Winter sowing of strawberry seeds in peat tablets
I have achieved the best results by sowing small-fruited strawberry seeds in peat tablets... Difficult-to-germinate strawberry seeds and capricious seedlings when growing seedlings in peat tablets sprout and develop just fine!
Growing strawberry seedlings in peat tablets is also very convenient. After all, tiny strawberry seedlings then do not need to dive. You can place the tablet with the grown plant in a larger cup or plant it directly 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 during these winter periods, by the beginning of the gardening season, strawberries will already gain sufficient 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 in May. And the berries of the first seedlings ripened two weeks earlier.
However, sowing seeds in such early datesfollowed by shoots 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 it.
If you do not plan to light up strawberry shoots, 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 already next. After all, it will take at least 5 months from the emergence of strawberry seedlings to harvesting the berries. Although at favorable conditions an insignificant first harvest of young strawberries is possible in the fall.
Benefits of peat tablets for growing strawberries
Tablets for growing seedlings are made of peat placed in a fine mesh (to avoid 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 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 easily place together with the tablet for growing in a larger pot or immediately plant the tablet with the grown seedling in the open ground.
The main advantage of peat tablets is that root system plants are not injured during transplantation. Seedlings are planted with the tablet; the roots of the plants penetrate through the paper / mesh shell, which decomposes.
I noticed that in this case, 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. In this case, the stress during plant transplantation is minimized. Thus, the root system remains intact, and the young strawberry continues to grow and develop successfully.
The advantage of peat tablets is that they contain enough nutrients for seed germination and seedling growth, you just need to moisten the tablets in time.
Peat tablets are sold in different diameters - 24, 33, 38, 41, 44 mm. Given 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, a sufficient amount of water and air should be provided, microclimate parameters should be maintained within the required limits: temperature, relative humidity, illumination.
After placing the purchased peat tablets on a pallet or in cassettes (in this case, you should pay attention to the fact that the grooves for the seeds are at the top of the tablets), fill them with warm water.
The tablets are quickly saturated with moisture, completely swell in 5-10 minutes. In this case, the peat pellet increases in height by 7 times, retaining the original diameter and turning into a peat cylinder.
After the peat tablet has swollen, the excess water must be drained.
Then we place (using a toothpick) one grain of strawberry in the depression in the upper part of each peat tablet.
Strawberry seeds germinate only in the light, so they should not be buried in the ground. At this stage, the natural light coming from the window is still sufficient for seed germination.
Strawberry seed tablets should be placed in a greenhouse or mini-greenhouse to maintain constant peat and air humidity.
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).
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 transparent tablets. plastic wrap, plastic or glass. This means that our goal is to create an airtight structure for crops of strawberries, so that inside a container with a sufficient amount of air it is warm and humid.
It is better to take a transparent and plastic container for growing strawberry seedlings, because plastic is least susceptible to the spread of fungi. The container should be thoroughly washed and disinfected beforehand - wipe it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
Strawberry seedlings are perfect for growing plastic containers with lids for packing salads, and plastic boxes from under cakes, pastries, etc. A five-liter bottle cut in half and laid on its side is also quite suitable.
It is very convenient to grow strawberries in a special plastic mini-greenhouse purchased in a store.
I close the greenhouse with strawberry crops with a lid (bag, film or glass) and place it on the window.
Optimum temperature for germination of strawberry seeds is 20-22 degrees, then a wet "fog" is formed on the transparent cover or glass. But if it is warmer and drops are formed, they must be removed from both the lid and the walls of the container.
If the temperature of the strawberry crops is too low (less than 20 degrees), then in addition to mold and algae, it is unlikely that anything will grow.
Before the strawberry shoots appear, I moisten the dried tablets by pouring water directly into the container tray, rather than spraying water from above from 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 regularly removed (i.e. removed excess moisture) from the lid and from the walls using absorbent paper towels. To prevent water from dripping onto the tiny sprouts of strawberries from above, which can cause them to get sick with a "black leg", it is necessary to regularly remove the condensate and water it into a tray.
We must not forget to air the greenhouse with strawberry crops daily for several minutes; this procedure can be combined with condensate removal.
If the peat tablets turn out to be 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 diffuse sunlight by attaching a piece of paper to the glass.
Prevention of the appearance of diseases in strawberry seedlings
It is advisable to bring closer the crops of strawberries and developing seedlings to natural light, put additional lamps daylight or phytolamps. Additional lighting I turn it on when it becomes clear that the strawberry seeds hatch.
Strawberry seeds germinate in the light, and daylight in winter is usually not enough - the day is still short and often cloudy. With a lack of light, strawberry development is slower, the seedlings are more often sick.
Supplementing strawberries for 12-14 hours is quite enough. In clear weather, the light can be turned off for several hours during the day, and in cloudy weather it should be left on at all times.
So, for normal development healthy seedlings strawberries need to monitor the humidity in the greenhouse, ventilate it daily and remove accumulating condensate from the container.
It is necessary to ensure that peat tablets with strawberry seedlings are not too wet or dry out.
After the emergence of strawberry shoots, I add water to the containers from the bottom, since the ingress of moisture on the seedlings stimulates the development of diseases.
If you notice that the peat tablet turns green or blackens, or cobweb fibers of white begin to form on it, you urgently need to 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 with the help of soft paper or cotton wool soaked in potassium permanganate.
After that, it is advisable to water the seedlings for some time with antifungal agents (for example, "Previkur" or its analogue), and then regularly air the seedlings.
Care of grown strawberry seedlings
After two or three true leaves appear in strawberry seedlings, you can open the greenhouse for a longer time - at this time, young plants already have a developed small root system.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can be detrimental to insufficiently mature strawberry seedlings.
I start feeding 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 in the 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.
For planting strawberries, ordinary plastic disposable cups with holes made in the bottom for drainage are suitable 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 elongated, when planting in a glass, you need 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 the growth point of the strawberry rosette from which the leaves grow.
During the period of further growth in the cup, strawberry seedlings should acquire a good branched root system.
When the roots of strawberry seedlings grow into the substrate of the cup, you need to accustom the seedlings to natural light and fresh air, that is, harden.
Since April, it is advisable to take out the seedlings in the daytime to a cool bright balcony for several hours. But you need to make sure that the temperature there does not drop 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 on fresh air at 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, setting cups with strawberry seedlings outdoors in the shade. Gradually I accustom them to the hot sun, and then I plant the matured and grown strawberry rosettes in the ground.
Planting strawberry seedlings in open ground
The place for planting small-fruited remontant strawberries, as a rule, is chosen sufficiently illuminated, and the soil is prepared fertile.
I plant young strawberries in the garden when a steady heat sets in, when the temperature at night will no longer drop 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 strawberry outlets should be about 25 cm.
In dry periods, I conduct regular watering for the high-quality development of strawberry bushes.
In the photo: strawberry seedlings with lutrasil mulch; biennial strawberry bush of the Ruyana variety
If you planted young strawberry plants in open ground in summer, before September, it is advisable to remove all emerging flowers and whiskers from the seedlings before the end of the gardening season so that they have time to root well and overwinter safely.
Create a handmade spring in the middle of winter
When fluffy snowflakes are dancing outside the winter window, the soul rejoices in that 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 during the entire gardening season, then try now, in February, to solve this interesting and completely feasible task... Grow small-fruited remontant strawberries from seeds in peat tablets.
Elena Fedorovna Yasinskaya (Bila Tserkva, Kiev region)
http://jagoda.com.ua
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Until recently, many gardeners preferred to propagate strawberries by dividing a bush or a mustache. Growing from seeds was considered a difficult process that did not guarantee good results at all. The appearance of peat tablets changed the situation and made it possible to grow a fragrant berry conveniently and without problems using the seed method.
Growing strawberries from seeds: pros and cons
Seed propagation of strawberries is gaining more and more popularity. Online shops and specialist centers for gardeners offer big choice seed different varieties garden berries... 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 strawberry variety;
- the ability to grow a healthy berry, as genetic diseases plants are inherited only when propagated by a mustache or by dividing a bush;
- significant savings - seeds are much cheaper than seedlings.
Both remontant (small-fruited) strawberries and large-fruited, often called strawberries, are propagated by seeds. The growing conditions for both species are similar. It should only be noted that the seeds of small-fruited strawberries are cheaper in cost and have better germination.
The main disadvantages of growing garden strawberry from seeds is considered the complexity and laboriousness of the process, as well as long germination of seeds. However, peat tablets come to the aid of the diligent gardener, which greatly simplify 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 slower 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 like 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 range 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 getting strong and strong seedlings;
- peat tablets are distinguished by high water and air permeability, which provides plants with the free development of the root system;
- 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, contributing to the healthy development of plants.
Several sizes of peat pellets are produced, 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
Choosing the right seeds
To grow strong, healthy and high yielding strawberries, you need to choose the 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 - produces strong plants with large fruitsbut its seeds are quite expensive.
- With your own hand harvested seeds - there is no guarantee that the "children" will inherit their parental characteristics.
When choosing seeds, it is advisable to give preference to varieties from renowned manufacturers... When buying seeds, you should pay special attention on their suitability in order to have confidence in their freshness and germination. Gardening shops offer huge selection strawberry varieties for every taste. The following varieties of aromatic berries have proven themselves very well:
- Alexandria is one of the best varieties remontant alpine strawberries. It is a fruitful, unpretentious and responsive berry that does not form a mustache;
- Ali Baba is another mustless variety of Alpine strawberries. This variety has a high yield, as well as resistance to drought, disease and pests;
- Forest Fairy Tale is a high-yielding small-fruited variety with compact bushes with continuous flowering and fruiting;
- Ruyana is an early maturing mustacheless variety. Its first fruits ripen a full two weeks faster than other varieties. It has high yield and bears fruit all season;
- Baron Solemacher is an early small-fruited variety that bears fruit continuously and has berries that are sweet without sourness;
- Rügen is a small-fruited dessert variety with early flowering and berries with 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 a very early variety, characterized by unpretentiousness and good yield;
- White swan is a remontant whiskerless variety from japanese breeders... Fruits with white, fragrant berries.
And this is just a small part of the many varieties of strawberries that are offered today in the horticultural market. Everyone can choose strawberries for themselves according to taste, size, color and the presence or absence of a mustache.
Sowing dates
The recommended sowing dates for strawberries are late February or early 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 hours. The ideal time for planting is the first decade of March, when daylight hours are already quite long.
Seed preparation 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 accelerate 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 holes made in it for ventilation.
- We keep the seeds at a temperature of 15 to 18 ° C for 3 days, and then place the container with 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 as a result. We sow the sprouted seeds into tablets and grow the first shoots, adhering to the following algorithm of actions:
- We put 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 spread the seeds into the recesses of the tablets and do not sprinkle them 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 foil, 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 condensate and maintain a constant moisture content of the tablets, adding water to the pan as necessary. Do not allow the tablets to dry out, which, by 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 dipped 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 these leaves, the "greenhouse" can be opened. If the roots of the seedlings are bare, you need to sprinkle them with earth up to the root collar. 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. Are quite suitable plastic cups with holes in the bottom. Elongated seedlings must be buried in the ground up to the cotyledons. When transferring, it is important not to cover the growth point of the cotyledonous 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 on a glazed veranda or balcony, protecting the seedlings from drafts and active sun. The hardening temperature should not fall below 0 ° C. With the arrival of warm days, the seedlings can be left on the balcony overnight.
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. By this time, 6 true leaves should appear on the seedlings. Before planting in the garden, the seedlings should be placed for a while in a shady area of \u200b\u200bthe garden 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 the rows - from 35 to 40 cm.
- We make holes on the rows with an interval of 30 cm and place 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 strawberry's growth point should be above the ground.
- We compact the earth and carefully water the seedlings, trying not to erode the soil around the bush.
Care of young strawberries
The healthy development of young strawberry bushes largely depends on proper care... Water the strawberries sparingly and as the soil dries out. Dry and crumbling soil in the hands is a signal for watering. It is important not to allow waterlogging of the soil, which negatively affects developing plant... Watering should be carried out under the root or drip method.
It is recommended to pick off the first flowers so that the young bushes get stronger, grow the leaves and, by the fall, lay the harvest of berries for the next year. Also, this procedure will allow strawberries to gain strength for wintering. Regular weeding, harvesting of dry leaves and removal of whiskers grown in the row spacing are important conditions for the healthy development of young plants.
In the first year, strawberries do not need to be fed, since the soil is fertilized before planting. The resulting nutrients will be enough until autumn. In the second year, starting in spring, you can carry out top dressing - at least three times per season. In the spring, you can feed the plants with mineral fertilizer, during the period of protruding peduncles - mullein (1: 6) or bird droppings (1:20) with the addition of ash, and at the beginning of flowering - mullein (1: 8).
In order to avoid damage to the berries by gray rot, it is recommended to tie the strawberry brushes to the pegs at the branches. For undersized strawberry varieties, 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 to propagate the bushes of the varieties you like from the second year of fruiting. 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 varieties of aromatic and sweet berries on your site.
Have you tried growing strawberries in peat tablets? Which varieties have performed best? Share your experience in the comments!
Seedling strawberries and strawberries at home
Photos used: Yulia Astanovitskaya, Bonnier Publications LLC / Iosif Kaurov
sowing strawberries in peat tablets, seedlings before planting
The 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 in that at the first stage you do not need to sift and steam the soil mixture and dive strawberry seedlings.
Strawberries - sow with seeds or not?
Do not think that growing strawberries from seeds is unreliable and very laborious. 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 it requires 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.
Sowing dates of strawberries for seedlings
At home, strawberries are sown for seedlings in late February and early March. At earlier dates, strawberries are sown in nurseries, when ready-made seedlings need to be put up for sale at the beginning of the season. If there is no such goal, you should not rush. If there is no additional light, start sowing in the first decade of March.
Preparing strawberry seeds for sowing - soaking and stratification
Spread the strawberry seeds between two cotton pads or two to three layers of clean cloth. Place them in a microwave container or other dish, moisten, close the lid, having previously made several holes in it for ventilation. If you have multiple varieties, label them. Keep them for 2-3 days at a temperature of +15 ... + 18 ° С, then put the soaked strawberry seeds in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
Some gardeners advise placing ready crops in the refrigerator. But stratification in a container is much more convenient: 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 the seeds
When the strawberry seeds hatch, it is time for sowing. Put peat tablets in a container, fill them with water. Wait until they turn from pills into "columns". Add water until the tablets stop absorbing it. Drain the excess.
Place the pins into the recesses in the tablets. It is very convenient to do this with a toothpick. You do not need to cover the seeds with earth: strawberries grow better in the light. Seeds are sprinkled only when sowing in the summer in the garden, so that they do not die from drying out.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, sowing seeds
It is important that the seeds that have hatched do not dry out. To do this, cover the container with a transparent lid or place it in a greenhouse. Place strawberry crops in a bright place with a temperature not higher than + 20 ° С.
Remove condensation from the lid daily, ventilate to prevent mold. If you nevertheless notice the first signs of mold, carefully remove it with a toothpick and drip a solution of Maxim or another fungicide onto this place.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, maintaining air humidity
After the first true leaves appear, the shelter can be removed. Sprinkle strawberry roots (if they are bare) to the root collar with a little earth. If you notice that the peat "pillars" are settling, add water to the container until it is completely absorbed, and drain the excess.
How to feed strawberries
Combine adding water every 2 weeks with feeding. 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 permits, 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 night temperature drop to +3 ... + 5 ° С is even useful.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, ready-to-plant seedlings
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, fertile. It is advisable to add humus or well-rotted compost. Its amount depends on the initial state of the garden. If this is a cultivated garden land, 0.5 buckets of humus and peat per 1 sq.m. are enough. If the soil is clayey, double the amount of humus and peat and add 0.5 buckets of sand. The application rate of complete mineral fertilizers is 30-40 grams per 1 sq. M. Dig thoroughly onto the bayonet of the shovel and level so that there is no slope.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, fertilization and soil preparation
To make the rows even, pull the planting cord on the garden bed. Mark the row with a shallow groove.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, preparing planting sites
Make holes 30 cm apart. Place peat tablets with seedlings.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, planting scheme of seedlings
Carefully fill the remaining space in the hole with loose earth so that the strawberry growth point (heart) is at ground level. Seal.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, planting strawberry seedlings
Carefully water the strawberry seedlings so as not to blur the soil around the bush.
growing strawberry seedlings from seeds in peat tablets, watering
And one more tip: 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 around the edge of other crops or fruit bushes, departing from them by 50-60 cm.
The larger number of rows makes it difficult to regularly pick berries and process plants after the next wave of fruiting.
Seeds of garden strawberry varieties with large fruits are quite expensive. There are usually only a few small grains in the package. They can easily get lost in planting containers, so such strawberry seeds for seedlings are best grown in peat tablets.
The advantages of this method are also that there is no need to carry out preprocessing soil mixture: steam, sift, etc. There is no need to pick seedlings either. When the seedlings are ready, we just plant them in open ground and that's it.
- 1 Sowing time of garden strawberries for seedlings in peat tablets
- 2 Presowing preparation garden strawberry seeds for growing seedlings
- 4 Features of feeding and hardening strawberry seedlings in peat tablets
- 5 Planting garden strawberries in open ground
- 6 Video: Peat tablets. Growing seedlings in peat tablets.
Sowing time of 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 sales season. If you are growing strawberry seedlings for yourself, it is better not to rush.
Presowing preparation of garden strawberry seeds for growing seedlings
Before sowing seeds for seedlings, it is advisable to germinate them. This will ensure maximum germination:
preparation of garden strawberry seeds
Sowing technology of 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 the peat tablets in a planting container (a shallow plastic box without holes in the walls or a deep tray), fill with water. Water must be added until it ceases to be absorbed into the tablets. The excess must be drained.
- We lay out the seeds that have nailed into the recesses in the tablets. We try not to damage them. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with earth: garden strawberries rise 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 strawberry crops in a well-lit place and keep at a temperature not higher than +20 ° C.
Sowing technology of strawberry seeds in peat tablets
To prevent mold from forming on the seeds, the crops must be aired daily and condensate must be 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 drug.
After the first true leaves appear on the seedlings, the shelter can be removed. Strawberry roots (if they are bare) should be sprinkled with a small amount to the root collar planting soil... If you notice that the peat "pillars" are settling, add water to the container until it is completely absorbed. Drain the excess.
Features of feeding and hardening of strawberry seedlings in peat tablets
Topping up water in a container with peat tablets every two weeks should be combined with top dressing. It is best to feed the seedlings of garden strawberries with a solution of mineral fertilizers for seedlings or humates.
In late April - early May, you can start hardening seedlings. It is conducted on a balcony, loggia or glazed veranda... At first, the seedlings must be protected from the wind and direct sunlight, after a week you can not do this. A short-term drop 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-made, well-developed seedlings, the roots are visible on the surface of the tablet. If so, then your seedlings of garden strawberries in peat tablets are excellent!
The planting soil should be loose, well fertilized. It is advisable to add rotted
Planting strawberry seedlings
compost or humus. If it is cultured garden soil, enough for 0.5 buckets of humus and peat per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, double the amount of humus and peat and add 0.5 buckets of sand. Application rate of complete mineral fertilizer is 30-40 g per 1 m2.
Dig the ground thoroughly onto the bayonet of the shovel and level so that there is no slope. To make the rows with strawberry plantings even, pull the planting cord on the beds. Mark the rows with grooves.
Make planting holes at a distance of 30 cm. When they are ready, place the peat tablets with seedlings in them. Gently fill the holes with soil so that the strawberry growth point (heart) is at the level of its surface. Compact the soil and water the seedlings carefully, being careful not to erode the soil.