Is it possible to plant different varieties of strawberries next to each other in the same bed?

Late summer and early autumn is the right season for planting strawberries in the ground. If strawberries are being planted for the first time, beginning gardeners may reasonably ask: is it possible to plant different varieties next to each other, will this method of planting harm the crop, and will there be a good harvest in this case? Detailed answers to these questions are discussed below.

Do different strawberry varieties planted next to each other cross-pollinate?

There is an assumption among summer residents that if you plant a variety of strawberry varieties in one area, you will end up with a mixture of species and even the formation of a new individual. They blame this on a phenomenon called cross-pollination, because the seedlings will be pollinated by the same insects, transferring pollen from bush to bush. However, experienced breeders claim that:

1. Strawberries, regardless of mixing with pollen from a neighboring plant during pollination, will have the characteristics of the mother crop.
2. The above formulation also applies to daughter rosettes and antennae.
3. The composition of the pollen will affect the newly formed seeds, but this will not affect the taste, properties, or appearance of the already grown berry.

The influence of cross-pollination on planting crops nearby

According to research, nearby strawberry varieties do not have any effect on each other. The berries produced on the plant have the characteristics, taste and characteristics of the mother shrub and are not a consequence of cross-pollination of neighboring species. Therefore, it is permissible to place crop varieties on the same territory if:

• there is a desire to taste the berries, planting 1-2 bushes of each type;
• it is necessary to select the best variety for subsequent cultivation;
• The planting area is small, and the berries need to be compactly arranged.

Strawberries are a self-pollinating crop, so they can produce berries even when growing one type. However, it has been proven that with the proximity of two species and mutual pollination, the yield and quality of fruits even improve.

Is it possible to plant different varieties of strawberries next to each other?

Since cross-pollination of crops located nearby will not in any way affect the taste and characteristics of each variety, strawberry varieties can be planted in one bed.However, when growing, it is necessary to control that the growing tendrils take root within the boundaries of their bed, without creeping into the territory of the neighboring one. Otherwise, after 1-2 fruitful seasons, it will be impossible to figure out where and what type of berries are planted - the crops will mix with each other.

You can avoid mixing berries if you plant, for example, garlic along each strawberry bed. And if the area for planting is small, and there is nowhere to plant other plants, it is permissible to place pieces of slate between adjacent bushes, thus forming a fence that separates the berries from each other.

The need to separate strawberry types is also determined by the different ripening periods of the berries, the necessary care and planting requirements. After all, it is much easier to harvest, water, and feed separately planted plants.

Can strawberries cross-pollinate with wild strawberries?

If you plant strawberries and wild strawberries next to each other, cross-pollination will also occur, but the process will not affect the taste or varietal qualities of the plants. This factor only affects seeds, which, together with berries, are used in compotes and jams.

Features of the neighborhood of ordinary and remontant varieties

The placement of the above varieties of berries next to each other does not have any effect on each other.

The appearance of a new species can only occur when cross-pollinated seeds are planted in holes. If during planting the seeds are mixed, tangled, and the emerged seedlings are planted in the ground, a new plant may be cultivated. In other cases, the bushes can easily coexist nearby.

Tips and recommendations from experienced summer residents

Summer residents claim that when planting different varieties of berries nearby, you need to adhere to the rules that have been proven over the years:

1. Crops must be monitored, cared for and their growth controlled. Be sure to straighten the antennae in different directions so as not to end up getting confused in the seedlings.
2. Each species has its own ripening period, so plants need to be watered at different intensities, fertilized and separated from weeds on time.
3. Different plants have different bush heights. Low crops must be mulched, thereby protecting them from rotting.
4. After the harvest season, the bed will require mass replanting, since, for example, strawberries bear fruit well in one place for no more than 4 years in a row.

If all the conditions for planting and care are met, but the harvest is gradually decreasing, you need to find out the reason for this phenomenon:

• perhaps there are weeds on the territory, such as Bakhmutka, Dubnyak, Zhmurka, which outwardly look like strawberries, but do not bear fruit;
• pollinated seeds fell into the ground, took root, grow well, but give a poor harvest, and varietal species, in addition, suffered from sudden frosts;
• the soil where the plants grow is depleted, and the crops themselves are already old.