When spring comes to an end, all summer residents and gardeners begin to wait for the first home strawberries to appear on the beds. After all, it is she who opens the fruit and berry season. Much later it will be possible to enjoy currants, gooseberries, raspberries. But the very first strawberries are the most desirable! Below we will talk about how to properly fertilize strawberries for a better harvest.

Planting and fertilizing strawberries - how and when to do it best

It is best to plant strawberries in autumn in warm weather, so that before winter it has time to get stronger, to grow leaves. Then in the spring it will bear fruit much more abundantly. If these deadlines are missed, then it's okay, the spring planting will also be successful. The main thing is to follow a few rules:

• The root collar should be at the level of the soil, if lower - it will be clogged with earth, higher - the roots will be exposed. In both cases, the plant may die.
• The first 10-15 days after transplanting, it is worth watering the strawberries abundantly daily

After the seedlings take root, it is necessary to provide them with proper care: loosening, weeding, watering and fertilizing.

It is advisable to fertilize strawberries planted in the open field several times per season:

1. 1. in the spring, when the bush grows and needs nitrogen;
2. 2. during the budding period, fertilizing with phosphorus;
3. 3. after fruiting, using complex fertilizers;
4. 4. in autumn, before cold weather, enriching the soil with potassium.

Which fertilizers to use - organic or mineral, everyone decides for himself. Of course, it's safer to work with organics. Here you can not be afraid to use too much fertilizing, because it will not harm the plant in any way, it will only take what is needed. You can feed the plant at any time, since such additives are not harmful to humans. True, you will have to tinker with such natural infusions and mixtures a little more, you cannot buy them ready-made in a store. And the results of organic farming, of course, are slightly weaker.

If you decide to use ready-made mineral fertilizers, then be sure to follow the instructions and do not exceed dosages so as not to harm either the plant or yourself. Also keep in mind that it is best to use them a couple of weeks before the first harvest.

Feeding with nitrogen and phosphorus - we help strawberries grow and get stronger

After the snow melts and warm weather sets in, it is necessary to prepare the beds and strawberry bushes for further feeding:

• If the strawberries were covered for the winter with mulch or sawdust, then they must be removed;
• If the bushes have dried leaves, old tops, then they need to be cut off with pruning shears or scissors;
• The earth needs to be loosened up.

Also, before feeding, it is worth moistening the soil if there has been no rain for a long time before. In wet soil, fertilizer will spread more evenly, and in dry soil it can burn the roots. For the same reason, it is better to apply any fertilizer in the aisle, and not under the strawberry bush.

Immediately after the establishment of warm weather, it is worth feeding the strawberries with nitrogen. It stimulates well the growth of the aerial part of the plant. By applying such fertilizers, we will help the bush grow strong and strong, its leaves will be dense and fleshy.

Here are some nitrogen fertilization options:

• Dung or mullein. Used as root dressing. We dilute it in water in a ratio of 1:10 and let the mixture settle for 2-3 days to remove ammonia. It is worth noting that we use manure only in rotted form, since fresh manure contains a large amount of weed seeds.
• Chicken droppings. We also use it as a root bait, diluted in a ratio of 1:20. We apply it once every 2-3 years.
• Nitroammofosk. We use an aqueous solution in the proportion of one tablespoon to 10 liters of water.
• Ammonium sulfate. We breed it with mullein and water in the ratio of one tablespoon per liter of mullein and 10 liters of water.
• Urea. We dilute in the ratio of one tablespoon to 10 liters of water.

With nitrogen fertilizers, it is necessary to observe the measure, since their excess will lead to the absence of ovaries, and therefore fruits.

In late spring or early summer (depending on the region and weather conditions), during the period of bud formation and flowering, the plant needs phosphorus. For this, you can use superphosphate or ammophos. Phosphorus is also very useful in the first year of the growing season of garden strawberries, so we add it when planting. We take into account that phosphorus, unlike nitrogen, decomposes slowly, so it is enough to introduce it into the soil once a year.

Folk recipes for feeding strawberries

In addition to standard procedures, many gardeners use their own proven methods to fertilize strawberries in the spring for the best harvest.

So, knowing that the berry loves slightly acidic soils, it is often fed with fermented milk products. Dilute the sour milk with water in a ratio of 1: 2 and water the soil at a distance of 7-10 cm from the bush. But such a bait, of course, is convenient only if you have a small number of bushes.

The second most popular top dressing is yeast. Soak the bread in water and let it ferment for a week. We dilute the resulting solution with water in a ratio of 1:10 and use it for root feeding. This procedure can be repeated twice a season, but only in warm weather, so as not to stop the fermentation process.

Feeding with wood ash is no less effective. It can be used both dry, sprinkling the soil and thus protecting it from pests and diseases, and in the form of a solution in the proportion of 2 tablespoons per liter of water. But you should not combine ash with urea, saltpeter or manure, otherwise it will lose all its beneficial properties.

Recently, such type of feeding as nettle infusion has also become popular. To prepare the nutrient solution, fill a bucket of chopped and crumpled nettles with water and leave in a warm place to infuse for several days, until the solution begins to foam and ferment slightly. For fertilization, we use an infusion diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. We water the plant at the root with it. Also, the strained and diluted infusion can be used for foliar processing, that is, spray the leaves of the plant.

Watering strawberries - everything is good in moderation

The quantity and quality of the crop is also greatly affected by the frequency of watering. Indeed, if during the period of growth and flowering water is vital for the plant, then during the period of ripening of berries it only interferes. Excess moisture affects the taste of strawberries, it becomes more watery, less sweet and aromatic. But it is also impossible to stop watering for the entire fruiting period, otherwise the harvest will be reduced. We recommend watering the bushes immediately after picking all the ripe berries, and then taking a break for 2-3 days. During this time, the following berries will have time to ripen and gain sugar content.

You can also avoid frequent watering in hot weather by mulching the soil. For this we use foliage, straw or sawdust.

After harvesting the entire crop, you should also not stop watering the strawberries, because during this period new buds are laid, affecting the yield of the next year.

Schemes of summer and autumn baits for regular and remontant strawberries

In summer, strawberry bushes that have already borne fruit also require feeding, since during this period new flower buds are laid, on which the next year's harvest depends. Here potassium and trace elements come to the rescue, for example:

• Potassium nitrate. Used in a solution of 1 tablespoon per 5 liters of water.
• Nitroammofosk. It is used together with potassium sulfate in the form of a solution (for 10 liters of water, 2 tablespoons of nitroammofoska and 1 teaspoon of sulfate).

We apply these solutions at the root, after watering the ground abundantly. If you are afraid of damaging the roots, you can split this groundbait into two stages with an interval of two weeks.

The last fertilization is done in the fall, before covering the plants with mulch or straw for the winter. It is especially useful to feed young bushes in the fall to help them survive the cold. For this, it is good to use, for example, ash or mullein.

Also during this period, you can treat plants from pests, for example, spray with copper sulfate. Well, after that, you can continue to prepare strawberries for winter.

These bait schemes are relevant for strawberries with one harvest cycle. Repair strawberries consume more substances for such a long harvest period, therefore, they need to be fertilized more often. It should be supplemented with complex fertilizers (for example, nitroammophos) once every two weeks, starting in early spring and ending in September. In September, it is only worth excluding nitrogen from fertilizers in order to stop the active growth of the bush and thereby help it prepare for wintering.

Here are all the tips for growing strawberries. Now you can enjoy this beautiful berry all summer in a summer cottage or in a pot on a windowsill all year round!

Previously, only strawberries were grown in Russia - a fragrant and tasty berry, but small and not very fruitful, so today this plant is almost never found in garden plots. It was replaced by large-fruited strawberries brought by seafarers to Europe from America. One of its varieties called "Victoria" began to spread with particular speed, and soon all strawberries were called Victoria. To get a rich harvest of tasty and healthy berries, you need to know the rules for planting and growing Victoria in open ground.

Victoria boarding time

The best time to plant strawberries is in spring or autumn. In the spring, plants are planted as early as possible - immediately after warm weather sets in and the threat of recurrent frosts disappears. In the fall, Victoria should be planted from the second half of August to September 15, and then next planting season will delight the first berry.

Seedlings with a closed root system, purchased in cassettes or containers, can be planted as early as mid-July. The main thing is to choose a cloudy day for planting and moisten the soil well. Seedlings planted in summer will have time to take root well before winter and will give a full harvest next spring.

Some gardeners grow planting material with their own hands, although this is a long and laborious process. Indeed, it will take at least three years to get a full-fledged independent plant. Therefore, experts advise buying seedlings from well-known nurseries, and preferably in cassettes or containers. This is the safest and fastest way to grow crops.

Site selection

The Victoria site should be sunny and level, with a slight southwest slope. You should not choose steep slopes for planting this culture, from which the wind blows off snow in winter, and spring waters carry away part of the fertile layer. Lowlands and depressions, where melt water lasts for a long time, are unsuitable for cultivating strawberries.

The soil on the site should contain a lot of organic matter. Light loam, black soil or gray forest soil are best suited for growing this berry outdoors. Groundwater should lie no closer than 1 m to the surface of the earth.

Victoria grows well after herbs, cereals, onions, garlic, petunias, marigolds. You should not plant the berries in the beds where tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers previously grew. After 3-4 years, the plants are transferred to a new location.

Spring planting

For the spring planting of Victoria, the soil must be prepared in advance, even before the beginning of winter. The site must be carefully dug up, weeds must be removed and the following fertilizers must be applied for each square meter of area:

• humus - 9-10 kg;
• superphosphate - 100 g;
• potassium salt - 50g.

Seedlings for planting in the spring must be selected strong and healthy. Before planting in the ground, it should be hardened for several days by placing it in a cool place.

Between the plants located in the same row, leave 25-30 cm. To ensure ease of maintenance, the beds are separated by aisles of 40-50 cm wide.

Before planting, the roots of the plant are cut to 10 cm and holes are dug to such a depth that the root system fits vertically. When planting a Victoria, special attention should be paid to the location of the neck of the bush.

The neck of the bush should be flush with the soil surface. With a high planting, the roots can dry out, and with a very strong deepening, the plant can rot.

The planted plant is abundantly watered and covered with a special material for sunburn or burns.

Planting in autumn

Autumn planting of strawberry seedlings is considered optimal, since a full harvest can be harvested from young bushes in the spring of next year. Plants planted in early spring will also start bearing fruit next season, but will have to be cared for all summer.

Before the autumn planting, the site should be processed and prepared in early spring, adding the necessary fertilizers. If every piece of land is valuable in the garden, these beds can be temporarily occupied with onions, garlic or celery, that is, early ripening vegetables.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, the roots should be treated with a preparation against the fungus (fungicide) and young plants should be kept in a cool place for several days.

Growing victoria

In the first year after planting Victoria in the ground, do not strive to get a large harvest. On the contrary, in order for the plant to strengthen and grow the root system, it is necessary to remove the antennae and flowers that appear.

Caring for adult plants involves a number of activities.

1. Processing of a plot with strawberries. In early spring, as soon as the growing season begins, it is necessary to collect old mulching material from the beds and between rows, remove dry and damaged leaves, and loosen the soil between the plants.
2. Watering. Large juicy fruits cannot be obtained without proper, balanced watering. There should be enough moisture for the normal growth of the plant, and at the same time, strong waterlogging of the soil can provoke rotting of the root system. Victoria is watered once every 10 days at the rate of 10-12 liters per 1 sq. m starting from mid-April. In the summer, with the onset of heat, the frequency of watering can be increased up to 4 times a week. In the fall, in August and September, the number of waterings is reduced to 2 times a week. It is better to carry out watering work in the morning, trying not to get water on the leaves and peduncles. During flowering, drip irrigation is used.
3. Loosening. After the next watering, the soil around the plants and between the rows must be carefully loosened, trying not to damage the adventitious roots that lie at the surface of the earth. This is necessary in order to make the soil breathable and facilitate the flow of oxygen into the root system.
4. Weeding. Planting maintenance involves regularly removing weeds from the beds and aisles. Weed grass not only depletes the soil, taking away most of the moisture and nutrients, but is also a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and a refuge for pests. To stop the emergence of weeds, you can cover the planting area with mulching material: sawdust, wood chips, dry needles - or cover it with agrofibre.

These are the main activities that every gardener who grows Victoria in open areas should regularly carry out.

Leaving during flowering

The appearance of the first peduncles falls in mid-May. It is during this period that the future harvest is laid, the quality and quantity of which depends on the correct care. To feed the plant during this period, potash fertilizers, humus and ash are introduced into the soil. You can increase the number of inflorescences using a boric acid solution prepared at the rate of 1 tsp. on a bucket of water, which is sprayed with green bushes.

It is especially important to weed and loosen the area, preventing the appearance and growth of weeds. To get a large berry, you need to use a pruner to remove all excess antennae and leaves that absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Fertilizing Victoria

Caring for Victoria cannot be imagined without feeding this plant. Fertilizers should be applied at least three times per season.

• In early spring, after processing the area allotted for the berry, nitroammophoska is introduced into the soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are part of this fertilizer, are the most essential substances for plant development.
• During budding, potassium is added to the soil, a large amount of which is contained in ash, chicken manure infusion, and potassium nitrate. After collecting the berries, the plants are fed again with nitroammophos, dissolving 2 tbsp. l. in 10 liters of water.
• And the last time Victoria is fed with urea in August. This contributes to the formation of new flower buds and more abundant fruiting in the next year. The solution is prepared at the rate of 30 g of urea per 10 liters of water.

On sale there is a complex fertilizer developed specifically for strawberries and increasing yields by 30%.

Growing Victoria is an incredibly rewarding and interesting activity, although it requires certain skills and knowledge. After studying the advice of experts and providing proper care for the plants, it will not be difficult to get a decent harvest of this delicious berry.

It is not without reason that strawberries are considered the queen among the berries that grow in our climatic conditions. And this is due to its exquisite taste and unique aroma, which most of us like so much. The closest relative of strawberries - garden strawberries, or as it is also called, Victoria, has a special taste. Unfortunately, the ripening season of this beautiful berry is rather short - by the end of the first summer month, it stops bearing fruit. However, at the same time, it also requires considerable labor efforts on the part of the owner, and not only in spring and summer. Care is needed for Victoria and in the fall. And this, in turn, is a guarantee that next summer there will be a wonderful berry harvest on your personal plot. Therefore, we will tell you what to do with Victoria in the fall.

In general, autumn care for Victoria involves, firstly, the obligatory pruning of the bushes, and secondly, feeding it with fertilizers, and, thirdly, preparing the plant for winter.

One of the most important milestones in caring for your garden strawberry is pruning. As a rule, whiskers and leaves of bushes are pruned. The need for this procedure is explained by providing the plant with rest after active growth and fruiting, which will lead to the rejuvenation of Victoria and a set of strength by the next summer. In addition, such treatment of Victoria in the fall will help improve the condition of each bush. It is known that all sorts of pests settle on the leaves. By pruning them, you will naturally heal the strawberries.

Regarding how to prune Victoria in the fall, it is recommended to perform this procedure immediately in the fall in September. Use a pruner, a sharp knife, or scissors for this. It is important to cut the leaves 10 cm from the ground so as not to damage the Victoria's growing point.

After circumcision, experienced gardeners are advised to treat the bushes with solutions from pests and diseases. It will also be very useful for the berries to weed the rows, loosen them and add fresh soil for the bare roots.

How to care for the Victoria berry in the fall: top dressing

But the autumn feeding is needed for Victoria's strawberries for the accumulation of organic, mineral substances and the formation of new fruit and leaf buds. Fertilizing Victoria in the fall should be after trimming the leaves and whiskers, that is, in September.

If we talk about how to feed Victoria in the fall, then humus, compost, chicken droppings, and a barn are excellent for these purposes. Mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium salt) are also used. Excellent growth for the kidneys is provided by top dressing, for the preparation of which it is necessary to mix 2 tablespoons of potassium fertilizers and nitrophoska with a glass of wood ash, dissolving the mixture in 10 liters of water. Such a chatterbox must be poured under each bush. After fertilizing, it is recommended to mulch the soil.

Victoria fall care: preparing for winter

In areas where winter is always snowy, Victoria's cold is not terrible. But the lack of snow for plant bushes can be detrimental. That is why strawberries should be covered for the winter.

Ordinary straw is especially suitable for mulching. She needs to carefully and completely cover each bush. But if you don't have straw at your disposal, you can use other materials. Fallen foliage, peat, tree branches or corn stalks are also suitable as a covering cushion - whatever you can find in your garden. In addition, quite often, to prepare Victoria strawberries for winter, they use a purchased covering material - spunbond or lutrasil.

Thanks to this care in the fall for garden Victoria, the plant will accumulate strength and give you a tasty and rich harvest next year.

Orchard strawberries, often called victoria, have gained wide popularity and distribution in the gardens of various regions of the country. This is due to the simplicity of its reproduction, the early maturity of the culture, the convenience of protection from the harsh weather conditions of winter, and the high dietary and taste qualities of berries. Many gardeners get high yields of Victoria every year, having mastered her agricultural techniques well.

Soil and planting site for Victoria

It is necessary to plant the plant on a plot of land with a slight slope to the west. The place should be protected from the winds... After all, in winter, Victoria is protected from frost by snow, which means that in no case should it be blown away by the wind. The exposed berry can freeze and die. It is desirable to choose sandy loam soil rich in humus.

Others are added to it. fertilizers... It is better to apply fertilizers in the fall, scattering them evenly and digging them up with a shovel. In spring, shallow loosening is necessary in order to level the surfaces and close the moisture. For one square meter of soil where strawberries will be planted, you will need:

• twenty grams of potassium chloride;
• twenty grams of ammonium nitrate;
• twenty-five grams of superphosphate;
• six kilograms of humus.

It is best to alternate Victoria's landing with vegetable crops... The best predecessors for this berry are: green spaces (dill, parsley, lettuce), legumes, garlic, onions, root vegetables. And it is not advisable to plant it after potatoes, as the plant can get sick with a nematode.

Reproduction and planting

By the middle of summer, adult Victoria plants grow antennae, on which nodules are located, giving in the future roots and leaves. With the help of such antennae, Victoria reproduces. The three sockets on the mother plant are considered to be of better quality. When four to six leaves appear on such an outlet, it should be separated from the mother plant for planting in a permanent prepared place. In order for the plant to take root quickly and well, it is necessary to dig out sockets with a clod of earth.

Many gardeners plant strawberries in beds ranging from eighty to one hundred centimeters wide and up to fifteen centimeters high. The edges of such beds can be edged with boards, and the aisles can be covered with sawdust.

Victoria is planted throughout the growing season from early spring to the middle of the last month of summer. Planting dates are determined by the availability of the outlets.

For the spring period, the rosettes are grown in seedling beds or buried near the mother bush. In this case, Victoria will bear fruit already this year, albeit slightly.

Very common tape two-row planting scheme... In this case, between the rows in the tape, the distance is made about forty centimeters, between the tapes themselves up to eighty centimeters, and between the plants from twenty to thirty centimeters. In this case, up to ten plants are placed on one square meter.

The planting density depends on the Victoria variety and growing conditions.

Before planting seedlings, you should dig grooves or holes up to ten centimeters deep and water them well. Then plant seedlings in them and water it again well.

It is best to land in cloudy weather or in the evening. This improves the survival rate.

In order to properly care for young Victoria seedlings, you should not forget her in time to water... Watering should be especially regular during the first two weeks. If the weather is dry, then watering should be daily, and only then once every two or three days.

How to care for mature Victoria bushes

Spring chores

1. After the snow melts and the top layers of the soil of the beds with Victoria dry, all debris and dried leaves should be removed from them. Old whiskers and leaf stalks are best trimmed with pruning shears. Victoria bushes that have not survived the winter frosts should be removed along with the roots. Weeds that have grown in late autumn are also removed. All of these plant residues are composted with manure or burnt off-site.
2. After the soil on the beds and row spacings has dried, it is loosened to a depth of about four centimeters, then the surface is leveled, crushing lumps and dusting with ash.
3. Fertilizer can now be applied. First of all, when caring for Victoria in the spring, organic fertilizers are applied, for example, sawdust or straw. To do this, they are first crushed and sprinkled a little around the bushes. You can also add peat chips or humus.
4. It is desirable in mid-April, and if it does not work out, then in May, treat Victoria from pests. It will be enough to water the plants with a weak solution. copper sulfate... After such watering, the first buds will begin to bloom on the plant.
5. Although Victoria is a moisture-loving plant, excessive moisture has a negative effect on her. When caring for a plant, it is advisable to combine its watering with protection from pests and fertilizers. Some gardeners do the first spring watering hot water.
6. After harvesting, watering and sprinkling with organic fertilizers, victorias are required nitrogen fertilizers... They are introduced only after the first leaves appear on the plant. To do this, combine the cowshed and ammonium sulfate, dilute with water and water the Victoria.
7. In the morning, water the plants once a week in the spring. warm water... Before flowering, watering can be done by sprinkling. During the flowering of Victoria and when there are already berries on it, watering is done carefully so that no water gets on them.
8. Already in the spring we will have to fight weeds. If the aisles are mulched with sawdust, then there will be no weeds, and water with fertilizers will flow directly to the tubers.

How to care for Victoria in the summer

1. Weekly watering of plants.
2. Weeding Victorian beds.
3. Mandatory inspection of plants for diseases and pests.
4. When the first berries begin to tie, be sure to add straw or sawdust. Then the fruits will not get dirty and rot.
5. Mandatory removal of damage to parts of Victoria or the damaged bush itself, so that other plants do not get infected from it.
6. Before flowering, fertilizing with a solution of nitrophoska or potassium sulfate.
7. The berries must be picked regularly, along with the stalk.
8. After harvesting Victoria, until the tenth of August, the bushes should be fed with wood ash and nitrophosphate.
9. Cover the beds with foil during heavy rains so that diseases do not develop and the berries do not become watery.
10. In a timely manner, the antennae should be removed from the fruiting Victoria in order to prevent rooting of the rosettes. The antennae are left only if seedlings are needed to resume planting. Leave them near the uterine rosettes.
11. After harvesting, the soil is loosened, and if the roots are bare, then the bush is spud.

Fall work or Victoria's preparation for winter

1. The soil must be followed after flowering grind... This is done with wood chips, straw or dry moss. It helps to protect the berries from gray rot. The same procedure is repeated again by mid-autumn, but using peat or grain production waste. The layer thickness should be between five and eight centimeters. Leaves should not be covered.
2. To prepare Victoria for winter, not only mustaches are cut from the bushes, but also leaves at a distance of ten centimeters from the ground. This should not be scary, since new leaves will still appear before winter, and the plant will get stronger.
3. Cut bushes should be sprayed against diseases and pests.
4. Feed the plants with mineral fertilizers. This is necessary in order for Victoria to accumulate them for the formation of new leaves and berry buds.
5. In areas where winter is not very snowy, Victoria takes refuge. You can use ordinary straw, tree branches, fallen leaves. Often some special covering material is used for this purpose. You can also cover it with a film, but be sure not to forget to remove it in the spring no later than the beginning of May.

Protection from pests and diseases

An important role in the care of Victoria is its protection from diseases and pests. The most common pests of Victoria are strawberry mites and nematodes. And from diseases: gray rot of berries, powdery mildew and white spot of berries. But how to take care of Victoria to prevent this from happening? To prevent such diseases and pests, you should:

• plant seedlings only healthy;
• use varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests;
• avoid thickening of the bushes;
• during the ripening of berries, limit watering;
• remove berries and leaves that are damaged;
• keep seedlings from healthy mother plants for fifteen minutes in hot (forty-six degrees) water to destroy the nematode and strawberry mite;
• it is recommended to plant calendula, onions, marigolds, garlic, immortelle in the aisles of Victoria bushes to combat the nematode.

Previously, only strawberries were grown in Russia - a fragrant and tasty berry, but small and not very fruitful, so today this plant is almost never found in garden plots. It was replaced by large-fruited strawberries brought by seafarers to Europe from America. One of its varieties called "Victoria" began to spread with particular speed, and soon all strawberries were called Victoria. To get a rich harvest of tasty and healthy berries, you need to know the rules for planting and growing Victoria in open ground.

Victoria boarding time

The best time to plant strawberries is in spring or autumn. In the spring, plants are planted as early as possible - immediately after warm weather sets in and the threat of recurrent frosts disappears. In the fall, Victoria should be planted from the second half of August to September 15, and then next planting season will delight the first berry.

Seedlings with a closed root system, purchased in cassettes or containers, can be planted as early as mid-July. The main thing is to choose a cloudy day for planting and moisten the soil well. Seedlings planted in summer will have time to take root well before winter and will give a full harvest next spring.

Some gardeners grow planting material with their own hands, although this is a long and laborious process. Indeed, it will take at least three years to get a full-fledged independent plant. Therefore, experts advise buying seedlings from well-known nurseries, and preferably in cassettes or containers. This is the safest and fastest way to grow crops.

Site selection

The Victoria site should be sunny and level, with a slight southwest slope. You should not choose steep slopes for planting this culture, from which the wind blows off snow in winter, and spring waters carry away part of the fertile layer. Lowlands and depressions, where melt water lasts for a long time, are unsuitable for cultivating strawberries.

The soil on the site should contain a lot of organic matter. Light loam, black soil or gray forest soil are best suited for growing this berry outdoors. Groundwater should lie no closer than 1 m to the surface of the earth.

Victoria grows well after herbs, cereals, onions, garlic, petunias, marigolds. You should not plant the berries in the beds where tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers previously grew. After 3-4 years, the plants are transferred to a new location.

Spring planting

For the spring planting of Victoria, the soil must be prepared in advance, even before the beginning of winter. The site must be carefully dug up, weeds must be removed and the following fertilizers must be applied for each square meter of area:

• humus - 9-10 kg;
• superphosphate - 100 g;
• potassium salt - 50g.

Seedlings for planting in the spring must be selected strong and healthy. Before planting in the ground, it should be hardened for several days by placing it in a cool place.

Between the plants located in the same row, leave 25-30 cm. To ensure ease of maintenance, the beds are separated by aisles of 40-50 cm wide.

Before planting, the roots of the plant are cut to 10 cm and holes are dug to such a depth that the root system fits vertically. When planting a Victoria, special attention should be paid to the location of the neck of the bush.

The neck of the bush should be flush with the soil surface. With a high planting, the roots can dry out, and with a very strong deepening, the plant can rot.

The planted plant is abundantly watered and covered with a special material to protect it from frost or sunburn.

Planting in autumn

Autumn planting of strawberry seedlings is considered optimal, since a full harvest can be harvested from young bushes in the spring of next year. Plants planted in early spring will also start bearing fruit next season, but will have to be cared for all summer.

Before the autumn planting, the site should be processed and prepared in early spring, adding the necessary fertilizers. If every piece of land is valuable in the garden, these beds can be temporarily occupied with onions, garlic or celery, that is, early ripening vegetables.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, the roots should be treated with a preparation against the fungus (fungicide) and young plants should be kept in a cool place for several days.

Growing victoria

In the first year after planting Victoria in the ground, do not strive to get a large harvest. On the contrary, in order for the plant to strengthen and grow the root system, it is necessary to remove the antennae and flowers that appear.

Caring for adult plants involves a number of activities.

1. Processing of a plot with strawberries. In early spring, as soon as the growing season begins, it is necessary to collect old mulching material from the beds and between rows, remove dry and damaged leaves, and loosen the soil between the plants.
2. Watering. Large juicy fruits cannot be obtained without proper, balanced watering. There should be enough moisture for the normal growth of the plant, and at the same time, strong waterlogging of the soil can provoke rotting of the root system. Victoria is watered once every 10 days at the rate of 10-12 liters per 1 sq. m starting from mid-April. In the summer, with the onset of heat, the frequency of watering can be increased up to 4 times a week. In the fall, in August and September, the number of waterings is reduced to 2 times a week. It is better to carry out watering work in the morning, trying not to get water on the leaves and peduncles. During flowering, drip irrigation is used.
3. Loosening. After the next watering, the soil around the plants and between the rows must be carefully loosened, trying not to damage the adventitious roots that lie at the surface of the earth. This is necessary in order to make the soil breathable and facilitate the flow of oxygen into the root system.
4. Weeding. Planting maintenance involves regularly removing weeds from the beds and aisles. Weed grass not only depletes the soil, taking away most of the moisture and nutrients, but is also a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and a refuge for pests. To stop the emergence of weeds, you can cover the planting area with mulching material: sawdust, wood chips, dry needles - or cover it with agrofibre.

These are the main activities that every gardener who grows Victoria in open areas should regularly carry out.

Leaving during flowering

The appearance of the first peduncles falls in mid-May. It is during this period that the future harvest is laid, the quality and quantity of which depends on the correct care. To feed the plant during this period, potash fertilizers, humus and ash are introduced into the soil. You can increase the number of inflorescences using a boric acid solution prepared at the rate of 1 tsp. on a bucket of water, which is sprayed with green bushes.

It is especially important to weed and loosen the area, preventing the appearance and growth of weeds. To get a large berry, you need to use a pruner to remove all excess antennae and leaves that absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Fertilizing Victoria

Caring for Victoria cannot be imagined without feeding this plant. Fertilizers should be applied at least three times per season.

• In early spring, after processing the area allotted for the berry, nitroammophoska is introduced into the soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are part of this fertilizer, are the most essential substances for plant development.
• During budding, potassium is added to the soil, a large amount of which is contained in ash, chicken manure infusion, and potassium nitrate. After collecting the berries, the plants are fed again with nitroammophos, dissolving 2 tbsp. l. in 10 liters of water.
• And the last time Victoria is fed with urea in August. This contributes to the formation of new flower buds and more abundant fruiting in the next year. The solution is prepared at the rate of 30 g of urea per 10 liters of water.

On sale there is a complex fertilizer developed specifically for strawberries and increasing yields by 30%.

Growing Victoria is an incredibly rewarding and interesting activity, although it requires certain skills and knowledge. After studying the advice of experts and providing proper care for the plants, it will not be difficult to get a decent harvest of this delicious berry.

The taste and size of Victoria strawberries depend on the care and feeding. It is an undemanding and large berry.

It resists diseases well, but you need to choose the right place for planting. If necessary, correct the soil, because the absorption of nutrients is disturbed on heavy soils with admixtures of clay. Fertilizer for Victoria can be selected from the organic matter available on the farm, or you can use commercially available mixes specifically designed for strawberries.

If you do not use additives additionally, not all characteristics of the variety will be manifested. The longer the plant is in the garden, the more it takes up nutrients and the worse it grows and bears fruit: sour small berries, small bushes.

You can start caring for strawberries in the fall. If the seedlings have not yet been planted, you need to prepare the beds and apply a certain amount of fertilizer - better than organic ones, so that the young bushes will immediately start growing.

Preparing the landing site

How to feed Victoria for the future harvest can be found in the household:

• compost;

• chicken droppings;

• manure;

• green manure;

• mineral mixtures.

But first you need to choose the right bed:

• it should be on the sunny side;

• being protected from the winds is a good option - to put a fence on both sides of the garden so that the bushes are in shelter;

• do not choose areas where water stagnates;

• it is not very good if the garden bed is near potatoes, tomatoes, peppers;

• do not plant under trees.

You can plant Victoria in the holes and add fertilizer to each. If water stagnates in the soil, it is better to plant it on the ridge.

Top dressing Victoria in the spring

Strawberries respond very well to organic fertilizers. For Victoria's spring feeding, you can use an infusion of chicken manure. Chicken fertilizer should be used carefully, as it is the most concentrated of all animal fertilizers.

To begin with, a third of the bucket is filled with droppings and filled with water. Wait 4 - 5 days until the excess ammonia disappears from the mixture. Next, each liter of infusion is diluted in 20 liters of water. Water at the root in the hole so that the fertilizer does not spread.

The best option is compost based on manure or chicken droppings. But at home, it ripens for a long time, and it is expensive to buy.

The substance is prepared as follows - they are laid in a pile in layers:

• priming;

• manure;

• plant residues;

• kitchen waste.

For the first time, Victoria's food is enough. After rooting, after about 2 - 3 weeks, you can carry out foliar spraying of strawberries with a solution of urea, diluted two times. This will stimulate the growth of greenery and shoots. Do not spray strawberries during fruiting.

Flowers appear in mid-May.

It's time to think about how to feed Victoria to replenish potassium and phosphorus reserves. It is not advisable to use nitrogen-containing fertilizers, as this causes increased growth of shoots, but has a bad effect on the formation of fruits: you can get large beautiful strawberry bushes with one peduncle.

Ash solution is a unique folk remedy that has been used since time immemorial and always works well. To do this, you need to burn the wood and save the ash. Many in the country use firewood to grill barbecue.

Hardwoods are more suitable, especially oak. Oak ash contains 20% potassium and 75% calcium. There is more potassium in young shoots, and it is also found in weed ash. Preparing the ash solution is simple:

• take 300 g of ash;

• pour a bucket of water;

• wait 3 - 4 days.

Can be watered at the beginning of the fruiting period for better ripening and sweet taste.

Video: The first feeding of strawberries in spring

It is important to do regular weeding and trim the strawberry whiskers, because the plant consumes additional nutrients for their growth, which must go to the formation of fruits. It is recommended to cut the first flowers to make the rest larger.

In spring, the plant should be especially protected from fungal diseases that can damage the berries. Correct and regular feeding helps to maintain the plant's immunity.

Victoria's summer dressing

Potassium and phosphorus are the substances with which you need to fertilize Victoria in the summer during the period of active fruiting. You can continue to use the ash solution. If the ash is over, then mineral fertilizers are used. It is advisable to use those mixtures that are specifically designed for berry crops.

Conventional fertilizers for flowers and vegetables are not suitable, since they have an incomplete composition of trace elements. Experienced gardeners advise using potassium nitrate - 1 teaspoon of granules, diluted in 10 liters of water. Watering boric acid helps to increase the number of inflorescences - Stir 1 teaspoon in a bucket of water.

If the weather is rainy for a long time and there is little sun, then you should expect the appearance of fungus on the strawberry plantation. To avoid this, you need to mulch the soil between the rows and under the bushes. The berries will be dry and there is less chance that the fungus will get to them from the soil.

Important! During the fruiting period, it is impossible to use chemistry against pests. You need to spray the plants in advance for prevention.

Watering is especially important in summer when the strawberries are gaining weight. The nutrients must dissolve in water and so go into the berries. If there is not enough water, then the assimilation of dressings will be inadequate, and the berries will not taste good, or rather sour. In the absence of rain, strawberries it is recommended to water it 3-4 times a week so that the soil is moistened 10 to 12 cm deep.

Victoria autumn dressing

How to fertilize Victoria so that the next year's harvest will please you? Before starting the autumn events, you need to think about how long strawberries grow in one place. If it is 3 years old, then it needs to be transplanted, otherwise the berries will become smaller and the yield will decrease. And in the fall, phosphorus mixtures are usually introduced. Phosphorus binds to the soil and remains in it until spring.

Superphosphate is a good choice. It can be buried in dry soil by making grooves around the bush or diluted with water and watering the depressions, and then sprinkling with earth. Superphosphate dissolves for about a day, so it is first soaked and stirred periodically, and then watered.

Potassium is needed for the bush to winter well. Potash fertilizers for Victoria can also be applied in September. If you use wood ash for this purpose, then at the same time you can achieve a looser soil and a decrease in soil acidity. This is an economical tool, since it is can be done once every 3 years.

Important! You can not add nitrogen before winter, because it stimulates the growth of green mass and the plant will die from the cold

For the winter, strawberry bushes are mulched and, depending on the winter in the region, they are wrapped in polyethylene or spruce branches.

conclusions

To get a good harvest of Victoria strawberries, it is enough to follow the simple rules for using fertilizers, watering and replanting plants.

Hello dear readers! I am the creator of the Fertilizers.NET project. Glad to see each of you on its pages. I hope the information from the article was helpful. Always open for communication - comments, suggestions, what else you want to see on the site, and even criticism, you can write to me on VKontakte, Instagram or Facebook (round icons below). Peace and happiness to everyone! 🙂

03.05.2019 107 138

Fertilizer for strawberries - how to increase yields in simple ways?