Strawberry in the pipes - it sounds strange, but growing berries in this way is a very convenient way to get a high harvest and please yourself with goodies, especially if there is not enough space on the site, and all the beds have long been occupied by other plantings.
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Strawberry in PVC pipes: cultivation features
Planting strawberries in pipes horizontally, vertically, or even in a greenhouse, is different. For this, not only slightly different technologies are used, but also special varieties are selected to get the best possible result.
For planting strawberries in pipes, only certain varieties are selected.
They must meet such characteristics as:
- fruitfulness throughout the year;
- resistance to frost;
- good adaptation to the conditions in which they grow;
- good taste and beautiful appearance.
Consider each type separately.
It is interesting: urea fertilizer - application in the garden
In PVC pipes horizontally
This method involves placing seedlings horizontally in specially prepared pipes. In this way, you can save space and conveniently place the plant on the site. In addition, beds in horizontally arranged pipes look very aesthetically pleasing.
For growing strawberries in a horizontal construction of pipes, the following varieties are suitable:
- Honei is an excellent variety with large and sweet fruits;
- Baby elephant is a frost-resistant variety with large berries and outstanding taste;
- Queen Elizabeth - bears fruit from May to October, gives a great harvest, has a high taste.
The main problem that can occur during cultivation is the fungus. In closed systems, he is a frequent visitor, so it is better to protect yourself from the beginning and thoroughly disinfect the roots of seedlings and directly the soil before planting.
The soil must be disinfected, even if you bought a ready-made substrate.
In the greenhouse
Growing strawberries using PVC pipes in a greenhouse has several advantages. Firstly, it will bear fruit almost the whole year, which, of course, is very beneficial if you intend to do this as your own business. Secondly, pipes perfectly save space, which allows you to place quite a lot of seedlings on a relatively small area of the greenhouse. Harvest in the greenhouse is always high and stable.
In plastic pipes vertically
This method differs from the horizontal, as the name implies, the method of placing the beds and, accordingly, seedlings in it.
In a vertical bed, the earth will dry out very quickly, so it is very important to monitor this and not to miss moisture fluctuations from the view. If you dry, you can lose the crop, which is unpleasant for any farmer.
But excess moisture in vertical beds can also be detrimental to plants, because the roots in this case rot very quickly.
For this method, grades are most often used:
- Alba - early, curly, tolerates even low temperatures;
- Ostara is an ampelous, compact variety with delicious berries;
- Queen - can withstand temperatures up to -15 degrees in winter, has juicy beautiful berries;
- Homemade delicacy - early, with dark red berries and a slight sourness in the aftertaste.
As well as in cultivation by a horizontal method in this case it is necessary to be wary of diseases of plants and a fungus. Take care of the soil and plant roots in advance.
How to grow strawberry seedlings in PVC
Landing by this method only becomes more popular every season. The most important thing is to properly configure the entire system. Why system? Because the construction of pipes, which we will talk about a little later, is not just a container with holes, but a system in which favorable conditions are created for growing plants.
Growing horizontally may seem the most convenient way. Seedlings are placed at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. You can make holes in the pipe with a diameter of about 13 cm, or you can just gently cut off its upper part.
The edges of the pipe are closed with plugs, but at the bottom there will be a hole for excess water. We'll talk more about pipe preparation a bit later. Next, a favorable environment for growing is prepared, soils are selected, an irrigation system is installed. Drop watering will be as convenient for strawberries as possible.
Strawberries in PVC pipes are vertically planted in a slightly different way. Wells should be staggered in the same proportions as the horizontal method. The distance between the cells should be at least 20 cm.
A cap is placed at the bottom of the pipe, and then drainage is poured. In order for the watering in this method to be uniform, and water not to drain to the bottom of the structure, it is necessary to place an additional pipe of smaller diameter in which holes are made, and it itself is wrapped with geotextiles. Such a pipe will be higher than the landing pipe. The holes in it will need to be located 30 cm from the ground so that there is no stagnation of water.
Preparing pipes for planting
We have come to one of the main steps - pipe preparation.
For the system we need:
- PVC pipes with a diameter of 15 cm.
- End caps for pipe diameter.
- PVC pipes with a diameter of 3-4 cm for water supply, 15 cm longer than the main pipe.
- Plugs for thin pipes with the appropriate diameter.
- Hose (required to drain water).
- Capacity in which there will be water.
- Auto-irrigation pump.
- Expanded clay (will serve as drainage).
- Drill with a crown to dia. 10 cm
- Roulette
- Hacksaw.
- Priming.
For a comfortable growth of strawberry roots, it is better to beat expanded clay with a hammer so that it splits into small pieces.
A place worth choosing is sunny. Therefore, before assembling the structure, think carefully about where it will be located and determine the size. If this is a single bed, then you can place it on the sunny side of the fence. If, however, large-scale strawberry cultivation is planned, then it is worth considering how and where the beds will be located.
If you stopped on a large-scale cultivation of strawberries, then take care of the supports. They can be built, for example, in the form of a pyramid. But the material must be durable. Please note that a PVC pipe with soil and a size of only 2 meters will weigh as much as 25 kilograms.
We proceed to the preparation of the pipes. At a distance of about 20 cm, make holes with a diameter of about 13 cm. In a thin pipe, prepare a lot of small holes with a drill. Wrap a thin pipe with geotextile (agrofibre is also suitable), and then fasten everything using wire so that the covering material does not unwind and slide.
In the plugs from a wide pipe, you need to make a hole that in diameter will coincide with a thin pipe. Expanded clay is poured at the bottom of a wide pipe by about 2-3 cm, evenly distributing it over the surface. Then we put the prepared thin pipe so that its edges extend into the just drilled holes in the caps of the large pipe.
In the slots of a large pipe, fill the soil, ram it, and then water. On the one hand, you will need to connect an irrigation system hose with a timer or a container that will be located above the seedling level. On the other hand, a hose for water drainage will be placed.
The vertical design is different in that it is located differently. Wells are drilled at the same distance, with the same diameter. The only thing they will be done in a checkerboard pattern. The design principle remains the same.
The bed from the pipe is ready, you can proceed with the landing!
Soil requirement and preparation
Strawberries will grow well in soddy soil. Drainage should be present in all options for planting seedlings. Its thickness should be somewhere 2-3 cm.
You can buy ready-made soil, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you just need garden soil, as well as peat and turf in equal proportions. Just before planting strawberries, it is better to disinfect the mixture by dipping with boiling water and processing in a fungicide. This will protect the landing from the appearance of a variety of parasites and microorganisms. Be sure to add a little crushed charcoal or ash to the soil. This will prevent spreading rot.
The soil during its placement in the pipe should not just fall asleep, but be well packed. There should not be a loose layer, because in the process of watering, it will be compacted and voids will appear that we absolutely do not need.
You can process strawberry roots before planting in a special mashroom, which is made from equal parts of manure and clay.
How to plant strawberries in pipes with soil
The success of the work done depends on whether the plants were planted correctly in the ground. In this case, it is worth considering a number of details.
For planting, it is worth choosing those bushes whose roots have grown to about 10 cm. If it is longer, it is worth trimming the root system a little. It is necessary to lay the root so that it does not bend, otherwise the plant will disappear. After the plant is covered with soil from above.
The core of the bush should be located above the bush. If she speaks excessively, adaptation will take longer. If you heavily fill the bush, then it may not take root at all.
Watering and watering
Strawberries love acidic soils. Therefore, after planting, the soil must be acidified.Take about 10 g of vinegar per liter of water, dilute and water the plants.
Thanks to the drip irrigation system, water will be supplied little by little without critically moistening the soil and preventing the root system from decaying. Do not forget that the earth dries up in the pipes very quickly, so it is important to find a middle ground, not to pour water and not to forget to water the plant at all.
It is also necessary to think about fertilizer, because strawberries do not grow in the natural environment and it simply has nowhere to take nutrients from. All of them are administered only in liquid form. It can be urea, ammonium nitrate, etc.
Cleaning the soil from weeds and insects
Sometimes a variety of pests affect strawberries. It can be:
- aphid;
- slugs;
- ants
- ticks.
If the plant has hit a tick, you can use karbofos. Snails and slugs can be excreted with metaldehyde. Aphids are destroyed with a soapy solution.
Soil must be treated before planting plants in it. It is the treatment that allows you to get rid of pests that may be in it. Also, one of the advantages of growing strawberries in this way is the absence of weeds.
Features of care after harvesting
After harvesting, closer to September, it will be necessary to mulch. Sawdust is perfect for this purpose. They prevent decay and perfectly perform their functions.
A few days after the last fruiting, dried leaves must be carefully removed from the plant. They die off and continue to take power, and strawberries do not need to weaken by winter.
If you plan to plant bushes to increase the yield, remove all young tendrils and leave only the longest. He will become a new bush when the time comes.
Particular attention should be paid to the land. After fruiting, it should remain moist so that the plant regains new strength and could delight with delicious fruits in the next season. To avoid burns on the leaves, it is better to water in the morning or evening.
Summarize. A garden from a pipe is a very profitable and convenient way to grow strawberries, both for yourself and for commercial purposes. Places such a design takes a little. In the greenhouse, you can place a fairly large number of seedlings, whether it be a vertical or horizontal planting. Varieties of strawberries are used unpretentious, but at the same time high-yielding.
