Description and characteristics of the Vityaz strawberry variety, the nuances of growing
Strawberries are used for preparing a variety of desserts, making jam, jam and compote for the winter, as well as for fresh consumption. Therefore, many gardeners plant such a healthy and tasty culture in their summer cottages. To get a good harvest, you need to choose the right variety so that it matches the climatic conditions of the growing area, as well as know all the rules and nuances of caring for it. Having stopped your choice on the Vityaz strawberry variety, you must definitely familiarize yourself with its features and immediately start growing.
Historical reference
For the first time, the variety was bred at the Institute of Horticulture and Nursery, which is located in the Kokinsky strong point, by a group of scientists led by Doctor of Sciences Aitzhanova S.D., who is a professor at the Bryansk Agricultural Academy. Strawberry varieties such as Festivalnaya Chamomile and Surprise Olympiad became the material for breeding.
The Vityaz strawberry test took place in 1998, and already in 1999 it was included in the State Register as a variety for cultivation in the central regions of the Russian Federation.
Characteristic
Strawberries of the Vityaz variety belong to crops with an average fruiting period, so you can harvest the crop at the end of June. The culture is not remontant, it is universal in use.
The appearance of bushes and berries
Vityaz strawberry bush of medium height, semi-spreading shape. The branches of a plant with a large number of concave leaves of a bright green shade with a weakly expressed translucency. Small flowers are collected in compact inflorescences. Their number is about 9 pieces per bush.
Fruit weight can vary from 9 to 40 g. The berries are round-conical, red-orange in color. The seeds on the surface of the fruit are slightly depressed and have a yellow color.
Taste qualities
The sugar index in strawberries is 9%, which is quite consistent with the average value. The acidity is 1.2%, which is proof that the fruit is rich in vitamin C (60 mg). The taste of the fruit is sweet with a characteristic sourness. The product is used fresh and for preparations for the winter.
The main advantages and disadvantages of the Vityaz variety
The advantages of the Vityaz strawberry variety, for which it is recommended for cultivation, are:
- high productivity, from 1 m2 more than 1 kg of berries can be harvested;
- excellent taste characteristics of fruits;
- resistance to various fungal and infectious diseases;
- confronting such a dangerous pest as strawberry mite;
- good indicators of winter hardiness;
- excellent transportability, the crop does not lose its presentation due to the strength of the berries;
- a source of nutrients necessary for good health and vitality.
Among the disadvantages of the Vityaz strawberry variety, it is important to note that, due to the small number of whiskers, the plant is practically incapable of independent vegetative reproduction without appropriate agrotechnical methods.
Rules for growing garden strawberries
Growing strawberries Vityaz is not particularly difficult, but has its own characteristics compared to other varieties of garden strawberries. To get a high-quality harvest, you should carefully study the planting rules for this variety.
When to plant?
If you want to enjoy the berries next summer, you should resort to planting in the first month of spring or, in extreme cases, at the end of April. In southern latitudes, planting work can be started earlier. For full-fledged rooting, the sprouts will need at least 30-50 days. It is better to prepare the soil for planting in spring in the fall.
Site preparation and planting material
Choosing a place for planting Vityaz strawberries should be well-lit and sheltered from the wind, with neutral loamy soil. You can not plant strawberries on an area where carrots, onions, parsley, tulips previously grew. 2 months before planting, the garden bed where the crop is planned to be grown in the future must be enriched with complex fertilizers.
It is important to clean the planting material of dirt and remove dried roots by rinsing them in cold water, then soak them in potassium permanganate and leave for no more than 15 minutes.
Landing technology
First, dig small holes depending on the size of the root system of the seedlings. If the roots have an impressive length, it is recommended to shorten them to 6-8 cm. Place seedlings with an open root system in the holes so that the roots are freely located, and the heart is level with the soil.
Pull the sprouts with a closed root system out of the container, trying not to destroy the integrity of the earth lump, and send them into the hole, leaving the root collar on the surface.
Subtleties of strawberry care
In the first year after planting, try to create the most favorable conditions for the development of roots and the formation of new horns. To obtain a harvest of Vityaz strawberries, it is not enough just to correctly plant, and you also need to organize the appropriate care of the crop.
Watering
The Vityaz strawberry variety needs regular watering. Each bush should get more than 0.5 liters of water, since the roots can go deep into the soil by 25 cm as much as possible.
Lack of watering or scanty doses of water will cause the lack of a large amount of crops or lead to the complete death of the bushes.
Top dressing
In addition, fertilize the Vityaz strawberries during the period of ovary formation, flowering and fruiting. It is better to use special complex mineral fertilizers as top dressing.
Loosening
This technique is recommended to be carried out about 8 times per season, the depth of loosening should be 2 cm. The procedure will improve the structure of the soil, get rid of crust, weeds, retain moisture and destroy pests.
Mulching
Mulch strawberries of the Vityaz variety 2 times per season. The first procedure should be carried out in the spring, when a fruit ovary begins to form on the bushes. This will help prevent contact of the peduncles with the ground. Remove mulch after harvest or late summer. The second procedure should be carried out in late autumn to protect the plant from freezing during the cold season.In the spring, as the bushes start to grow, remove the mulch.
For this event, use material such as straw, hay, sawdust, humus. The main rule is to fill the soil between the plants with high quality.
Wintering
The maximum strawberry variety Vityaz can survive frosts down to -8 degrees. Under a layer of snow, the plant can calmly withstand lower temperatures, reaching -35. But in the complete absence of snow and a strong decrease in the temperature indicator, it is worth resorting to shelter.
The simplest technique is to mulch strawberry bushes using herbal ingredients. The best shelter for strawberries is needles. If it was not possible to find spruce branches, then use another suitable material - straw, compost, humus, dry leaves.
Protection from diseases and pests
According to the description, Vityaz strawberry resists diseases inherent in the culture. But it is recommended to protect the plant from verticillary wilting, late blight, fusarium, gray rot by carrying out a number of measures. To do this, spraying with special agents during the growing season and follow the rules of care.
The plant can be attacked by slugs, larvae, nematodes and birds. To prevent the strawberry garden from becoming the center of the accumulation of insects, it is necessary to carry out protective operations in a timely manner. In spring, autumn, remove and burn old foliage. Also, inspect the bushes, and if a problem is identified, resort to mechanical, chemical methods.
Breeding methods of the variety
You can propagate Vityaz strawberries with the help of a mustache, seeds, as well as dividing a bush.
The most common way is to use a mustache. After harvesting, the mustache must be straightened, and the rosette must be slightly deepened into the ground and sprinkled with soil so that the hearts are free. In September, transplant to the designated area.
The method of dividing the bush is used less often. To do this, select strong bushes that have more than one tops with a rosette and dig them out. Then separate the sockets from each other. By correctly dividing the bush, you can get full-fledged plants that can please with fruits in the first year.
With seed reproduction, there is a chance of getting bushes that will have small and tasteless fruits.
Cleaning and storing strawberries
Harvesting is best done 2 days before full maturity. Strawberries for storage are placed in a wooden box lined with a soft cloth. At low temperatures, it can lie for about 3 weeks, in room conditions no more than 24 hours.
