Growing Strawberries Vertically

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

You can increase the landing area of a small area with vertical beds. This allows you to plant 5 times more strawberries per square meter. Let's talk about creating a vertical structure of a berry tree from plastic / sewer pipes

Pros and cons of growing in PVC pipes

Any technology has contrasting reviews. Let's take a closer look at both sides. Advantages of cultivation in plastic pipes:

1. Saving space and decorativeness.

2. Design mobility. You can change the place, choose the lighted areas.

3. Ease of installation, low cost of consumables.

4. Sectional landings exclude the development of epidemics. When a disease appears, the problematic section is removed and no general infection occurs.

5. The elevated location excludes contact with the ground, the berry is always clean, does not rot even on rainy days.

6. Convenience in growing, collecting, processing, no stress on the lower back.

7. Plantings are not overgrown with weeds.

8. Plastic is non-corrosive, resistant to moisture.

There are few shortcomings - these are expenses for the purchase of pipes and winter problems. The second problem is insignificant for regions with a warm climate. The fact is that in severe frosts, the soil in the pipes freezes, and the root system may not withstand such influences. To eliminate the negative of cold winters, you need to lower the structure to the ground and cover it with spruce branches, or other materials, and bring it into the shed. You can not dismantle, but wrap the pipes with insulation.

How to make a vertical bed

Purchase PVC pipes 110-200 mm, for irrigation you need a 16-20 mm pipe (propylene, rubber, plastic). If you want to have an impressive strawberry plantation, make a large structure. You will need tees, plugs, elbows and crosses. All material is sold in the plumbing and building materials departments. And also a drill, a hacksaw, a crown for drilling planting holes.

Decide on the design, it can be single standing pipes or fastened in a V-shape. For convenience, you can draw a sketch with dimensions. For a large structure, it is advisable to level the platform - this will give stability during installation.

First, saw the blanks from the thick pipes for the vertical pillar beds. On them, make marks with a marker for planting holes of 10 cm, in increments of 15-20 cm (checkerboard or rows). When installing along a wall, make holes on one side only.

For complex structures, crosses / tees are used below, into which the bed-pipes are inserted. For the reliability of the fastener and the elimination of leaks during operation, all parts are connected with rubber cuffs.

Fill the bottom of the pipes with gravel (10-20 cm). This is where excess water will collect when watering. If the bed will not sink into the ground, close the bottom with plugs. Finally, check the strength and verticality.

Drainage and watering of vertical beds

A prerequisite for the good condition of the strawberries is an irrigation system. Water should be evenly distributed in the pipe and pass along the entire column of the container. For each "bed" we cut thin pipes / hoses, so that their length is 10 cm longer. We close the lower end with a plug. We leave the top one for pouring.

We make watering holes of 3-4 mm (drill, awl). You can eliminate the force of the jet and the possibility of clogging the holes with burlap: we wrap the mini pipe and fix it with wire, cord or nylon thread.

We immerse the finished system in a thick pipe, trying to install it in the center. To fix the bottom, sprinkle with gravel (10-20 cm). Next, we fill the container with fertile soil up to the first planting hole, compact it with watering, plant a bush. Pour again - water - plant and so on to the very top. Finally, we put a plug on the riser. The second option: fall asleep immediately, moisten until completely saturated and then start planting.

Advice

When installing a vertical bed, direct the "windows" with strawberries to the south side or with a deviation to the west. For free-standing pipes, it is advisable to attach the upper end. Do not forget about timely watering. Top dressing with dry mixtures is done under each bush, liquid fertilizers - through a watering tube.