Useful information about growing strawberries
Where can strawberries be grown?
Strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant and can be grown anywhere in Europe, from flat fields to highlands. The main difference is in the time of flowering and fruiting.
When is the best time to plant strawberries?
Strawberry planting is mainly done in spring and autumn, but can be done all year round depending on the type of seedling.
In the Spring, planting starts from the beginning of March to the end of April.
In autumn, strawberry planting can start from the end of August and continue until the end of October, depending on the planting area.
The earlier strawberries are planted in the fall, the more time the plants will have to develop and set more fruit buds, which will lead to better results in the spring.
Types of planting material
Bare Root plants - Plants are grown in the field and harvested directly from there, used in Spring and Fall. After transplanting, the plants are stressed and need about 10 - 14 days to take hold well.
Trays plants - Plants are produced in seedling trays with different nest sizes under special conditions. Seedling quality is many times better than bare root plants. When using seedlings in trays, growers gain 2 weeks of time because the plants are not stressed during transplanting and continue their active development. It is used throughout the year.
Seedlings in a container - Plants are produced in seedling trays and grown in a container according to the customer's wishes under special conditions.
It is important when using bare root seedlings that you always use healthy plants with a well-formed rosette and a well-developed root system and a root length of 9-10 cm minimum that are not infected with viral diseases and have been produced in the current year, monitored and examined by the relevant state authorities organs.
Healthy maternal material of proven quality and provenance is used.
The use of planting material that is not accompanied by relevant documents proving its quality and origin carries risks that can lead to significant losses for the producer.
How should strawberries be planted?
Strawberries can be planted in several ways, but here we will present the two most popular.
First way:
On a trapezoidal raised bed measuring 60cm across the top flat and 20cm bed height by mulching with black foil which is factory perforated two-row in a planting scheme of 25cm between plants and 30cm between rows or 30cm between plants and 30 cm between rows. It is recommended that the rows be 50-60 cm apart, so that you can walk comfortably without crushing the strawberries.
According to the scheme of the mulch film, 6 or 8 plants are planted per linear meter.
The mulch film helps to warm the soil, preserve the soil moisture and the rapid drainage of water during rains, which leads to a higher quality of the fruits during the ripening period.
The mulch film reduces weeds to a minimum, which in turn leads to a reduction in the costs of weeding, hoeing, etc.
When using mulch, drip irrigation must be installed, it is recommended to use two hoses, placing them from the inside of the hole to the roots. In this way, better quality and faster irrigation of the roots is achieved, as the nutrients can be fed through the system with greater accuracy and go directly to the area of the roots.
Second way:
In the second method, no black foil is used and the strawberries are planted in a raised row with a scheme of 25-30 cm between plants and 60-70 cm between rows, and in this variant, 6-8 plants per square meter are also used.
When growing strawberries in this way, it is necessary to water by gravity and fertilizing by hand, with subsequent digging necessary.
The disadvantages of growing strawberries without mulch are:
High costs of hoeing and weeding.
In case of rains during the period of ripening of the fruits, the losses are significantly greater, because the water cannot run off as quickly as with the black mulch. In this case, straw is used, which is spread on the ground so that there is no direct contact of the fruits with the soil.
Important tips when planting strawberries:
Before planting seedlings, it must be cleaned of dry and old leaves and leaves with spots and damage.
The roots are trimmed slightly so as to preserve their maximum length and store more nutrients. This increases their contact with the soil. If you are using seedlings produced in a tray or container, this does not need to be done.
It is important when planting the roots that the rosette remains at soil level. It is not recommended that it be in the air, because it is possible to die, also too deep planting of the rosette leads to rotting and death of the plant.
It is mandatory that the roots be watered immediately after planting to compact the soil and leave no voids. They are watered several times during the next 7-10 days to achieve maximum absorption.
Useful Information about Raspberries
Where can Raspberries be grown?
Raspberries can be grown anywhere in Europe. It is a moisture-loving fruit species and requires frequent watering. It grows best on moisture-retaining soils rich in nutrients.
When is the best time to plant raspberries?
Planting can be done in Spring and Autumn when using bare root seedlings, as well as year-round if using seedlings produced in trays or containers.
The most suitable time for planting Bare Root plants in the spring is until the end of March and in the autumn from the end of October after the leaves have fallen until it gets cold.
Types of seedlings.
Bare Root plants - Plants are grown in the field and harvested directly from there, used in Spring and Fall.
Tray plants - Plants are produced in seedling trays with different nest sizes under special conditions. Seedling quality is many times better than bare root seedlings.
Seedlings in a container - Plants are produced in seedling trays and grown in a container according to the customer's wishes under special conditions.
It is important to always use healthy plants with a well-developed root system, produced in the current year that are not infected with viral diseases, monitored and tested by the relevant government bodies.
Healthy maternal material of proven quality and provenance is used.
The use of planting material that is not accompanied by relevant documents proving its quality and origin carries risks that can lead to significant losses for the producer.
How long can raspberries be grown after planting?
Raspberries can be grown for up to 10 years in one place after they are planted, but they must be pruned every year, removing the already old canes and leaving the new shoots that will bear fruit in the next season.
How should Raspberries be planted?
Raspberries are planted in furrows about 30-35 cm deep, and the plants are placed 3-5 cm deeper than they were in the nursery. The distance from root to root is 50-70 cm depending on the variety. The sticks are cut to about 20-25 cm. The distance between the rows is left from 1.80 to 2.5 meters according to the method and technique of processing. Growing raspberries requires building a structure to hold the plants upright.
Raspberries can also be grown in a container, which simplifies the process, saves money and time for processing and weeding the plantation. Watering is done more precisely with less water consumption.
Important tips when planting raspberries:
Before planting seedlings, it must be cleaned of dry and old leaves and leaves with spots and damage.
The roots are trimmed slightly to a healthy part if bare root seedlings are used so as to preserve their maximum length and store more nutrients. This increases their contact with the soil.
If seedlings produced in trays or containers are used, this is not done.
It is important when planting bare roots that they are planted 3-5 cm deeper than they were in the nursery.
When using Seedlings produced in a tray or container this is not necessary, the plants are placed at ground level.
It is mandatory immediately after planting the roots to be watered very well so that there are no cavities and to compact the soil around the roots well. They are watered several times during the next 7-10 days to achieve maximum absorption.
