Proper planting of strawberries with seeds allows you to get quality seedlings

Strawberries in Russia are very popular. This delicious and healthy berry yields good harvests, of course, if it creates good conditions. Now there is a large number of promising varieties that yield a stable crop and are resistant to diseases. But it is not always possible to acquire seedlings of the variety you like, and its quality may not be perfect. In addition, the cost of such planting material is quite high.

Now in specialized stores you can find seeds of strawberries of various varieties. But in this case, especially for beginning gardeners, the question arises: how to plant strawberries with seeds? To get good seedlings, you will have to make some efforts and have patience. After all, this process is quite long and has its own characteristics.

Planting strawberry seeds in March or early April will get the first berries in the summer. But in order for the shoots to be friendly, the seed should be stratified. Such a process should occur in a humid environment at a temperature of +2 - +4 degrees. A refrigerator is suitable for this purpose. The duration of stratification is from 1 month to 2.5 months, so this procedure should be started in advance.

To plant a strawberry seed produced a good result, the preparation of the soil must be approached very responsibly. Now in stores there is a wide range of land for planting, including strawberries. But the universal one, which is intended for growing seedlings of vegetable crops, is also quite suitable. And you can make a mixture yourself. It should consist of sand, preferably coarse, peat and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. Instead of humus, you can use sod land with the addition of complex fertilizers and wood ash. Any soil should be steamed to get rid of pathogens, as well as eggs and larvae of various insects. But if such treatment can not be carried out, then it is possible to water the soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

The complexity of such an operation, as planting strawberries with seeds, is to distribute them evenly over the surface of the prepared soil, because they are very small. Many experts recommend using very small containers, in which one seed is planted. And the height of the vessel should not exceed 5 cm, and there must necessarily be a drainage hole. Such planting of strawberries from seeds allows you to do without the picking that is usually done when one or two real leaves appear in the seedlings, but they are very fragile at this time and can easily be damaged.

Many beginning gardeners make a serious mistake, sprinkling seeds on the ground. Strawberries grow well in the light, so its seeds do not need to be embedded in the soil. They only need to be sprinkled with water from the atomizer, so that they better lie down to the ground.

Planting a strawberry seed has another feature. The container with the planted seed must always be covered with glass or film. Thus, a special microclimate will be created, which promotes active germination of seeds. Such shelter is not removed even when sprouts appear, but must be regularly ventilated. When 1-2 actual sheets develop, the seedlings begin to accustom to room conditions, gradually increasing the duration of ventilation. Do not immediately remove the shelter, because seedlings can die from too sharp a drop in moisture.

In order for strawberry seeds to quickly and harmoniously germinate, they need a temperature of about +26 degrees. Just do not put seedlings close to the battery, because there is a risk of drying the seeds. Watering should be very careful, as overmoistening of the upper layer of the earth can lead to the appearance of a "black leg" and the death of plants.