Strawberries, whose name means “berry growing close to the ground,” is represented by both wild and cultivated varieties. As a garden crop, strawberry is cultivated, obtained by crossing Virgin and Chilean species.
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The best varieties for growing
Currently, thanks to the continuous work of breeders, more than 10 thousand varieties have been bred, which are classified by maturity into early, mid-ripening, late and repair.
In the middle zone of Russia
The best varieties for the middle strip, due to the moderate climate of this zone, are very diverse:
• “Crimean early” - an early and resistant to fungal diseases variety with compact bushes.
• “Alpha” - a late variety with medium-tall bushes on which berries ripen for processing.
• “Zagora Beauty” - an early, high-yielding variety with large fruits, which is characterized by resistance to damage by a spider mite. However, a representative of this species has low frost resistance.
• “Festivalnaya” - mid-season variety with good winter hardiness and productivity.
• “Vityaz” - a medium-ripening variety with excellent winter hardiness.
• “Bogotá” - a late Dutch selection with aromatic fruits, the flesh of which has excellent palatability. Unaffected by disease, the fruit can withstand transportation well.
For Siberia
The optimal varieties for growing in Siberia should have:
• resistance to frost and fungal diseases caused by rainy and damp;
• fast growth of green mass;
• good transportability.
The above characteristics are present in the characteristics of such varieties as the mid-early “Amulet”, “Berdskaya Rannaya”, the early “Darenka”, the mid-early variety of the Czech selection “Maryushka”, the mid-season “Tanyusha”.
For the Urals
Due to the short summer and deep freezing of the soil in winter, the Ural gardeners should be wise in choosing a variety and take into account such characteristics as early maturity, frost resistance and resistance to rot.
Varieties “Asia”, “Alba”, “Festivalnaya”, “Honei”, “Beauty of the Zagora” and strawberry remontant “Temptation” meet the specified criteria.
Growing strawberry seedlings from seeds
Seedling method is used to grow seedless repairing varieties of garden strawberries from seeds.
1. In early spring, seed is spread over moistened peat and slightly pressed.
2. The container is covered with glass and kept for 3 days in a refrigerator, after which it is moved to a room with a temperature range of 18 - 20 ° C, where the crops are systematically moistened.
3. After emergence, the glass is removed, and the temperature for a week decreases by 3 - 4 ° C.
4. When the seedlings form 2 pairs of real leaves, they dive on peat pots.
Plant propagation methods
Most varieties of strawberries are bred by vegetative propagation methods - mustache and dividing bushes.
Mustache
The procedure is carried out after completion of fruiting as follows:
• When the development of whiskers is recorded in the bushes, the soil around the specimens loosens with the simultaneous removal of weeds.
• One or two-year-old rosettes located near the maternal specimen are pressed into the ground and sprinkled with them so that the heart remains uncovered.
• When the sockets are rooted, they are separated and transplanted into permanent beds.
Dividing the bush
A similar method bred bezessy varieties. After fruiting or in the spring, well-grown bushes are dug up and divided so that on each delenka there is a horn, several leaf blades and young roots 5 cm long. Old roots are shortened.
Outdoor landing
Garden strawberries can be planted on the beds throughout the growing season.
In areas with a short summer, planting is recommended in the spring, after warming up the soil. In the middle lane, the optimal dates are in August - September.
For planting seedlings, a sunny area with a light, loose soil of a weakly acid reaction is selected. The best precursors are small seeds and legumes. If representatives of Solanaceae were cultivated on the site last season, then you should choose another place. The plot for planting strawberries is dug up in advance with the simultaneous extraction of weed roots and the introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers at the rate of 5 kg of compost and 40 g of azofoska per 1 m2.
Planting strawberries is carried out according to the following scheme:
1. Dig holes with row spacing of 70 cm for large-fruited strawberries and 30 cm for small-fruited.
2. The distance between the holes, as well as the diameter and depth are maintained within 20 cm.
3. 1 liter of water is poured into each well and a seedling immediately drops.
4. Strawberries are dug in flush with the root neck, after which the aisles immediately loosen.
Garden strawberry care
In order for strawberries to yield high yields of large berries with juicy and sweet pulp every year, it is necessary to organize proper care for the crop.
Soil treatment
With the advent of spring, if the bushes were pushed out of the soil in winter frosts, it is necessary to sprinkle the roots with earth and slightly compact it.At the same time, the first cultivation of row-spacing is carried out, which will be repeated at least 7 times during the season, which will ensure the necessary level of soil permeability. To reduce labor costs, you can mulch the beds with peat or straw, which will not allow the crust to form too quickly.
Watering
A moisture-loving plant needs systematic watering, which is carried out weekly in hot weather.
During the period of filling berries, the gap is reduced and is 4 to 5 days. The optimal method is a drip irrigation system, in which water will fall directly under the root. If hydration is carried out using a watering can, then the divider is removed to prevent liquid from entering the leaves.
Top dressing
It is recommended to apply fertilizers under the crop 3-4 times per season, using both organic and mineral complexes.
• The first time the bushes are fed after the snow, to stimulate plant growth.
• The second and third top dressing falls on the ejection and flowering phases.
• The fourth enrichment of the soil should be carried out using phosphorus-potassium fertilizers at the end of August, when flower buds are laid for next year.
Transfer
Repairing varieties are replanted every 2 to 3 years, and for other representatives, the interval can be increased to 5 years. The procedure is carried out according to the same scheme as in the case of landing.
How to care after fruiting, preparation for winter
Immediately after fruiting, the green mass of the bushes is trimmed so that by winter the strawberries have time to grow new leaves and mustaches. At this time, the culture accumulates nutrients for a successful wintering, so regular watering is also necessary. Before the onset of cold weather, the beds are processed to prevent the development of harmful organisms by the tank mixture and are necessarily covered with a layer of mulch from fallen leaves of 7-10 cm.
Diseases and pests of garden strawberries
Strawberries in violation of agricultural cultivation techniques are often affected by diseases and pests. Among the most common are:
• Fusarium wilt - a disease that affects the root and aerial parts of a plant, is treated only at the earliest stages by treatment with fungicides.
• Late blight - a fungal disease caused by crop failure, planting infected seedlings. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to water the soil in a timely manner with “Quadris” or another analog.
• Gray rot and powdery mildew - the peak of disease development occurs in rainy and humid weather, when for preventive purposes it is necessary to systematically spray plantings with fungicides.
• Ticks and weevils - harmful insects inflict significant damage, and if they occur, they should be treated with an insecticide. Subsequently, to prevent the re-colonization of strawberries, treatments are carried out annually - in the spring, during the flowering phase, and after fruiting.
What problems gardeners may face
The main problems that gardeners encounter when growing strawberries are related to crop rotation disturbance, improper watering, lack of additional nutrition and poor cleanliness. As a result of an illiterate approach to planting and care of crops, the following are noted:
• fading leaves and berries;
• lack of flowers;
• underdevelopment of fruits;
• yellowing and drying of the bushes.
In order for the strawberry to please the gardener with a good harvest, it is necessary to be patient and to faithfully observe all the agrotechnical requirements for growing the crop.
