Strawberries on the balcony - pleasant with a useful

Many grow flowers in the apartments on the windowsills. This is no surprise. A strawberry on the balcony - while rare. Although it is not inferior in decorativeness to flowers. Her leaves are carved, rich green, collected in a beautiful rosette. And the flowers are white or pink, depending on the variety. From one plant per season, you can collect up to 200 berries.

The repair varieties are especially attractive, since the plant can simultaneously have flowers, and growing fruits, and ripe berries. If strawberries create conditions, provide food, then it can bear fruit all year round. Given the cost of berries, the benefits are obvious.

Strawberries on the balcony can grow in pots, and in specially attached boxes, containers. The main thing is to choose the right variety. Today, it is not so difficult to find seeds of unreserved remontant strawberries, suitable for growing indoors. For example, varieties "giant", "alpine", "Elizabeth II", etc.

You can simplify your task and get ready-made seedlings. However, before planting it must be decontaminated. Seedlings with open roots should be lowered into water heated to 46 ⁰ C and allowed to stand for 20 minutes, and then immediately placed in water at room temperature. This action destroys the nematode and strawberry tick at all stages of development. Seedlings with earthen lumps need to be poured hot water (60 ⁰ C). Strawberries on the balcony can settle in April, if it is a glazed room, or in May - if open space.

The technology of growing strawberries from seeds is as follows. Sowing is optimal in late February. On the prepared soil put a layer of snow 2 cm thick. If it is not there, you can scrape the frost from the freezer. Spread the seeds. Cover the sown with a glass or transparent package and place in the refrigerator for 7-10 days for stratification. Every day you need to air the crops. Snow-melting seeds will be placed on the optimum depth for germination.

After the time has elapsed, it is necessary to get the crops from the refrigerator and put it in a bright warm place. Water should be sprayed from the sprayer when the soil dries up, ventilate. The seeds of small-fruited strawberries grow rapidly after stratification, and the seeds of large-fruited seeds require more time, sometimes up to a month. If the light day is still short by the time of germination, it is necessary to lighten up.

As soon as the seeds begin to germinate, in the film (lid) you need to make holes so that the plants do not suffocate. In such conditions humidity will be maintained. Air will also be provided. To water small plants it is necessary very accurately - it is possible from a pipette or a teaspoon.

When the shoots have 2-3 real leaves, they must be placed in individual cups, zadlubiv to the outlet. If planted immediately in a large container, it is difficult to adjust the watering. An undeveloped root system can not cope with the volume of water and root rot will begin, known as a "black leg". After picking, it is desirable to lower the temperature to 16 ^° C, so that the seedling is not strongly stretched. Lighting must be bright, but diffused. The grown up seedlings, when it will have 5-6 leaves, can be planted in containers in which it will grow in the future.

Care for strawberries in the spring consists of regular watering, fertilizing, protection from diseases and pests. As an additional power it is convenient to use a complex organomineral soluble fertilizer. It is necessary to feed up to 3 times per month. Strawberries on the balcony will please fruits about 1.5-2 months after transplantation into the chosen container.

Collecting the harvest without leaving home, and have a landscaped balcony - it's a dream, embodied in life!