Reproduction of strawberry
Seedless breeds of small-fruited remontant strawberries are propagated by seeds. They are also multiplied by dividing the bush into horns( annual formations with buds, 3-5 leaves and subordinate roots).Most varieties of large-berry garden strawberry propagate with whiskers( whiskers are shoots in the nodes of which rosettes are formed, and after their rooting these plants turn into seedlings).
When planting strawberries, the planting period is very important, since the size of the first crop depends mainly on it.
The earlier in the season will be planted seedlings, the more berries will give these plants for the next year.
In the suburbs under normal conditions, the first rosettes appear on the uterine bushes by June 15-20.The process of rooting the rosettes with obtaining a suitable transplant of strawberry seedlings takes 3-4 weeks. Hence, the earliest date of planting of seedlings is determined - July 15-25.Therefore, the very first rosettes are the most valuable and must be rooted.
Techniques that accelerate the incidence and increase the overall reproduction rate.
1. Removal of flower stalks in uterine plants increases the yield of planting material by 25-30%.
( Remember that the flowering and weaning processes in strawberries are antagonists, therefore: if you want to have more mustaches, remove the peduncles, and vice versa: if you want to have more berries, remove the mustache).
2. Growing of uterine plants with pre-planting mulching and covering with a light film also enhances this process due to a higher soil and air temperature. At the same time, for 10-12 days, the formation of rosettes is accelerated and their number doubles.
3. Treatment of uterine plants with growth stimulants, for example, with gibersib( derived from gibberellic acid), leads to an increase in the mass of the outlets by several times.
4. Periodic separation of rosettes from uterine plants also contributes to the emergence of new whiskers and rosettes, i. E.at the same time there is a kind of "giving away" process.
These techniques alone and in combination can be applied by the gardener. Among the many ways of obtaining strawberry seedlings, the simplest is rooted rosettes without separating them from the uterine bushes. They can be rooted in the aisles on the soil, on a special substrate( with the addition of peat, sand) or in pots. Pots are planted between strawberry bushes, a rosette is placed in the middle of the pot with a substrate, the substrate is kept moist and after 3-4 weeks the seedlings are ready for transplant.
The quality of the seedling largely depends on the period of its receipt: the earlier the rosette is formed and rooted, the more powerful the seedlings will be. Standard seedlings are a squat plant with 3-5 leaves, a thick horn( not less than 1 cm in diameter) and 5-7 cm long, fibrous roots. Pottery seedlings are the best for planting on film mulch.