Horizontal and vertical methods of growing strawberries in PVC pipes

Growing strawberries in PVC pipes horizontally or vertically has already been tried by many gardeners and in some cases completely replaces planting with the usual method. This method is used both on a loggia or in a greenhouse, and on an open-air site. The time and costs at the initial stage in the installation and equipment of the structure will pay off in the future with a long service life and a high yield.

Pros and cons of this method

There are definitely more pros than cons when growing strawberries in pipes.

Positive sides:

• mobility of the structure - you can move the beds from the street to the room, depending on the season;
• the method allows you to save space by placing pipes horizontally one above the other or installing them vertically;
• strawberry care is minimized by automating all agricultural practices;
• absence of diseases that are susceptible to strawberry plantings in the open field;
• high efficiency of applied fertilizers;
• collection of pure berries, they can be eaten immediately "from the garden".

Minuses:

• financial costs for the purchase of pipes and fittings;
• special soil preparation for planting;
• difficulties with the insulation of the structure for the winter.

Important!

Only remontant strawberry varieties suitable for growing in pipe beds.

What is required to create pipe beds

Growing strawberries horizontally or vertically will require some investment.

You should purchase:

• PVC pipes used for sewage, with a diameter of 15 cm;
• end caps: for pipes installed vertically - 1 piece, for pipes fixed horizontally - 2 pieces;
• for irrigation - a thin PVC pipe, used in everyday life for cold water;
• 1 plug for thin pipe;
• a piece of hose or a piece of the same thin pipe to drain excess water;
• water tank;
• for auto-irrigation, a timer and a pump are needed (or an aquarium pump, if there are not many beds);
• high-quality ready-made soil;
• expanded clay for the drainage layer;
• strawberry seedlings of remontant varieties.

You can reduce costs if you get by with some improvised means:

• use dense, durable polyethylene instead of end caps;
• instead of auto-irrigation, install a container with water above the structure so that the water flows off by gravity;
• the soil can be prepared by yourself using garden soil, humus and a little coarse sand;
• for drainage, instead of expanded clay, use fine gravel.

In addition, you will need a drill, strong wire for attaching the beds to the support, burlap for insulating the irrigation pipe to avoid clogging the holes, and some other tools.

The support for the PVC beds must be thought out by ourselves, taking into account the characteristics of the room or area where it is planned to grow strawberries. These can be tables, shelving, ladders or stepladders. Horizontal beds can be suspended or placed on the floor.

Preparing a horizontal bed

Using a special nozzle, holes are drilled with a drill at a distance of about 15 cm from each other. The minimum hole diameter is 10 cm.

Plugs are fixed to the ends of the pipe. A hole is made in one of them, into which a thin irrigation pipe will then be inserted.

At the other end of the bed, in its lower part, a hole is made for draining. A hose is inserted into it, which is lowered into an empty container. This can be a tank, bucket, or canister.To avoid clogging, a filter for the hole is required, which can be made from a nylon mesh.

Small holes are drilled in the irrigation pipe at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other. To prevent them from clogging with soil, it is recommended to tightly wrap the pipe with burlap or linen cloth. The irrigation system should be 10 cm longer than the main bed. One end is closed with a plug or wrapped in cellophane.

Expanded clay is poured on 1/3. It is preliminarily washed, and then soaked in water acidified with vinegar. This is done in order to avoid salinization of the soil, which negatively affects the yield of strawberries.

The next stage is filling with soil. It is advisable to treat the soil with a remedy for fungal diseases, spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate or disinfect it with boiling water.

Important!

When filling the pipe, the soil should be compacted to avoid voids and root exposure.

When the soil fills the space by ¾, insert the sprinkler pipe. Then they continue to add soil.

When everything is ready, strawberry seedlings are planted, being careful not to bend their roots.

Irrigation system

Watering can be carried out by gravity or using a pump that will circulate water.

In the first case, a container with water is installed above the bed. The hose coming out of it is attached to the sprinkler pipe. There should be no leaks at the junction, the hose is secured with wire.

Water flows by gravity into the ground, the excess is drained through the drain hose. After the ground is moistened, the hose is removed from the upper container. This method is inexpensive and does not require special equipment. Recommended in cases where the strawberry plantation is small.

In large areas, it is better to automate the irrigation system. In this case, the hose put on the irrigation pipe is connected to a pump, which is immersed in a container to drain excess water. It is filled so that the pump is completely closed to prevent it from burning out. The pump is turned on once or twice a week, as the soil dries up. If you use a timer and relay, the irrigation system will turn on automatically at the set time.

Fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation twice a month.

Vertical planting of strawberries

The vertical planting of strawberries is slightly different from the horizontal planting. This method saves space, which is important when growing berries on a loggia or in a greenhouse.

• The holes for the seedlings are made on the pipe from both sides in a checkerboard pattern.
• One end cap is installed - on the bottom of the pipe.
• The irrigation pipe is installed inside the main pipe until it is filled with soil.
• It is more convenient to plant seedlings as the soil is poured.

A hole is made in the bottom end cap to drain excess water, just as with a horizontal fit. The irrigation system is installed strictly in the center. A drainage layer 20 cm high is poured.

The covered earth is compacted. When the soil reaches the hole, they plant a strawberry bush and continue to fill the soil further. This is how the seedlings are planted in each hole.

Otherwise, there is no difference in care and watering between vertical and horizontal plantings.

Growing in a horizontal tube using hydroponics

The method of hydroponics is rarely practiced in our country, although it is simple. Instead of soil, you will need plastic pots and expanded clay to hold the strawberry bushes.

• The size of the holes on the pipe should be slightly less than the diameter of the top edge of the pot.
• the distance between the holes is no more than 10 cm.
• Drainage holes should be located both on the bottom of the strawberry containers and on their sides.
• Expanded clay must be washed and soaked in acidified water.
• In the irrigation pipe, holes are drilled with a larger diameter than for the drip version.
• A pump will be required - water must be supplied under low pressure so that the space inside is completely filled.
• Watering is carried out from the same container where the drain takes place.
• A complex of mineral fertilizers is added to the water for irrigation so that the strawberry bushes receive the necessary nutrition.
• Watering is included twice a day. For this to happen automatically, we recommend setting a timer.

Recommendations

When growing strawberries in pipes for the winter, they can be transferred to a heated room. This will allow harvesting all year round. You will need to install additional lighting using fluorescent lamps.

If the strawberries are left outside, then to prevent the planting from freezing, you can wrap the planting with burlap or non-woven covering material. During severe winters, they are additionally covered with foliage, straw or insulation used in construction.

It is important at the end of the frost to remove the shelter in a timely manner.