How to grow the strawberry in a biological way
How to grow the strawberry in a biological way
The cultivation of strawberry (Fragaria spp. L., 1753) in biological must be carried out carefully following a series of indications, starting from a well-ventilated area with a dry microclimate and well-endowed soil in organic matter. It is also good to know that strawberry varieties can be Unifere or non-re-flowering, that is to say that the fruit is only once a year in spring and Bifere or re-flowering, that I produce the fruits several times a year from spring to autumn. These species come from wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L., 1753).
Another essential precaution is to make it rotate to itself not earlier than four years and, very recommended, the combination with garlic (highly recommended for the repulsive effects of this against some insects), cabbage, onion, leek, fennel, lettuce, parsley , turnip, radish, sage, spinach.
Spring is the best time for planting strawberries. Some varieties (which do not need vernalization) may have the first fruits also the summer after sowing, while others require a “cold” period, bearing fruits only from the following summer.
The soil where to plant them must be sunny and loose (predominantly sandy) with subacid pH, rich in organic substance (excellent well-mature bovine manure) and well drained. Before planting the soil should be prepared in time, integrated with the organic fertilizer and cleaned from herbs. For the plant we recommend the purchase of certified and biological material with a distance of 20-30 cm between one plant and another and the highly recommended hypothesis of the association in duplicated rows and 30 cm between rows.
The irrigation supplies must be constant starting from the post plant with morning irrigations and, possibly, in the hottest periods even in the evening. The plant should never be wet; for this reason we recommend the hose with drips at distances identical to those of plants. A fundamental technique for strawberries (like many vegetables) is mulching, to be done with straw, or other plant material, which keeps the substratum damp and clean from antagonistic herbs.
For the varieties to choose from there is really spoiled for choice, but be careful if it is re-flowering variety or not.
For maintenance fertilization it is advised never to use chemical fertilizers (unless nitrate ever) and, if done with caution, the contribution of ash obtained from the burning of other plants (or pruning); the ash in fact alkalises the soil so that with acidophilic plants one should never exaggerate.
For fungal diseases of the strawberry, especially oidium and gray mold are remembered. Against the gray mold we resort to the use of microbial antagonists such as bacterium Bacillus Subtilis while for the hate you can use the sulfur, to be made with caution in the afternoon fresh hours), also sulfur earth at bay also the red spider. However, we must operate in a preventive manner (if favorable conditions are met).
The association with other plants (especially garlic) and the possibility of making macerates of nettle make the plants more resistant to other attacks and various parasites.