Planting Victoria seeds at home. Proper cultivation of strawberries from seeds at home. What is the difficulty of planting strawberry bushes in the seed way
Strawberries are one of the central crops on almost any suburban area. You can grow it either from young plants purchased in the nursery, or by independently sowing strawberries for seedlings. The second option is a troublesome and lengthy process, but worth it.
A reasonable question arises: if strawberries can be planted in a summer cottage in the form of seedlings purchased from someone, then why suffer and grow it from seeds? Moreover, it is not so easy to get young plants from seeds on your own. However, even experienced gardeners, and not just newcomers to the world of horticulture, often grow strawberries from seed. There are several reasons.
- This a great opportunity to settle a new one at their summer cottage, sometimes even unique variety berries.
Strawberries in a summer cottage can be of two types:
- large-fruited, which gives large juicy berries;
- small-fruited remontant(also called alpine), which bears fruit several times from early summer until autumn.
On a note! Absolutely any strawberry can be grown from seeds. The only difference is that the alpine germinates better and faster than the giving large fruits Yes, and these seeds are cheaper.
When choosing strawberry seeds for growing seedlings, try to opt for fresh ones, and also prefer varieties from well-known manufacturers products of unknown companies. This will increase the chances of success when growing seedlings.
Prices for strawberry seeds
strawberry seeds
When to sow seeds
After the strawberry seeds have been purchased, you need to decide when to plant them for seedlings. It is pointless to do this too early, since grown plants can only be transplanted into more or less warm soil. And if you sow late, you may not have time to wait for the harvest.
The usual time for sowing strawberry seeds is February and March. So you get the first harvest early enough. Some sow in May, but then their seedlings winter at home on the windowsill, and not in the country. Before February, it is still not worth sowing seeds, otherwise the seedlings will need additional illumination for growth and development. Light day for young strawberry bushes should not last less than 12 hours.
On a note! It is better not to stop your choice on only one variety - get a few different ones and try to sow everything. So you protect yourself from the fact that some of the varieties will not rise at all, and you can choose the one that you like the most.
Seed preparation
Strawberry seeds will sprout together only if pre-sowing preparation has been carried out, which includes soaking and stratification. Stratification is creation for seeds artificial conditions close to natural. This is necessary in order to stop the action of growth blockers - special substances that keep the seeds dormant. The stratification is quite simple.
Step 1. The seeds are laid out on pieces of natural tissue or cotton pads, slightly moistened with water, and then covered with a second damp cloth and put into a container with a lid in which ventilation holes are made.
Step 2 In this state, the seeds can withstand about 3 days at a temperature of + 16-18 degrees.
Step 3 Remove the container in the refrigerator for 14 days.
Step 4 The container is taken out of the refrigerator and placed in a room where the air temperature is about +18 degrees.
Step 5 Check the seeds every couple of days and wait for germination.
Preparation of containers and soil
While the seeds are being stratified, it's time to start preparing containers and soil for seedlings. There are several options for preparing soil mixtures suitable for growing strawberry seedlings. The main conditions are good water permeability and lightness.
Table. Variants of soil mixtures for strawberries.
On a note! Well, if you sift the soil through a large sieve. This will remove large particles and debris.
As containers for seedlings of strawberries, plastic containers with a transparent lid are excellent, in which holes are made for air access. And at the bottom of each container they make drainage holes. They are filled with soil, not reaching the top 2-3 cm. Before planting the seeds, the soil is moistened.
Sowing strawberry seeds for seedlings
One way to sow strawberry seeds is to combine this process with stratification.
Step 1. Since strawberry seeds are very small, they can be planted in the ground with a pointed wooden stick. The tip of the stick is moistened with water and then one seed is picked up with it. After it is gently shaken onto the soil, which has already been previously placed in a container and leveled.
Step 2 Similarly, it is necessary to shake off all the seeds on the ground. In this case, you should try to distribute them evenly over the area.
Step 3 The soil should be thoroughly moistened with water from a spray bottle.
Step 4 After all the seeds are on the ground, it is not necessary to sprinkle them with earth - instead, the surface is covered with a layer of snow from the street. Pure snow must be used.
Step 5 After that, the container is closed with a film or a lid.
Step 6 If the outside air temperature is up to -5 degrees, then the container is placed outside. If it is colder or warmer, then in the refrigerator.
Step 7 In a day, the snow will almost melt, and the inside of the box will look like in the photo. In general, the snow should not melt immediately, but within 4-5 days - it is then that optimal conditions will be created for the germination of strawberry seeds.
Snow during melting gives water, which carries the seeds into the ground. Only in this case, the plants will give the most abundant seedlings, but they will appear in about 10-15 days, or even in a month. In the refrigerator, the container with seeds is kept for about two weeks.
Video - Sowing strawberries
We use peat tablets
Today, gardeners are increasingly growing strawberry seedlings not in the manner described above, but with the help of.
Positive points the use of such tablets are as follows:
- significant savings in time and effort;
- excellent substrate for growing strawberry seedlings;
- there is no need to carry out the procedure of picking seedlings.
Peat tablets are different sizes– from 24 to 44 mm in diameter. In the case of germination of strawberry seeds, the optimal diameter is 24-33 mm.
Step 1. Seeds are prepared and germinated according to the technology described in the "Seed Preparation" section.
Step 2 Peat tablets are laid out in a plastic container and filled with water. Give her time to soak, the remains are drained. The tablets will swell during this time.
Step 3 After that, the fabric with seeds unfolds, each seed is removed from it with a toothpick, a large needle, or any thin object.
Step 4 Each seed is transferred to a tablet. Several pieces are placed on one at once - for example, 4-6.
Step 5 Seeds are slightly deepened, but not zealous.
Step 6 After that, peat tablets with seeds are sprinkled with water from a spray bottle, closed with a lid and placed under a lamp for 3 days under constant light.
Prices for peat tablets
peat tablets
seedling care
Care for germinating seeds and seedlings of strawberries includes several main aspects. You can get acquainted with them by studying the table.
Table. Strawberry seedling care.
| Factor | Required conditions |
|---|---|
| The first three days after sowing seeds in the usual way they need constant light. In general, strawberry seeds need 12 hours of light. |
| The air temperature should be at least + 18-20 degrees. The lid is completely removed from the container when at least 3-4 days have passed since the first shoots appeared. |
| If a lot of condensate appears on the lid of the container during seed germination, it must be slightly opened and the container slightly ventilated. Watering seedlings in tablets is necessary as the substrate dries. Water can be poured to the bottom of the container - the tablets themselves will absorb moisture. If the seeds "sit" in ordinary soil, then as it dries, it is also moistened with a spray bottle. Remember that excessive watering is also harmful to plants - it is easy to ruin all your work. In addition, strawberries flooded with water can become a victim of the "black leg". |
| This procedure is performed if the plants are planted in a common container. Picking is done after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves in separate cups, it is very convenient to use tweezers. By the way, some gardeners dive seedlings when plants have 3-4 true leaves. Yes, the seedlings will be stronger, but another problem arises - the interlacing of the roots. Seedlings may become intertwined with each other if the planting is too dense. |
|
Good day, dear blog readers! Today we will talk about how to grow strawberries from seeds. Everyone around says that it is very difficult and not worth the time. I thought so too until I tried it myself. Proper agricultural technology is the main factor for successful cultivation.
It happens that strawberries grow weakly and bring insufficient yields, which leaves an unpleasant imprint and the desire to continue growing this crop disappears. Do not despair, but you need to learn more information about proper cultivation and listen to the advice of experts.
My horticultural experience also started badly, but the next year the harvest was much better.
Be sure to try growing this berry, because it is known for its unique useful properties. It contains a large number essential trace elements and vitamins.
Novice agronomists are wondering: is it possible to grow a high-quality berry from seeds on your own? If you try hard, you can get high-quality seedlings the first time.
There are many benefits to growing from seeds. After all, they are so easy to purchase and even assemble yourself. Seeds can be stored for at least four years, and they are resistant to pests.
It makes sense to choose varieties that have different dates maturation. At the same time, you can get good harvest throughout the summer. Planting in this way has one drawback - these are difficulties with poor germination and difficult seedling growth.
Quality seeds are of great importance when growing. If you decide to assemble them yourself, then you need to consider some rules.
The largest and brightest berries are selected from the harvest and deposited. The fruits should lie down and overripe. Then the top layer with seeds is removed from them and laid out on fabrics. The rest of the pulp can be processed or eaten.
When the skin dries, the seeds are released from the film. Seeds are washed with water and dried. Pure grains can be stored in dark containers or paper bags for several years.
Varieties of strawberries for growing from seeds
To grow quality seedlings strawberries, Special attention take the time to choose the right variety. I suggest considering the following options:
- The Diamond variety is resistant to viruses. Medium fruits ripen in early June. From one bush you can collect up to two kg of berries;
- a high harvest brings Dukat. The berry is resistant to spring frosts;
- small yields are obtained from Olivia, but the berry is resistant to drought and cold;
- late varieties include Bagota. The fruits are sweet and large;
- Lakomka is early variety with a rich harvest;
- The Sakhalin berry is especially persistent, and sweet fruits can be obtained throughout summer season and until the end of autumn;
- Geneva is a variety of large-fruited berries with sweet and large fruits.
If possible, plant several varieties on the site. Over time, highlight the instances you like.
When to plant strawberries with seeds for seedlings
Strawberry seeds can be planted with last days January until spring. In winter, there is enough time to create high-quality care, and sprouts can be planted before dry days appear. If you plant the seeds at home too late, then there is a danger that the seedlings will not have time to grow enough by the time of planting.
If you plant before March, then provide sprouts good lighting, since this culture is very demanding on light. This can be done with a table lamp.
If you rely on moon calendar, then in February the seeds are planted on such days - 4, 5, 18 and 28. In March - 3, 10, 17, 25 and 30. In April - 4, 5, 6, 23, 26 and 27.
Many do not believe in the lunar calendar, they believe that this is something mystical and fictional. But the moon does have some kind of effect on nature and plants, as well.
Planting strawberries with seeds
Many inexperienced gardeners have a question: how to properly prepare the seeds for planting, because they are known for their poor germination. You can activate the process if you soak the grains for several days in melt water:
- Place the seeds on a cotton pad and dip in a bowl of water.
- When the seeds swell, cover the container with foil and place in a warm place. Until sprouts appear, water is added under the film.
It is more convenient to transfer seedlings to the ground with a match. This will protect the emerging sprouts from damage.
The soil for this plant should be loose. soil mixture comprises:
- one part of peat;
- two parts of turf;
- pieces of river sand.
You can also add ash and a complex with mineral fertilizers. To plant seeds in the ground, small grooves are made, seeds are laid out in them at a distance of 2 cm.
Then watering is carried out with a room sprinkler. Peat tablets can also be used for sowing.
Video - how to plant strawberries with seeds
strawberry seedling care
As soon as sprouts appear, you need to install additional lighting. Think about it during the winter months. The film is removed only when real leaves are formed.
Before that, make sure that mold does not form on the surface of the soil. This can happen when it's too wet. For better adaptation, seedlings are hardened, for this they are taken out to Fresh air V daytime, or the window opens.
Watering strawberries
It is important for strawberries to ensure regular watering, which should be carried out in the morning. In this case, the water should be warm. Plants need to be watered once a week. Tender sprouts should not be waterlogged.
Before flowers develop, you can water with a watering can to ensure rain watering. And when the flowers appear, then make sure that the liquid does not fall on the plant.
After watering, do not forget to loosen the soil. Also remove weeds on time.
Top dressing strawberries
In the spring, fertilize as follows:
- when the soil is loosened, it is important to add sawdust. Bushes are also treated with nitrogen fertilizers;
- when the first leaves appear, apply fertilizer with mullein to the soil;
- in early May, mineral supplements are applied.
- strawberries are very fond of wood ash. Carefully pour it under the bush, between the plants. Try not to get on the leaves, in order to avoid burns.
In the summer, when berries are set, straw or sawdust are sprinkled under the plants.
Growing difficulties
Common problems with strawberries include damage to various diseases. Very often the plant is affected by spider mites. To get rid of this pest, spraying with a garlic solution is used.
appears frequently and gray rot. In this case, brown spots are formed. A preventive measure against such a disease is the timely removal of weeds, as well as the use of lime or ash.
Powdery mildew can be identified by white bloom, which affects the ground part of the plant. For prevention purposes, do not allow waterlogging of the soil and thin out the plants.
Treatment of infected bushes should begin in the spring. To do this, all old leaves should be collected and taken out of the area where they need to be burned.
The intensive growth of strawberries is accompanied by the growth of a large number of leaves. At the same time, experts recommend laying the plant on a grid or trellis. This method will increase the number of berries on the bush.
Picking strawberries grown from seeds
Don't forget about picking. It is carried out when about four true leaves are formed on the bush. To move the sprouts, you will need voluminous, but not very large containers. In such dishes, the roots develop perfectly.
During this process, pinch the root of the plant. Follow to root collar was on the ground line. Pick carefully, as seedlings can be easily injured. When the seedlings become stronger, they spud them.
The seedlings are moved to the garden two months after sowing. During this time, the plants should grow and get stronger. It is best to transplant around the end of May.
Video - strawberry transplant
Difficult to find garden plot, on which it would not grow. And, of course, I want the berries to be large, tasty and beautiful. Big role plays in growing plants planting material which is used for reproduction. Gardeners most often use the vegetative method of propagating strawberries, but the method of propagating by seeds, although rather troublesome, has its rather significant advantages.
Preparation and proper timing of planting seeds
Gather ripe berries from strong good bushes who give good . Seeds are best taken at the base of the berry or from its middle part, since it is in these parts of the fruit that the seeds are large and germinate well. Strawberries that grow out of these are different high yield. Separate the layer of pulp of the berry with seeds, spread it on a paper towel and dry it. Gently rub the dried mass with your palms, freeing the seeds. It is best to store them in a glass jar.
Seeds do not lose their germination properties for 4 years.
You can buy seeds in the store, but seeds of elite varieties are sold, as a rule, in very small quantities (3-5 pieces) in one bag. But you will know exactly what variety you will grow. Soak the seeds two days before planting by placing them on a damp gauze or cloth. Water should not completely cover the seeds. After two days, when the seeds swell, they can be planted in the ground.
To make strawberries more resistant to temperature changes, and the seeds germinate faster, three months before sowing, you can carry out the procedure (hardening):
- Put the seeds in a small container.
- Wet them with water.
- Place the moistened seeds in the refrigerator or any cool place with a temperature of +2 - +4 degrees.
- Make sure the seeds don't dry out.
- Let the seeds dry a little before planting.
- Seeds are stratified within 14 days.
If you want to get a harvest of berries in the first year, then best time for landing - January - February. Strawberries sown in May-June will yield only in the second year.
At the bottom of the planting tank, lay a layer of expanded clay 1-2 cm for drainage, pour and compact the soil on top. Make grooves half a centimeter deep and pour water over them. Sow the seeds at a distance of two centimeters from each other, cover them with soil with a layer of no more than one centimeter. You can not sprinkle with soil, but slightly press the seeds into the ground.
To prepare the soil, take in equal parts:
- Humus
- Sand
- Chernozem
Another soil preparation option:
- Turf - 2 parts
- Peat - 1 part
- Sand - 1 part
It is desirable to add complex (or rotted manure) and wood ash to the soil. For prevention, the larvae of which may be in the soil, seeds, pathogens, calcine the soil in the oven or steam it over a pot of boiling water for 20-30 minutes.
This must be done at least three weeks before planting, during which time the soil will restore its microbiological properties.
You can try to make a landing "in the snow":
- Place a layer of snow about a centimeter high on top of the ground
- Put the seeds on the snow
- Let the snow melt
It is not necessary to cover the seeds with earth; with the melted snow, they themselves will go deep into the soil. Landing "in the snow" contributes to a more uniform germination of seeds. Cover the container with polyethylene. Place the resulting greenhouse next to the window so that it falls sunlight. The first shoots appear after 25-30 days, even possibly after 40 days.
After stratification, place the container with strawberry seeds in a room where the temperature is maintained at 20 degrees until germination. Seeds need to be constantly moistened.
Fill with water and leave to swell. Put them in a plastic box or pallet. In tablets, make a recess and put one germinated seed at a time, slightly pressing into the peat. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, bright place. Water as needed, not allowing the peat tablets to dry out.
After the appearance of the first 2-3 leaves, carry out seedlings.
Seedlings should be transplanted into separate small pots with a diameter of about 9 cm or into larger boxes at a distance of at least 8 cm from each other. At the bottom of the pots, be sure to put expanded clay for drainage. Make small indentations in the soil, pour water into it and carefully place the sprout there so that the leaves are on the surface.
Best planted in peat pots, with which it will be easy to transplant it to the garden to a permanent place. Water the transplanted seedlings gently with a stream of water under low pressure.
How to grow good seedlings strawberries:
- Strawberries are very fond of heat, moisture and light. It is important that the soil in the containers with seedlings is always moist. Seedlings should be in a warm (20-25 degrees) and bright room.
- Seedlings should be watered either through a pallet or by spraying from a spray bottle.
- The condensate formed on the film and leaves must be removed in order to avoid decay and fungal diseases. You can make small holes in the film for ventilation.
- After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, remove the film. This should not be done immediately at one moment, but gradually accustoming the seedlings to fresh air. First, remove the film for an hour, and every day increase the time the plants are outside the greenhouse. Also carefully accustom the seedlings to sunlight.
- When 5 leaves are formed on the seedlings (approximately at the end of May), the plants can be planted in the ground in the garden. Do not plant strawberries deep in the ground, so as not to cover the apical bud. In this case, the plant may die. At the same time, make sure that the roots are not exposed when watering, which also adversely affects.
- If mold appears on the surface of the soil, carefully remove it, ventilate, dry and treat with an antifungal agent.
- Before planting in the garden, the seedlings are hardened, exposing them to fresh air in the shade. Thus, strawberries gradually get used to the sun.
- It is recommended to remove the first strawberry flowers to allow the bushes to grow stronger and grow. In addition, this procedure allows you to increase productivity, and strawberries endure winter more easily. In the first year after sowing, remove all whiskers.
- When strawberry seedlings are grown outdoors in the summer, they can be grown in beds until the end of August. If the seedlings are too small, you can dig pots with plants on the beds until spring, in case of a snowless winter, cover them with spruce branches or covering material.
The easiest way to propagate strawberries is through a mustache with rosettes or dividing the bush into parts (if the strawberries are beardless). But these simple methods have disadvantages:
- Shoots may be infected with any disease.
- , which for a long time propagated by the vegetation method, gradually degenerates.
- The main advantage of growing strawberries from seeds is that they are not transmitted through seeds.
Thus, planting seeds, you will be sure that the plant does not get sick with anything. And another important factor is the possibility of their long-term storage. Any variety of strawberry can be propagated by seeds, with the exception of hybrid ones. Can pick up seeds different varieties strawberries, and harvest berries throughout the summer.
More information can be found in the video.
While there is snow in the garden, a real gardener does not sit back, but prepares for the next spring-summer season - buys seeds and fertilizers, repairs garden tools, lays seed for stratification ... But you never know what an amateur gardener has to do! After all, in addition to everything, lately one has to look more and more often on the Internet in search of the necessary information, since already in February it is necessary to start sowing seeds of garden and horticultural crops for seedlings. We decided in our articles to compile all the necessary information on the most popular crops so that you do not have to collect the necessary information bit by bit from different sites.
In this article, we will talk about when to plant strawberry seeds for seedlings, how to grow strawberry seedlings at home, and where to buy strawberry seedlings if you cannot grow them yourself. We will try to answer all the questions on this topic that you asked us.
When to sow strawberries for seedlings in 2019
- January: from 7 to 20, and the most auspicious days- 15 and 17;
- February: 6 to 18, and the most favorable days are 6 and 7;
- March: from 7 to 20, and the most favorable days are 8, 14 and 15;
- April: 6 to 18, and the most favorable days are 10 and 11;
- May: 6 to 18, and the most favorable days are 10 and 16.
Never sow, plant, or transplant plants during new and full moons- in these lunar phases all juices flow either to the top or to the rhizome, so the normal development of any culture in the future will be very difficult.
Soil for strawberry seedlings
The soil for strawberry seedlings should be loose and crumbly, but not oversaturated with fertilizers.
We offer you several soil options for strawberry seedlings:
- three parts of compost or humus, three parts of garden soil and half a part of wood ash;
- two parts sod land and one part of peat and sand;
- three parts of sand and five parts of humus;
- one part of coconut fiber and one part of biohumus or humus;
- three parts of peat and sand and four parts of vermiculite;
- three parts of sand and one part of garden soil and humus.
After you thoroughly mix the ingredients, the soil should be disinfected - calcined for 30 minutes in the oven at a temperature of 150 ºC, freeze or spill with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After disinfection, the soil is placed for 2-3 weeks in a warm place so that bacteria useful for seeds appear and multiply in it.
Growing seedlings of strawberries from seeds
You can buy seed material, or you can grow strawberries from your own harvested seeds. The only exception is hybrid varieties- their seeds do not transmit varietal characteristics from generation to generation, so you have to buy new seeds every time.
Growing strawberry seedlings begins with the disinfection of seed. The seeds are placed for half an hour in a half-percentage solution of potassium permanganate, then rinsed thoroughly in clean water and proceed to stratification: spread on a moistened linen napkin, cover the same wet wipe, then they roll a roll from this “sandwich”, place it in a plastic container, cover it with a perforated lid and keep it warm for two days, after which they put the container for two weeks in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. Don't let wipes dry out.- ventilate the seeds and sprinkle them regularly with water, and dry them a little before sowing.
The seeds will be ready to be sown when they swell, but try not to peck them, because when sowing, small sprouts break off easily, and you will wait in vain for germination.
Lay the disinfected soil for seedlings in a container washed with a solution of potassium permanganate, compact and moisten it, spread the seeds over the surface in rows at 3-4 cm intervals with a wet toothpick and do not close them - strawberry seeds germinate in the light. Cover the container with transparent plastic lid with small holes for air exchange and put in a bright and warm place where direct sunlight does not fall - window sills of western or eastern windows are most suitable for such purposes.
There is another way to sow seeds, which allows you to combine direct sowing with the stratification of strawberry seeds. Disinfected seeds that have not been stratified are laid out in the manner just described on the surface of dry soil, which does not reach the edge of the container by 2 cm, and a layer of snow is placed on top of the seeds to the edge of the container, after which the container is covered with a lid and placed in a refrigerator for two weeks. In the vegetable box, the snow will gradually melt and draw the seeds into the soil, as it usually happens in the garden in the spring. After two weeks, the container is moved to the windowsill under bright but diffused light, but the lid is not removed until the first shoots appear.
How to grow strawberry seedlings in tablets
Strawberry seedlings from seeds develop well in peat tablets. They are convenient because you do not need to bother with the preparation and disinfection of the soil, and you can skip the picking of seedlings.
Peat tablets are placed in a container and poured with water so that they increase in size, after which the seeds that have undergone the disinfection and stratification procedure are laid out in tablets with a wet toothpick. To prevent moisture from evaporating quickly, the container is covered with a transparent lid, after which it is placed in a warm, bright place.
It will be necessary to ventilate the crops daily and remove condensate from the cover, so that mold does not appear on the substrate, but if you suddenly find it, remove the mold and pour the fungicide solution on this place. Remove the cover as soon as the seedlings begin to develop the first true leaves.
Frigo strawberry seedlings
IN last years a new practice has appeared to dig up developed annual rosettes of strawberries of the first and second order for the winter, store dormant bushes with an open root system in sealed packages at a certain temperature and air humidity, and plant these rosettes in the garden in spring. Freego's advantage is that such seedlings of strawberries in the spring quickly take root and grow, because during the winter proper storage normal biorhythms of plants are not disturbed.
Choosing at your discretion the timing of planting frigo, you can get a crop by the scheduled date. In addition, frigo strawberry seedlings take up little space during storage.
Specialists from the UK and the Netherlands, who developed this method of growing strawberries, have already completely switched to frigo seedlings, which are divided into three classes:
- class A- seedlings with a rosette diameter of 12 to 15 cm, usually forming no more than two peduncles;
- class A+- seedlings with a shortened shoot with a diameter of more than 15 cm, forming 2-3 peduncles;
- class A+ extra- the diameter of this seedling is more than 20 cm, it has lateral horns and at least 5 peduncles.
Seedlings have frigo and cons- it is difficult to determine the time of digging out sockets and maintain at home the temperature necessary for storage (from 0 to 1 ºC) and air humidity (90%). The disadvantages can also be high cost frigo, although gardeners claim that the price of seedlings fully pays off due to its productivity.
Strawberry seedlings in a greenhouse
Usually, seedlings of remontant strawberries are grown from seeds, as well as those varieties that do not form a mustache. You can get strawberry seedlings at home, and continue growing in the open field. Or you can plant mature seedlings in a greenhouse and grow strawberries in it all year round. We will talk about how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse in a separate article.
Buy strawberry seedlings - is it worth it
If you have a lot of experience in strawberry cultivation, you will surely be able to grow seedlings yourself. But for novice gardeners, it can be challenging task, therefore, for the first time, it is better to purchase seedlings from well-established manufacturers. Accept from us A few tips to help you choose healthy seedlings:
- it is best to buy strawberry seedlings directly from nurseries or fairs. Avoid buying seedlings on the market from private traders, because they cannot give you any guarantees, while nurseries will not risk their reputation for momentary gain;
- carefully consider the seedlings before buying: her heart should be strong and resilient, seedlings should have a well-developed root system, there should be no damage on the stems, leaves and roots. color y healthy seedling light or bright green;
- the root neck must be at least 5 mm in diameter;
- leaves on rosettes should be no more than three, and there should be no stains on them. Inspect the underside of the leaves for the presence of harmful insects.
Caring for strawberry seedlings at home
Conditions for growing seedlings of strawberries
Contain strawberry crops in a bright, warm place under a transparent coating. If there is no condensation on the inside of the coating, then the soil needs to be moistened, if there is too much condensation, it must be removed. Air the crops once or twice a day. Stratified seeds can germinate as early as 4-5 days, and mass seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. Seedlings will need maintenance at a temperature of 23-25 ºC. A week later, so that the sprouts do not stretch, the air temperature is lowered to 15-18 ºC.
The cover is removed when the first pair of true leaves develop on the seedlings, but this is done gradually, allowing the seedlings to adapt to environment. At this time, the crops are not watered, and the temperature in the room is maintained at 18-20 ºC.
Seedlings will need even more light after you remove the cover, so be prepared to arrange additional lighting for them, and the air temperature at this stage of development should be between 10-15 ºC. Do not forget to air the seedlings regularly, but make sure that they do not fall into a draft.
Watering strawberry seedlings
It is best to use a pipette for watering or medical syringe, of which you can "drink" each seedling once a week at the root. Water for moistening crops should be settled for at least a day or filtered, the same temperature as the air in the room, or two degrees warmer. Make sure that water did not fall on the leaves of the seedlings, otherwise, spots may appear on them.
It is impossible to overmoisten strawberry seedlings, as this is fraught with the appearance of a black leg - fungal disease that affects plants during the seedling period. But it is also impossible to allow the drying of the soil with crops.
Watering seedlings is carried out either early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset. As fungal disease prevention it is necessary to carry out 1-2 watering of seedlings with a fungicide solution (Planriz, Trichodermin or Trichopol) with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
Illumination of strawberry seedlings
Since they begin growing strawberry seedlings in winter or in early spring when the daylight hours are still short, you will have to install an artificial light source over the seedlings - a phytolamp, an LED or gas-discharge lamp or a fluorescent lamp, which should work daily for 13-14 hours. After all, even at 12 noon, natural light in February is not as bright as in May.
Set the lamp above the seedlings at a distance of 20 cm, and for convenience, you can purchase a timer socket that will automatically turn on artificial lighting, for example, at 6 a.m. and turn it off at 11 p.m. - your seedlings will have enough daylight for your seedlings.
Picking strawberry seedlings
Strawberries are dived in the development stage; they have 3-4 true (toothed) leaves, but this only applies to seedlings growing in a common container. They are well watered before picking, removed from the soil by the cotyledon leaves (in no case by the stem!), pinch their central root and transplant the seedlings into separate cups, where they will grow until planting in open ground. After transplanting, the seedlings are carefully watered.
If you sowed the seeds in tablets, then as soon as the roots of the seedlings begin to sprout through the mesh, plant them directly in the tablets in separate cups.
Sometimes gardeners spend not one, but two picks - the first at the stage of development of 2-3 leaves and the second, when the seedlings already have 4-5 leaves. They do this mainly because the seedlings develop too quickly, and weather will not allow seedlings to be planted in the ground on time. In this case, picking can save strawberry seedlings, preventing it from overgrowing and even slowing down its development somewhat.
After picking, seedling care consists of watering, loosening the soil and top dressing.
Feeding strawberry seedlings
Strawberry seedlings do not need to be fed at home until the pick itself, but after this procedure, fertilizers containing mainly potassium, phosphorus and only a small amount of nitrogen are applied to the soil every 10-12 days. Strawberry prefers water soluble fertilizers - Kemiru or Mortar with the addition of a two percent solution of trace elements and iron chelate.
Diseases of strawberry seedlings and their treatment
At good care strawberry seedlings do not suffer from diseases, but with chronic waterlogging it can be affected by a black leg - rot of the root neck of seedlings, which manifests itself from the beginning of seed germination to the stage of development of 2-3 leaves. Against the background of high humidity in 4-6 days, the base of the stem turns black, softens, breaks, and the seedling lodges.
If the disease is widespread, dive healthy seedlings into separate sterile containers in disinfected soil, place them in a warm place and protect them from direct sun rays. As soon as they take root, the temperature of the content can be lowered, and a fungicide (Fitosporin, Bactofit or Maxim) must be added to the water for the first irrigation.
It is inspiring that seedlings growing in peat tablets practically do not get sick with a black leg, since the tablets are disinfected and impregnated with a fungicide.
Sometimes at home, seedlings can get powdery mildew, and then a whitish coating appears on its leaves and stems, which gradually darkens and becomes dense and brown. Affected plants stop growing and die. The cause of the infection can be:
- excessive fertilization with nitrogen fertilizers,
- sharp fluctuations in temperature,
- air humidity.
In the fight against powdery mildew on strawberry seedlings, solutions of biofungicidal preparations prepared in accordance with the instructions are used - Alirin-B, Fitosporin, Gamaira or Planriz.
In conditions of low humidity, strawberry seedlings can be occupied by spider mites, which make small punctures in the leaves of the seedlings and suck out the cell sap through them. In addition, ticks carry incurable viral diseases like a mosaic. Destroy pests with acaricide solution- Aktary, Aktellika, Karbofos, Fitoverma.
Planting seedlings of strawberries in open ground
Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, they begin to harden it - gradually accustom it to the conditions in which strawberries are to grow in the garden. In the afternoon, seedlings are taken out in unheated room first for half an hour, daily increasing the duration of such sessions.
A day or two before planting strawberry seedlings in the garden, transfer the seedlings to a balcony or veranda where the air temperature will be about 10 ºC.
Planting strawberry seedlings in open ground is carried out after the return frosts have passed and when the soil warms up to 12 ºC - from mid-May to mid-June. Strawberries are undemanding to the composition of the soil, but grow better on fertilized black soil. wood ash. Peat soils are not suitable for cultivation. It’s good if onions, garlic, legumes, root crops or green manure grew on the plot before strawberries.
Before planting strawberries, the soil should be prepared - dug up, freed from wireworms, May beetle larvae and cereal weeds.
For planting seedlings choose a cloudy day or time after sunset. Deep and wide holes are placed in a row at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other with row spacing 40 cm wide. The soil taken out of the holes is mixed with fertilizers in the following proportion: 2 cups of ash per bucket of soil, a bucket of compost (humus) and a bucket of Strawberries Pink (Rosaceae) Herbaceous Seedling Growing
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Strawberries are very useful and delicious berry, the sweet aroma of which is very fond of both adults and children. Thanks to the many positive qualities many people decide to grow them on their own at home. For this, it is important to choose suitable grade and make the right preparations.
Choosing a variety and preparing seeds
Many people wonder: is it possible to grow strawberries from seeds at home on their own. Of course you can. However, first you need to dwell on a specific variety of this berry, which can be grown in a similar way. Fortunately, in modern stores you can find a great variety of different seeds. It can be large-fruited, and small-fruited, and curly, and remontant, and yellow species.
Small-fruited berries grow especially well at home. The plant will bear fruit well even in winter season. In addition, these types of strawberries are suitable for placement in a variety of pots. It is worth highlighting the following popular varieties small-fruited berries that many people choose to grow at home:
- "Gross Fraser";
- "Yellow Miracle";
- "Regina";
- "Alexandria";
- "Pineapple";
- "Renaissance".
Of course, you can choose another species or hybrid. For growing at home, it is recommended to buy unpretentious seedlings such as the Irishka F1 or Sarian F1 hybrid.
When you decide on a specific type of strawberry that you will grow at home, you can proceed to competent training seeds for future planting. The seeds of this crop, like other known options, cannot be left without preparatory phase. Thanks to this process can significantly increase the germination of the plant.
If you still chose not a small-fruited, but a large-fruited berry, then you will need to take into account the fact that it germinates rather slowly. That is why, in order to speed up the process of germinating seeds, you need to prepare them in a special way.
To do this, you need to carry out a series of manipulations.
- First, the seeds need to be soaked using a regular plastic container with a lid. In addition, cotton pads and rags are useful for this procedure.
- Next in the lid prepared by you plastic container will need to be done small holes using needles. Such elements will be necessary so that the plants can "breathe".
- Now you need to moisten the cotton pads with water and put them in one layer on the bottom of the container. When all the seeds are carefully laid out, they need to be covered on top with another layer of wet cotton pads or a wet cloth.
- If you are going to plant different types of strawberries, then it is better to sign them first so that there is no confusion later.
- Next, the container with the laid seedlings should be covered with a lid with holes and put away in a warm prepared place. In these conditions, the seeds will have to be about 2 days.
- The capacity for stratification will need to be removed for 2 weeks in refrigerator compartment. From time to time, the seeds will need to be additionally moistened. Ventilate the container daily.
But keep in mind that this seed preparation algorithm is not universal. There are several ways. For example, some experts recommend soaking material for sowing for 3 days in snow or rain water. Next, the seeds are laid out on a special filtered paper and gently moistened. After that, they are transferred to a plastic bag. To make it more convenient, you can first place the seeds on a plate, and only then move them to the bag with it.
Then the planting material is removed in a warm corner. But you do not need to expose them under direct ultraviolet rays. When you see the first shoots, the seeds can already be moved to the base with the ground.
Basically, toothpicks or tweezers are used here.
Soil preparation and containers
It is necessary to properly prepare not only the seeds, but also the container itself and the soil in which they will be located. Fortunately, today in stores it is possible to pick up almost any substrate with any cost. You can purchase a universal mixture - it will be perfect for growing almost any plant. But you can give preference to specialized soil, which can only be used for certain seeds.
Professionals often prepare the substrate themselves. The main thing is to make it as light, free-flowing and simple as possible.
The most common are the following compositions:
- sand mixture (coarse-grained) and special biohumus in equal proportions, as well as 3 parts of non-acidic peat;
- 2 parts of sand and 1 part of peat and sod land;
- 3 parts of sand, earth taken from the site, and humus - 1 part each.
In soil mixtures taken from the garden, various pests often “hide”, which is why it will not do without cleaning work. For this you can:
- warm the soil mixture in the microwave for about 5 minutes;
- steam the mixture in a well-prepared water bath;
- put the soil in the oven for half an hour (the temperature should be 150 degrees);
- you can process the mixture with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
After such actions, the soil will need to be removed to a warm separate place and left there for 10-15 days.
As a container for planting seeds, it is permissible to use:
- plastic cups, carton boxes from juices, glasses from sour cream - if you took a similar container, then you need to make small holes in its lower part so that water from irrigation does not stagnate in it;
- plastic boxes - with this container you get a kind of mini-greenhouses;
- peat tablets - such containers are one of the most popular and easy to use;
- food containers - it is recommended to give preference to containers with a transparent top.
Before proceeding with further manipulations, it will be necessary to pour a solution of potassium permanganate into the selected container for 30 minutes. So you protect the container and the soil from the fungus.
Sowing dates
The timing of planting strawberry seeds mainly depends on the specific characteristics of the variety acquired for planting. Different kinds differ from each other in growing seasons, which must be taken into account. And also strawberries can differ both in early maturity and in the size of the fruit. For example, remontant forms are available in such species as:
- wild strawberry;
- garden;
- nutmeg;
- ground strawberry.
For this reason, specific dates can stretch significantly from February to March. As for large-fruited options, they are advised to sow from the beginning of February, such as, for example, the hybrid species "Sarian F1".
However, certain varieties, for example, "Alexandria", manufacturers are advised to sow closer to the third decade of March. For the lion's share of hybrids and varieties, the universal sowing period is the second decade of March.
If you plant the seeds before this time, then they can be seriously affected by a small amount of light, especially if they are not "reinforced" artificial lighting. And if the sowing is late, then the plants will simply not be able to bear fruit in the sowing year.
Landing
If you have prepared both seedlings, and a substrate, and a container, then you can plant strawberries at home. Consider several ways to carry out such work, taking into account different situations.
For growing on the balcony all year round
To grow fragrant berry in the conditions of a balcony block, it is necessary to fill the container prepared for work with soil, then it will need to be leveled, compacted a little, moistened and made small furrows. Using a pre-ground match or tweezers, you can quickly and easily transfer the seeds. At the same time, gaps of 2 cm should be maintained between them. Press the seeds to the substrate, but you do not need to fill them up.
When you have transferred all the seeds to the ground, you will need to moisten it again using a spray bottle, and then cover plastic wrap or cover the container. On top of the container, you will definitely need to make several holes. Move the container to a warm and well-lit place. But it is not recommended to put it on the windowsill itself, because in such conditions the seeds can dry out without starting to germinate.
Please note that for such conditions, you should choose special varieties of strawberries that can be grown year-round. These can be remontant species or hybrids that differ in fruit size. On the balcony, it is best to grow berries in special containers.
For seedlings
Fragrant garden strawberries it is permissible to grow not only from seeds, but also rooted antennae. by the most simple way is precisely the rooting of the mustache. However, this method is not always available. In such situations, strawberries should be tried to germinate from seeds, resulting in high-quality seedlings.
It is recommended to start planting strawberry seeds for seedlings from the 20th of January until the onset of March. Be sure to stratify the seeds before direct sowing, that is, moisten them with water for a day, and then put them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days (it is better to put them on the shelf below). When preparing seeds, it is most convenient to use wet cotton pads.
Do not forget to moisten and gently crush the soil in the pot. Then the seeds should be laid out on the surface of the prepared soil, slightly pressing them to it. Sowing strawberries for seedlings should be done as carefully and carefully as possible. Seeds are usually very small, so working with them can be extremely difficult. In addition, they germinate in most cases for a long time, so it makes no sense to wait for the first shoots earlier than after 40 days.
Keep in mind that crops are rather capricious to the microclimate in which they are located. Seedlings should stand in a place where it is stored warm temperature and high humidity. It is advisable to cover the pot with polyethylene or glass.
Be sure to ensure that harmful condensate does not accumulate in the inside of a kind of "greenhouse". If it appeared, then this may indicate the presence of temperature differences, at which containers and plantings can become a victim of fungus and mold.
You can grow seeds for seedlings not only in ordinary pots, but also in special peat tablets. If they are soaked, they become larger and transform into peat cups.
Care
If you decide to plant strawberry seeds yourself at home, then you need to remember that they will need special care. For example, seedlings of these berries, located in special peat cups, you need to water only through pallets. No need to "flood" landing. The fact that watering has been done in sufficient volume will be indicated by a dark area that appears on a column of peat. Overflows can lead to various diseases, so seedlings should be watered only by first touching the soil from the outside, and also slightly delving into it with your finger.
seedlings sweet berry will be a small thin stem, branching above the ground into several modest leaves. To allow the seedlings to develop further, you need to add a little more soil under the seed. After that, other roots will begin to grow. It is better to do this if the seeds were sown in small holes, then you only need to lightly press them into the soil to the sprout.
When the first seedlings planted in balcony conditions appear, one must not forget to ventilate and water them every day. Humidification is recommended to be carried out using a spray bottle. Remove cover from seedlings after a month. When the first 3 leaves appear, the seedlings will need to dive. Seeds planted in a balcony must be properly watered in sufficient volume. When about 6-7 leaves appear on the seedlings, it will be possible to proceed to transplanting them into open ground.
