Strawberries grow in almost every suburban area. Gardeners know that to get a good harvest, it requires careful care. One of the questions about which disputes often arise is whether it is possible to plant strawberries of different varieties side by side. The answer to it will be presented in today's article.
Risk of cross pollination
Many summer residents believe that different varieties of garden strawberries should be located in different places, they should not be planted next to each other. Similar advice is sometimes given by the sellers themselves. It is the mixing of varieties and subsequent cross-pollination that is called the reason for the low yield and small berries.
In fact, this is nothing more than a myth. Cross-pollination is double fertilization, as a result of which the seeds receive both maternal and paternal qualities. This will definitely affect the quality of the crop.
Strawberry is a plant that has no real fruit. The berry used for food is an overgrown receptacle with exclusivelymaternal properties. It does not depend on what kind of pollen was involved in the pollination process. Therefore, different varieties of strawberries on the same bed cannot affect the quality of the crop.
Why should varieties be separated?
Recommendations for planting different varieties of garden strawberries separately from each other are due to the fact that a person can subsequently get confused in them. One way to propagate this crop is to use daughter outlets formed from the mother plant. Since each bush gives a lot of whiskers that can become planting material, in order not to confuse varieties, it is recommended to separate them. Is it possible to plant strawberries of different varieties next to each other? Yes, but for breeding only the species you like, it is worth grouping them. Can also be planted in separate rows or spread over different beds.
Distance between bushes
Having decided to settle garden strawberries on their plot, summer residents often ask themselves the question related to the optimal distance between the bushes.
There are several methods for locating sockets on the territory. The distance between strawberries when planting depends on the chosen method.
Individual bushes are located at a distance of about half a meter from each other. Most often, strawberries are planted in rows. This method is the most convenient and gives a high-quality harvest. The distance between the bushes should be about 25 cm, and between the rows - up to 60 cm. The easiest way is to plant"carpet". The dense placement of rosettes protects against weeds, but requires careful handling of the whiskers. Otherwise, strawberries will spread far beyond the habitat.
Another option for placing garden strawberries on the site is planting nests. The meaning of this method lies in the location of one bush in the middle, and 5-6 are planted around it. The distance between strawberries when planting nests is about 7 cm. At the same time, about 30 cm should be left between the nests themselves.
Methods of propagating strawberries
To plant strawberries on the site, you will need planting material. It can be bought as a seedling, grown from seeds, or using the tendrils of existing plants.
Many people know the rules for planting strawberries in the spring. Seedlings need to be hardened by placing it for a while in a cool place. It is important to pay attention to the root system. It should be well developed and always with soil on the roots. Before planting, you need to prepare the soil and dig holes. The rules for planting strawberries in spring and autumn are the same. It is important that the roots in the hole are vertical. Holding the bush with one hand, you need to cover the roots with the other, not forgetting to tamp the ground.
Reproduction of garden berries with a mustache has its own subtleties. To get strong planting material from a bush, it is necessary to remove flowers from it, preventing the appearance of berries. In this case, all the food will be given to the mustache. When they appear, you need to leave the strongest, and eliminate the rest. After the roots of the plant appear, it is necessary to dig inground or immediately in a pot. At the end of July, the daughter bush can be separated from the mother bush and planted in the garden.
Getting seedlings from seeds
Growing strawberries from seeds is the most difficult way to get seedlings.
The sowing time must be respected. This is done in late February or early March. The soil should be light and fertile. Baking powder should be added to it. Is it possible to plant strawberries of different varieties next to each other? It is possible, but it is better to separate the seeds and identify them in different places. This will allow you not to get confused in the future and evaluate the most successful options. If you germinate the seeds in advance, you can immediately select weak specimens. They are also recommended to be hardened by placing them in a place with a temperature slightly above zero. Strawberries love the sight, so they need to be constantly watered. It is necessary to take care of sufficient lighting. Germination may take two to seven weeks.
Planting strawberries in open ground with seeds is possible in spring. In autumn, it is necessary to transfer the grown plants to their permanent place.
Strawberry planting site
For the bushes to bring a good harvest, black soil with the addition of ash is considered the optimal soil for them. In order for strawberries to overwinter well, the bushes must hold snow well. For this purpose, some use spruce branches as an additional covering material.
Is it possible to plant strawberries of different varieties next to each other, how can this affect the size of the crop? Somegardeners note that the berries on some bushes are getting smaller. They blame this on the location of several varieties in one place. Small berries appear for other reasons. Most often, a poor-quality crop appears due to the depletion of the soil and the degeneration of the variety. Therefore, it is recommended to transplant strawberries to a new place every 5 years. It is also necessary to replace varieties, especially if the bushes are affected by pests.
