How to make a bed and plant strawberries under black covering material

There are many ways to grow garden strawberries in garden beds. Planting strawberry seedlings on black covering material has undeniable advantages compared to traditional ones. Planting on agrofabric has many similarities with mulching, which strawberries love.

The essence of the method

The essence of planting strawberries over agrofibre is that special material is laid on the soil. Holes are made in it in which strawberries will grow. Berries and leaves grow from this hole without touching the soil. Any summer resident can make a bed with covering material. There are no fundamental differences from conventional planting when grown over agrofibre.

Black spunbond is used as cover. Or any other non-woven material, always black.

Pros and cons of growing strawberries over agrofibre

The advantages of planting strawberries over black covering material include:

• The berries do not have contact with the soil and do not rot if the soil is waterlogged.
• Strawberries ripen evenly.
• Whiskers don't grow.
• There is no need to weed the soil and monitor weeds; without sunlight they will not appear.
• Easy to harvest.
• The soil does not dry out or become waterlogged.
• The created conditions attract earthworms, and they, in turn, saturate the soil with oxygen.
• The bushes grow strong and healthy.
• The berries ripen 2 weeks earlier than usual.
• Agrofibre protects the rhizome from frost in winter.
• Spores and insect larvae do not enter the area.

The disadvantages include wasting time on installing agrofibre and growing strawberries so that the entire bush is located on the surface of the shelter.

Advantages of black film over polyethylene

When growing strawberries over a shelter, the question immediately arises: to use polyethylene or agrofibre. Before planting, you should figure out which material is better.

Advantages of agrofibre over polyethylene:

• Agrofibre allows water to pass through, so you can water the bushes directly through it. The same cannot be said about polyethylene.When using it, you will have to think about a different irrigation system.
• The same applies to applying fertilizers.
• Through the pores that exist in the agrofibre, the soil “breathes”. Polyethylene does not allow air to pass through.
• When using agrofibre, the risk of developing fungal diseases is reduced due to the fact that the soil underneath does not rot and oxygen circulates.

A significant advantage will also be that agrofibre, compared to polyethylene, is more durable. The shelter can last up to 3 years. This period will be enough for the entire period of strawberry growth in one bed. Polyethylene is replaced annually.

Types of inorganic shelters

How else can you cover the soil when planting strawberries:

• Polypropylene film (available in white, black and two-color).
• Agrofabric (depending on the manufacturer, this type of cover is called differently - spunbond, agrotex, lumitex, agrospan).

Mulching materials vary in color and density.

What material to choose for mulch

The fabric for mulching strawberries should be black. It should also be as dense as possible. Or use two-color material. The black side of the agrofibre is facing the soil, and the white side is facing the sun. Through the white part the material heats up and through the black part it transfers all the heat to the soil. In addition, the black part of the agrofabric prevents weeds from developing.

Features of planting under cover

Laying agrotextiles on beds with strawberries must be done correctly. This determines how the seedlings will grow and what kind of harvest they will produce. Planting seedlings under fabric has its own characteristics.

Necessary materials

Planting strawberries under agrofibre does not require a lot of materials. First of all, you will have to buy black spunbond. You will also need several bricks or large stones.Or thin boards to secure the fabric to the bed. Nothing else is needed.

Landing dates

The most favorable period for planting strawberries is considered to be early spring. But seedlings are planted in autumn and also in summer. Autumn planting allows seedlings to take root over the winter. During this time, the root system will form, and in the spring the bushes will immediately begin to bear fruit. Autumn planting begins in mid-August and continues until mid-September. In the spring, strawberries are planted after the threat of night frosts has passed and warm weather has settled.

Choosing a landing site

Strawberries are among those crops that are demanding on the planting site and soil composition. The berries are planted in open sunny areas. The bushes should be in the sun most of the day. It will be even better if the bed is made on a hill. It is undesirable for trees with a dense spreading crown to grow nearby.

The culture prefers to grow on loose loamy or sandy loam soils. Strawberries do not tolerate waterlogged soil. This is another advantage of black fabric. You can adjust the humidity level.

Preparation of planting material

It is not necessary to prepare planting material for planting. Most often, strawberries reproduce by mustaches, so you need to prepare seedlings from the moment they begin to grow.

To propagate strawberries, female strawberry bushes are used after fruiting. On each bush leave 3 mustaches and 3 rosettes. As soon as the cuttings grow to three full leaves, they are replanted.

Soil preparation

The soil for planting garden strawberries is prepared in advance in the fall. The soil is dug up to a depth of 7-10 cm. The soil is mixed with rotted manure or compost. In the spring, they make beds and plant strawberries.

If you plan to plant seedlings in the fall, then prepare the soil in the spring according to the same principle.

Landing technology

Scheme for forming beds and installing agrofibre:

• Prepare the soil for planting in advance, mix the soil with manure, humus and wood ash.
• Moisten the soil, rake the soil so that the bed rises above the soil.
• Make beds up to 1 m wide.
• The spunbond must be wider than the bed in order to secure it tightly to the sides.
• Secure it tightly to the sides.
• There can be several methods of fastening. The easiest way to do this is using aluminum or wooden beams onto which the material is screwed. Or you can secure it around the entire perimeter with large stones or bricks.

Planting strawberries in open ground:

• To plant strawberries, you need to mark in advance on the fabric where to make the cuts.
• Make cross-shaped cuts on the fabric.
• Dig holes in the hole and plant seedlings.
• It is not recommended to make wide cuts, otherwise weeds will grow from them along with the strawberries. The cuts are made 10 cm wide.

The corners of the cuts are tucked inward. Strawberries are well watered with warm water. During planting, sockets should be positioned so that they are above the level of the bed.

Plant care rules

The second important point that you should not forget about after planting is caring for the seedlings. The minimum care for garden strawberries includes watering, applying mineral and organic fertilizers, loosening the soil and removing weeds. There is no need to cover strawberries for the winter; agrofibre retains heat, which prevents the roots from freezing. You need to care for strawberries step by step.

Features of feeding and watering

The amount and frequency of watering depend on the time of planting plants in open ground. When planting in spring, irrigation will be frequent. The first few weeks after planting, the beds are watered 3-4 times a week. Closer to summer, the amount of moisture is reduced depending on the temperature. In autumn there will be less watering. Approximately 2 weeks before the onset of cold weather, irrigation is stopped. Only heated water is used. Using cold water leads to the development of fungal diseases.

The second important point is the application of fertilizers. It is not necessary to apply fertilizers in the first year after planting if the soil was mixed with manure or other fertilizers before planting. In the second year, fertilizing is applied according to the following scheme:

• The first time the soil is fertilized is after the snow melts. Chicken droppings or mullein diluted in water are added to the soil. After a few weeks, nitrogen is added to the soil. It accelerates growth. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied before strawberries bloom.
• The second time phosphorus and potassium are added to the soil. Such fertilizers increase the number of ovaries and improve the quality of the fruit. Fertilizer is applied until the end of the fruiting period.
• Before the onset of cold weather, strawberries are fertilized with organic fertilizers. Watering with wood ash or bone meal diluted in water is suitable. Or use superphosphate.

When applying fertilizers, it is important not to overdo it. Excess nutrients in the soil leads to an increase in leaf mass in strawberries and a decrease in yield.

Removing a mustache

The mustache of strawberries needs to be trimmed if you do not plan to propagate it. Rosettes take nutrients from the soil, and there are not enough of them for the growth of berries. You need to trim your mustache before mid-summer. Maximum - until August. Autumn is not the best time to remove strawberry whiskers.

Possible mistakes

Mistakes when growing strawberries under black covering material:

• Use loose agrofabric. Strong weeds grow through such fabric.
• Do not compact the agrofibre tightly near the bushes.
• In the southern regions, it is undesirable to use dark-colored covering material. The soil will overheat, which will negatively affect the root system.

By following all the rules for planting under covering material, you will be able to avoid many problems with growing crops.