Growing strawberries in a pipe vertically

It so happens that on the site there is only a place for planting vegetable crops, but there is not enough space for the beds for everyone's favorite garden strawberries. But gardeners have come up with a method that involves growing strawberries in vertical plastic pipes.

There are advantages and disadvantages to growing strawberries in a pipe vertically. The advantages of this method include a number of factors.

• Economical use of space.
• There is no difficulty in caring for plants... The soil in the pipes does not need to be loosened, and the plant in them is protected from pests. And also in PVC structures there are no problems with weeds and unwanted vegetation, and there are no difficulties in harvesting.
• The strawberry design is very can be easily transported to another location.
• In special rooms, strawberries in plastic pipes can be grown all year round and reaped large harvests.
• The berry is protected from decay, because it does not come into contact with the ground.
• Strawberries planted this way fits well into the landscape design of the garden area.

Despite this number of advantages, growing strawberries in pipes also has disadvantages.

• Not always, but most often this method is costly for a summer resident. It is necessary to spend a little money for the purchase and construction of plastic structures.
• There is very little soil in the pipes, therefore, moisture does not linger for a long time, so it is necessary to water and feed the plant more often than usual.

An excellent option for growing in vertical plastic pipes will be remontant strawberries. Bushes of these varieties will not curl around pipes, but large, hanging berries look very beautiful. Repaired varieties ripen early, and they will bear fruit throughout the summer period. Mid-early and late-ripening strawberries are also suitable for this method, but the care measures will be much more difficult.

Well suited for growing in PVC pipes and ampelous varieties of garden strawberries with a long mustache. Their resulting rosettes are capable of bearing fruit without rooting, which is very suitable for this growing method. In addition to good yields, these varieties are distinguished by excellent decorative properties.

And also in pipes you can plant varieties that have the following characteristics:

• resistance to infections and insect pests;
• resistance to bad climatic conditions, temperature extremes.

To create a vertical structure with your own hands, you will need the following devices:

• plastic PVC pipe with a fairly large diameter;
• the second pipe with a small hole, about 20 cm longer than the first pipe;
• sticky tape, you can use scotch tape or electrical tape;
• a large cut of any material or fabric;
• rope or twine;
• hand drill or screwdriver with large diameter drills;
• drainage in the form of gravel or stones;
• fertilized, fertile soil;
• strawberry seedlings.

For convenience when caring for a bed, a pipe it is recommended to cut to the correct length, for example, as long as a person's height or 1.5 meters. A tube with a small diameter is cut 20 cm larger than the main one. Small holes are drilled in it with a drill or screwdriver.At the end of the pipe, which in the future will be on the ground, an indent of 30 cm is made. This is done so that moisture does not accumulate in the lower part of the structure during watering.

Before installing the irrigation pipe it must be wrapped with material or cloth, as a result of which the roots and earth will not clog the holes, and the water will flow to the plants... The fabric that will cover the holes is wrapped with a rope along its entire length. The lower part, where there are no drain holes, is wrapped with tape so that it does not go down, thereby exposing the upper holes. Large holes are made along the entire length of the main pipe so that strawberry bushes can easily fit there. They can be positioned in any way, keeping the distance between them at least 20 cm.

Planting begins with pouring a drainage mixture onto the bottom of the main pipe, and then soil. The soil can be used with store-bought or self-prepared soil. To prepare the soil mixture, it is necessary to take an equal part of sod, garden soil and peat. In order to prevent decay of plant roots, it is recommended to mix the soil with wood ash.

The seedlings prepared for planting must have a strong root system. Before planting, the bushes must be kept in a cool place for a week, then treated with fungicides. Planting must be carried out carefully, without damaging the roots of the plant, placing it vertically in the ground, without bending them.

To get a good and high-quality harvest, you need to provide the plant with quality care. Maintenance measures are no different from growing strawberries in beds, with the exception of weeding the soil and removing weeds. When growing crops in vertical plastic pipes, the soil loses moisture very quickly, so you need to increase the frequency of watering, making them abundant. But it is not necessary to allow waterlogging of the soil, since the root system can begin to rot. To improve the quality of irrigation, it is recommended to install a drip system.

Fragile seedlings of strawberries are very necessary regular and timely feeding. During the development of the root system, the bushes are fed with mineral fertilizers, as well as organic ones based on humus. During the period of abundant flowering, strawberries are fed with mineral fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus. During fruiting, plants are fertilized with liquid organic matter. If vertical structures are located in an enclosed space, fertilizers are applied more often, but in a lower concentration of substances.

When the first berries appear, the soil is mulched with sawdust or straw. This is done to prevent the appearance of gray rot on the fruit. In the autumn, the vertical structures are covered with special agrofibre and placed in a permanent place for the winter. A sufficient amount of light and proper watering will protect the bushes of the plant from the invasion of pests.

Inexperienced, novice summer residents and gardeners growing strawberries in vertical pipes may make some mistakes.

• Untimely and incorrect watering. Not all gardeners know that the soil in closed pipes absorbs moisture much faster than in open ground. Due to improper watering, plants can give a poor harvest or even die.
• Wrong landing dates... Planting largely depends on the climatic conditions of the particular growing area. Planting strawberries later than the scheduled time will result in a poor crop or no crop. Planting early can also harm the culture. In the northern regions, unexpected frosts may occur, which can destroy the plant.
• It is necessary to treat bushes from pests after full fruiting and harvesting... If insects appear during fruiting, it is recommended to process the bushes using folk methods.

If you follow these rules and do not break them, then caring for the plant will become easier, and the harvest will be richer. The method of growing strawberries in PVC pipes in an upright position is very popular among beginners and already experienced summer residents and gardeners.