Probably every gardener has at least a couple of strawberry bushes on his plot. These berries are very tasty and also have a rather attractive appearance. Of course, to get a good harvest you need to put in a lot of effort. Strawberries require careful care. However, nowadays you can find a huge number of new varieties that are characterized by high yields and unpretentiousness. These berries are usually larger in size.
In this article we want to talk about the strawberry variety “Honey” or “Honeoye”. It was bred by American breeders, using the “Vibrant” and “Holiday” varieties as a basis. This strawberry has been grown since 1979, so by now it has gained considerable popularity. Below you can see a description of the Honey strawberry variety, as well as photos and reviews.
Characteristics of the variety
This is an early high-yielding variety with large fruits. Honey has strong compact bushes. The root system is well developed. The flower stalks are strong and can easily support the weight of ripe berries. The variety also produces large dark green leaves that can grow up to 22 cm in length.
The bush begins to grow actively from the second week of April. It is at this time that the plant begins to prepare and gain strength before bearing fruit. Flowering can last for two weeks. About 15 flowers are formed on the bushes. All the berries on the bush begin to ripen at the same time.Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, ripening begins from the second week of May to the end of the month.
The berries ripen within 2 weeks. Every 2-3 days it is necessary to collect fruits. Each strawberry weighs about 35–40 grams. It has a beautiful rich color and shiny skin. The flesh may be red or orange-red. Strawberry density is average. The fruits have a sweet taste with a slight sourness. There is a characteristic strawberry aroma.
By the end of the fruiting period, the number of berries becomes noticeably smaller. At the same time, they acquire a more pronounced taste and smell. The variety does not have the ability to bear fruit twice per season. From the second week of June, mustaches begin to actively form on the bushes.
The variety is transportable. Strawberries can be stored for 3 days and retain their attractive appearance even after being transported over long distances. At the same time, the freshness and taste of the berries is not lost. The advantages of this variety also include high frost resistance, as well as immunity to various leaf diseases. In addition, the variety is distinguished by very high yields. From just one Honey bush you can collect about 0.4 kg of berries per season. The variety loves chernozem soils, but does well in other types of soil.
The description of the Honey variety strawberries also contains some disadvantages:
- Honey does not tolerate excess or insufficient moisture;
- when stored fresh for a long time, the berries darken and lose their taste;
- diseases of the root system are possible.
Of course, the advantages of this variety predominate, and the disadvantages are not so significant as to refuse to grow such strawberries in your garden. Next, it’s worth figuring out how to properly plant and grow the Honey variety.
Planting and care
It is advisable to plant the strawberry variety Honey in the fall. It is important to take into account the time of frost. A month before the cold snap, strawberries should already be planted. The best time to plant is evening. This variety loves flat, well-lit areas. Slightly acidic soil is suitable for growing Honey. Strawberries do well in loamy and sandy loam soils.
Before planting strawberries, organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied. For one square meter of bed you will need about 7–8 kg of organic matter. You can also prepare a nutrient solution of 50 grams of superphosphate and 30 grams of potassium sulfate.
When choosing seedlings, you need to pay attention to the width of the root collar. On a healthy strawberry, it is at least 1 cm. Too long roots should be trimmed, leaving about 5–8 cm. All dried and damaged leaves must be trimmed. Then the seedling is lowered into the prepared hole, straightening the roots. Then the hole is filled with soil until the beginning of the upper part of the bush.
Planted strawberries must be watered and the soil mulched with peat or humus. For the first week, the plants will have to be watered daily. After which the number of waterings should be reduced to once every 7 days. The soil around the bushes can be covered with a special film or straw.Every 2 weeks, loosen the soil and fertilize the plants as needed. From time to time, prevention can be carried out with special preparations against diseases and pests. If there are signs of infection, all affected leaves and flower stalks should be removed immediately.
Strawberry Honey is picky about the level of soil moisture. Gardeners who grow this variety should be careful when watering the bushes. Both excess and lack of water can have a bad effect on the condition of plants. It is also necessary to regularly remove all weeds.
Conclusion
Many gardeners choose the Honey variety for growing on their plots. This strawberry has a high yield, as well as very attractive-looking and tasty berries. The bushes are quite hardy and strong, and tolerate frost well. The variety is highly resistant to most diseases. The berries are easy to transport, making strawberries excellent for sales. Of course, like any other variety, Honey has certain disadvantages. This strawberry reacts sharply to a lack or excess of moisture and can be susceptible to diseases of the root system. But if you follow the rules of care, you don’t have to worry about such manifestations. It is better to plant Honey in your garden and see from your own experience how good a variety it is.
Reviews
I bought it for the first time. The article is useful, but says nothing about placement.