it, until it is completely left for fresh air for the night. This is very important for hardening seedlings on the eve of planting strawberries in open ground.
Before planting young plants, I harden them in the garden, placing cups with strawberry seedlings outdoors in the shade. Gradually I accustom them to the hot sun, and then I plant the strengthened and grown rosettes of strawberries in the ground.
Planting strawberry seedlings in open ground
The place for planting small-fruited remontant strawberries, as a rule, is chosen sufficiently lit, and the soil is prepared fertile.
I plant young strawberries in the garden at the onset of steady heat, when the temperature at night will no longer fall below 5-7 degrees.
I transplant the grown seedlings of small-fruited remontant strawberries into open ground after the appearance of their sixth true leaf. The distance when planting rosettes of strawberries should be about 25 cm.
During dry periods, I spend regular watering for the qualitative development of strawberry bushes.
In the photo: strawberry seedlings with lutrasil mulch; biennial bush of strawberry variety "Ruyana"
If you planted young strawberry plants in open ground in the summer, before September, it is advisable to remove all emerging flowers and mustaches from the seedlings before the end of the garden season so that they have time to take root well and overwinter safely.
Create a man-made spring in the middle of winter
When fluffy snowflakes dance outside the winter window, my soul rejoices at the little spring that appears before my eyes at home - thanks to hard work, perseverance and perseverance in growing seedlings.
If you miss your garden in winter and want to have new varieties of strawberries that provide delicious berries throughout the garden season, then try now, in February, to solve this interesting and quite feasible task. Grow seedlings of small-fruited remontant strawberries from seeds in peat tablets.
Elena Fedorovna Yasinskaya (Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region)
http://jagoda.com.ua
On site site
on site site
on site site
|
|
Weekly Free Website Digest website
Every week, for 10 years, for our 100,000 subscribers, lovely selection relevant materials about flowers and the garden, as well as other useful information.
Subscribe and receive!
Until recently, many gardeners preferred to propagate strawberries by dividing a bush or by a mustache. Growing from seeds was considered a complex process that did not at all guarantee a good result. The appearance of peat tablets changed the situation and made it possible to grow fragrant berries conveniently and without problems by seed.
Growing strawberries from seeds: pros and cons
Reproduction of strawberries by seeds is gaining more and more popularity. Online stores and specialized centers for gardeners offer big choice seeds different varieties garden berry. In addition, growing strawberries from seeds has a number of undeniable advantages:
- unlimited choice of seeds and the opportunity to acquire a rare or elite variety of strawberries;
- the opportunity to grow a healthy berry, as genetic diseases plants are inherited only when propagated by mustaches or by dividing the bush;
- significant savings - seeds are much cheaper than seedlings.
Both remontant (small-fruited) strawberries and large-fruited ones, often called strawberries, are propagated by seeds. The growing conditions for both species are similar. It is only worth noting that the seeds of small-fruited strawberries are cheaper in cost and have better germination.
The main disadvantages of growing garden strawberries From seeds, the complexity and laboriousness of the process, as well as the long germination of seeds, are considered. However, peat tablets come to the aid of a diligent gardener, which greatly simplifies the process of growing seedlings.
It is important to know that growing strawberries from seeds in peat tablets involves some difficulties. seeds large-fruited varieties germinate much more slowly and require longer preparation for sowing.
Peat tablets are the perfect choice
Increasingly, when choosing a substrate for sowing seeds, gardeners prefer peat tablets. Especially in the case of cultivating such a capricious plant as strawberries. Growing strawberries from seeds in peat tablets made it much easier for the gardener and has whole line advantages:
- peat tablets contain the entire set of nutrients necessary for seed germination and their further development;
- there is no need to pick seedlings, so the root system of plants is not damaged during transplantation;
- the best conditions for obtaining strong and strong seedlings;
- peat tablets are characterized by high water and air permeability, which ensures the free development of the root system for plants;
- the use of tablets saves time, labor and effort of the gardener.
Peat tablets are made by pressing. They consist of fertile peat with the addition of mineral fertilizers and growth stimulants that contribute to the healthy development of plants.
Several sizes of peat tablets are available, the diameter of which varies from 24 to 44 mm. For growing strawberries, it is recommended to choose tablets with a diameter of 24 to 33 mm.
Strawberries from seeds: growing in peat tablets
The right choice of seeds
To grow strong, healthy and high-yielding strawberries, you need to choose right seeds. There are three seed options to choose from:
- Small-fruited or alpine remontant strawberry- bears fruit from June until the first autumn frosts.
- Large-fruited strawberry - gives strong plants with large fruits but its seeds are quite expensive.
- personally harvested seeds- there is no guarantee that "children" will inherit parental traits.
When choosing seeds, it is desirable to give preference to varieties from well-known manufacturers. When buying seeds, you should pay attention Special attention on their suitability in order to be sure of their freshness and germination. Gardening shops offer huge selection varieties of strawberries for every taste. The following varieties of fragrant berries have proven themselves very well:
- Alexandria is one of the best varieties remontant alpine strawberries. This is a fruitful, unpretentious and responsive berry that does not form a mustache;
- Ali Baba is another hairless alpine strawberry variety. This variety is characterized by high yield, as well as resistance to drought, diseases and pests;
- Lesnaya skazka is a high-yielding small-fruited variety with compact bushes with continuous flowering and fruiting;
- Ruyana is an early ripe beardless variety. Its first fruits ripen as much as two weeks faster than other varieties. It has high yield and bears fruit all season;
- Baron Solemacher - an early small-fruited variety, continuously fruiting and having sweet berries without sourness;
- Rügen is a small-fruited dessert variety with early flowering and berries, distinguished by a unique aroma and taste;
- Big Boy is a variety from American breeders. It grows quickly, multiplies well and gives a high yield in the second year;
- Rusanovka is a super early variety that is very easy to grow;
- Olvia is an ultra-early variety, characterized by unpretentiousness and good yield;
- White Swan - remontant beardless variety from Japanese breeders. It bears fruit with white fragrant berries.
And this is only a small part of the many varieties of strawberries that today's horticultural market offers. Everyone can choose strawberries for themselves according to taste, size, color and the presence or absence of whiskers.
Sowing dates
The recommended time for sowing strawberries is the end of February or the beginning of March. You can plant a berry earlier, but then additional lighting will be needed for seed germination. Strawberries planted in January will need at least 12 hours of daylight. The ideal time for planting is the first decade of March, when daylight hours are already quite long.
Preparing seeds for sowing
As we already know, the seeds of large-fruited strawberry varieties sprout very slowly. Therefore, they need mandatory soaking and stratification. This procedure will not interfere with the seeds of small-fruited varieties. It will significantly speed up their germination.
We prepare strawberry seeds for sowing as follows:
- We spread the seeds on a damp cloth folded in three layers, and cover them with another damp cloth.
- We place the seeds soaked in this way in a container with ventilation holes made in it.
- We stand the seeds at a temperature of 15 to 18 ° C for 3 days, and then place the container with the seeds on the vegetable shelf in the refrigerator for two weeks. Do not forget to ventilate the seeds and provide them with constant, but moderate humidity.
- After two weeks, we expose the container to light and warm place with a temperature of 18 to 20 °C.
- We check the seeds every two or three days and wait for them to hatch.
Sowing seeds in peat tablets
The hatched seeds are a signal for sowing strawberries in peat tablets and a guarantee that they are viable and can be planted with confidence in the result. We sow the germinated seeds into tablets and grow the first shoots, adhering to the following algorithm of actions:
- We place the peat tablets in a container, fill them with water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate and wait for them to turn into swollen "columns". We drain the remaining water, and squeeze the tablets a little to remove excess moisture from them.
- We lay out the seeds in the recesses of the tablets and do not sprinkle with anything - strawberry seeds sprout in the light. It is convenient to sow seeds with a toothpick.
- We cover the container with seeds with a lid or film, thus creating a "greenhouse" for future plants.
- We place the crops in a bright place, maintaining the temperature no higher than 20 ° C. We regularly ventilate the "greenhouse", remove the condensate and maintain the constant humidity of the tablets, adding water to the pan as necessary. Do not allow the tablets to dry out, which, shrinking, can seriously damage the roots of the seedlings.
- We expect the first shoots in 10 days. Full germination should be expected after 20 or 30 days.
An important point - due to excessive moisture, mold may appear on the tablets. Do not despair! It is necessary to carefully remove the mold with cotton wool soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate, and treat the tablet with an antifungal agent, for example, Maxim or Previkur.
strawberry seedling care
After the appearance of true leaves, the "greenhouse" can be opened. If the roots of the seedlings are bare, you need to sprinkle them with earth to the root neck. As the seedlings grow, it is recommended to feed them with a solution twice a month. mineral fertilizer for seedlings.
When 3 or 4 true leaves appear on the seedlings, you need to transfer them, along with the tablets, into separate containers with special soil for seedlings. Quite fit plastic cups with holes in the bottom. Elongated seedlings need to be buried in the ground to the cotyledons. When transshipping, it is important not to cover the growing point of the cotyledon leaves with earth.
From the end of April, it is necessary to carry out the procedure for hardening seedlings. It should be taken out for a while to a glazed veranda or balcony, protecting the seedlings from drafts and the active sun. The hardening temperature should not fall below 0 °C. With the advent of warm days, seedlings can be left on the balcony all night.
Planting strawberry seedlings in open ground
It is recommended to plant seedlings on the site in early June, when the night temperature no longer drops below 5 ° C. Seedlings should have 6 true leaves by this time. Before planting in the garden, you should place the seedlings in a shady area of \u200b\u200bthe garden for a while so that they get used to the sun and open air.
The soil for strawberries should be loose and fertile. It is recommended to add compost or humus to it. For garden soil half a bucket of peat and humus per 1 square meter is enough. For clay soil, you need to double the amount of peat and humus and add half a bucket of sand to them.
We plant strawberry seedlings in open ground in the following order:
- We mark the rows with a shallow furrow using a planting cord. Optimal distance between rows - from 35 to 40 cm.
- We make holes in the rows with an interval of 30 cm and install a peat tablet with a seedling in each of them. The mesh from the tablet must be removed, and the tablet itself will eventually dissolve in the ground.
- Carefully fill the remaining space in the hole with earth. The growing point of strawberries should be above the ground.
- We compact the ground and carefully water the seedlings, trying not to erode the soil around the bush.
Caring for young strawberries
The healthy development of young strawberry bushes largely depends on proper care. Strawberries should be watered moderately and as the soil dries. Dry and crumbling soil in the hands is a signal for watering. It is important to prevent waterlogging of the soil, which adversely affects developing plant. Watering should be carried out under the root or drip method.
It is recommended to cut off the first flowers so that the young bushes get stronger, grow leaves and lay the harvest of berries for the next year by autumn. Also, this procedure will allow strawberries to gain strength for wintering. Regular weeding, harvesting of dry leaves and removal of mustaches that have grown between rows are important conditions for the healthy development of young plants.
In the first year, strawberries do not need to be fed, as the soil is fertilized before planting. The resulting nutrients will be enough until the fall. In the second year, starting in spring, top dressing can be carried out - at least three times per season. In the spring, you can feed the plants with mineral fertilizer, during the period of the nomination of peduncles - with mullein (1:6) or bird droppings (1:20) with the addition of ash, and at the beginning of flowering - with mullein (1:8).
In order to avoid damage to the berries by gray rot, it is recommended to tie strawberry brushes to pegs at the branching points. For low-growing varieties of strawberries, it is necessary to mulch the beds with sawdust, fresh shavings or straw.
As a rule, strawberries bear fruit well for only three years, not counting the year of planting. After that, its berries become small, the yield drops, and the bushes begin to hurt. Therefore, it is recommended from the second year of fruiting to propagate the bushes of the varieties you like. After removing old plants, young strawberry bushes will bear fruit for the second year.
Valentina Kravchenko, expert
As you can see, growing strawberries from seeds in peat tablets is not at all difficult and very exciting. Knowing all the subtleties of this process, you can cultivate any variety of fragrant and sweet berries on your site.
Have you already tried to grow strawberries in peat tablets? Which varieties perform best? Share your experience in the comments!
Seedlings of strawberries and strawberries at home
Photos used: Yulia Astanovitskaya, Bonnier Publications LLC / Iosif Kaurov
sowing strawberries in peat tablets, seedlings before planting
Seeds of large-fruited strawberry hybrids are expensive. In addition, the package contains from 3 to 10 small seeds. They are easy to lose in seed boxes and bowls, so it is better to sow the seeds of such strawberries in peat tablets. The method is also convenient because at the first stage it is not necessary to sift and steam the soil mixture and dive strawberry seedlings.
Strawberries - to sow seeds or not?
Do not think that growing strawberries from seeds is an unreliable and very time-consuming business. It's useful and fun!
Firstly, in one season you can get a lot of bushes of a new variety. Moreover, most varieties of alpine (small-fruited) strawberries do not give a mustache, but after 3-4 years they require rejuvenation.
Secondly, in this way you can get new varieties of strawberries. And now they are on sale a large number of, including large-fruited remontant varieties.
Large-fruited garden strawberries - "strawberries" - and small-fruited alpine strawberries are sown in the same way.
Dates of sowing strawberries for seedlings
At home, strawberries are sown for seedlings in late February-early March. At an earlier date, strawberries are sown in nurseries, when it is necessary to put up ready-made seedlings for sale at the beginning of the season. If there is no such goal, there is no need to rush. In the absence of additional illumination, start sowing in the first decade of March.
Preparation of strawberry seeds for sowing - soaking and stratification
Spread strawberry seeds between two cotton pads or pieces of clean cloth folded in 2-3 layers. Place them in a microwave container or other container, moisten, close the lid, having previously made several holes in it for ventilation. If you have multiple varieties, label them. Hold them for 2-3 days at a temperature of +15...+18°C, then put the soaked strawberry seeds in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
Some gardeners advise putting ready-made crops in the refrigerator. But it is much more convenient to stratify in a container: it takes less space. After 2 weeks, place the container in a warm (+18...+20°C) bright place. Check the seeds every 2-3 days so you don't miss the moment of germination.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, soaking seeds
When the strawberry seeds hatch, it's time to sow. Put the peat tablets in a container, fill them with water. Wait until they turn from pills into "columns". Add water until it is no longer absorbed by the tablets. Drain excess.
Spread the "pricks" into the recesses in the tablets. It is very convenient to do this with a toothpick. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with earth: strawberries sprout better in the light. Seeds are sprinkled only when sown in the summer in the garden, so that they do not die from overdrying.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, sowing seeds
It is important that the hatched seeds do not dry out. To do this, cover the container with a transparent lid or place it in a greenhouse. Put strawberry crops in a bright place with a temperature not higher than + 20 ° C.
Remove condensation from the lid daily, ventilate to prevent mold from forming. If you still notice the first signs of mold, carefully remove it with a toothpick and drop a solution of Maxim or another fungicide onto this place.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, maintaining air humidity
After the appearance of the first true leaves, the shelter can be removed. Sprinkle the strawberry roots (if they are bare) to the root collar with a small amount of earth. If you notice that the peat "pillars" are settling, add water to the container until completely absorbed, and drain the excess.
How to feed strawberries
Once every 2 weeks, add water to combine with top dressing. It is better to feed strawberry seedlings with humates or a solution of mineral fertilizers for seedlings.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, seedlings
If the weather allows, from the end of April to the beginning of March, you can start hardening on the balcony or glazed veranda. At first, cover the seedlings from direct sunlight and wind. A short-term night temperature decrease to +3...+5°C is even useful.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, seedlings ready for planting
Planting strawberries in the ground
You can plant seedlings in the ground after June 10. In well-developed seedlings, the roots are visible on the surface of the peat tablet.
Considering that remontant varieties of strawberries bear fruit all season, the soil for it should be loose and fertile. It is advisable to add humus or well-rotted compost. Its amount depends on the initial state of the beds. If it is cultivated garden land, 0.5 buckets of humus and peat per 1 sq.m. are enough. If the soil is clay, double the amount of humus and peat and add 0.5 buckets of sand. The application rate of complete mineral fertilizer is 30-40 grams per 1 sq.m. Carefully dig a shovel onto the bayonet and level it so that there is no slope.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, fertilizer and soil preparation
To make the rows even, pull the planting cord over the bed. Mark the row with a shallow groove.
cultivation of strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, preparation of seats
Make holes at a distance of 30 cm. Install peat tablets with seedlings.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, seedling planting scheme
Gently fill the remaining space in the hole with loose earth so that the growing point of the strawberry (heart) is at ground level. Seal.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, planting strawberry seedlings
Carefully, so as not to blur the ground around the bush, water the strawberry seedlings.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, watering
And one more piece of advice: it is convenient to grow small-fruited strawberries in narrow beds in no more than 2 rows. The distance between the rows is 35-40 centimeters. Can be grown in 1 row along the edge of other crops or fruit bushes, retreating from them by 50-60 cm.
A larger number of rows makes it difficult to regularly pick berries and process plants after the next wave of fruiting.
Seeds of varieties of garden strawberries with large fruits are quite expensive. In the package, as a rule, only a few small grains. They can easily get lost in planting containers, so it is better to grow such strawberry seeds for seedlings in peat tablets.
The advantages of this method are also that before sowing it is not necessary to carry out pre-processing soil mixture: steam, sift, etc. There is also no need to pick seedlings. When the seedlings are ready, just plant them in open ground and that's it.
- 1 Sowing time for garden strawberries for seedlings in peat tablets
- 2 Pre-sowing preparation garden strawberry seeds for growing seedlings
- 4 Features of feeding and hardening seedlings of strawberries in peat tablets
- 5 Planting garden strawberries in open ground
- 6 Video: Peat tablets. Growing seedlings in peat tablets.
Sowing time for garden strawberries for seedlings in peat tablets
Garden strawberries at home should be sown for seedlings in late February - early March. In nurseries, sowing is carried out earlier so that the seedlings are ready for the start of the selling season. If you are growing strawberry seedlings for yourself, it is better not to rush.
Presowing preparation of strawberry seeds for growing seedlings
Before sowing seeds for seedlings, it is desirable to germinate them. This will ensure maximum germination:
preparation of garden strawberry seeds
Technology of sowing strawberry seeds in peat tablets
When you notice that the seeds have hatched, it's time to sow them. We act in this order:
- Place peat tablets in a planting container (a shallow plastic box without holes in the walls or a deep tray), fill with water. Water should be added until it is no longer absorbed into the tablets. The excess must be drained.
- We lay out the seeds that have bent into the recesses in the tablets. We try not to hurt them. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with earth: garden strawberries sprout faster in the light. It is necessary to sprinkle the seeds only when sowing in the summer in the garden so that they do not dry out.
- It is important that the seeds do not dry out. To avoid this, cover the container with peat tablets with a transparent film or lid.
- Put the covered crops of strawberries in a well-lit place and keep at a temperature not higher than +20 °C.
Technology of sowing strawberry seeds in peat tablets
So that mold does not form on the seeds, crops must be ventilated daily and condensate removed from the shelter. If the mold does appear, carefully remove it with a toothpick and treat the affected areas with some kind of fungicide, for example, the Maxim preparation.
After the first true leaves appear on the seedlings, the shelter can be removed. Strawberry roots (if they are bare) should be sprinkled up to the root collar with a small amount planting soil. If you notice that the peat "pillars" are settling, add water to the container until completely absorbed. Drain excess.
Features of feeding and hardening seedlings of strawberries in peat tablets
Adding water to the container with peat tablets once every two weeks should be combined with top dressing. Seedlings of garden strawberries are best fed with a solution of mineral fertilizers for seedlings or humates.
In late April - early May, hardening of seedlings can begin. It is carried out on a balcony, loggia or glazed veranda. At first, the seedlings must be covered from the wind and direct sunlight, after a week you can not do this. A short-term decrease in temperature to + 3 ... + 5 degrees at night is even useful for seedlings.
Planting garden strawberries in open ground
It is possible to plant strawberry seedlings in a permanent place when there is no threat of frost. In ready, well-developed seedlings, the roots are visible on the surface of the tablet. If so, then the seedlings of garden strawberries in peat tablets turned out perfectly!
Planting soil should be loose, well fertilized. It is advisable to add rotted
Planting seedlings of strawberries
compost or manure. If it's civilized garden soil, enough for 0.5 buckets of humus and peat per 1 m2. If the soil is clay, double the amount of humus and peat and add 0.5 buckets of sand. The application rate of complete mineral fertilizer is 30-40 g per 1 m2.
Carefully dig the ground onto the bayonet of a shovel and level it so that there is no slope. To make the rows with plantings of strawberries even, stretch the planting cord on the beds. Mark the rows with grooves.
Make planting holes at a distance of 30 cm. When they are ready, install peat tablets with seedlings in them. Gently fill the holes with earth so that the growing point of the strawberry (heart) is at the level of its surface. Compact the soil and carefully water the seedlings, taking care not to wash out the soil.