Real amateur gardeners always lack space for interesting ideas and ideas. But what if the owner of a small summer cottage is also a fan of garden strawberries? After all, planting this delicious and he althy berry takes up a lot of space, and in order to harvest a good harvest, it is required to allocate at least one and a half acres of illuminated area. And so I want to fit in a limited space many more garden crops, plant flowers. This is where vertical strawberry cultivation comes in - a great alternative to its usual classic planting.
Features of vertical beds
The popularity of this method of growing strawberries is growing year by year, and all because at first glance, it would seem that a complex technology turns into a number of advantages that many gardeners appreciate.
- Significantly saves space in the summer cottage, and the planting area is significantly increased.
- The berry does not get dirty with the ground and remains clean, during the rainy season it does not rot from dampness.
- The number of pestson it decreases, as it becomes inaccessible to them.
- Caring for such a plantation is much easier: weed seeds do not fall into the container, and there is no need to constantly weed the beds.
- Fertilizers are assimilated as efficiently as possible, distributed evenly through the pipe.
- Growing strawberries vertically allows you to pick berries without bending over, making the process more enjoyable.
- Such beds look very impressive, decorate any site and delight neighbors with beauty and originality.
But, despite the many advantages, growing strawberries vertically still has some disadvantages:
- The soil on such beds dries out very quickly in hot weather, so it is advisable to water it often: at least once every 5 days.
- The beds require liquid feeding at least once a season, because the foundation is not replenished with nutrients, compost and manure.
- In winter, the soil freezes completely, so the beds must be made mobile in order to transfer them to a warm place with the onset of frost or to cover them well, otherwise the plants will not endure extreme cold.
Strawberry varieties
Strawberry varieties for vertical cultivation should be chosen remontant, ampelous. They look very attractive in such beds, are extremely productive and tasty.
The most popular variety is Queen Elizabeth, it can be harvested several times a season, from early summer to October. The berries are beautiful, shiny, large, regular shape, the pulp is very juicy. In total, up to 2 kg of berries can be harvested from a bush during the growing season. This species adapts very well to the terrain in which it grows.
Alba is a curly variety. Growing strawberries in a vertical way provides for the mandatory presence of it in the beds. The berry is very early and is not afraid of frost. The fruits resemble an elongated cone, bright red, well stored. More than a kilogram of berries are harvested from one bush.
Homemade delicacy - early remontant variety. Dark red berries with a slight acidity, large, 3 cm in diameter. Look great in a vertical planting due to long peduncles.
Another ampel variety bred in Holland is Ostara. A compact bush with dark green bright leaves will delight you with very tasty berries. The disadvantage of this is the exactingness of care.
Domestic experts, except for Elizaveta, advise planting Finland variety on their plot. The sweetest of the strawberry varieties for vertical cultivation is Honey. Eros tolerates frosts well, Geneva and Aluba are unpretentious, they will not make you worry about strawberry diseases, and the Moscow delicacy will please you with a big harvest in autumn.
Varieties of vertical beds
Growing strawberries vertically allows you to use any container: barrels, flower pots, boxes, tires, slate sheets, plastic bags, pipes.
Car tire beds are practical and durable. Tires are stacked on top of each other, and holes are cut for plants. But thesebeds are toxic, so planting berries in them is undesirable.
You can make beds from flower pots, you can put them as you like, hang them on supports, tree branches, decorate the gazebo.
The most economical option is plastic bottles. This material is loved by gardeners, and if you fix them on a grid or poles, you get an attractive bed. But in pots and bottles, the amount of land is too small, so constant feeding and watering is necessary, and it is difficult to control the amount of fertilizer, so it is likely that their rate may be exceeded.
Strawberry bushes in barrels look interesting on the site, especially if they are painted in bright colors. But a heavy barrel is difficult to move, it requires reliable shelter for the winter, as well as beds made of pallets and wooden boxes.
Growing strawberries in pipes
The previous methods have significant drawbacks, so growing strawberries in pipes vertically is a wonderful find for gardeners. This is the most convenient and commonly used method for growing strawberries.
The height of such a bed usually does not exceed 2 meters. Firstly, if the structure is higher, then it will be inconvenient to water and pick berries. Secondly, 4-meter PVC pipes can be simply cut in half, then there will be no material waste.
First, you should choose a pipe with a diameter of 200 mm, the next smaller pipe is needed for watering plants, its diameter is much smaller, only 2 cm is enough, and the length, on the contrary,exceeds the main one by 15 cm.
In its upper part, approximately at the level of 2/3 of the pipe, tiny holes are drilled, their diameter should not exceed 5 mm. So that the pipe does not become clogged, and the water, flowing out, does not wash out the soil, it is tightly wrapped in non-woven material or burlap, and wrapped with a rope on top.
The holes in the PVC pipe are drilled in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of a quarter of a meter from each other, their size 10x10 is sufficient for the plant to feel comfortable and develop freely. At the bottom of the pipe, about 25 cm from the soil, no holes are needed.
You should also think about the fact that the pipe will be laid for the winter, so it is not advisable to drill the landing holes in a circle. It is better to leave one side intact and turn it to the north when installing. The bottom of the pipe must be closed with a lid, because the mobile bed provides for moving or laying for the cold season.
The next step is to insert a watering unit into the main pipe and fill the bottom with expanded clay, pebbles or gravel to a height of 20 cm. This is both a kind of drainage and a load holding the pipe vertically.
Fertile soil is poured on top of the already laid drainage. It should consist of a quarter of sod land, the same part of peat, then it will be light and airy. 30% rotted compost and 20% manure are added to this mixture. Get a nutrient substrate for strawberries.
The container, barrel or pipe is filled to the top with the substrate and filled with water from the hose. After wateringthe soil will settle and compact, then you need to add more soil mixture. A bush is carefully planted in each hole.
Preparing the land
If growing strawberries vertically in pots, little nutrient mix is required. You can buy any soil for vegetables or flowers in the store. But if you plan to grow strawberries vertically in poles, you will need a large amount of land. It can be taken in the garden, having previously been disinfected: it must be treated with steam or hot water, and then spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate. After 30 minutes, it is ready for use.
But there is another way to prepare excellent fertile soil for your favorite berry. In a field or on a forest edge, you need to cut the soddy ground in layers, bring it to the garden and fold them into a neat square, spilling each layer with water. Then wrap it in plastic wrap, and make shallow digs around the perimeter for oxygen to enter. Under the film, the burning process will begin, all pathogenic bacteria, seeds, larvae will die from the high temperature, and the grass will overheat in just 2 months. Then you need to sift the humus, and the nutrient substrate is ready.
How to prepare seedlings
If strawberries are grown vertically in pipes, you can buy ready-made seedlings and place them in the garden. But over time, you will want to expand the plantation and increase the number of roots. Then strawberries are easy to propagate. In the spring, you need to cut off the 2 strongest mustaches from the bush and dig into the nursery. So that they take root faster, mulch the soil under themgrass or leaves. After 2 weeks, when the plants take root, they need to be fed with fertilizer.
In October, the sprouts are dug up and put in a box, sprinkled with earth and put in a cool cellar. They can stay there for up to 10 months. In February, they are taken out and planted in the ground, after 35 days their roots grow back, ready-made bushes are obtained that can be planted in new beds.
You can also propagate strawberries by seeds, choosing the largest berries for this and cutting off a thin layer of pulp with seeds in the middle part of the fruit. It needs to be dried and planted.
How to care for vertical beds
Before making vertical beds, it is important to decide where they will be placed. It should be noted that the berry is photophilous and drafts are not to her taste.
Vertical cultivation of strawberries at the initial stage involves frequent watering. If the weather is hot, then you need to make sure that the earth does not dry out, and then 2 waterings a day will not interfere. Seedlings will take root in 15 days, then watering can be reduced.
If flower stalks immediately appeared on the plant, then it is better to remove them until the berry gains strength. Extra whiskers are also removed, usually 5 is enough on a plant, then the berries will be large.
If strawberries bear fruit for the second summer, then it needs to be properly fed to increase productivity. Liquid complex mineral fertilizers, EM fertilizers and organics are used.
By autumn, when fruiting is over, you can rejuvenate the plants by cutting the leaves.
Forregular fruiting strawberries must be replanted regularly, every 3-4 years, this also applies to high beds. Alternatively, you can simply change the content in the pipes.
For the winter, vertical beds must be brought indoors. But if this is not possible, then they are wrapped with high quality burlap, covered with leaves, slate, roofing material, hay or spruce branches. The pillars are laid horizontally and also well closed.
Growing strawberries vertically only at first glance seems to be a difficult and time-consuming task, therefore, having gained some experience, you may want to take it seriously and sell your surplus labor, significantly replenishing the family cash register.
