What varieties of strawberries are better to choose for the Moscow region for open ground, growing
Many summer residents in the Moscow region get a good harvest of strawberries, despite the fact that the region can hardly be called ideal for this popular crop. The correct choice of variety and care helps in this. Consider which varieties of strawberries are considered the best for the Moscow region, as well as some of the features of planting and growing.
The specifics of growing strawberries in the Moscow region
Let's highlight the main conditions that help to get a bountiful harvest of delicious berries:
- Selection of a variety adapted to the main weather characteristics of the Moscow region.
- Compliance with the recommended rules of agricultural technology - planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning.
- Creation of fill ridges with high groundwater.
- Selection of sunny areas protected from drafts.
- Mulching and sheltering strawberry plantations for the winter.
- Preventive treatment against typical diseases and pests.
Compliance with these rules helps in growing and obtaining delicious fruits.
The best varieties for this region
For cultivation in the Moscow region, many varieties have been created, differing in terms of ripening, size of berries and other properties. The main difficulties are to understand the variety of hybrids and find a reliable producer of seedlings.
Early
Early fruiting varieties are among the leaders among summer residents. Usually they do not differ in large-fruited and high sugar content, but make it possible to open the berry season at the earliest possible date.
Sudarushka
The berries are slightly elongated with a pointed tip. Dense pink flesh without signs of friability. Sweet and sour taste (sugar 6%). Gives up to a kilogram of berries from a bush. Frost-resistant, tolerates excess moisture. Easily survives transportation.
Elsanta
Dutch selection. Berries up to 13 grams, red, with shine. When grown in the suburbs, shelter is required for the winter. It easily experiences a lack of moisture, but the yield drops somewhat.
Darselect
Ripens in mid-June. The berries are quite large, sometimes up to 30 grams. Withstands frosts down to -16 °, requires shelter. The shape of the berries during the season can change from conical to round. The pulp is red with orange tints. It does not deteriorate during long-term transportation.
Olbia
It belongs to the very early, begins to bear fruit in May. The berries grow up to 30-40 grams, sourish. It ripens with a short daylight hours and a lack of heat. Mustache and young rosettes have a reddish tint.
Mid-season strawberry
Mid-season varieties require longer illumination, ripen 1-2 weeks later than early varieties.
Arosa
The berries of this variety are consistently large (25-30 grams), the first ones often weigh up to 45 grams. Delicious aromatic fruits with a pronounced strawberry aroma. The pulp is juicy, medium density. Has a high tasting rating - 4.7. It tolerates transportation well.
Asia
The variety is obtained in Italy. The berries are elongated-conical in shape, easily separated from the stalk. Fruits of pronounced red color, have a strong strawberry smell. On average, 1-1.2 kilograms of berries are removed from the bush.
Marmalade
Marmalade berries are bright red in color, round in shape, on large fruits, a scallop is often formed in the lower part. Weight - 20-30 grams, berries often grow up to 40 grams. The variety tolerates the lack of watering well, the fruits only become less juicy.
Late varieties
Late ripening hybrids significantly extend the strawberry harvesting period, therefore they are loved by summer residents.
Monterey
The average weight of the berries is 25-35 grams, the former are much larger. Fruits are dark red in color with a cherry tint. The variety is winter-hardy, resistant to a lack of moisture.
Mara de Bois
Refers to remontant species, bears fruit until autumn, almost to frost, while producing fruits of excellent quality. The first berries are removed in early summer, autumn specimens are the largest. The berries are light red in color, with a pronounced strawberry smell.
Malvina
Berries of excellent taste, red, high in sugar. The variety has a high yield on young bushes, reaching 2 kilograms. Gradually, the yield falls.
Repaired varieties
Re-bearing varieties grow in all dachas, they take root well in the Moscow region, they delight with two periods of berry picking. Mustacheless species are distinguished by good yield and taste.
Portola
Gives a larger yield in the second period at the end of summer. Collection - up to 1.5 kilograms per bush. The berries are large (up to 35 grams), juicy, with a pronounced smell. Portola is loved for the lack of crunch when eating. The first fruits are mid to late June.
Monterey
The variety has powerful bushes that ensure long-term fruiting. The berries ripen in several waves. The peduncle breaks off dryly. The taste of fruits depends little on excess or lack of moisture.
San andreas
The first fruits ripen in May, then fruiting is repeated at the end of summer. Gives few whiskers, so special rooting of the rosettes is required for strawberry rejuvenation. The pulp is orange, the fruits are up to 30 grams.
Selection of strawberries according to different criteria
The ripening period of berries is not the only significant criterion when choosing a variety. Experienced summer residents pay attention to a number of other signs that help grow garden strawberries in the Moscow region.
Harvest
Fragrant jam is made from strawberries, frozen for the winter. To make harvests or grow berries for sale, you need to choose fruitful varieties. In the Moscow region, the following types of strawberries are recommended for growing, giving a high yield:
- Lord - berries up to 100 grams, bears fruit up to 10 years;
- Festivalnaya - requires updating every 2 years;
- Queen Elizabeth - hardy, early ripening;
- Aromas - when feeding and watering, gives 2 kilograms of berries from a bush;
- Chamora Turusi - up to 3 kilograms, demanding on conditions;
- Albion - up to 2 kilograms of berries per plant.
Note that the yield of most varieties increases with timely feeding and good weather conditions.
Resistant to diseases and pests
Resistance to diseases and insect pests is demonstrated by the following varieties grown in the Moscow region:
- Clery;
- Sudarushka;
- Darselect;
- Vima Zanta;
- Queen Elizabeth;
- Zenga Zengana.
These disease resistant varieties also need preventive treatment before planting, during winter and during the growing season.
The sweetest
The sweetest varieties are usually European and American selection. This quality is preserved in strawberries and in the Moscow region. The following varieties are famous for their sweet taste:
- A shelf;
- Black Swan;
- Maryshka;
- Kimberly;
- El Dorado;
- Carmen;
- Crown.
Many believe that the slight sourness of strawberries does not harm, but only emphasizes the aroma.
New varieties
Among the new varieties, the following have gained popularity among summer residents of the Moscow Region:
- Christina - berries up to 40 grams:
- Honey - easily transported, retaining its taste;
- Kimberly - exquisite caramel fruit flavor;
- Zenga Zengana of German selection;
- Clery - an achievement of Italian breeders, delicious and juicy;
- Elsanta - easily reproduces in the conditions of the Moscow region.
New varieties do not displace old favorites from their summer cottages, which have proven themselves well over the years.
Advice: for growing it is better to buy seedlings in nurseries of the Moscow region, they are adapted to weather conditions, they take root better, they get sick less.
Planting and caring for strawberries in the Moscow region
For planting, choose bright, well-lit areas, protected from drafts. Lowlands and slopes are not used, since water and cold air descend on low beds, on the slopes the wind blows off snow.
When to plant?
It is best to plant young seedlings in autumn, the most suitable planting dates are late August, early September. Young rosettes should build up a root system that will allow them to overwinter and not freeze during early frosts.
The second convenient time is the spring months. You won't have to rely on a harvest this year, but strawberries will be able to strengthen and grow a resistant bush. Seedlings should be replanted when the soil warms up and the risk of frost subsides, in the Moscow region - April-May.
Landing technology
In the Moscow region, strawberries are often planted on bulk beds - in one or two rows. The beds are prepared in spring by removing weeds and applying fertilizers. Planting scheme in open ground:
- the distance between the bushes is 25-40 centimeters, depending on the size of the bush;
- row spacing - 45-60 centimeters.
Their own seedlings are prepared in the summer, during the growth of whiskers and rosettes, choosing those closest to the mother bush for reproduction. The rosettes are pinned to the ground for fast rooting.
In the Moscow region, planting on a dark film is recommended, which plays the role of mulch, inhibits the growth of weeds and warms the roots when it gets cold. Many summer residents practice planting in vertical beds, making them on their own or by buying ready-made trukars.
Reference: when planting, it is important not to deepen or raise the growth point above the ground and not to bend the roots.
Watering and fertilizing
Strawberries need to be cared for throughout the summer season. Observance of soil moisture is especially important. With a lack of moisture, the fruits are less, their taste decreases.
Watering is recommended 1-2 times a week as the soil dries out. Watering - in the morning and or in the evening, with warm water. If the beds are not mulched, loosening and removal of weeds is necessary. They loosen to a depth of 10 centimeters, providing air access to the roots and removing the earth crust.
For full growth in the Moscow region, 3-4 feeding per season is required. Fertilization time:
- nitrogen (manure) - in the spring, after the snow melts;
- complex (potassium, phosphorus) - during active flowering, drugs HB-101, Zircon help to accelerate growth;
- when fruiting - organic, after picking berries - urea, herbal infusions;
- nitrophoska, organic matter - in the fall, before winter.
It is convenient to use special fertilizers for strawberries.
Preparing for winter
When winter approaches, the last pruning of the bushes is carried out - the green part is not cut out, only damaged leaves are removed. In winter, it is useful to spill the bushes with Bordeaux liquid to protect against diseases and pests.
The last feeding is carried out with organic fertilizers - manure, bird droppings.
It is recommended to mulch strawberry beds to protect the growing point from freezing. If the snow does not fall for a long time, the bushes are covered with foliage, hay, spruce branches. In the spring, this shelter should be removed in time so that fungal infections do not develop.
Treatment against diseases and pests
During the summer period, preventive treatments are carried out in order to prevent the development of diseases and the reproduction of pests. The bushes are regularly inspected to spot problems in time. Damaged leaves and whole bushes are removed immediately.
For prevention use fungicides, from the beginning of foliage growth and every 10 days until flowering - Bordeaux mixture, Ridomil. It is useful to cultivate the land with these means even before planting strawberries. Fungal infections are also treated with iron vitriol, Hom, Fundazol, Maxim.
Among pests, aphids, nematodes, and strawberry mites are most often affected by strawberries. When cobwebs appear on the leaves and other signs of pests, all the bushes must be immediately treated with insecticides. The best drugs are Inta-Vir, Karbofos, Aktofit, Fitoverm.
Microfertilizers, growth stimulants help strawberries to resist diseases and pests, and if damaged, quickly restore development and fruiting. Their use significantly increases the defenses of strawberries.
For the Moscow region, many varieties of strawberries have been created, tasty and aromatic, which withstand the peculiarities of the climate and give a stable harvest. Among this abundance of varieties, you only need to choose the best ones correctly in order to provide yourself with tasty fruits in summer and preparations for winter.
