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Gardeners who are thoroughly involved in such a crop as strawberries try to select varieties that do not require special labor costs, but are famous for their bountiful harvest. The range of varieties today is very large. Breeders have created many interesting varieties, but the so-called oldies, tested for decades, are not inferior to them.
Marshall strawberries are one of the ancient varieties that are very popular among gardeners due to their ability to adapt to any climatic regions of Russia. But most importantly, tasty and aromatic berries for universal use. The features of growing the variety will be discussed.
A little history
Marshall strawberries are one of the products of American selection. The author is breeder M.F. Well, who created garden strawberries at the end of the 19th century. Thanks to its amazing taste, the variety quickly gained popularity among Americans, and then began its triumphal march around the world.
Strawberries of the Marshall variety came to Russia half a century later, after the Second World War ended. Russians highly appreciated the variety's ability to adapt to harsh climatic conditions and its ability to produce a stable harvest of unusually tasty berries.
Description
The strawberry variety Marshall of American selection belongs to plants with medium-early ripening periods. It is recommended to grow in any region of Russia; only in the zone of risky farming will it be necessary to cover the plantings.
Features of bushes
- The Marshall variety is a plant with a powerful and spreading structure. The height of the bush is about 15 cm.
- The root system is strong.
- Stems are erect and thick. Strawberries have many large light green leaves that look like umbrellas. The berries are protected from the rays of the scorching sun and from feathered sweet lovers.
- Strawberries, according to descriptions and reviews from gardeners, are distinguished by thick peduncles with an abundance of large white flowers with bright yellow hearts. They rise slightly above the leaves. As the berries fill, the flower stalks bend to the ground.
- Each strawberry bush produces a large number of runners over the summer, so there are no problems during reproduction.
Berries
Marshall strawberry fruits are large, weighing from 40 to 60 grams. Although there have been record holders of greater mass. The berries are shiny, scarlet in color. The variety has an interesting shape, by which it is identified: the fruit has a wedge-shaped top with a small nose pressed into the middle.
Marshall strawberries are medium-density, sweet, with a low acid content. When cut, the flesh is light red, there are no internal cavities or voids. The fruits are juicy and have a bright strawberry aroma. The achenes are yellow (they are clearly visible in the photo), depressed, and cannot be felt when eaten.
As gardeners note in reviews, the Marshall strawberry variety begins to ripen in June.One bush, when favorable conditions are created, produces almost a kilogram of fruit.
Characteristics of the variety
Russians fell in love with strawberries not only for their taste, but also for their characteristic features. The Marshall variety, according to the description and reviews from gardeners, has clear advantages. Let's talk about them now.
Advantages
- High and stable yield, especially in the first year after planting the bushes.
- Plants take root easily, are able to quickly adapt to the conditions of the region, and can easily tolerate temperature changes.
- Early ripening and long fruiting.
- The excellent taste of Marshall strawberries and versatility of use increase the popularity of the variety.
- Large leaves protect the berries from the sun and voracious birds.
- Does not require special feeding. The Marshall strawberry variety is resistant to drought, and the yield practically does not drop.
- The plant is frost-resistant, which allows it to be grown in any climatic conditions.
- Marshall strawberries are resistant to strawberry diseases, although preventive measures should not be neglected.
If we talk about the disadvantages, then these are:
- low transportability of fruits;
- fruiting decreases already in the second year, so the beds need to be laid out annually.
Some gardeners consider the disadvantages of the Marshall strawberry variety to be high plant formation and rooting of rosettes. During the growing season, it takes time to remove them.
As can be seen from the description, characteristics, reviews from gardeners and photos sent by them, the Marshall strawberry variety can safely be called ideal.
Agricultural technology
Growing Marshall strawberries is not difficult, since agrotechnical standards are not much different. Spring plantings are successful. Over the summer, the bushes not only take root, but also produce a good harvest.
The variety is propagated by seeds, rosettes and division of the bush. All three methods are justified. Strawberries are planted with the onset of stable positive temperatures.
Where is the best place to plant
Strawberry Marshall feels good in open sunny ridges and fertile soils. When choosing a place to plant a variety of American selection, you need to take into account the predecessor crops; it is best to plant the variety after:
- radishes, radishes, lettuce and spinach;
- dill, legumes and parsley;
- turnips, carrots and celery:
- onions and garlic;
- tulips, daffodils and marigolds;
- mustard and phacelia.
Many of these crops can also be planted between strawberry bushes.
Seating
Strawberry beds need to be formed especially carefully. Clayey and undrained damp areas are best suited for planting the Marshall variety, as gardeners write in reviews. It is good to create ridges on low hills so that the earth can warm up from all sides. Place the ridges in illuminated areas in the south-north direction.
The soil for strawberries is prepared in the fall. Organic fertilizers are added, such as compost or humus, peat, as well as sand and wood ash. During digging, roots and all plant debris are removed. If phacelia or mustard grew on the site, they are not pulled out, but embedded in the soil.
Planting strawberries
As already noted, Marshall strawberries can be propagated by seeds, root division and rosettes. The seeds are sown in February and the seedlings are grown in the traditional way. Seedlings are planted after positive temperatures have been established.
Strawberries can be propagated by dividing the bush in early spring, and by rosettes as they form. Spring planting allows you to obtain viable and fruit-bearing plants. In addition, such plants build up a powerful root system over the summer and tolerate winter well.
Gardeners can plant bushes:
- in a checkerboard pattern;
- in one line;
- in two lines.
Since strawberries grow a lot, there should be sufficient distance between them.
You need to know this
If a gardener decides to seriously take up a crop like strawberries, you need to remember:
- Strawberries are returned to their old place no earlier than after 3-4 years. The fact is that spores of fungal diseases have high strain activity. In addition, ectoparasites can remain in the soil for a long time.
- You need to be careful with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, as they promote the growth of green mass and sharply reduce the formation of flower stalks. Under no circumstances should you overdo it.
Features of care
There are no special requirements when growing the Marshall strawberry variety. All events are traditional, although some nuances still exist:
- According to the description and reviews of gardeners involved in the crop, the plant is drought-resistant. But you don’t need to rely on this; watering should be regular.
- As for feeding, the Marshall variety responds well to organic matter: infusions of mullein, chicken droppings, green grass and nettles. Feeding strawberries four times: in early spring, before flowering, at the time of filling the berries and after harvesting. This procedure is combined with watering and loosening the soil. If the shoots become thin, then the strawberry bushes are shed with an infusion of wood ash, and the leaves are powdered with a dry mixture.In addition to root feeding, foliar feeding is encouraged. They are carried out with ammonia, boric acid or iodine. 1 tablespoon of any substance is dissolved in 10 liters.
- To prevent diseases and kill pests, special preparations are used. Gardeners advise planting aromatic green herbs, as well as marigolds and calendula, between Marshall strawberry bushes. Any fertilizing and chemical treatments are stopped a month before harvesting.
- To obtain a harvest, it is necessary to remove excess tendrils and yellowing leaves on fruit-bearing bushes.
- In autumn, after fruiting has ended, the leaves are cut off. This work must be done carefully: be sure to leave the stumps at least 3 cm, since flower buds form at this height. For winter in harsh conditions, plantings are covered.
The Marshall variety is not difficult to grow; the main thing is to take into account the developmental characteristics of the plant and comply with agrotechnical standards.
