Description and characteristics of the Festivalnaya strawberry variety, planting and care
Garden berries have won their strong place in the plots of summer residents. Among the types of fruit crops, Festivalnaya strawberries can be distinguished, which have a lot of useful qualities. It is preferred to grow in a variety of areas with both warm and cold winters.
Description and characteristics of Festivalnaya strawberries
The first seedlings of the strawberry variety appeared in the middle of the 20th century at the Pavlovsk experimental station. The plant was included after testing in the State Register, and it is successfully cultivated in regions from the Central Region to Eastern Siberia. The garden strawberry received positive properties from its parents, the Premier and Abundant varieties. The culture bears fruit well in all weather conditions.
The appearance of bushes and berries
Strawberries are distinguished by Festivalnaya:
- powerful bushes 25 centimeters high;
- large dark green leaves with jagged edges;
- many reddish mustaches;
- oval berries with flattened sides.
The plant's fruits ripen at the end of June, rising above the foliage. They are medium in size, weighing up to 30-40 grams. The strawberries then become smaller, staying within 15 grams. The seeds are located on the surface of the berries, without being pressed inward. The hybrid is famous for its juicy red pulp.
Productivity and endurance
From one bush, strawberries yield up to 600-900 grams of berries. With good care, yields can increase.
The peculiarity of the variety is its resistance to cold weather. The bushes can withstand temperatures down to minus 25 degrees. The culture tolerates drought well during periods of hot summer, in the steppe regions.
What are the pros and cons of the variety
The advantages of the Festival strawberry are that it:
- bears fruit amicably and for a long time;
- high-yielding;
- undemanding to growing conditions;
- resistant to gray mold, white spot;
- has tasty, juicy berries.
Among the minuses is only that the berries become small with improper care and as they grow in the same place. Often, strawberry bushes are damaged by a strawberry mite.
Growing features
For a heat-loving culture, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for growth. In addition to optimal moisture content, attention is paid to the looseness of the soil, its nutritional value. Without this, it will be difficult for the plant to set fruit.
Preparatory work before landing
The plot selected for garden strawberries is cleared of weeds. It should be neutral in acidity, with groundwater deposition at a depth of 2 meters from the surface. The place should be sunny, but protected from the effects of winds.
The preparation of the beds begins with digging it. Before this, mullein or bird droppings are scattered, embedding organic matter deep into the ground. In early March, soil harrowing is carried out. You can water the area under the strawberries with manure and superphosphate dissolved in water.
Planting strawberry seedlings
Usually, strawberries are planted in rows or ribbons. The distance between the holes is made within 40 centimeters, and in rows - 70-80.
Plant rosettes or seedlings are chosen with roots 7-8 centimeters long and 4 true leaves.
A strawberry seedling with straightened roots is placed in a hole 10-12 centimeters deep. Then sprinkle with earth and slightly compact. It is necessary to water the plantings and cover the aisles with a layer of straw, grass, sawdust.
Strawberry care
Berry crops need ordinary, regular care, consisting of watering, dressing, loosening the soil. It is necessary to carefully monitor the development of plants, their fruiting, correcting care errors.
Watering and weeding
Bushes should be watered 6 to 8 times per summer. Strawberries especially need moisture before flowering, during the ripening of berries. Soil cleanliness plays an important role in increasing the yield of berry crops. It is necessary to remove weeds in time to stop their growth. In addition, after watering, the soil between rows is loosened, increasing the permeability of the soil. This will help the roots get enough nutrition and moisture.
Top dressing scheme
For the first time, organic fertilizers are applied when 2 weeks have passed after planting the Festivalnaya strawberry seedlings. Ammonium nitrate is taken at 35 grams per square meter of the plantation. You can water the bushes after 10-14 days with a mullein solution, prepared in a 1: 6 ratio. Before flowering, it is advised to spray the strawberries with an iodine solution, taking 7-8 drops on a bucket of water.
During the period of fruit formation, the ammophoska solution will help to improve the ripening rate. It is diluted in an amount of 20 grams in a bucket of water. 5-6 liters are used per square meter.It is necessary to feed the plantation with humus and superphosphate once every 3-5 years.
Pruning leaves and whiskers
The mustache on Festivalnaya strawberries is formed early, so they are cut off immediately. Otherwise, the fruits will be small. But for reproduction, a mustache is left after harvest. Leaves should be trimmed as they dry.
Mulching
Mulch is necessary to maintain soil moisture, reduce the number of weeds in the garden. Not only straw, sawdust, but also black polyethylene are used as a tire for strawberries. They cover plantings by cutting holes for bushes.
Shelter for the winter
Before the onset of cold weather in October or November, you need to feed the strawberries, water. In areas with harsh winters, it is worth covering the plantation with spruce branches, potato and tomato tops. After the snow falls, it is compacted in the aisles to keep more moisture in the ground. You can spud the bushes by 5-6 centimeters. This will help them get through the winter successfully.
How can you propagate
Of the strawberry breeding methods, the mustache is common. In the second half of summer, tendrils are left on powerful bushes. Rosettes of leaves are formed on the mustache. They are pinned to the ground, sprinkled lightly with soil. Young plants are watered regularly. Sockets take root quickly. They are separated from the mother bush, transplanted to a new place.
If the berry plantation is transferred to another site, then the number of plants can be increased by dividing the bushes into parts that have a growth bud. Festivalnaya strawberries are also grown by seed. But this is difficult, and fruiting will begin later than with another method of reproduction.
Treatment against diseases and pests
Although Festivalnaya rarely succumbs to diseases, their development can be prevented by treating the plantings with Bordeaux liquid with a concentration of 1%... Spraying is carried out 3 times with an interval of 15-20 days.
Pest control: aphids, mites, weevils - is carried out with the help of insecticidal agents. You can apply a decoction of tobacco dust, makhorka, an infusion of onion peels and laundry soap.
Harvesting, storage and transportability
Harvest the fruits of garden strawberries of a medium late variety in late June - early July. It is necessary to pick ripe berries in the morning or evening. They are cut off with a stalk, folded into baskets of 2-3 kilograms.
Strawberries cannot be stored for a long time. It stays fresh in a cool place for 1-2 days. The variety tolerates transportation well due to the density of the berries. They do not lose their presentation after moving, while remaining visually attractive.
