Secrets of growing strawberries in Siberia and caring for them in cold climates

Residents of any region need fresh berries, so growing strawberries in Siberia and caring for this crop have long been a common occupation for summer residents. The main problems of berry cultivation in regions with a harsh climate are freezing of plants in winter and damage to young shoots by frosts in spring. The work of breeders who create frost-resistant varieties helps to cope with difficulties. Gardeners also do not stand aside, they have their own ways to help delicate bushes survive the cold.

Choosing a site for a berry

The basic requirements for soil and site location are the same in the north and south. Strawberries love the sun, which is sufficient in summer and in cold regions. Your task is to arrange the beds so that they are not shaded by buildings, trees and tall shrubs. The plantation cannot be located on an area where solanaceous crops grew before. The soil should be loose and fertile. Make sure that the berry does not end up in a draft, strawberries do not like strong winds.

Cultivation in Siberia has its own characteristics: problems are created not only by frosts, but also by high snow cover. In the winter cold, large snowdrifts will protect the plantings from the cold, but in the spring they will begin to thaw intensively. Abundant streams will run along the ground, more like small southern rivers. If such a flow passes through the strawberry garden, all the work on planting the berry will have to be done again in a different place. They do not like bushes and the proximity of groundwater, they will not grow in a flooded zone during floods.

In a short summer, the bushes should form quickly, bear fruit and lay buds for the next season. For the northern regions, varieties with fast vegetation have been bred, only a lot of nutrition is needed for intensive development, and serious care is required.

In the fall, dig up the ground for the future bed and add for each m²:

• fatty black soil - 1 bucket;
• wood ash - 0.5 l;
• complex mineral fertilizer - 30 g.

Advice

If you are going to grow large-fruited or remontant varieties, add double the rate of nutrients.

Planting strawberries

Strawberries need space to form a good harvest. In spring, the seedlings are still small, but they will grow in one place for several years and form a lush bush. Depending on the variety and the estimated size of the plant, planting should be carried out with a distance between holes from 25 to 40 cm.It is recommended to increase the interval between plants of remontant species to 50 cm.The distance between rows is 0.8-1 m, with this arrangement, planting care will be easier. It is recommended to grow strawberries in one place no longer than 3-4 years, then the plantation is transferred to a new place. In the fall, when preparing a future bed, you can plant winter garlic on the site in the planned aisles, it will clear the ground of infections.

Advice

To be with berries every summer, do not transplant all strawberries at the same time. Move a third of the plantation to a new location every year.

In the spring, dig holes, moisten the soil well, and wait for the water to soak into the ground. The garden has been fertilized since the fall, but still put some humus and ash under the roots. After planting, be sure to water the soil so that it compresses and covers the roots well. Cover the ground with compost, fallen leaves or straw. A layer at least 5 cm thick will prevent weeds from germinating and will save moisture in the soil. Cover the bushes with foil for 10 days, so they will root better. It is advisable to keep the repairing strawberries under cover until the berries begin to ripen.

Make no mistake when choosing a variety

In the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia, not every plant will survive. There are craftsmen who grow the most delicate varieties of strawberries in the northern latitudes, but this work is very laborious and requires expensive equipment. Cold-resistant species taste great too, and it won't take heroic efforts to harvest. If you wish, you can arrange a warm bed: dig a trench, fill it with fallen leaves, straw, manure, and pour garden soil on top. When rotting, the filler will generate heat, and in a cool spring, the roots will be comfortable.

If you want to get early fruits and are going to organize the cultivation of strawberries in greenhouses or greenhouses, ask in advance if the selected variety is suitable for indoor use. To pick fresh berries in winter, you need to build a polycarbonate greenhouse and equip it with good heating. In shelters, it is desirable to plant self-pollinated varieties, otherwise you will have to transfer pollen from flower to flower manually.

Do not bring strawberry whiskers from distant regions, they may not take root in your area. In the spring, take shoots from your neighbors or acquaintances. To get berries of pure varieties, purchase seedlings from the nursery.

Many types of strawberries have been bred for Siberia, here are some of them.

• Berdskaya will delight lovers of sweet and sour berries. In cold regions, it is recommended to grow it under a film.
• Russian Daryonka is a very productive variety, adapted to sudden changes in temperature. This strawberry is resistant to fungal infections and pests.
• The amulet can give up to 2 kg of berries from one bush. The variety tolerates frost well, does not get sick. The fruit is rich in sweet taste.
• Omsk early bred specifically for cultivation in Siberia. The berries are small, sweet, perfect for compotes and preserves for the winter.
• Chamomile forms large, sweet berries. The fruits tolerate transportation well.

In an area with a harsh climate, it is better not to dwell on one variety, but to plant several species with different ripening periods. If in the spring frosts ruin the early harvest, bushes that bloom later will help you out. Observe which varieties have adapted well to your soil and cultivate those varieties. The plant themselves will show which species are growing well on your site, and which ones are better off.

Care of northern strawberry varieties

In order for strawberries to develop well and manage to accumulate strength for a difficult winter, they need proper care. Provide the plants with sufficient watering, add the required amount of nutrients to the soil. A drip irrigation system can be of great help, which constantly keeps the soil moist. You just have to refill the container and adjust the intensity of the water pressure in accordance with the weather.

In the spring, strawberry bushes require special attention. There is a build-up of young leaves, the development of buds, the formation of fruits - the plants require increased care. At the beginning of the growing season, feed them with a complex fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen. Plants will need phosphorus and potassium during the flowering period.

In the summer, the plants begin to throw off the mustache. Leave on the bushes only those shoots that are going to be used for planting, cut off the rest immediately. The antennae take away the strength from the main bush, it weakens, it can poorly endure wintering or lay few buds for next year's harvest. It is advisable to select 2-3 plants to obtain planting material and cut off their buds, then the shoots will be strong, well-developed.

Remember that Siberian weather can bring any surprise. Always keep a covering material ready in case of sudden frost. In the summer, feed the strawberry bushes with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, they increase the frost resistance of plants. For the winter, cover the bushes with spruce branches, and if there is little snow, throw a snowdrift on the garden bed.

Output

Growing strawberries in cold regions is possible, you just need to understand that a delicate garden culture in a harsh climate requires a special approach. In a warm area, with a lack of nutrition or poor watering, you will simply reap a meager crop. In the northern latitudes, only strong bushes will survive the frosty winter. If you do not provide them with good care, in the spring you will see only frozen rhizomes and will not wait for green leaves, flowers and berries.

It is advisable to buy locally bred strawberry seedlings, they are adapted to your climate. Delicate species will not survive outdoors and require shelter, warm beds or other structures to protect them from the cold. Choose the sunniest place for the berry. It is desirable that it be a flat area or a gentle slope facing south. Avoid close proximity to groundwater, the bushes will start to hurt.

In colder climates, a spring planting is recommended so that the plants have time to get stronger by winter. Do not forget to follow the weather forecast, especially in spring, when it can get colder at any moment. In case of a threat of frost, cover the berry with a film or non-woven insulating material. Feed and water your green pets correctly, and they will thank you for your attention and care with a rich harvest.