Garden strawberries are grown in almost every household plot, because this berry is one of the first to ripen and helps saturate the body with vitamins after a long winter. Each gardener has his own way of cultivating the crop, however, in recent years, growing strawberry seedlings in special cassettes has become popular. This method, like any other, has its advantages and disadvantages, which are worth studying before starting work.
Features of cassette seedlings
Using cassettes for growing strawberries allows you to get a harvest not only in open ground in beds, but also in a greenhouse, and some summer residents have adapted to obtaining harvests of aromatic and healthy berries, even by placing seedlings on the windowsill. Cassettes come in different types - plastic or peat, and are a structure consisting of several cells into which plant seeds are sown.
The peat option is the most environmentally friendly solution for the garden, since the material does not contain harmful components that pollute the soil. There is no need to remove the seedlings from the cells, since the peat itself will decompose in the soil over time, and the crop will continue to grow and develop.
Also, plastic, usually black, is used to make cassettes, this makes it possible to attract sunlight and warm up the root system of plants. Their advantage is that such a product can be used for several seasons in a row. In addition, there are varieties on sale with a special latch on each cell, which allows you to remove the plant without damaging its roots.
Domestic summer residents use this method both for sowing seeds collected from strawberries and for rooting mustaches. For the process to be successful, it is necessary to follow the technology and provide the plants with competent agrotechnical care.
Advantages and disadvantages
The cassette method of growing strawberry seedlings has both advantages and some disadvantages.
The advantages of this technology include the following:
- complete formation of seedling roots and the ability to control the growth of young seedlings;
- thanks to the well-thought-out design of the cells, uniform distribution of air and water between each plant;
- no need for crop picking;
- protection from infections and pathogens, as well as insect pests;
- saving space, since growing seedlings in cassettes requires much less space;
- lack of complex agrotechnical care for seedlings;
- the possibility of obtaining a harvest much earlier than with conventional strawberry cultivation.
Of the minuses note:
- cash costs for purchasing cassettes;
- the likelihood of root rotting due to uncontrolled watering.
Preparation of seedlings
Before planting strawberries in cassettes, seedlings must be properly prepared. At the stage of formation of aerial roots, the mustaches are cut and placed in a jar of water so that they do not wither. Each specimen should have one leaf with a piece of tendril with which the plant will cling to the ground. Before planting in cassettes, they are treated with a growth stimulator for better rooting, for example, “Radiapharm”. The seedlings are kept in the solution for about half an hour.
How to prepare the soil
Before planting, prepare not only the seedlings, but also the soil in which the seedlings will be grown.
Compound
Strawberries prefer fertile soil - sandy or sandy-loamy light soils with a humus content of at least 3%.A suitable option can be purchased at a gardening store or prepared independently by mixing the following components - 1 part of high-moor peat and sand and 3 parts of turf layer of soil from the garden.
Acidity
The optimal soil acidity for growing garden strawberry seedlings in cassettes is from 6 to 7.
Treatment
Even store-bought soil should be treated against pathogens before use. Do this in any convenient way:
- Steam in a water bath for 30-40 minutes.
- Calcined in an electric or gas oven at a temperature of 100 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Spray with fungicidal preparations, diluting them in the concentration specified in the instructions.
After the soil has cooled to room temperature, carefully lay it out in the cells of the cassettes, make small depressions and plant a mustache with a leaf there or sow seeds (pre-stratified). Water the plants abundantly, but try not to overwater them, so as not to provoke rotting of the mustache.
Fertilizer application
There is no need to fertilize the soil if the soil composition is correct. Fertilizers are used after planting, three days later.
How to grow
Growing garden strawberries in cassettes is much easier than in a garden; all the seedlings need is regular moisture, the addition of nutrients and a sufficient amount of light. Three days after planting, it is necessary to apply the first dose of biostimulants - experienced gardeners recommend using Megafol. If necessary, re-treatment is carried out after a week. To prevent seedlings from stretching, use growth regulators, for example, “Athlete”.
Specifics of care
When caring for garden strawberry seedlings, attention is paid to watering, but the soil moisture level is constantly checked so that excess moisture does not damage the young roots. After the seedlings are strong and well rooted, they can be exposed to fresh air in good weather. At first they do this for 3-5 minutes, gradually increasing the time.
It is also recommended to treat with fungicides after final rooting as a disease prevention measure. Use "Fundazol" or "Topsin-M".
What problems might you encounter?
The main problems that gardeners face when growing strawberry seedlings in cassettes are rotting of the roots due to excessive moisture and stretching of seedlings due to lack of sunlight.
