Growing strawberries under agrofibre

The process of cultivation of berry crops in the garden area involves the creation of favorable conditions for the development of the plant, which is impossible without competent agricultural practices. In order to facilitate the cultivation of crops such as strawberries, gardeners are increasingly resorting to the use of agrofibres, thanks to which the plant bears fruit perfectly in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.

As practice shows, the use of agrofibre in recent decades has become quite popular. Raw material is a polymeric material, endowed with a mass of unique qualities, allowing to cultivate plants under it, in particular, garden strawberries. The method of cultivation greatly facilitates care, and also increases the commodity attractiveness of the harvested berries, as the strawberries ripen without pollution, with a uniform color from all sides, moreover, the process of rotting of fruits is practically excluded.

Domestic gardeners used agrofiber for strawberries almost two decades ago, but many consumers appreciated the dignity of the material during this short period. Production is made by a nonwoven method using polypropylene threads. A distinctive feature of the fiber is its porous structure, through which moisture and air flow freely to the plants.

As for the composition of agrofibre, it is worth noting that the products do not include any harmful components, therefore, it is completely safe for humans, plants and the environment. The substances used for the production of the material are part of food plastic containers, which indicates the safety of the components.

The range of use of agrofibre is quite extensive; in agriculture, raw materials act as a protective barrier that prevents young saplings from freezing in the spring due to the shelter of crops; an appropriate microclimate is formed inside that prevents depletion and dehydration of the soil. In addition, weed grass is not able to grow under the agrofiber, since the material does not transmit light.

In the modern assortment there are several types of material. Depending on whether a particular type of agrofibre can be lined or anchored by arranging a special frame, creating shelter for crops growing in open ground, from heat, direct sunlight, hail, or other factors that adversely affect the development of plants.

Use in greenhouses is conducive to early harvest of berries. It can be said that the use of agrofibre has become an alternative to soil mulching with natural or synthetic materials.

To have an objective idea of ​​the result of the use of agrofibre during strawberry cultivation, It is worth considering the strengths of this method and the material as a whole.

• Textiles have the ability to pass water, sunlight and oxygen, so that the culture receives in full prosperity all the necessary components for full growth and fruiting.
• The material is a reliable cover that allows you to create the optimum temperature of the air inside. This is true in the spring, when there is a risk of frost, which can harm the plant, as well as in summer, when excessive overheating is no less dangerous for strawberry bushes.
• Textiles do not develop weeds, which saves the gardener from cleaning the ridges.

• Under the shelter will not be able to survive such pests of the berry crop as slugs and various fungal microorganisms. This eliminates the treatment of plants with chemicals, which positively affects the safety and benefits of berries for the human body.
• Agrofibre reliably protects from dehydration and weathering.
• The berries remain clean.
• The material has a minimum weight, so the laying of raw materials in the beds is possible with their own hands.
• Thanks to agrofibre, agrotechnics is facilitated, which concerns the irrigation of strawberry plantings, in particular, the frequency of these activities is reduced.

• The technology of cultivating garden strawberries under polypropylene raw material reduces the risk of developing fungal diseases and rotting fruits.
• It has been established that fruiting in strawberry under shelter occurs earlier than in bushes planted under normal conditions. Due to this, it is possible to collect ripe berries for a few weeks ahead of time.
• Due to the material you can control the number of whiskers that are thrown by a strawberry bush.
• The products are reusable covering materials, due to which they can be effectively used, and planted strawberries for at least three seasons.
• Textiles have quite an average cost, in the light of which is available to every gardener.

Products are not without flaws.

• The surface of textiles is quickly contaminated by moisture, whether it is precipitation or watering the beds. However, this disadvantage can be leveled by wet treatment of the material with a soap solution.
• Mistakes associated with the selection of agrofibre improper density, can lead to the creation of pathogens inside the breeding environment.
• Textiles are sensitive to mechanical stress.

Today, agrofibre is represented by two main types:

• white textiles;
• black material.

The first type of product is recommended for use on strawberry ridges after planting, used as a covering material. In fact, it provides plants with greenhouse conditions. Most often, white agrofibres are purchased by gardeners who cultivate berries in southern latitudes.

The second option is a modern way of mulching beds, but it is laid on the ground with the formation of special slots for bushes, when the rest of the beds remain under the canvas. Black raw materials stand out for their density, which has a positive effect on its durability.

In addition to color diversity and specificity of use, the material differs in terms of strength.

• Cloth 60 g / m2 - recommended for greenhouses, able to preserve crops at low temperatures to -10 ° C. Available in both black and white products.
• Material 50 g / m2 - can transmit sunlight, is used as a flooring for protection against frost and weeds.
• Agrofibre 42 g / m2 - most often used for growing plants in greenhouses, can withstand frosts down to -8 ° C. In addition, such products perform shelter trunks of crops for the winter.
• Textiles 30 g / m2 - material is best fixed frame method. Due to its structure and density, the shelter is able to withstand the load of snow drifts.
• Agravolokno 23 g / m2 - can be used as insulation for greenhouses, in the open field does not require the construction of additional supporting structure.
• Material 17 g / m2 - can withstand temperatures as low as -2 ° C, can be laid directly on the beds. Skips about 90% of the sun's rays. Implemented in black and white version.

Planting berry culture can be both in spring and autumn. However, when using agrofibres, it is right to plant the plants not in the autumn, but in the spring months. Since all agrotechnical measures, the process of which facilitates the use of covering material, fall precisely at the beginning of the season.

Since the placement of material on the beds is not for one year, before this it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work with them.

Before planting, the soil must be fertilized. For planting crops should prepare in advance the beds in the form of ridges, or grow plants on flat areas.

If there are several ridges in the garden, the distance between them should be at least one meter. Before laying the agrofiber beds lay on a layer of mulch. Planting is done in special cuts in the material, if there are none, it is worth making the appropriate marks on the canvas before laying. The optimal distance between cultures is 20 centimeters.

Rooted cultures are covered with corners of textiles and watered abundantly after disembarkation. It would be more correct to perform the introduction of moisture using a hose for watering to avoid contamination and evenly moisten all the soil.

Caring for strawberries under agrofibre includes the introduction of additional feedings. If fertilizers were introduced into the soil before rooting, the second feed will be needed by the crop only in the next season, for plants it is best to purchase or produce fertilizers in a liquid form. They are introduced before flowering strawberry bushes in the spring. It is important that the complex introduced contains phosphorus and potassium. Repeat the procedure for feeding berries stands in the second phase of plant development. The final stage will be fertilizer ridges after harvest.

Shrubs garden strawberries need pruning. Such work is worth doing in the spring, removing all frozen and old leaves. In the summer you will need to cut off the mustache, which will not be used as a seedling material. After the end of fruiting, all leaves except the young are cut off from the crop.

With regard to the introduction of moisture, then remove the agrofibre for these purposes is not necessary. The material retains water in the upper layers of the soil, which favorably affects the microclimate for plant development, but this point should be taken into account in order not to flood the beds with excess water.

Compared to the frequency of irrigation of conventional beds, sheltered ridges will require a third less moisture. The frequency of work will depend on the climate. In the absence of natural precipitation, watering strawberries is a once a week, using the method of sprinkling. Avoid high pressure from the hose, so that the roots of the bushes are not exposed to the dissecting jets of water. The optimum water temperature will be + 18.20 ° C, it is better to use rain or settled liquid, which will contain a minimum of harmful inclusions and chlorine.

As experience shows, good results are demonstrated by point irrigation. Thus, the water comes directly under the root of a strawberry bush. However, to remove dust and dirt with this method of watering from the bushes will not succeed.

To control the soil moisture can be done by assigning corners of textiles. As soon as the fruits begin to blush, you can stop irrigation for a while. After harvesting strawberries, the introduction of fluid resumes in the usual way.

Some gardeners are transferring strawberries, which are cultivated under agrofibre, to drip irrigation. This method ensures the supply of moisture directly to the root system, its distribution occurs evenly, besides, there is no crust on the ground.However, drip irrigation is effective only in sunny weather.

Most gardeners' responses about growing strawberries under agrofibre indicate a lot of advantages of this method. As practitioners note, with the help of textiles it is possible to solve the problem of rooting unnecessary whiskers, sprawling in the weeds, besides, the soil retains moisture for a long time, which is important for such a moisture-loving crop like strawberries.

However, the disadvantages include the need for additional spending on the arrangement of beds, which in general, when using the material for several seasons, pays for itself.

About errors when planting strawberries on agrofibre described in the next video.