How and when to plant strawberries in the fall to get an unprecedented harvest in the summer

Planting strawberries in the fall has a number of advantages. The bushes usually take root well - during this period, moisture evaporates less and they do not dry out. Strawberries will slowly build up their root system, because even in winter, the growth process does not completely stop.

The soil is well warmed up in the fall and gives off heat for a long time. In general, there is no need to be afraid of frost, just cover the plantings with agrofibre at night. OBOZ.UA tells you how and when to plant strawberries in the fall.

Green manure and crop rotation

Before planting strawberries, you should fertilize the soil with green manure:

• Lupine and legumes will saturate the garden with nitrogen;
• Rapeseed and mustard are rich in phosphorus, which cleanses the soil of a number of diseases and pests;
• buckwheat contains potassium;
• oats destroy the nematode.

Crop rotation rules should also be taken into account. Do not plant strawberries after:

• Solanaceous crops;
• sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes;
• fennel
• raspberries
• zucchini or cucumbers;
• cabbage.

Where to plant strawberries

Strawberries need a sunny place protected from cold winds. In low light, there will be berries, but they will be small and sour.

Ideal for planting is loam or sandy loam, rich in humus, with a slightly acidic reaction. In sandy and marshy places, you should not expect a harvest. In the lowlands, the bushes will not receive enough light and heat, and the root system can rot from excess moisture.

How to plant strawberries

Before planting, you should prepare the beds, add fertilizer for digging and wait until the soil sags. You can pour a handful of humus, a tablespoon of ash, a teaspoon of superphosphate into the holes, or you can do mineral fertilization according to the instructions.

It is also worth removing some of the leaves. If there is guaranteed to be more than a month of time before the start of frost, you can leave only 2-3 young middle leaves, carefully cut off the rest at the base. This is necessary so that less moisture evaporates and the root system grows faster.

If there is less than a month left before the frost, and the weather is already rainy and cool, moisture evaporation is not as intense, so only dry and frail leaves should be cut off.

The heart (the center of the rosette) should be on the soil surface, because deepening it will lead to damping off. On the other hand, a growth point that is too high can lead to exposed roots. This is also dangerous, as the plant will simply freeze in winter.

After planting, the bushes should be watered abundantly and mulched with peat or humus. It is better to use warm, settled water for irrigation. Too cold water and excessive watering contribute to the development of rot.

If in winter there is a layer of snow 15 cm thick on the bed, then the strawberries will withstand 30-degree frosts. And bushes without snow cover begin to freeze at -12 ⁰C. You can cover the strawberry bed with dry corn stalks, spruce branches, straw, brushwood, or agrofibre.

When to plant strawberries

Planting dates depend on weather conditions. It's best to get started when the heat subsides and the rainy season begins. Then it is more likely that the rooting will be successful.

There are several types of strawberry planting:

• early (August - mid-September) - suitable for almost all regions of Ukraine, except for the southern ones;
• medium (from September 15 to October 15) - suitable for all regions;
• late (15-20 days before the expected start of frost) - most suitable for the south.

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