Growing Strawberries. Planting, Care, Reproduction. Outdoors. Varieties

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Growing Strawberries. Planting, Care, Reproduction. Outdoors. Varieties
Growing Strawberries. Planting, Care, Reproduction. Outdoors. Varieties

Video: Growing Strawberries. Planting, Care, Reproduction. Outdoors. Varieties

Video: Growing Strawberries. Planting, Care, Reproduction. Outdoors. Varieties
Video: 10 Tips To Grow The Best Strawberries Ever 2024, March
Anonim

Juicy and aromatic strawberries are one of the first berries of the season. Strawberries contain a variety of beneficial vitamins and minerals. In terms of the amount of vitamin C, it overtakes citrus fruits, and the calcium contained in it is completely absorbed by the body. Loaded with antioxidants, healthy and tasty, strawberries are a favorite treat for children and adults and, of course, a favorite plant for gardeners. All the secrets of growing strawberries in the garden are in this publication.

Strawberry
Strawberry

Content:

  • Strawberries or strawberries? Botanical features of the plant
  • Preparing a plot for garden strawberries
  • Planting strawberry seedlings
  • Strawberry care before and during fruiting
  • Harvesting strawberries
  • Care for strawberries after fruiting
  • Winter strawberry care
  • Propagation of strawberries
  • Diseases and pests of strawberries
  • Strawberry varieties

Strawberries or strawberries? Botanical features of the plant

Pineapple strawberries, or Garden strawberries, or Large-fruited strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) are a perennial herb of the genus Strawberries of the Pink family. This plant and its berries are often, including in the popular science literature, mistakenly called strawberries or Victoria, although the word strawberry is more correct to name another species of the same genus - true strawberries or nutmeg strawberries (Fragaria moschata).

Strawberries (Fragaria) are a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Pink family. It includes both wild species (for example: wild strawberries, plain strawberries, eastern strawberries, meadow strawberries, garden strawberries, etc.), species that do not exist in the wild (for example, pineapple strawberries, often mistakenly called strawberries), so and those species that exist in wild and cultural forms (for example, nutmeg strawberries, wild strawberries, which are inferior in yield to garden strawberries).

Strawberries have large trifoliate green leaves on petioles 20-25 cm high. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered shield. Flowers are usually bisexual, five-petalled, white. Peduncles in some varieties are higher than the stems. There are many stamens and pistils.

What is usually called a strawberry berry is actually an overgrown receptacle, on the surface of which there are numerous small fruits - nuts. The berries are usually red (of different shades), sometimes pink or white, with reddish, less often white flesh.

Preparing a plot for garden strawberries

First of all, it is worth getting rid of pests on the plot planned for planting strawberries. Be sure to dig up the ground in the fall before the onset of the established frosts. When digging, do not break the clods and do not loosen the earth, you will have time to do this in the spring, we need the pests to freeze in these clods.

Also, to expel the larvae of the beetle and wireworm, you can plant siderates, for example, oats. Other green manure crops can also be used: mustard, phacelia, lupine. This will help improve the composition of heavy soils.

Do not forget to apply the necessary organic and mineral fertilizers to increase the fertility of the site:

  • humus - 8-10 kg / m²;
  • superphosphate - 80-100 g / m²;
  • potash salt - 50-60 g / m².

When planting strawberries in spring, fertilizer should be applied in the fall of the previous year, and in early autumn - in the spring under the previous early vegetable crops (radish, dill, lettuce).

Try to choose an open plot for strawberries, without unnecessary trees and bushes. Remember, the more sun the berry receives, the sweeter it is. In low-lying areas, cold air accumulates, which often damages flowers by frost.

From the best side, when growing strawberries, they showed themselves light in texture, slightly acidic:

  • chernozem soils;
  • loamy;
  • sandy loam.

Lime, waterlogged and overly acidic soils will have to be cultivated. For this, a large amount (12-15 kg / m²) of organic fertilizers (humus, manure, peat) is applied to heavy clay soil. This will improve aeration. Also, such soils require frequent loosening or other aeration methods.

Acidic soil must be limed (0.2-0.4 g / m²) at least one or two years before strawberries. On heavy acidic soil, we increase the amount of applied lime

Swampy or waterlogged areas must be drained by constructing drainage canals. You can use the tall bed method.

Planting strawberry seedlings

Choosing seedlings

In order for the strawberry crop to please with the abundance and quality of berries, experienced gardeners recommend using pre-sorted and rehabilitated seedlings, with a root collar diameter of at least 6 mm, and the root system itself should be fibrous and have a size in the root processes of at least 7-9 cm …

Strawberries in containers
Strawberries in containers

The best strawberry varieties for planting are elite or 1st reproduction. You can't go wrong if you choose seedlings of frigo plants for planting, that is, those that are dug out in late autumn and stored throughout the winter at low temperatures.

Planting time for strawberries

Seedlings of garden strawberries are planted in early spring or early autumn. It is important not to be late with planting dates, and to carry it out as early as the possibilities of field work permit. If you are late with the spring planting dates, most of the plants may die.

Autumn planting is carried out in the range from August 10 to September 20-25 after another rain or, if possible, after watering. Being late with an autumn planting is just as destructive for future strawberries as with a spring one.

How to plant strawberry seedlings?

Before planting, strawberry seedlings are kept in a cool place for no more than 5 days. The best soil for planting is damp but not wet. When planting, keep the seedling box in the shade.

If everything is done correctly, the root collar should be at ground level and the root system should be vertical. Too long roots are shortened to 8 - 10 cm. After watered. So that a crust does not form, immediately after watering, the earth is mulched with humus or dry soil.

Strawberry planting scheme

The culture cultivation technology depends on the chosen planting scheme:

  • High-density planting - form a continuous fruitful strip;
  • Medium-dense planting (high-quality sanitized material) - plants in a row are separated without breaking off the whiskers and shoots; or they cut off the whiskers and shoots from the plant to strengthen it.

The harvest in the year of planting, depending on the selected cultivation technology, can be omitted. For this, the peduncles in the first year are neatly cut off, strengthening the main plant. If the plants begin to fall out (due to diseases or the action of ground pests), you should regularly "repair" the plantings.

Strawberry care before and during fruiting

Watering

For the cultivation of strawberries, an irrigation system must be provided: a sprinkler or drip irrigation. Strawberries are a very moisture-dependent crop, and therefore, when growing it, one should not rely on natural precipitation, since due to the lack of moisture during critical periods of growth (even for 10-15 days), the yield is significantly reduced.

For the first two weeks after planting strawberries, the soil must be kept moist for the plants to take root well. To do this, the soil should be moistened by 2-3 mm every day. For the next 2 weeks, watering is carried out, if necessary, every 2 days.

At the same time, strawberries cannot withstand excessive moisture. With waterlogging of the soil, less generative buds are formed, winter hardiness, resistance against diseases, especially gray mold and powdery mildew, decrease.

How to process row spacings?

The aisles of the strawberries should be weed-free. To do this, you can use special herbicides, but it is better to regularly carry out mechanical cultivation or manual weeding. There is experience of covering row spacings with straw (better than wheat) or foil, but this technology requires additional costs.

Strawberries under hay mulch
Strawberries under hay mulch

The appearance and growth of pests and diseases on the plantation should be constantly monitored. Along with the use of chemicals, biological protection is becoming more and more popular, such as the use of insects - entomophages in the fight against pests, etc.

Harvesting strawberries

Varieties of early, middle and mid-late ripening periods bear fruit throughout June. The harvest time and the degree of ripeness are determined depending on the variety and purpose of the harvested berries. For direct sale of berries fresh or for processing, strawberries are harvested when fully ripe, when they acquire the best taste. For long-distance transportation, the fruit should be harvested in the technical maturity phase (unripe). It is not advisable to pick wet berries, as they quickly rot.

If strawberries are grown on a large area, you should think in advance about the labor force available to harvest. Gather carefully, making sure that the berries are not crumbling. Without refrigeration, strawberries can be stored without losing their marketability, from 10 to 20 hours, depending on the variety. In a cool room (+ 4 ° C), fresh strawberries can be kept (without loss of presentation and taste) for up to 3 days.

The best containers for picking berries are small baskets, plastic or paper bags with a capacity of 1-3 kg. It is not advisable to pour the collected berries into another container.

Care for strawberries after fruiting

To stimulate the growth of young strawberry leaves and free the plants from infection, disease and infestation of pests, after harvest, foliage can be mowed. This event is not mandatory, mowing is advisable only when the plantation is poorly maintained.

On average, strawberry foliage is cut 3 weeks after the end of the harvest. Early mowing weakens the plants, which can adversely affect their wintering and productivity next year.

Delayed mowing results in poor kidney differentiation. After mowing and raking the foliage, comprehensive measures should be taken to combat pests and diseases, inter-row cultivation of the soil, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. That is, after mowing, the agricultural background of the plantation should be quite high.

Winter strawberry care

Garden strawberries successfully withstand low temperatures in winter in the presence of snow cover. A layer of snow 10-15 cm thick (preferably 20 cm) protects plantings from low temperatures down to -25-30 ° C. If there is no snow at temperatures below -12-16 ° C, the plants partially freeze or completely die.

Strong plants overwinter better, therefore, in well-groomed areas that have been provided with sufficient fertilizers, moisture, are protected from diseases and pests, frosts cause less damage. In the absence of snow, the plantings can be covered with straw (without seeds, since there may be a risk of mice, which will cause significant damage to the plants).

Propagation of strawberries

Strawberries are propagated by seedlings (rosettes). Seedlings are either bought or grown on their own plantings on the shoots (whiskers) of mother bushes. The best rosettes are those that are closer to the mother bush. No more than three outlets are left on the shoot, you can leave up to 5 outlets, but in this case the last two will be less developed than the first three.

As the rosettes appear on the shoot, they are fixed in moist soil, i.e. small roots deepen into the soil. You can immediately plant the rosettes in small nutrient pots, while the pots are deepened into the soil.

It is impossible to grow rosettes and berries on uterine bushes at the same time, therefore, the first peduncles that appear are removed. The best seedlings are obtained from the bushes of the second year of fruiting.

Soils for breeding strawberries are better suited to slightly acidic (pH = 5-6). Basically, loamy and sandy loamy ones containing humus and nutrients are suitable. Clayy cold soils without cultivation are not suitable. In moist soils with closely spaced groundwater, strawberries should be grown in high beds.

Strawberries in the garden
Strawberries in the garden

On sandy soils, strawberries tend to give a low yield with small berries, as there is always a lack of moisture, and strawberry plants on these soils feel oppressed. Therefore, for planting strawberries, the garden is cultivated 1-2 months before planting.

Diseases and pests of strawberries

Gray rot

A very dangerous fungal disease. It mainly manifests itself in cool, damp weather in old unkempt areas. It begins to appear in the form of brown soft spots, in the future the berry simply rots.

Ways to fight. Damaged strawberries must be removed from the site, since the wind or rain can spread the disease with spores throughout the site. You need to process the garden bed 2 times: the first - before the flowering of the berries, the second - after the last harvest is harvested. It is treated with copper oxychloride at the rate of one tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

White, brown and brown spotted strawberries

Spots appear in the summer-autumn period. With this disease, the leaves of strawberries turn brown and fall off.

Ways to fight. In case of severe damage, they are treated with copper chloroxide at the rate of one tablespoon per 10 liters of water. You need to process the garden bed 2 times: the first - before the flowering of the berries, the second - after the last harvest is collected.

Powdery mildew

It affects all aerial organs of strawberries, especially leaves. They become covered with bloom and begin to rot.

Ways to fight. In early spring, young and old leaves (always before flowering) are sprayed with sulfaride (two tablespoons per 10 liters of water). Re-spraying is done in the fall. It can also be treated with potassium permanganate. Berries affected by this disease must be collected and burned.

Strawberry transparent mite

Most dangerous for strawberries. The peculiarity of this pest is damage to young leaves, after which they curl and turn yellow. Bushes and berries become small. This pest thrives best in wet weather.

Ways to fight. The most effective method is spraying with karbofos. You need to spray immediately after the last collection of berries. A solution is made and watered from a watering can by sprinkling throughout the garden. After watering, it is necessary to tightly close the entire bed with foil for 3 hours. Such control measures also help against the strawberry beetle, weevil, whitefly and other pests.

If strawberry plants have been very badly damaged by a transparent strawberry mite, then all plants must be mowed and done before about August 10, so that the leaves can grow before winter.

Slugs, snails, centipedes

These pests severely damage strawberries. Basically, they choose gray shaded areas as their best habitat.

Ways to fight. The best method for killing these pests is metaldehyde. It is laid out in the beds after picking berries. It is best to treat the site from any pests in the second half of September.

Strawberry blossoms
Strawberry blossoms

Strawberry varieties

Garden strawberry varieties (Strawberries)

Strawberry "Altair". The variety is winter-hardy, medium-late ripening. The bush is medium-sized, semi-spreading, the foliage is good. The learning ability is average. The yield is 0.95 kg per 1 running meter. The berry weight in the first harvest is up to 40 g, the average weight for the entire harvesting period is 11.6 g. The berries are almost cylindrical (ribbed in the first harvest), with a neck, orange-red color. Achenes are yellowish, moderately impressed into the pulp. The pulp is red, juicy, medium-dense, very good sweet and sour taste. The variety is slightly affected by leaf spots, medium gray rot.

Strawberry "Queen Elizabeth". Repaired grade. The berries are large and very large, bright red, with dense pulp, transportable. The taste of berries is deteriorating by September. Very early fruiting is ensured by the wintering of already formed buds, provided that they do not freeze. The variety needs a continuous supply of nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus fertilizers are given during soil preparation. Regular watering is required. Grown in an annual, maximum, in a two-year culture, as over time the berries become smaller. Reproduction is vegetative, with young rosettes that form on the mustache. It can be recommended for testing in all regions in open and protected ground at home gardens.

Strawberry "Stranger". The bush is vigorous, spreading. The berries are large, round-conical, cut from the bottom, with a dark red skin. The pulp is dense, dark red, the taste is sweet and sour, aromatic. Delicious fresh, stored very well. The variety is frost-hardy, relatively resistant to fungal diseases.

Strawberry " Sudarushka". The bush is powerful, semi-spreading, well leafy. Forms many outlets. The mustache is light pink. Peduncles of medium length and thickness, located at leaf level or below. Inflorescences are compact, multi-flowered. Berries are ovoid, large, maximum 35 g, average weight 13 g, symmetrical, no neck. The skin is red, shiny. Achenes are numerous, located almost on the surface of the pulp. The pulp is pink, dense, juicy, with a pleasant aroma. The taste is sweet and sour, very good. Tasting score 4.5 points. The variety is frost-resistant. Early ripening. Not bad disease resistant. Few affected by gray rot. The yield is high. Average yield 72.5 c / ha. On state variety testing since 1992. Included in the state register in 2000 for the North-West region.

Strawberry "Talka" ("Grenadier" or "Purple"). Early ripening. The yield is high. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew. Frost resistant. The bush is medium-sized, semi-spreading, well leafy. Forms an average number of outlets. Peduncles of medium length, located at leaf level. Inflorescences are compact, multi-flowered. Berries of medium size and large, average weight 9 g, maximum 28 g, round-conical shape, with a small neck. The surface of the berries is ribbed. The skin is dark red. The seeds are red. The pulp is red, dense, the taste is good, sweet and sour. Recommended for testing in the Central and Central Black Earth regions.

Strawberry "Tribute" ("Tribute"). Repaired grade. Bush: compact, undersized. Peduncles are short and medium, located below the level of the leaves. Berries: medium to large, symmetrical, oval. The skin and flesh are firm. The color of the skin is shiny, bright red, the color of the flesh is red. Taste: sweet, slightly acidic, pleasant. The pulp is dense, juicy. Productivity and winter hardiness are high. The variety is resistant to gray mold and verticillium.

Strawberry "Uralochka Pink". Repaired variety of domestic selection. The bush is small, compact. The petals are pink. Bloom from May to October. Berries of medium size (15-18 g), aromatic, dessert taste. It forms a lot of mustaches. Productivity: 600-800 g per plant per season.

Strawberry "Tsarskoselskaya"("Tsarskoselskaya"). Medium late ripening. Semi-spreading bush, medium-sized, well leafy. Numerous rosettes, pale red. Peduncles of medium length and thickness, located below the level of the leaves. Inflorescences are multi-flowered, semi-spreading. The berry is large, 12-14 g, maximum 29-33 g, oval, symmetrical, without a neck. They contain: sugar 5.5%, acid 1.8%, vitamin C 42 mg /%. The stalks are thin. The skin is dark red, shiny. Achenes, moderately pressed into the pulp, are numerous. The pulp is dark red, dense, juicy. The taste is sweet and sour, with a very good aroma. Tasting score 5 points. Average yield - 73.6 kg / ha. On state variety testing since 1992. Recommended for testing in the Non-Black Earth Zone of the Russian Federation. Included in the State Register for the Central Region in 2002. Resistance to verticillium wilting and gray rot is increased. The yield is high. Universal.

Strawberry "Yunia Smuds" ("Yunia Smuds"). The bush is high, semi-spreading, densely leafy. Peduncles of medium length, inflorescences are located at the level of the leaves. The berries of the first collection are large (up to 30 g), blunt-conical, with a short neck, with grooves. Subsequent ones become smaller. The surface of the berries is red and shiny. Achenes are immersed in the pulp. The pulp is red, juicy, tender, sweet and sour, with a weak aroma. Ripens early. Productivity - 80-100 kg per one hundred square meters. Plants are quite winter-hardy, moderate drought resistance. Fungal diseases are moderately affected. It tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C. In winters with little snow, it is recommended to shelter with spruce branches.

Strawberry
Strawberry

Musk strawberry varieties

Strawberry "Milanese" … Strawberry variety of southern European origin, differs from other strawberry varieties in bisexual flowers. It was brought to the USSR in 1926-1930. At this time, it is not found in industrial plantings. Milanese strawberries are distinguished by high winter hardiness and good productivity. Its yield is lower than strawberry varieties. It is very demanding on moisture, therefore its culture is unprofitable for the economy, although the berries have an excellent specific taste. The berries make jam incomparable with any strawberry variety. Berries contain sugars 9.43%, acidity 1.45%. Ripening time is medium-early. Advantages of the variety: winter hardiness, very good taste of berries. Disadvantage of the variety: average yield. The bush is tall and compact. Leaves are light green; the middle leaf is oval-rhombic. The peduncle significantly exceeds the leaves. The flower is white. Berries are medium in size, elongated-conical with a distinct neck, dark purple-red, green on the shady side. The pulp is loose, whitish. Achenes are slightly immersed in the pulp.

Strawberry "Shpanka" … The variety was bred in Western Europe in 1835. In Russia, it was formerly cultivated in the vicinity of Petrograd (now Leningrad), Moscow, Kiev, Odessa and other large cities as a dessert variety. Differs in high winter hardiness. Spanking is very demanding on moisture; with a lack of it, the plants suffer greatly, and the crop perishes. Average yield - 4-5 tons per hectare. Ripening time is average. Good quality berries suitable for fresh use and processing. The taste is very good, sweet. The total sugar content is 7.92%, the acidity is 0.93%. Berries are susceptible to gray rot disease. The transportability of berries is low. Spanka is a dioecious plant. To ensure a normal harvest, it is necessary to plant plants with staminate flowers (up to 10%). Advantages of the variety: winter hardiness; excellent taste of the berry. Lack of variety:average productivity, moisture demand, dioecious flowers. The bush is tall, compact, densely leafy. Leaves are light green. The middle leaf is oval-rhombic. The peduncle significantly exceeds the foliage. The inflorescence is spreading. Pedicels are long. Flowers are dioecious. Berries are medium in size, regularly elongated-conical, with a neck, dark purple in color, greenish on the shady side. The pulp is very loose, whitish.whitish.whitish.

Dwarf varieties

Zemklunika is a hybrid of two berry crops obtained in the 80s of the XX century by crossing varieties of garden strawberries (strawberries) and musk strawberries of the Milanskaya variety. It is more technological and at the same time surpasses garden strawberries in taste and aroma. From strawberries she inherited the yield and size of berries, from strawberries - winter hardiness, high flower stalks, disease resistance and nutmeg aroma of berries.

Zemklunika "Strawberry". A variety for universal use. Medium-sized shrub with tall, much higher than the leaves, peduncles and unisexual flowers. Fruits of medium size, a little earlier than usual ripening berries have a mass of 5-6 g, the maximum - up to 10 g. The yield per bush is average (does not exceed 250 g). Due to the fact that the flowers of this variety are unisexual, when planting seedlings, it is necessary to provide for the planting of a pollinator variety. Resistant to major diseases. Fruit taste: sweet and sour.

Dwarf "Raisa". A variety of table use. Plants of this variety are tall, have flower stalks towering above the leaves. The flowers of the variety are bisexual, which allows you to get a harvest, even if you have plants of the same variety on the site. Berries of an interesting oval-conical shape, medium size, with a maximum weight of up to 30 g. The yield of the bush is average (up to 350 g). Mid-season, winter hardiness in central Russia is high, resistant to major diseases. Fruit taste: sweet.

The dugout "Candied nutmeg". A variety for universal use. It has medium-sized bushes and low peduncles with bisexual flowers. The fruits are of medium size, the weight of the berry, on average, is 6-8 g, the maximum reaches 20 g. The yield of the bush is average (does not exceed 250 g), but is characterized by stability due to the resistance of the variety to diseases and pests. Fruit taste: sweet and sour.

Forest strawberry varieties

Red varieties

Strawberries "Ali Baba". Dessert variety of mustache-free remontant strawberries. Semi-spreading bush, 15 cm high. Berries are conical, intense red, weighing 3-5 g. The pulp is milky white, sweet and sour, very tasty and aromatic, with the taste of wild strawberries. The content of biologically active substances and a complex of vitamins is close to that of wild strawberries. Flowering begins in the third decade of May and continues continuously until frost, ripening of berries - from mid-June and throughout the season.

Strawberries "Baron Solemacher". An early-ripening variety of beardless remontant strawberry with a semi-spreading bush shape. Berries are conical, deep red, weighing up to 4 g. The pulp is sweet, tender, very aromatic, in taste it is close to wild strawberries. Flowering begins in the third decade of May and continues continuously until frost, berries ripen from mid-June during the season. Recommended for direct consumption, preparation of fruit drinks, compotes, preserves, jams.

Strawberry "Seasons". A high-yielding variety of remontant strawberries. Semi-sprawling bush with a large number of peduncles, quickly forms a mustache with good rosettes. The berries are deep red, conical, with a very sweet, aromatic and delicate pulp. Weight 4-7 g. By the content of biologically active substances and a complex of vitamins it is close to that of wild strawberries. The value of the variety: excellent taste, decorativeness, the possibility of using it as an ampelous culture in design compositions. Recommended for fresh consumption, making jam, jam, compotes.

Rugen strawberries. An early ripening dessert variety of beardless remontant strawberries. A bush of medium height, densely leafy, semi-spreading. The berries are conical, bright red, weighing 2.5-5 g. The pulp is dense, yellowish-white, at the surface it is pink, sweet and sour, very aromatic. Flowering begins in the third decade of May and continues continuously until frost, berries ripen from mid-June during the season. Excellent taste. Recommended for fresh consumption, making jam, preserves, compotes.

Varieties with white and yellow fruits

Strawberries "Snow White". An early-ripening variety of beardless remontant strawberries. The bush is small, densely leafy, semi-spreading, with a small number of peduncles. The berries are white, truncated-conical. The pulp is white, tender, sour-sweet, aromatic, with excellent taste. The content of biologically active substances and a complex of vitamins is close to that of wild strawberries. Hypoallergenic. Flowering begins in the third decade of May and lasts continuously until frost, berries ripen from mid-June throughout the season. Recommended for fresh consumption, making preserves, jams, compotes.

Strawberry "Yellow wonder" ("Yellow wonder"). Repaired, mustacheless, productive, winter-hardy variety. It surpasses red-fruited varieties in taste and aroma. Bears fruit abundantly until frost. Berries weighing 4-6 g, fragrant, very sweet. The fruit has a beautiful creamy yellow color. Hypoallergenic.

Strawberry, variety
Strawberry, variety

Doesn't hatch by birds. Prefers a sunny location, humus-rich soil with a neutral reaction. Harvesting from early summer to late autumn is carried out repeatedly as the berries ripen. Care comes down to weeding, loosening, watering, feeding and protecting against diseases and pests.

What varieties do you prefer to grow? Share your experience in the comments or on our Forum.

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