How to start growing strawberries at home?

At the present time, year-round cultivation of strawberries at home with developed technologies and the presence of a rich selection of varieties, especially remontant ones, that yield a harvest throughout the growing season is quite possible. By combining growing plants in the warm summer season on the balcony, and the cold winter in the room, you can pick strawberries all year round at home, without bothering yourself with trips to the hypermarket or trips to the garden area.

This is not to say that this is a simple occupation. Forcing strawberries within a year using modern technology, which has received the name "Dutch" in Russia, requires daily work and quite tangible financial costs associated at the initial stage - with investments in equipping a house for a place and containers for growing it, and in the future - for purchasing and renewal of the substrate, purchase of fertilizers, renewal of varieties (purchase of seeds or seedlings) and electricity spent on artificial lighting and the operation of electric pumps supplying nutrient solutions to the roots of plants.

To this should be added the need for watering, feeding, trimming "whiskers", artificial pollination and periodic replacement of fertile plants. In order to save money, you can grow seedlings at home on your own from seeds, but this also takes time and some effort.

In terms of financial and labor costs, such a hobby can be compared to maintaining two or three aquariums with ornamental fish with a volume of 100-300 liters at home.

If desired and the skills of working with tools, it is possible to automate the process of irrigation and dosed artificial lighting to the utmost by assembling simple structures.

Where to begin?

With an estimate of the area of ​​the balcony and living quarters of the house in which you plan to grow berries all year round. In articles devoted to the organization of space for growing various berry and vegetable crops on the balcony, we described in some detail the methods of planting plants: both in horizontal and vertical containers. The undisputed leader in saving space at home is the vertical placement of plants.

The substrate can be filled both in elongated plastic bags (preferably made of dense black plastic film, and large-diameter plumbing pipes with holes cut in them).The second method is more suitable for year-round cultivation of strawberries at home, since without the risk of breaking the bag, the pipe with the substrate can be moved into the room for the winter. And if it is decorated with a beautiful coating (polyethylene film, "hammer" enamel or other materials), then it will not spoil the design of the apartment, but will organically fit as an element of landscaping.

If the area of ​​the balcony and the room allows (they should be approximately the same), which you plan to occupy with containers for growing strawberries all year round, then it is advisable to place a "life support" system in the same area in combination with containers, which will allow you not to worry about timely watering or turning on the lights.

Substrate

Forcing strawberries at home all year round usually does not involve the use of land (especially garden) as such. Instead, at home, either coconut fiber is used in a mixture with peat and perlite, or peat with the addition of expanded clay sand (fine fraction) and perlite (vermiculite). This is due to the weight of the substrate. The containers filled with peat and perlite are several times lighter than those filled with garden soil. It is more convenient to move them. The second reason for the use of artificial substrates is their "sterility". You do not run the risk of bringing strawberry pathogens or pest larvae with the ground. In the middle of winter, you will not have mosquitoes or midges hatched from the garden soil, and two-tails or caterpillars will not start running on the floor.

Another plus is the almost complete absence of dirt, which is inevitably washed out from the drainage holes after watering the plants. There will be no peculiar smell of damp soil at home. At any time of the year you will be able to compose a well-known composition of the substrate elements, which will be most suitable for plant growth, and renew the containers for planting new plants with it.

Most suitable varieties

For growing strawberries all year round in a balcony or room, at home, remontant and ampelous varieties are most suitable. There is no need to grow tall, sturdy plants that give upright flower stalks in balcony conditions. The berries, in any case, will not touch the surface of the earth, and therefore will be amazed by all kinds of "rot" that nest in moist soil and will always be clean and elegant.

Ampel varieties at home are convenient in that they, with their hanging down lashes, will completely overlap the container in which the strawberries are grown. And remontant varieties will provide you with an uninterrupted harvest. Modern breeding varieties also include curly varieties of strawberries, which are independently capable of clinging to a support and growing upward, like a liana, forming a dense green curtain. But growing them on the balcony of a house is possible only during the summer season, since it is very problematic to move the plant into the room without damaging the shoots, and then equip the trellis in the apartment or pull the twine on which the plant's lashes could settle.

If everything is clear enough with the planting of the first batch of plants, then the subsequent replacement of fertile plants requires explanations. It is recommended to replace the plant once a year. In order not to completely bare the container in which the strawberry grows, and not to wait for the growth of seedlings, its flowering and fruiting phase, it is advisable to have plants of different planting dates in one container. Initially, it will be enough to plant seedlings at intervals of 6 months (in spring and autumn), and next year replace 1/3 of the plants with new ones. Weakly fruiting plants or those that have formed a small number of ovaries should be replaced.

In no case should you allow re-grading within the same container. And the close location of various varieties on the balcony can lead to unintentional over-pollination and degradation of the variety.

When growing 2-3 varieties at home, try to isolate them from each other as much as possible, especially on the balcony, when pollination can occur naturally - either by wind or by insects.

Fertilizer use

No plant can survive all year round on artificial substrates without an influx of nutrients necessary for leaf growth and fruit formation. Therefore, growing strawberries at home, year-round, requires constant use of organic and mineral fertilizers.

Taking as a basis the ready-made fertilizer mixtures "For strawberries and strawberries" or "For berry crops" initially, during the period of intensive growth and before flowering, they should be applied according to the manufacturer's recommendations (on the package).

During the period of formation and ripening of fruits, their number should be reduced as much as possible against the technical standards that are recommended.

In the container, there is no intensive leaching of fertilizers by rains or, after irrigation, they do not seep into the groundwater. When organizing drip irrigation, almost all moisture supplied to the container is absorbed by the roots. Consequently, the applied fertilizers are also absorbed. Therefore, there is no need to add the recommended 5-10 grams per 1m2.

Strawberry care

The main care for plants will be regular pruning of the "mustache" - if it is not an ampelous variety and not a remontant, which forms fruits on young mustaches, as well as periodic pollination during the entire growing season. Pollination can be done with a fan (cold hair dryer) or with a soft kolinsky (squirrel) artistic brush.

Use different brushes to pollinate different varieties of strawberries and never mix them up or store them nearby. Pollination with a brush is a laborious process that requires attention and time, but gives better results than using a fan or hair dryer.

Be sure to spray the plants from a spray bottle at least once a day, because on the balcony - due to intensive air circulation and at home - due to the action of heating devices, the air is extremely dry, and this negatively affects the plants.

Organization of lighting

If there is no problem with a lack of lighting on the balcony in the summer months, then in the conditions of growing strawberries all year round in winter, additional artificial lighting is required. The most optimal is the use of LED lamps with a balanced emission spectrum. As a last resort, you can use fluorescent lamps "daylight" in combination 1- "cold" + 2 "warm" light.

To prevent the red-blue radiation of the LEDs from annoying, the plants should be fenced off with a screen made of foil-clad material (thermal insulation sold in hardware stores) or crumpled food foil glued to sheets of cardboard or fiberboard. This will distribute the lighting more evenly and increase its efficiency up to 50% of the light source's power.

Additional lighting during the period when plants are in the room should be 12-14 hours. You can automate the switch-on process by connecting the lighting device to the simplest Chinese timer, costing 200-300 rubles.

Organization of watering

If you use a vertical planting system, then it is advisable to use a drip irrigation system - either by placing a container with a nutrient solution (water) above the level of the container in which strawberries are grown and ensuring the solution flows through the tubes from a medical "dropper", or initially put into the structure a tube located in the middle of the container and having a bottom (plug) and many small holes d-1 mm. along the entire length of the tube through which watering is carried out.

In "advanced" irrigation systems, you can use a micro-pump for garden fountains or aquariums, which will pump a strictly defined volume of liquid, sufficient to moisten the soil. It can also be connected to a timer. Once every two weeks, instead of water, use a solution of mineral fertilizers for irrigation.

Let's summarize

The process of growing strawberries all year round is permanent. It does not allow you to “forget” or postpone any of the listed manipulations. However, this is the lot of any agricultural production - work all year round without days off and holidays.

Having a year-round harvest of fragrant strawberries with a lot of nutrients is every gardener's dream. It can be done by starting to grow strawberries in pots. In a closed container, the culture can be grown both outdoors and at home, as well as at any time of the year. In the conditions of an apartment for pots, a place is selected on a balcony or windowsill.

Suitable varieties of strawberries

For growing strawberry bushes in pots on the street, they choose good remontant varieties that bear fruit all year round and act as an ampelous plant. According to the reviews of experienced gardeners working in summer cottages, the following varieties are suitable for these purposes:

• Garland. On a small spherical bush, conical berries appear, colored in a red tint and reaching a weight of twenty-six to thirty-two grams. In one season, up to a kilogram of berries are harvested from the bush.
• Queen Elizabeth. Winter-hardy strawberry variety with pronounced remontant properties. The first crop is harvested in May, the second time the plant bears fruit in July, and the third crop bears in August.
• Autumn fun. On a medium-sized bush, berries appear with a dessert taste and juicy pulp that has a taste reminiscent of wild strawberries. The variety is resistant to diseases, stem nematode and strawberry mite.
• Brighton. Berries of the variety are large in size and have good transport properties. During transportation, the fruits do not crumple and retain their presentation for a long time. A distinctive feature of the variety is a light pineapple flavor, thanks to which the culture is very popular.

Where to grow?

Potted garden strawberries will bear fruit in almost any area of ​​the home with suitable conditions. To begin with, they select a place for culture. The pots are placed near the window, where a lot of sunlight is concentrated. If there is not enough space on the windowsill for an extensive plantation, you can hang the containers vertically on a special hand-built stand.

Every evening, the strawberries are supplemented with special lamps, since natural light is no longer enough for it. The growing area should not be exposed to drafts that will destroy the plant.

Pot selection

A flower pot chosen for growing strawberries should not only have a beautiful appearance, but also be suitable for certain characteristics for the cultivation process. An interesting design only matters for the aesthetics of the surrounding space.

For growing strawberries, ordinary pots, hanging planters or flowerpots for indoor plants or container oblong containers, plastic or made of wood are suitable. If the decorative properties do not matter (most of the container will be covered with berries and leaves), containers are made from mayonnaise buckets or water bottles with a capacity of five liters.

The containers are cut to the correct height. Homemade pots are decorated with colored paper, acrylic paints, beads and colored stones. Please note that containers made from coconut fiber are not suitable for cultivating strawberries. In terms of volume, the capacity can be different, it depends on the splendor of the bush that will grow in it.

However, for one bush, the volume should not be less than three liters. At the bottom of the pot, drainage holes are made through which moisture will escape. Of great importance for growing is also a layer of expanded clay, which acts as a drainage, ridding the roots of excess water.

Technology of planting strawberries in a pot

The landing technology is step by step as follows:

• prepare seedlings, pots and soil;
• pour a drainage consisting of expanded clay or pebbles on the bottom of the container;
• fill the pot with nutritious soil two-thirds of the total;
• water the ground abundantly (water should flow out of the drainage holes);
• build a small embankment in the middle of the container;
• remove the seedlings from the previous container. Sometimes old pots have to be cut if the seedlings are difficult to remove without damaging the root system;
• shake lightly with an earthen clod to free it from excess soil;
• place the strawberry seedlings in water for one hour - the roots will be saturated with moisture;
• after a while, remove the bush and place it on the embankment;
• gently spread the roots over the surface of the ground;
• fill the remaining space with soil so that no voids remain. Do not cover the growth point with earth;
• planting ends with abundant watering. When moistening seedlings from a bottle, the soil may erode, so we recommend using a spray bottle;
• if the soil drops after watering, add more soil on top.

Soil preparation

To obtain a rich harvest, the composition of the soil is of great importance, since strawberries are sensitive to this parameter. Only a limited amount of soil will fit in pots, so it should be especially nutritious. Mix turf and humus in equal proportions, add two tablespoons of nitroammophoska to the mixture (for every five liters).

Strawberries prefer the soil to have a mild acidity of 5.5-6.5 pH.

Perlite can be added to the earthen mixture to increase breathability. The soil is applied to the pot on top of the drainage layer. In the process of cultivation, the nutritional value of peat soil must be constantly maintained by adding appropriate fertilizing.

Preparing strawberry seedlings

To obtain a rich harvest, it is necessary to prepare good quality strawberry seedlings. Where can I get them? They can be obtained from your own strawberry plantations if you are a cultivator, or can be purchased from a reputable nursery that sells quality plants. When buying, look at the leaves of the seedlings: the leaves of a plant that is full of health are painted in a rich emerald color, and there are no blotches of brown.

How drop off seedlings in a pot

The technology of planting strawberry seedlings in a container does not differ in any way from the process of transplanting a houseplant. When a mustache is formed on a strawberry, young bushes with their roots are separated from the parent plant and planted in a separate container. The root system of this berry takes up a space of twenty centimeters underground, so you should not pick up the container above this mark.

The diameter of a separate container, for example, a cup, should not be less than ten centimeters if a seedling with two leaves is planted in it. If there are five to six leaves, then pick up a separate container with a diameter of twenty centimeters. Prepare the container, pour expanded clay, pebbles or broken brick on the bottom, then load the earth to half the volume.

Make indentations at the same distance. Trim the root system of the strawberry bush and remove excess leaves. Place the bush in the groove, straighten the roots and cover them with earth, carefully tamping the soil so as not to form "air pockets". Make sure that the growth point is not covered with earth, but rises above the surface.

Thus, all shrubs are planted in the ground. Water the planting, add earth if the soil settles.After three weeks, the seedlings can be divided and planted in separate pots in a permanent place.

How to plant seeds in a pot

Strawberry seedlings are obtained from seed. Sachets of suitable planting material can be purchased from a specialist store. To begin with, select a suitable container and mix the nutrient soil. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, which is filled with a container, placing them in small depressions. They must be lightly sprinkled with earth on top. A kind of bed is watered abundantly and covered with a plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions inside the structure.

Care for seedlings

The container with seedlings is placed in an open place, for example, on a windowsill, where the planting material can receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. In winter, strawberries are placed near a heat source. With the same frequency, the planting is aired, if the earth dries up, it is watered. After the emergence of strong shoots, the greenhouse is removed in order to further grow seedlings. At this time, watering is intensified, because after removing the film, the soil will dry much faster.

When the seedlings grow up, they need to thin out, leaving only large and strong shoots a few centimeters apart.

Pollination of strawberries in winter at home

Pollination is an important condition for obtaining a rich strawberry harvest from an improvised garden bed. If you grow potted crops in the summer, placing them outdoors, the bees will do all the work for you. What to do if the berry culture grows at home, and even in winter? You will have to "work as a bee" yourself. Take a brush, collect pollen from one plant and carefully transfer it to a nearby bush. You can tilt the pots towards each other so that the plants touch and "exchange pollen."

Room strawberry care

The correct way of grooming guarantees a rich harvest. For rapid growth and development, the bush is pruned in time when it reaches a height of ten centimeters. Be sure to cut off all whiskers that suck life-giving juices from the mother plant. Particular attention is paid to watering, since strawberries grow in a confined space, from where water quickly leaves.

The plant is watered abundantly, making sure that the soil does not dry out completely. If you do not have the opportunity to spend a lot of time caring for strawberries, you can organize automatic watering. For this purpose, medium-thick ropes are passed through the pots, which are lowered into a bottle of water, and irrigation of the earth begins. Such watering is also called drip. The strawberry bushes take up the required amount of water themselves.

The culture is regularly fed with mineral fertilizers, preventing depletion of the soil. If in the summer you grew strawberries outside, with the arrival of winter, the pots can be brought into a room where the temperature is kept at a level of one to three degrees of cold. Thus, strawberries can be stored for a long time. Having successfully survived the winter in such conditions, with the arrival of spring, the plant will start growing again.

Positive aspects of growing strawberries in pots

1. Juicy berries ripen earlier, have a smoother surface and a large size.
2. The berries that appear do not touch the ground, they do not rot and are not attacked by slugs and other pests.
3. Potted strawberries are easy to pick. There is no need to constantly bend over and climb among the beds in search of a crop, looking under large leaves.
4. The harvest of ripe berries can be obtained all year round if you keep the strawberries indoors and correctly combine varieties with different ripening periods.
5. A beautiful bright strawberry in a pot is an excellent decoration for an apartment or a summer cottage. It can be grown in hand-painted pots.
6. For cultivation, not only special flower pots are used, but also ordinary mayonnaise buckets.
7. They feast on juicy and tasty strawberries, even if there is no own garden, but only a city apartment.

Cons of growing indoors

1. Moisture evaporates from closed ground much faster, therefore, frequent abundant watering is required.
2. A small amount of land is quickly depleted, so strawberries have to be fed periodically.
3. Sometimes it is difficult to create the necessary conditions for the plant, especially if the apartment windows face the north side. Additional highlighting is required.

Growing strawberries and strawberries in pots is an excellent option for people who do not have a garden or vegetable garden, but who want to feast on delicious berries all year round, until late autumn.

No one will argue that strawberries are full of aroma and freshness.

It is also one of the simplest and most beneficial plants to grow in a garden or container.

Growing strawberries at home: basic principles

In supermarkets, berries tend to have a tart, grainy texture. This is because natural sugar turns into starch as soon as the strawberries are picked from the garden. If you have the opportunity, then try how fun and beneficial it is to grow strawberries at home. And its rich and aromatic taste will convince you of the correctness of this decision.

First, you need to understand the life cycle of a strawberry. Like most hardy perennials, it dies off in winter and begins to grow rapidly when the soil warms up in the spring. After the plant bears fruit, many types of strawberries produce numerous shoots with new plant babies at the ends. These tendril runners often root themselves nearby and remain attached to the mother plant. These types of strawberries will produce more berries if you prune most of the runners, allowing each plant to produce no more than 3 daughter plants each summer. In warm, sunny weather, the berries ripen about 30 days after the flowers are fertilized.

For a successful result and an answer to the question of how to grow strawberries at home, you must follow a number of rules and conditions, such as:

Sunny place... Strawberries love areas that get plenty of direct sunlight without shade. They also appreciate minimal wind, so that it does not take the necessary moisture from the plant and does not interfere with pollination.

Moderate humidity... Water on time. An excess can lead to rotting of the berries, and a deficiency can lead to the death of the plant.

Planting and weeding... It is best to plant strawberries in the spring. The soil should be well fertilized. Maintain sufficient distance between plants to provide them with the necessary amount of light and heat. Remove weeds frequently and thoroughly. They take strength from a healthy plant and produce a small, small crop.

Neighbors... It is not recommended to plant in the area where there were recently strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes. Ideal neighbors are corn and sunflowers.

Take timely preventive measures to protect against diseases and pests, which will help to avoid the death of the plant.

How to grow strawberries at home: the choice of variety and planting material

First, determine which type of strawberry is best for you based on their needs. There are the following strawberry plant specieswhich can be divided into:

— early (June 1-15) - Vima Zanta, Deroyal, Camaroza, Kent, Kimberly, Lambada, Donna, Diana;

— average (June 20 - July 10) - Ducat, Corona, Polka, Suzy, Tago, Figaro, Monterey, San Andreas, Portola, Albion;

—late (July 15-30) - Zanga-Zengana, Mize Schindler, La Boheme, Symphony, Vima Tarda, Florence.

Also, when choosing a strawberry variety, you must take into account your own requests:

- by taste: sweet (Kimberly, Maryshka), sweet and sour (Zarya), sour (Mount Everest);

- by yield: high (Festivalnaya) or low;

- by berry size: small (Moscow delicacy), medium (Lyubava) or large (Gigantella Maxim, Brighton)

- purposes of application: to cook jam with them (Valerie), or to eat fresh from the garden (Mashenka).

Types of strawberries

Original strawberry varieties include:

- renovation (Queen Elizabeth II, Albion, Temptation)

- ampelous (Merlan)

- curly (Garland)

When choosing planting material, it should be remembered that it must be taken from bushes that are at least 3 years old. If you buy seedlings at the market or in a store, then it is advisable that they be in closed pots. The length of the roots is at least 5 cm. They should not show signs of rot. There should be two to three healthy leaves on the bush. Try not to buy a flowering plant, as it will take less root.

Feel free to try and experiment with growing different varieties of strawberry seedlings. This is the case when the result is a win-win!

Strawberries from seeds: growing technology

There are several ways to grow strawberries at home:

— antennae rooting... A strawberry seedling is a mustache with a small young bush on it. After rooting, the bush becomes an independent plant and can be transplanted to another place;

Propagation of strawberries with a mustache

— division of bushes... For some varieties of strawberries (mainly remontant), only this method is used. It consists of dividing a bush into two parts and planting them like two young plants;

— sowing seeds.

We want to warn you right away that it is difficult to grow strawberries from seeds. And you need to start doing this long before the plant bears fruit. Sow at the right time. It depends on the type of strawberry you choose, so read the label or contact your retailer. High-yielding varieties are best sown in summer, no later than the first half of August. Alpine strawberries - in July-August. But, in most cases, it is recommended to sow strawberries in winter, as this will give more time for the plant to have a healthy root system.

The best varieties are: Lakomka, Bagota, Sakhalin, Brighton, Geneva.

You can prepare them yourself. To do this, you need to cut the top layer of your favorite berries, dry and grind, carefully freeing the seeds from the strawberries.

Before sowing, the obtained seeds must be checked for germination. To do this, they must be placed in a humid environment. And after they sprout start growing strawberry seedlings from seeds.

First, prepare a container with drainage holes. Fill it with the soil you want to moisten. Use your finger to make depressions in the soil about 6 mm apart at 15 cm intervals. Place 3 seeds in each hole and simply press down with your finger. Do not press down hard with the earth, otherwise the seeds will have to struggle in order to germinate. Cover with plastic wrap to help keep the seeds in moist soil.

Place the container in a lighted area. If you are planting in winter, then place it near the heating radiator. The soil should be moist at all times. Water with a sprayer, otherwise the water will wash out all the seeds.

After the seeds have germinated and, most importantly, have sprouted fully, remove the film and allow the seeds to grow further. Remember to check soil moisture.

Plants can be transplanted into cups after the young leaves appear.

Strawberry seedlings: care and planting

In order to answer the question of how to grow strawberries at home, you need to know all the rules for the implementation of the necessary care.

Lighting... Warm sunny place. Strawberries require 6-10 hours of daylight and direct sunlight.She can produce the plant in partial shade if needed, but the crop will never be as fertile.

The soil... Add a lot of compost or manure a couple of months before planting to enrich the soil and remove any weeds and roots. If the soil is heavy clay or poor sand, add well-decomposed organic material. The planting area must be well drained. If necessary, change the acidity of your soil beforehand.

Landing... Dig a hole in the soil. Place the strawberry plant in the hole, keeping the head above the surface. Press the soil firmly and gently around the base of the seedlings. Mulch after planting to protect the surface and keep the strawberries clean.

Water regularly... Strawberries need a lot of water when the flowers are developing and again in the fall when the plants are ripe. Avoid getting water on the berries to prevent them from rotting. Due to the heat and drought, the berries can be small in size. Start watering and this will help increase their size.

Top dressing... Use a liquid fertilizer to keep the strawberries nourished. But minimize the use of a water-soluble fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. It will promote leaf growth rather than focus on fruiting berries.

Care process... Pick off the first flowers. By removing the first flowers that appear, you give the strawberries a chance to grow a stronger root system.

Seedlings should be planted around May or when it will be possible to work on the soil in the spring. In the prepared soil, make the planting holes wide enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending it. Also, don't plant the plant too deep: the roots should be covered, but the crown should be right on top of the soil.

Provide sufficient space for the so-called stretching the plant. The distance should be 35-40 cm from each other and 90 cm between the rows. The roots should not be more than 20 cm long. Trim them if necessary.

Plant new plants every year to keep the quality of the berries high every season.

Be careful when weeding. Remove weeds by hand, especially during the first months after planting.

Growing strawberries at home - conditions for maximum yield

To achieve high yields, you must follow the rules of care in the complex. Violation of one of the conditions may not lead to the desired result.

It is recommended to replant strawberry bushes every five years. Otherwise, they lose their yield. Ideally, plant varieties should also be changed. And this should be done not only out of idle curiosity. This will help you find the strawberries you like and reduce the threat of pests and the spread of disease.

The soil in which you will grow strawberries at home also plays an important role. Black soil and gray forest soils are best suited. On heavy clay or sod-podzolic, you will not get a rich harvest. The acidity should be low (pH 5.5 to 6.5). Also pay attention to the water table. If, during the rainy season, on the selected section of the track, the legs fall into the ground, then such a section is not suitable.

In the first year, pick flowers to discourage fruiting. Because of this, the plant will spend its energy reserves to develop healthy roots. And the output will be much higher in the second year. The first and second generations have higher yields.

Strawberries at home: why are they dying?

One of the reasons for the death of home-grown strawberries is pests. The most common are:

1) Strawberry mite - in the spring lays eggs in leaves, thereby sucking the juice out of them. Because of this, the leaves become wrinkled and the berries are very small. Remove the affected leaves, and treat the plant with onion peel infusion.

2) Powdery mildew - leaves susceptible to this disease curl up in a boat, turn purple with a characteristic mealy bloom. Spraying plantations with a copper-soap solution will help with this disease (in 10 liters of water it is necessary to dissolve 20 grams of soap, 20 grams of copper sulfate and 10 grams of Topaz).

3) Spider mite - in case of severe damage, strawberry leaves are entangled in cobwebs, which is why they turn yellow and dry out. You can fight it by spraying the plant with a warm solution of karbofos (3 tablespoons per bucket of water). In this case, it is important that the treated beds (make sure that there are no berries there), cover with foil for about three hours. This method will help get rid of other pests as well.

4) Aphid - to fight aphids, pour 3 liters of cold water over several heads of garlic and let it brew for a week. With the resulting solution, use a spray bottle to treat the required areas.

5) Slugs - chew holes in strawberries. In this case, a decoction of marigolds can help. To do this, pour 1 liter of boiling water in 1 tbsp. dried flowers or 2 tbsp. fresh. Let the broth brew and spray the entire damaged surface with it, not missing the distance between the rows. You can also spray the soil with a solution of water (5 l) and 1 tbsp. ammonia.

Sick strawberry

Fungal diseases cause dark spots on the leaves. Removing strawberry foliage can help get rid of pests and diseases.

Until now, the worst pests of strawberries are birds. To preserve the berries, they can be covered with a kind of mesh weaving. Also try this original method: spread red glass balls around the garden before the berries appear. This one can help scare birds away.

Satisfy all the whims of our berry queen, you get an exceptional strawberry flavor and unique aroma!

a source

Strawberries can be attributed to fairly unpretentious crops. Subject to the rules of care, it gives a wonderful harvest of tasty and healthy berries. But in the conditions of our climate, this is possible only in a short period of time. Therefore, its ability to bear fruit in a closed environment helps to make up for this deficiency.

If you decide to start growing strawberries at home, then initially take a few strawberry bushes and try it. A small number of plants at first will allow you to master the technology and features of growing this crop well. Pick up seedlings three to four different varieties plants and growing method. In the process of growing, you will be able to decide which variety you like, and the proximity of several varieties with different periods of fruiting has a positive effect on plants and the yield.

Which varieties are suitable

Growing strawberries at home does not require any special varieties. But, despite this, the choice of the variety will affect the quality and quantity of the crop. It should be distinguished by:

• High productivity;
• Large fruits;
• Good taste;
• Resistance to various diseases and parasites.

We advise you to pay attention early and late varieties, also on small plants... Can be recommended for growing: Roxana, Desnyanka, Beauty Zagorya, Rusanka, Ekaterina II, Festivalnaya. You can also purchase strawberry hybrids for growing.

Which place to choose

Strawberries on the balcony in boxes

For growing strawberries indoors, greenhouses, greenhouses or hotbeds are suitable. If you do not have this opportunity, you can use a separate room in the apartment and even a window sill. In the room, you need to constantly maintain a temperature not lower than room temperature.

A warm loggia or balcony is perfect for these purposes. But at the same time, special attention should be paid to correct, sufficient lighting. Of course, the most suitable balconies are located on the south side, illuminated by the afternoon sun.They can harvest strawberries on them until the first frost occurs, and on glazed and insulated balconies until the end of fruiting.

Capacities and soil composition

As containers you can use plastic containers, boxes or polyethylene bags (preferably white). The use of the latter is preferable for growing strawberries at home, since they are more like beds, that is, they are close to natural growing conditions. Bags should be up to 20 centimeters in diameter, no more than 2 meters in length from a film with a thickness of up to 0.3 mm. No more than three bags should be placed on one square meter.

One of the ways to grow strawberries on the balcony or at home almost all year round

The composition of the soil is important... Loamy soils are most suitable for strawberries. You can make a suitable mixture of the substrate yourself by mixing earth, humus, peat, sand, sawdust.

Humus adds fertility to the earth, it is obtained from a variety of organic decomposition.

Peat is one of the clean substrates that retains water well. When composing the soil mixture, a glass of ash is poured into each bucket of peat.

Earth, humus and peat are taken in equal quantities.

When using sawdust, they are initially prepared, soaked in a urea solution. To do this, dissolve two tablespoons of urea in three liters of water. This solution is enough for ten kilograms of sawdust. Withstand for two to three hours, add chalk or sand (one glass) and knead well.

To achieve the desired looseness of the soil, three parts of sawdust are taken to ten parts of the earth.

Sand is best used coarse-grained without clay impurities... Added in small amounts (one part to ten parts of soil).

Having mixed all the components well, they are placed in containers selected for seedlings and watered with a solution prepared according to the following recipe:

• Copper sulfate - 0.5 tsp;
• Mullein - 1 glass;
• Water - 3 liters;

Important: When growing strawberries on a windowsill, you should also take care of disinfecting the soil so that various diseases and parasites do not develop in it in the future.

Seedling growing methods

There are two ways that are equally suitable for growing plant seedlings:

• Buy ready-made seedlings, preferably from professional producers, and not on the market, or by ordering seedlings under a dubious announcement and receiving them by mail. Please note that in order to obtain a fast and rich harvest, plants must have a strong root system;
• Grow it yourself, which is not very difficult.

The first way will save your physical costs, and the second - economic.

If you plan on growing strawberries in pots or small boxes, you may need shelves for this. We talked about wooden wall shelves in this article. Also, in it you will find information about other types of balcony shelves.

In order for strawberries to bring a good harvest and do it as long as possible, they must necessarily grow in a warm room. Read about possible options for warming loggias and balconies in our material.

Also, pay attention to the review of models of thermo boxes for storing vegetables on the balcony

Growing strawberries from seeds

In order to grow high-quality strawberry seedlings from seeds, follow these simple recommendations:

1. Responsibly approach the choice of the initial material - seeds. Take a few varieties, not necessarily expensive ones. If possible, select remontant, mustacheless species, this will save you the unnecessary trouble of eliminating unnecessary whiskers and increase the period of harvest;
2. Sowing seeds should be started from the end of March, beginning of April, but at such times, plants usually do not form berries in the first year of growth. Therefore, to get a quick harvest, try sowing in early February;
3. The soil should be sufficiently loose, light (you can add sand) and highly fertile;
4. It is better to sow strawberries using plastic containers, making small holes in the bottom in advance;

   Sowing strawberry seeds in plastic containers

5. Having poured the earth into the container (not reaching 2 - 3 centimeters to the edges), you just need to compact and level it a little (you should not ram it). Lightly water the prepared soil;
6. Spread the seeds evenly over the area of ​​the container and, if possible, cover the space remaining on top with them with snow;
7. Cover the container with a lid, if it is not there, tighten it with plastic foil and send it to the cellar (you can use a refrigerator). She will stay there for about two weeks. This will be the so-called botanical stratification imitating natural winter conditions. This is done to facilitate and enhance the emergence and rooting of plants;
8. After the expiration date, the container is placed on the windowsill (or other selected surface), the lid (film) is not removed. You should not immediately make abundant watering. Subject to all the rules, seedlings should be expected in 15 - 25 days, depending on the variety of strawberries;
9. As soon as shoots appear, you need to start making holes in the lid. Be sure to monitor the moisture content of the soil (a transparent container will help with this). Open the container for a short time to ventilate;
10. If the seedlings are thickened, you need to thin them out immediately, when the third true leaf appears, a pick is carried out;
11. Before transplanting strawberries to a permanent place, no additional feeding should be done.

Growing and caring for plants

Getting a good harvest depends on the conditions created: thermal insulation, lighting, heating, irrigation, as well as on the composition of the soil and the choice of capacity for seedlings.

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place of growth should be carried out in the following terms:

• In a greenhouse, room, insulated balcony or loggia in early April;
• On a non-glazed balcony at the beginning of May.

Containers or bags filled with prepared soil are placed in a warm place. In the bags, planting spots (up to 8 centimeters) should be cut using a checkerboard pattern. The distance between the holes should be between 20 and 30 centimeters... You can place the bags on the floor, and if it is possible to lay them in tiers on prepared supports, which will ultimately allow you to increase the amount of the harvested crop. Carefully plant the seedlings (purchased or purchased) and sprinkle with earth.

Important: Pay attention to the fact that the roots are not exposed or bent. Also, do not cover the middle of the seedling with earth to avoid rotting when watering.

Strawberries are highly susceptible to light (at least 14 hours a day). If there is a drawback, additional lighting should be placed above it (for example, a horizontal fluorescent lamp). Reflectors (elemental foil) can be added.

With this method of growing strawberries on a balcony or loggia, it should be pollinated... You can use the manual method (using a brush), but it takes a lot of time. It is better to use a fan, making sure that the air currents capture all the blossoming flowers. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in the morning.

Watering scheme for strawberries in bags

Each bag of seedlings requires two liters of water per day. To ensure constant, even watering, it is recommended to place power supplies (any tubes) at the bottom, middle and top of the bag, connecting them with a container of water fixed above the bag itself to create pressure. It should be remembered that the main enemy of strawberries is dampness, so carefully monitor the degree of soil moisture.

Feeding strawberries should be carried out twice a month during the entire period of growth and fruiting with specially selected fertilizers.

Alternative growing method

There is one rather original way of how to grow strawberries at home all year round. In this case, holes are made in bags with prepared soil for planting over the entire area, seedlings are planted in them and the bags are hung on pre-prepared hooks. This method allows you to get more crops by using the entire volume of the bags. Also, in this case, putrefactive processes do not appear. In addition, such bags with fruit bushes will decorate your balcony.

Vertical bags for growing strawberries

Soil preparation, seedlings, lighting and watering devices are no different from the previous method. Only a small amount of drainage should be placed on the bottom of the bags.

Of course, bagged strawberries are likely to yield more crops because they can accommodate more plants in a compact manner. If the area of ​​your balcony or loggia does not allow you to use this method, then use boxes at least twenty centimeters wide, flower pots (can be suspended) or other containers suitable for your room. But you should know that each plant should have at least three liters of soil.

Wintering strawberries on the balcony

If you decide to leave strawberries for the winter on the balcony, then after the ground freezes in the planting containers, additional insulation should be carried out. For this, wood sawdust or needles are suitable. During the onset of a thaw, remember to ventilate the plants to avoid decay. As soon as the temperature rises above zero, you need to open the containers. For several weeks (in March - April), the plants need to be brought into the apartment and provide them with good lighting. After that, their next landing on the balcony is made.

Using these simple recommendations, you can quite easily achieve a good and high-quality berry harvest by growing strawberries at home. And perhaps you will enjoy the results obtained.

Growing strawberries video

In this section, we invite you to watch a video in which you will see how easy it is to grow strawberries in pots on a windowsill at home.

Homemade strawberry photo

Here we have selected a small collection of photographs for you. All photos are clickable.