When to plant strawberries: our tips for growing them
- The strawberry plant: perfect for growing in pots or in the garden
- When to plant strawberry seedlings
- · The cultivation of strawberries in pots: a perfect plant to keep on the terrace or on the balcony
- · Tips for growing strawberries at home
- · How to prevent strawberry diseases
The strawberry is a plant to be grown in the garden, however excellent results can also be obtained in pots, as long as there is the right soil and that it receives a lot of light. Strawberry fruits are consumed in spring but the seedlings must be planted much earlier: let's find out together when to plant them and how to make them grow at their best. Did you know that strawberries are low calorie? If you want to lose weight, try the fasting mimicking diet explained in the video!
The strawberry plant: perfect for growing in pots or in the garden
The strawberry is a perennial plant of the Rosaceae family and, depending on the variety, it can bloom from April with delicate white flowers. Its fruits are very simple to grow because they grow both in the garden and in a pot placed on the terrace or balcony. Furthermore, the strawberry seedlings are small and take up little space, they do not require particular needs (they are satisfied with half shade). and produce fruit loved by adults and children.
The strawberry is a rustic plant that gives us juicy and colorful fruits that are widely used in the kitchen and in the preparation of desserts. In addition to embellishing the borders and flower beds of gardens and courtyards, it can also be grown without problems in pots so that you can enjoy these small and sweet fruits every day.
When to plant strawberry seedlings
The planting of strawberries changes according to the variety you buy, and so does the period in which the fruits are born. Non-re-flowering strawberries, such as Gariguette, bear fruit in May-June, while re-flowering varieties (such as Charlotte, Maestro, Mariguette, Mount Everest and Mara des bois) bear fruit later, around June-July . In general, strawberry seeds should be planted from September to November, and then from February to April, while for potted seedlings, planting is also possible from September to May.
In any case, the perfect month for planting strawberries is September because there is still a lot of light and the temperature is mild: the seedlings, in fact, need a warm and humid environment (just like the one that goes from September-October-November) Some gardeners recommend planting strawberries after they have sprouted them in the seedbed (or bought them in a greenhouse or nursery) because getting them to sprout in the open field is more difficult.
When sowing strawberries, a very important factor to keep in mind is the temperature, in fact the seedlings need heat; for this reason it is useful to have a seedbed where to plant the seeds. However, especially strawberries of the four-season variety, they also need a lot of light, so the best time for sowing is when the days begin to be longer.
The four seasons variety blooms and bears fruit throughout the year, provided however that the temperatures are mild enough to allow the growth of the seedlings. As regards this type of strawberry, sowing in the field takes place from April to September, while it is possible to transplant. the plants from January to October.
The cultivation of strawberries in pots: a perfect plant to keep on the terrace or on the balcony
The strawberry is a plant that can also be successfully grown in pots, as long as it receives an adequate amount of light. To make it grow inside a container, just plant the seedling directly inside the pot. Strawberries they do not need much space in fact they are satisfied with pots about 15 cm deep, however it is important not to forget to put gravel or expanded clay on the bottom of the container to ensure that no water stagnations are created which could cause the roots.
To grow strawberries in pots you will need:
- 1 vase of at least 30 x 30 cm
- 1 saucer
- expanded clay or gravel
- a pack of universal soil with perlite, pumice and compost inside
- 1 or more strawberry seedlings
METHOD:
- Fill the pot with the universal soil and place the stick of earth from the seedling on it.
- Don't forget to put a layer of gravel or expanded clay on the bottom of the pot.
- After placing the dough in the pot, compact the soil with your hands and, if necessary, add more soil.
- Choose a location where the plant is half a day in the sun and half a day in the shade.
- Water with water trying to avoid any stagnation as much as possible.
In winter, do not forget to protect the pot from the cold: cover it with a perforated plastic sheet or create a mulch by sprinkling the soil around the plant with a layer of dry leaves or straw.
Tips for growing strawberries at home
Those who love gardening know, there is nothing better than growing what you eat directly at home and enjoying the fruit of your efforts. Strawberries are one of those plants that can give you a lot of satisfaction because, being perennial, they emit new flowers every year. Placed in pots on the balcony or terrace, they give very sweet fruits and very delicate white flowers. Here are some tips for growing them at their best:
- Soil: the strawberry, despite being a rustic plant, needs a very well drained soil where water does not accumulate because water stagnations cause its roots to rot. In the pots it is sometimes difficult to drain the water, therefore it is advisable to insert clay or gravel inside the containers that can drain the earth. Choose a soil rich in organic substances and give the seedlings the necessary nourishment in the form fertilizer or manure.
- Climate: Strawberry is one of those hardy plants that is also suitable for growing in home pots. However, it does not tolerate the cold well and not even too much direct sun. The latter, in fact, can sometimes be too strong, burning the leaves and flowers of the seedlings. The preferred position is half shade.
- Sowing or transplanting. It is preferable to sow the strawberry seedlings in the seedbed because it is one of the perennials with the smallest seed. Gardening will be easier if you buy the seedlings in the nursery and then multiply them, without starting from the seed. perennial varieties, in fact, reproduce along stolons, which can be separated in autumn from the mother plant. In general, however, it is good practice to renew the strawberry plants every four or five years, in order to avoid the onset of diseases that they can spoil the fruit.
How to prevent strawberry diseases
Unfortunately, strawberries are one of the plants most attacked by garden pests. The insects and small animals that live in the garden, in fact, are greedy for these perennial plants and can ruin the fruits. The strawberry can be the subject of various fungal diseases and unfortunately if we do not intervene before it is too late, then it will be difficult to save the plant. To prevent these aggressions it is advisable to water little and often, avoiding stagnation of water that damage the roots.
As for the parasites that attack the strawberry fruit, organic remedies can be used before moving on to the hard way. The animals that attack strawberries the most are aphids, red spider mites and the so-called fruit fly: in any case, the sooner you intervene, the better.
