In this article, we will consider planting strawberries under covering material, point out the positive and negative sides of this method, tell you how to do it and how much it will cost. We learn how to increase productivity when using covering material.
Did you know? Strawberry is the popular name for plants and green strawberries. The name "strawberry" arose because of the spherical fruits of the plant (from the old Slavic word "club" - spherical, rounded).
How to choose a material, its types
There are 2 options of covering material that can be used:
- Organic;
- Inorganic.
Organic
Organic materials are more often used because of the lower price or the availability of this material. Pine needles, straw and sawdust are used as organic mulch. These materials are not only a fairly good natural covering material for strawberries, but also have several useful qualities.
- Pine needles. They are composed of volatile production, which give the strawberries a lot of useful properties. When using this mulch, the taste and aroma of berries will noticeably improve.
- Straw. By itself, no benefit for the berries does not carry, but it multiplies hay wand, which saves strawberries from root rot.
- Sawdust. This is the cheapest covering material, which has no specific useful properties.
Important! Organic materials quickly decompose, so they can quickly turn into a substrate that is teeming with bacteria and fungi.
Inorganic
Consider inorganic covering materials. Their use is caused by that the nonorganic does not rot, microorganisms do not start there and it is easier to remove it from the field or vegetable garden.
The selection of inorganics is large:
- Ruberoid Non-toxic, cheap enough material that is used to mulch the beds for strawberries. It is more "heavy", but also more durable version of the film.
- Agrofibre. A more modern and expensive option for mulch. Its positive qualities: it allows moisture and oxygen to pass through, protects against weeds and dehydration. This covering material is probably the best option, since the only drawback when choosing this mulch is the price. Agrofibre serves about 5 years, does not spoil from moisture and ultraviolet, has high strength.
- Black film. The most popular inorganic mulch. To the positive side can be attributed cheapness, lightness of the material and the absence of toxicity. The film retains moisture in the soil, does not give light to the weeds, which could appear in its absence. The following properties can be attributed to negative properties: it does not let in moisture and oxygen, has poor strength, and can be deformed with strong heating.
- Rubber, plastic, slate. It is inexpedient to use as a covering material for strawberries, since these materials are not enough that they do not let in moisture and oxygen, they are rather heavy and bulky, they are capable of releasing toxic substances into the soil during strong heating.
Did you know? A new business idea of growing strawberries is planting them in bags. This method allows you to get about 2-3 kg of strawberries from one bag. And one such bag can be placed without any problems even on a glassed-in balcony.
Having considered all these options, you can pick up mulch for strawberries, based on your own preferences and financial capabilities.
How to prepare a bed for planting strawberries under covering material
Selecting covering material, proceed to the preparation of the beds. At the initial stage you you need to dig the ground and remove all the weeds (the roots and processes of the roots are also to be removed), break up the big breasts of the ground and level the soil.
This work is being done 2 weeks before posting covering material. This is done in order to land a little "settled" after digging. In the form of mulch, we will use black cloth (agrofibre), which we make under strawberries.
Before bedding agrofibre, you need to fertilize and moisten the soil. In addition to the humus, in the form of "feeding" the soil, you can use straw and chemical. fertilizer in the right quantity. The beds are formed high (about 20-25 cm), two-line, as shown in the picture below.
You may notice that after two beds there is a rather deep ditch. It is needed in order to secure the mulch.
Important! If you use a black film, then you need to stretch the irrigation hose between the beds, since the film itself will not let water through and you will not be able to irrigate it over it.
How to install covering material on strawberries
In this section, we will teach you how to lay mulch on your field. Covering material for growing strawberries is used primarily to get rid of weeds.
Important! Strawberries can bring both benefit and harm, because it contains substances that can increase pressure. That is why strawberries with caution should be used by people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
It should be remembered which side to lay the black covering material. When using black agrofibre you need to consider that it consists of two parts. One side passes water, the other prevents it from evaporating from the ground. This material must be laid in such a way that the water-repellent side is at the bottom and does not allow the ground to dry out.
Measure the beds. Dimensions should be no more than 10 square meters. m, since working with a large area will be much more difficult.
So that the material is not blown away, need to fasten it over the entire area. For this purpose, ordinary boards, with which the material is pressed to the ground, are well suited. Sometimes the mulch is simply sprinkled with earth, without using any more pressure elements. This will reduce the likelihood of weed growth, increase the attractiveness of your site.
Important! Agrofibre will protect strawberries from contact with the ground in the rainy season, which means it will prevent rotting and blackening of the fruit.
Strawberry planting rules for covering material
Experienced owners were looking for ways to feast on strawberries, while reducing the time to care for it. Mulching is a soil coating to protect the soil and improve its properties.
And here the question arises: how to cover the strawberries with covering material?
Consider a phased version of the film.
- Cover each row with a film. We use a black plastic film, as it does not let the sun's rays through. In winter, this mulch will not cool the earth and prevent weathering. This will give you a big harvest.
- Cuts are made on the film for planting strawberries themselves. The optimum distance between landings is 15-20 cm.
- After planting, securely fasten the film with boards or press it down with a primer.
How to care for strawberries
Spring came, and this means that we move on to the next question: how to care for strawberries?
Twice per season pour bushes with a liquid solution of pigeon droppings. The first time in the spring, and the second - in August. Instead of litter, you can use any other "top dressing" that suits this berry. If you did everything correctly, then mulching will speed up the beginning of the ripening of berries by 8 days compared to open ground.
How should be watered strawberries under a black film? During the flowering berries need 10-12 days to water the strawberries. This will require approximately 11 liters per square meter. m
It is best to use drip irrigation. You can use special sprayers, but you can do it yourself if the beds are not many. Watering is best in the evening. If it becomes cool outside, stop watering.
In the spring, dry leaves and strawberry tendrils should be removed, as the berry spends its strength on them.
The advantages of using covering material when planting strawberries
What are the advantages of strawberry planting under black covering material?
The advantages of covering material include:
- Keeps moisture in the ground and prevents weathering;
- Eliminates weeds;
- There is no need to weed the earth (under the covering material there are favorable conditions for the development of worms that loosen the earth);
- Improves metabolic processes.
- It eliminates many diseases of strawberries, which infect it due to contact of leaves / fruits and soil.
- Prevents rotting and blackening of berries;
- It gives the field a well-groomed appearance;
- Protects soil from overheating and overcooling.
After reading this material, you learned about which covering material is suitable for your field, how to prepare the ground before mulching. We learned how to cover strawberries with covering material from weeds, what positive properties mulch has and why it should be used for strawberries.
We considered the rules of planting strawberries under the covering material and how to properly care for it in these conditions. Covering material in the form of agrofibre is used all over the world, as it prevents drying and weathering of soils, saves fields from annoying weeds, warms the soil and increases yield.
