Description and characteristics of Monterey strawberries, planting and care

The remontant strawberry of the American Monterey variety won the hearts of gardeners with the attractiveness of ripe berries, large-fruited and genetic ability to bear fruit all season. Growing remontant varieties is a laborious task, the gardener must know all the subtleties and nuances of handling a whimsical berry. The California beauty is recommended to be grown in temperate regions.

The main characteristics of the Monterey variety

American breeders created Monterey in California in the early 2000s. The solid strawberry variety Albion was taken as a basis.

Characteristics of the variety:

• Repair berry of a light neutral day.
• Medium early, begins to bear fruit from the end of May.
• Forms a powerful bush with large leaves.
• High yield, up to 2 kg of berries per season from one bush.
• Large-fruited, fruit weight 50 g.
• The taste of the berries is balanced, sweet, the fruits are not sour.
• Strong immunity.

The California berry can be grown indoors. In greenhouses, Monterey bears fruit all year round. Ripe fruits are elastic, keep their shape well, berries can be used for whole-fruit canning.

Description of strawberries

The powerful American strawberry bush forms up to 14 peduncles. Flowers are large, white on thick stems. Daughter rosettes provide additional yield. The leaves are large, shiny, regular shape. The root system is well developed. Fruits are conical in shape, pointed towards the base.

Monterey bears fruit in four stages. At extremely high temperatures, the berries do not have time to ripen completely, the yield decreases.

Positive and negative sides of garden strawberries

Monterey is a proven variety of remontant garden strawberries suitable for commercial cultivation. The variety tolerates the mistakes of novice gardeners, but requires care and adherence to agricultural technology.

The main benefits of strawberries include:

• Winter hardiness: berries do not require additional shelter for the cold season (if the air temperature does not drop below -25 C), just sprinkle the bushes with organic mulch.
• It is undemanding to watering, with a sharp change in the level of humidity, the fruits retain their juiciness.
• Can plant flower buds at +2 FROM.
• Forms a moderate number of stepchildren.
• Excellent transportability of a ripe crop.
• Seedlings quickly take root, do not get sick.

The disadvantages of the variety include:

• Demanding of plants to soils: Monterey does not tolerate sandy soils or loam.
• Photophilous plant, poorly tolerates shade and partial shade.
• The bushes grow rapidly, it is necessary to observe the rows when planting seedlings and the distance between the bushes.
• In order not to reduce the yield, it is necessary to frequently update the plantings.

Monterey is genetically resistant to major diseases in strawberries. The plant responds well to top dressing. With regular fertilization, it reaches its full potential.

Take a look also

How to make a bed for horizontal cultivation of strawberries in PVC pipes

Cultivation rules

Growing garden strawberries is not an easy process. First of all, you need to choose the right seedlings and place for strawberry plantations. The seedlings must first be prepared for transplanting and properly planted in the soil, preventing the beds from thickening.

Pick up time and place

You can plant repair strawberries at any time of the year, except for winter and late autumn. In the spring, as soon as the threat of frost has passed, young seedlings are ready for planting in the beds.

The relief of the plot for American strawberries must be chosen correctly - Monterey does not like to grow on slopes and depressions. The site should be flat and well lit. The nutrient characteristics of the soil should be at a height. Moderate black soil is a great option.

Important! Californian remontant strawberries will not grow in acidic soils with a lot of limestone.The Monterey root system does not tolerate stagnant moisture, the groundwater level should be no higher than 1 m. The absence of drafts is a necessary condition for good strawberry yield.

Preparation of seedlings

Monterey is propagated in four ways:

1. Seeds.
2. Seedlings.
3. By dividing the bush.
4. Mustache.

Dividing a bush and planting seedlings are the simplest and most reliable options. The plantings are formed from healthy, not twisted bushes with a good root system. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat the roots with antimicrobial drugs or sprinkle them with wood ash. Too long roots are shortened by a third. Withered or yellowed leaves are removed.

Planting process

The soil is prepared for planting plants within a month. The beds must first be dug to a depth of 30 cm, weeds must be removed, a complex of mineral and organic fertilizers must be applied. Superphosphate and humus are required.

Plants are planted in the evening or in cloudy, little sunny weather. On the bed, holes and rows are marked, observing the ratio: 50 cm between rows, 40 cm between bushes. You can additionally add humus to each hole and add a small amount of urea. Seedlings are placed in recesses (20 cm), spreading the roots, sprinkle with earth.

Important! The core of the bush should not be covered with earth, the plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern.Each bush must be watered and make small shelters from the scorching rays of the sun.

The nuances of plant care

Caring for Monterey is traditional, as for most remontant varieties of berries. Top dressing, weeding, loosening, preventive measures to protect plants from pests and diseases.

Weed control

Strawberry plantations must be periodically loosened, the optimum depth is 3 cm. The roots of the plant must be ventilated and receive oxygen. The loosening process is combined with the harvesting of weeds. It is imperative to remove weeds, they take food from the berries and can be carriers of diseases. In early spring, it is important to clear debris, old leaves and winter shelters in the form of mulch. This will free up young buds, and the plant will quickly gain strength for growth.

Top dressing

Strawberries bear fruit all season, the soil is quickly depleted. Fertilizers must be applied regularly. Feeding with cow cakes, bird droppings is a proven method.The main thing is not to "burn" the plants, be sure to observe the dosage. Of the mineral fertilizers, nitrophosphate, urea, superphosphate, wood ash are used.

Take a look also

The best strawberry varieties and planting dates in the fall in the Middle Strip, diseases and treatment

Watering

Drip irrigation is the best way to moisturize the soil and plant leaves; fertilizers can be introduced through it. With excessive moisture, the roots of strawberries may begin to rot, but the taste and structure of the fruit will not deteriorate, the berries will not become watery. This feature is genetically incorporated by breeders.

Plants should be watered 3-4 times a week. If strawberries are grown outdoors, then only in the evening or early morning.

Wintering

Opinions about the frost resistance of the berry vary. Manufacturers have declared the plant's relative frost resistance. Monterey does not require additional shelters for the winter at temperatures below -25 C. But experienced gardeners cover strawberries of this variety for the winter with a film or covering material.

Protection against diseases and pests of strawberries

Powdery mildew disease is a major problem with Monterey strawberry cultivation. The disease spreads quickly and can destroy all strawberry plantations.

First of all, it is necessary to remove all affected leaves, stems and fruits from infected plants. It is also recommended to remove the top layer of soil under them. Chemicals can be used to stop the spread of the disease.

You can not plant strawberries after potatoes - this is the rule of crop rotation. If this law is not followed, strawberry plantings can be overcome by a nematode, which is difficult to cope with. Table salt is used as soil disinfection in proportions of 1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water. The soil is watered with this solution before planting strawberry seedlings in the beds.

Reproduction of culture

Quality seedlings are obtained from seeds and grow seedlings on their own. Experienced gardeners propagate Monterey by dividing the bush: at the same time they thin out the beds and increase the number of bushes.

Strawberries of the remontant variety Monterey, in the process of growth and fruiting, form a sufficient number of whiskers. Digging in daughter outlets is a traditional and productive way of growing strawberries.

Collection and storage of garden strawberries

American strawberries are used commercially. Monterey fruits have an elastic strong protective film, the berries do not wrinkle and do not quickly "give juice". The transportability of the berries is excellent.

You can preserve the fruit of Monterey with whole berries. They can be frozen and decorated with desserts. At the same time, the berry retains its rich sweet taste and delicate aroma. It is recommended to keep fresh strawberries in wicker baskets or fruit boxes in a dark, cool, ventilated place.

The Monterey strawberry variety is known to gardeners and has been grown in home gardens for two decades. During this time, many positive reviews about this culture have accumulated. You will have to work hard to get a decent harvest, but the result will please: large fragrant berries on the table all year round.