Juicy, aromatic strawberries that melt in your mouth are not luck, but the result of precise actions.
Even beginners will achieve a harvest if they remember these rules.
Preparing the soil is the basis for the future harvest. Strawberries do not forgive mistakes at the start.
The first thing they do is check the soil acidity. If the soil is acidic, they add dolomite flour: it not only balances the pH, but also saturates the soil with magnesium. They do this in advance - in the fall or early spring.
Next, the soil is enriched with rotted manure (3-4 buckets per square meter). It retains moisture, nourishes the roots and makes the soil airy.
Wood ash is the finishing touch. A kilogram is enough for the same area: potassium and calcium from the ash strengthen the bushes, protecting them from diseases.
The choice of variety is half the success. For the south, they take the drought-resistant "Albion", in the middle zone - the unpretentious "Zenga Zengana", and in Siberia - the frost-resistant "Queen Elizabeth".
Strawberries love the sun - beds are laid out in open areas, away from trees. The soil is loosened, weeds and old mulch are removed, otherwise the roots will suffocate.
The whiskers are cut three times per season, leaving them only on young bushes for propagation.
Fertilizers are applied carefully. Ready-made complexes without chlorine are an ideal option. They contain nitrogen for growth, phosphorus for roots and potassium for sweet berries. The main thing is to follow the instructions so as not to burn the plants.
Before flowering, the bushes are watered once a week, more often in hot weather. During fruiting, water is poured under the root, avoiding leaves and berries.
Mulching protects against weeds and drought: straw, peat or agrofibre are suitable.
Disease prevention is a mandatory ritual. Before planting, the roots are soaked in Fitosporin, and before flowering, they are treated with fungicides. If the ovaries have already appeared, they switch to biological preparations like Alirin.
By following these steps, even a novice gardener will get a harvest that will outshine store-bought berries.
