How to keep strawberries grown in boxes in winter?

Growing strawberries in balcony boxes above the ground

Growing strawberries in containers outdoors is modern, interesting and beautiful.

It is also the best way to feast on self-grown berries for those gardeners who do not own their own land plot, and modern overworked townspeople who do not have the opportunity to often travel to the country.

For several years abroad, remontant varieties and hybrids of strawberries in suspended containers have been grown on an industrial scale in protected ground. The undoubted advantages of growing strawberries in boxes on the street are the efficient use of space (more fruit-bearing plants are placed on a square meter) and the economical use of material resources (a small amount of soil in containers, low consumption of irrigation water and fertilizers and plant protection products).

We can use the elements of technology on a garden plot or on the balcony of a city apartment. To get a satisfactory result of growing strawberries in boxes above the ground, it is imperative to carefully prepare and comply with several mandatory requirements.

When growing strawberries in balcony boxes, there are no operations for weeding and removing excess whiskers, and the harvest of berries itself is much more convenient to collect, ripening berries hang on long stalks outside the container, do not get lost in the leaf mass, do not rot and do not get dirty with soil.

See the result of growing strawberries in boxes in the photo, which shows powerful fruit-bearing bushes in a container culture:

Choosing containers and boxes for strawberries

First of all, we select containers for strawberries of the appropriate volume. One plant should have at least 1.5-2 liters of soil. Drainage holes are required to drain excess moisture. The walls of the container must prevent strong drying of the soil. For this reason, hanging coconut pots are not suitable for growing strawberries. The best option is plastic or ceramic containers. In order for the root system of plants to not suffer from overheating of the soil, boxes for strawberries should be light in color. Wooden or metal barrels are also quite suitable if these conditions are met.

Before growing strawberries in crates, you need to find the right soil. The soil for filling containers should be very nutritious, but at the same time loose, breathable, permeable to moisture, but not drying out quickly. Taking into account all the requirements, a slightly acidic peat substrate enriched with nutrients can be considered the best. To improve air permeability and maintain a loose structure throughout the season, it will not be at all superfluous to add to it one fifth of the volumetric part of perlite.

Since strawberries are an extremely light-loving culture, containers should be placed in a sunny place, where it will receive direct sunlight for at least 10 hours a day. North and heavily shaded balconies are unfortunately not suitable.On the site, containers can be placed in the most unexpected places: on the lawn, paved area or terrace steps. An additional advantage - near heated paving stones and stones, our plants, due to the receipt of more heat, will give berries of high sugar content faster.

Planting strawberries in boxes and containers

To obtain a harvest for a long period, it makes sense to plant in containers only remontant large-fruited and small-fruited varieties and hybrids.

The best ones currently are:

Strawberry variety "Queen Elizabeth 2"

Strawberry variety "Moscow delicacy"

Strawberry variety "Albion"

Strawberry variety "Aromas"

To enhance flowering and fruiting, the formed whiskers must be promptly removed during the season.

For remontant varieties:

Strawberry variety "Brighton"

Strawberry variety "Lyubava"

The strawberry variety "Tribute" looks very beautiful hanging flowering mustache.

However, in this case, the decorative effect reduces full-fledged fruiting.

High-quality, strong seedlings with embedded peduncles for planting strawberries in containers can be taken outside from the moment of the onset of stable warm weather. On balconies, this is possible, as a rule, from the end of April, on the site - from the first decade of May. We pluck out the first peduncles.

From the moment of planting strawberries in boxes, we provide plants with regular abundant watering, preventing both the soil from drying out and excessive moisture. 2 weeks after planting and then every 14 days, we carry out regular liquid fertilizing with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer.

Indicative doses: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of dry mineral fertilizer containing all macronutrients in 5 liters, for one plant the consumption of working solution is 200 ml (one glass). We purchase the most nutritious and concentrated liquid fertilizers - for flowering and fruiting plants. We dilute in water and water according to the instructions. Forgetful or very busy gardeners are now perfectly rescued by dry nutrient sticks, they are also set in the ground next to the plants at the recommended rate, depending on the volume of the container.

When purchasing healthy seedlings, chemical treatments against pests and diseases are not required.

Depending on the selected variety, fruiting begins in July and continues until the end of September. On average, you can expect to get 300-400 g of berries from a bush.

How to store strawberries in containers in winter

Unfortunately, strawberry bushes cannot hibernate in pots. The soil freezes through, which is detrimental to the root system of plants.

Before storing strawberries in containers in winter, at the end of the season - it is advisable to do this before September 25 - the plants with a lump of earth from the pots are removed and added dropwise to a regular garden bed. If the bushes die in the fall or spring of next year, it means that they were genetically programmed to bear fruit during one season.

If small containers with flowering bushes are brought home at the end of September or in a heated greenhouse with a temperature of 15-18 degrees Celsius, then fruiting can be extended for another month.

The most daring gardening enthusiasts try to harvest strawberries on home windowsills or in heated greenhouses in winter. In theory, this is quite possible. After all, modern remontant varieties for laying flower stalks do not need either a period of physiological rest, or a period of exposure to low positive temperatures. The main limiting factors in this case are lack of light and dry indoor air. With the provision of artificial supplementary lighting with special lamps, as well as an optimal diet and watering regime, it is quite possible to obtain a harvest even in winter.

Watch how to grow strawberries in boxes in a video that demonstrates the basics of the technology:

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Have you noticed that supermarkets sell strawberries all year round. Modern technology growing seedlings allows even non-specialists to do this. Even in the frosty season and at home... If you fulfill three conditions:

• high-quality seedlings;
• correct storage;
• sufficient watering of the seedlings after planting, then you are guaranteed an excellent harvest.

The methods that will be discussed are called cold.

Preparation and selection of seedlings

In order for the seedlings to be preserved in the winter and at the right time to be ready for planting, they must be properly prepared. Preparation begins in August and early September. First, watering is stopped - this stops the growth of the plant. After 10-14 days, in order to avoid wilting of the foliage, watered with a small amount of water. The plant falls into a state of suspended animation, life processes freeze. Within a month, the condition of the plants is monitored, if necessary, they are watered little by little. By the end of September, healthy specimens have strong leaves on thick, short petioles adjacent to the ground.

The selected rosettes are dug out with a mustache, old leaves are cut off, the earth is shaken off the roots. The plants are examined again, 5 cm long roots are left, the excess is cut off. Collect the honeycomb material in bundles and send it to storage. To the roots in winter did not dry out, the bottom of the boxes is lined with wet moss, they are covered with lids on top.

Storing strawberry seedlings in winter

During the entire storage period, the ambient temperature should be stable + 2 ... + 6 ° С. If it is colder, the seedlings will freeze, at higher values, they will begin to germinate, while losing their vital energy. The air humidity is maintained at 90%. To increase the humidity, sprinkle the floor in the basement with water or hang a wet cloth, and to lower it, use ventilation or a ventilation system.

With industrial volumes of seedlings, the air-gas regime inside the premises is controlled. In a practical way, it was found that the content of carbon dioxide should prevail over the amount of oxygen. Ideal ratio: carbon dioxide - 5%, oxygen - 2.5%.

Questions on the topic:

How to store strawberry seedlings in containers?

Growing strawberries in containers is convenient. You save yourself from the fight against soil pests, diseases, weeds, you can raise the bushes to a height of 70-90 cm or fold a pyramid in the shape of a terrace. But in winter, plants in containers freeze out, it is better to plant them in the ground.

If the difficulties do not scare you, then pick up two cardboard boxes so that they nest one into the other. We cover the bottom and sides of a large box with foam plastic 3-6 cm thick.Put a small box inside with potted strawberry seedlings... We cover everything from above with sawdust, paper or newspapers, laid in several layers.

We choose a place on the insulated loggia, veranda, balcony or in a cool room at home... Periodically we moisten the soil, during thaws we ventilate the plants, otherwise they will underpin. When the temperature rises above zero, the containers can be taken out of the shelter.

How to stack strawberry seedlings in the refrigerator?

If you do not have a cellar, you can store the berry seedlings in the refrigerator. The sockets are placed in plastic bags, lightly sprinkled with water and placed in the refrigerator, pressing tightly against each other. At a temperature of 1-2 ° C, seedlings are stored for up to seven months.

Storage of seedlings using Frigo technology

Modern know-how in the market for garden seedlings - strawberry seedlings, without leaves, with an open root system. Such plants are called "frigo" (Frigo plants), according to technology they are kept chilled throughout the winter so that they can be planted at a convenient time, practically growing garden strawberries out of season.

Technology features

one.Digging of seedlings in nurseries is carried out in the second half of November. During the autumn months, the metabolism of plants decreased, there was an outflow of carbohydrates into the rhizomes, 4-5 generative buds were formed. When the temperature drops below 5 ° C, vegetative growth stops completely. Then the plants are dug up, cooled, sorted out, the leaves are cut.

2. The seedlings prepared in this way are stored before planting strawberries in plastic bags in the refrigerator. The temperature regime is set within 1-2 ° C.

3. Starting in April, the seedlings are used for laying new strawberry beds. The absence of leaves allows the seedlings to take root faster in the ground... Fresh leaves appear already on the 3-5th day. Fruiting begins after 65-70 days.

Knowing these features of growing and storing strawberries, you can plant at different times, create your own berry conveyor, get a harvest from May to October. The uniform development of plants after planting allows for competent and safe use of herbicides.

Storage of seedlings before planting

It happens that having bought strawberry seedlings, you do not have the opportunity to immediately plant them in the ground. How to store purchased seedlings in the apartment ? In this case, keep the plants sprinkled with earth, periodically water with water, do not let the roots dry out. In this state, strawberries will easily survive 2-3 days. at home or even long-term transportation.

Please note: strawberry seedlings are stored in cold ways from one and a half months to one year. Plants preserved for winter thus, they save vital resources and subsequently bear fruit well, they are viable. They are planted as needed in closed ground or ground.

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Strawberry seedlings: when to plant, how to keep in winter until spring

Garden strawberries are most often propagated by tendrils or purchased seedlings. However, the result does not always justify the money and effort expended. To ensure the "purity" of the variety, experienced summer residents prepare planting material on their own. Find out how to grow strawberries from seeds at home, which varieties of berries are preferred and what planting requirements should be followed. Explore traditional and modern ways of storing seedlings until spring

How to sow strawberries for seedlings at home

Experienced gardeners say that the right variety and competent seed preparation are the key to obtaining a high yield of garden strawberries. Seed material is stratified and sown in the soil substrate.

Selection and preparation of seeds

For seed growing, remontant strawberries are best suited. Their distinctive feature is fruiting two to three times during one growing season.

Recommended varieties:

• Bagota is a Dutch large-fruited variety that is resistant to pests and diseases.Ideal for planting in black soil.
• "Lakomka" is a winter-hardy, fruitful variety. Large fruits grow up to 34 g. The plant takes root well on neutral soil and does not degenerate for 10 years.
• "Victoria" is a kind of garden strawberry. Victoria strawberries are resistant to cold weather and pest infestations. The fruits are dense, aromatic and sweet.
• "Sakhalinskaya" is a small-fruited remontant variety, fruit weight - up to 20 g. Strawberries bear fruit all summer - about 400 g of berries can be harvested from one plant per season.
• Brighton is an unpretentious variety. The fruits ripen until frost, and the yield does not depend on the amount of sunlight. The berry has a pineapple flavor.

Important! When buying planting material, you should pay attention to the collection period. Strawberry seed germination lasts 2-3 years.

You can collect berry seeds at home from ripe large fruits. Cut off the top layer from the strawberries and grind the pulp on a napkin in a warm place. When the seeds are dry, they must be peeled from the pulp and put in a glass container.

Seeds of large-fruited varieties germinate slowly and require three-stage pre-planting preparation:

1. Spread the seeds in a saucer and cover with rain or melt water - they should stay in this state for two to three days.
2. Line the seedlings on a damp sponge and place in a plastic bag. Leave in a dark place until the seedlings are pecked. At this stage, you can carry out stratification - put the container in the refrigerator for two weeks.

The decision on whether to stratify or not depends on the expected timing of planting seedlings in open ground. A decrease in temperature leads to the destruction of inhibitors and accelerates the development of embryos.

Soil and container preparation

Soil for strawberry seedlings should contain at least 2% humus. The optimum substrate for seedlings is a peat mixture with mineral additives. As a rule, such a composition has a reddish color. Homemade potting mixes:

1. Mix non-acidic peat, biohymus and river sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1, respectively.
2. Combine one part of peat and sand with a double dose of sod land. Add rotted manure and wood ash to the composition.
3. Combine biohymus and coconut fiber in a 1: 3 ratio. Biohymus can be replaced with humus.

For disinfection, the prepared mixture must be heated in the oven for 20-30 minutes at a temperature of 150 degrees. Under the influence of high temperatures, harmful organisms and weeds are destroyed. In order for the useful qualities of the components to be restored and the substrate to be filled with the "right" bacteria, it needs to rest for 2-3 weeks.

Advice. For growing strawberry seedlings from seeds, a universal potting substrate or peat tablets are suitable.

The choice of sowing container is not limited by any requirements. The main condition is the presence of drainage holes in the container, which ensure the drain of excess liquid. Growing seedlings is possible in purchased plastic containers, mini-greenhouses, cardboard boxes, tetra-packs or homemade wooden boxes.

Before filling the container with soil mixture, it is necessary to carry out disinfection - wash the container with a solution of potassium permanganate.

When to sow strawberries for seedlings

Sowing seeds, as a rule, is carried out in the first or second decade of February. During this period, daylight hours begin to gradually increase. Strawberries take a long time to come off (about 40 days) and need sufficient light and humidity. If it is not possible to highlight the seedlings at home, then strawberries should be sown no earlier than March.

If you want to get strawberry seedlings from seeds in early spring, sowing is performed at the end of December or in January. At the same time, constant illumination is provided. An affordable alternative to sunlight is an LED luminaire.

Before sowing strawberry seeds for seedlings, it is advisable to look at the lunar calendar.Experienced summer residents assure that it is undesirable to transplant, plant and sow plants during the full moon and new moon - during these cycles, all the juices are poured either to the rhizome or to the top. Therefore, the normal growth of culture will subsequently be difficult.

Important! When choosing the timing of sowing strawberry seeds for seedlings, the berry variety (early, late), the climatic conditions of the region of planting in open ground and the estimated time of obtaining the first harvest are taken into account.

Correct sowing procedure:

1. Place containers on pallets or trays - excess water will drain onto them.
2. Fill the container with soil substrate 10 cm.
3. Condense the ground and moisturize.
4. On the surface of the soil, spread the seeds in rows at a distance of 3-4 cm. It is convenient to carry out the layout with an important toothpick. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with soil - the seedlings will begin to germinate in the light.
5. Cover the container with a transparent lid or polyethylene with holes, ensuring normal air exchange.
6. Place the container in a bright and warm place. The optimum temperature is 18-22 ° C, the location is the sill of the east or west window. It is necessary to ensure that direct sunlight does not fall on the soil.

How to care for strawberry seedlings

Young seedlings are very fragile and need careful care. If the necessary conditions are not created in a timely manner, the seeds will germinate unevenly, and the sprouts that have appeared may undergo diseases.

Conditions for growing seedlings

Activities for caring for strawberry seedlings at home are reduced to the following actions:

1. Before the first shoots appear, it is important to control the moisture content of the soil. A sure sign of the need for watering is the absence of condensation on the inner surface of the shelter (film). Excess condensation must be removed. The best time to moisturize is early morning or evening.
2. During the first two to three weeks, you need to do airing - remove the film for 20-30 minutes.
3. The container with crops should be under diffused light for at least 10-12 hours a day.
4. The first shoots will appear in two to three weeks. So that the stems do not stretch too much, the air temperature should be reduced to 16-18 ° C.
5. When a couple of leaves develop on the sprouts, they must be gradually hardened - every day to remove the film, increasing the time for adaptation to external conditions. At this time, watering the seedlings should be dosed, directing a stream of water under the root of the sprout. For convenience, you can use a syringe or pipette.
6. After the final rejection of the shelter, the seedlings will need additional lighting and a temperature regime within 12-15 °. In addition, moderate draft-free ventilation is required. A fluorescent lamp or LED lamp is installed at a distance of 20 cm from the seedlings.

Advice. In order to prevent fungal infection, seedlings must be treated with a fungicide solution every two to three weeks.

Picking strawberry seedlings

In order for the root system to fully develop and the shoots of the bushes are not intertwined with each other, it is advisable to dive strawberries - to plant them in separate pots. This should be done when the seedlings have 3-4 serrated leaves.

Dive sequence:

1. Water abundantly, trying to wet mainly the root part of the stem.
2. Prepare separate containers for seedlings. Lay gravel drainage on the bottom of the pots, and on top - soil, of the same composition as for planting seeds.
3. Gently remove the seedling, holding it by the leaves, pinch the root and place the plant in a glass. The soil should be just below the leaf outlet.
4. Water the bushes and put the container in a lighted place.

After the pick, the seedlings need fertilization. Feeding strawberry seedlings is performed every 10 days. Young specimens respond better to water-soluble fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is required in a limited dose.

Some people prefer to dive the seedlings into special cassettes. This method has several advantages:

• when planting in open ground, the likelihood of injury to the root system is excluded - the survival rate of seedlings is 99%;
• plants start growing quickly;
• facilitated the planting process.

Strawberry seedlings in cassettes are treated with a biostimulant for good rooting. To avoid pulling the stem, it is recommended to use additional growth promoters.

Diseases and pests of seedlings

With proper care, strawberry seedlings do not suffer from diseases. However, with an excess of liquid and an excess of temperature, the seedlings are affected by the black leg. To prevent the disease, river sand should be periodically added to the seedlings.

If a "constriction" has already formed around the stems, then the following measures must be taken:

1. Suspend watering.
2. Remove affected and weak shoots.
3. Transplant healthy seedlings into another container, having previously treated the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.
4. During subsequent watering add fungicide ("Bactofit" or "Fitosporin") to the water.

Excess nitrogen fertilization can provoke the appearance of a whitish bloom. The disease is caused by excessive watering and temperature extremes. The first signs of powdery mildew appear on the underside of the leaves, as well as on the petioles of strawberry rosettes. For the fight, solutions of biofinicidal drugs are used: "Fitosporin", "Planriz", "Gamaira".

Strawberry plantings can be attacked by spider mites. The pest sucks out the cell sap of the plant and reduces the rate of photosynthesis. In the fight against a tick at home, folk methods are effective - tinctures on calendula, dandelion or onions. Among the chemicals the most effective are Karbofos, Fitoverm and Aktelik.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Transplanting strawberry seedlings into open ground is possible after the appearance of 4-6 leaves and an increase in the trunk up to 5 cm. Planting dates for the Middle Lane are from mid to late May. Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare seedlings and take care of the condition of the soil.

Preparing strawberry seedlings for planting:

1. For two weeks, the seedlings are gradually hardened, taking the containers with plants outside. Unseen strawberries should not be exposed to the sun.
2. Before transplanting seedlings, pinch the main root. This contributes to the development of a stronger root system.

Site requirements:

• an area protected from winds with moderate lighting is optimal;
• let's say a slight slope of the site to the south-west;
• the best predecessors for garden strawberries: legumes, beets, carrots, onions, garlic and flowers;
• groundwater level - at least 1 m to the soil surface.

In the spring, the garden bed should be dug up and the soil should be fertilized with a mixture of humus and ash. For 1 sq. m you will need 2 buckets of organic matter and 2 glasses of ash substances.

Experienced gardeners plant berry bushes in different patterns. It is better for novice summer residents to choose an ordinary method in one or two rows. In this case, it is advisable to adhere to the following distances:

• distance between rows - 50 cm;
• the interval between bushes for large-fruited varieties is 80 cm, for small strawberries - 30 cm.

Advice. For a transplant, it is advisable to choose a cloudy day or evening.

Seedling planting procedure:

1. Prepare a hole for each bush with a depth of about 5-8 cm - the value depends on the length of the root. The approximate dimensions of the hole are 20 * 20 cm.
2. Place the seedling in the hole and spread the roots. The "heart" should be above the soil surface.
3. Sprinkle the berry with earth, water and mulch the soil with straw, sunflower husks or pine needles.

Video: Methods for planting strawberries in open ground

video

Preserving strawberry seedlings in winter

There are several cold ways to keep strawberry seedlings at home in winter until spring. Compliance with simple technologies will ensure high productivity of berry bushes next year.

Storing seedlings in the traditional way

In the traditional approach, plants are prepared in advance for winter storage:

1. At the end of August, stop watering strawberries - the plant will fall into a state of anabolism and life processes will stop.
2. At the end of September, select healthy specimens with strong leaves and shoots.
3. Dig out the rosettes with antennae, tear off old leaves and shake the earth from the roots.
4. Before laying for the winter, the seedlings should not be dry. Moisten the roots of the grafted seedlings with water.
5. Line the bottom of the boxes with moss, place the seedlings in a container and cover with a lid.
6. Place the boxes with strawberry seedlings in the cellar, ensuring a stable temperature of 2-6 ° C. The optimum humidity is 80-90%.

According to the described method, the period of "conservation" of seedlings is up to 10 months.

Frigo's modern technology

Recently, a new technology for preserving seedlings - Frigo - has been especially popular among gardeners. The essence of the method:

1. Saplings are dug up in mid-late November. During this period, strawberries have already experienced a natural slowdown in metabolism, the outflow of carbohydrates to the root system and the formation of several generative buds. With a decrease in temperature to + 5 ° C, vegetative growth completely stops.
2. Sort the excavated specimens and cut the leaves.
3. Place in plastic bags and refrigerate. Storing strawberry seedlings in the refrigerator takes place at a temperature of 1-2 ° C.
4. You can plant plants in open ground from April.

The absence of leaves contributes to the rapid rooting of the plant in the ground. Under normal conditions, 3-5 days after planting, new leaves appear, and after 60-65 days of cultivation, the bush begins to bear fruit. The yield of Frigo strawberries depends on the thickness of the seedling neck at the time of planting. The following indicators are achieved on a large scale:

• class B (8-12 mm) - economically unprofitable, used for next year's harvest;
• class A (12-15 mm) - gives 4-6 t / ha per season;
• class A + (15-18 mm) - yield up to 10 t / ha;
• class WB (more than 22 mm) - the record holder among berry crops, which allows harvesting more than 15 t / ha.

Growing strawberries from seeds with your own hands is within the power of even novice agronomists. Having withstood the recommended sowing time and providing all the conditions for the normal growth of seedlings, it will be possible to obtain high-quality planting material at home.