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What gardeners tend and cherish in their garden plots, calling them strawberries, are actually large-fruited garden strawberries.
Real strawberries were eaten by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as they grew in large quantities in European forests. It was first introduced into culture by the Moors in Spain. Since then, it has been grown as a cultivated berry in the gardens of many European countries. Even new varieties of this berry have appeared: musky, nutmeg, and cinnamon-flavored.
The history of the creation of large-fruited strawberries
Large-fruited strawberry is American in origin. First, meadow strawberries, the so-called Virginia strawberries, which grew in abundance in North America, were brought to Europe. This happened in the 17th century. The novelty took root and began to be grown in European gardens, including the Paris Botanical Garden. After 100 years, strawberries from Chile also came there. Its berries, unlike Virginia strawberries, were lighter in color and had a sweet taste. Pollination occurred between these species, the result of which gave rise to the whole variety of modern varieties of garden strawberries.
The difference between true strawberries and garden strawberries
What is the difference between plants that are strawberries, but are called strawberries out of habit in the botanical sense of the word?
- The berries that we grow and call strawberries are most often dioecious; the wild type has female and male plants. The latter do not produce berries and, due to their aggressiveness, can displace females.
- Garden berries can only be found in the wild on the site of an old abandoned berry patch, since this species does not exist in nature. Its wild sister has several species and grows in nature not only in different countries, but also on different continents.
- Both species can grow in nature, but garden crops quickly run wild without care, producing small berries.
- The garden version is quite difficult to separate from the stalk, while this is very easy to do for wild berries.
- The wild berry loves shady areas, and its garden relative in the shade simply will not produce a harvest.
- The pulp of true strawberries is white, and the berry itself is not all colored; garden strawberries are characterized by a red or pink color, except for varieties Mitze Schindler and Pyeberry with white berries and red seeds.
- The peduncles of true strawberries are very strong and located above the leaves; garden strawberries can rarely boast of such dignity; under the weight of the berries, the peduncles lie on the ground.
True strawberries are presented in photographs:
From a botanical point of view, strawberries and garden strawberries belong to the same genus, strawberries of the Rosaceae family, but different species, which, according to some sources, can be from 20 to 30. The most famous and beloved: garden strawberries or wild strawberries, wild strawberries, which also have garden forms with larger berries.They came from a subspecies of alpine strawberries that bloom all summer, so they themselves are remontant.
Zemklunika
Real strawberries can most often be found in the collections of botanical gardens, since they have no prospects for growing as a garden crop, which cannot be said about its hybrid with garden strawberries, which is called zemclunica. There is more than one variety of this berry. All of them are very decorative and produce a good harvest of not very large berries - up to 20 g, which are dark in color, often with a purple tint. Strawberries took the best from both of their parents: taste and large fruit from strawberries, and resistance to frost and decorativeness from strawberries. Its berries are very tasty with a peculiar nutmeg aroma.
History of the name Victoria
Garden strawberries are often called Victoria. What is the difference between strawberry and Victoria and is there really a difference? Let's figure out where this name came from and what is the correct name for everyone's favorite berry - strawberry or Victoria? Why is this berry called that?
As often happens, at one time there was confusion, which for a long time assigned the name Victoria to garden strawberries.
Previously, until the end of the 18th century, wild strawberries were eaten in Russia. The first large-fruited Virginia strawberries appeared in the royal garden during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In Europe, work was already underway intensively on the selection and development of new varieties of large-fruited strawberries by crossing Virginia and Chilean strawberries. One of these varieties was obtained in France and named Victoria.
It was the Victoria strawberry that was the first representative of large-fruited garden strawberries to come to our country. Since then, all garden berries in Russia have long been called Victoria; in some regions this name for the berry still exists. The variety itself turned out to be very durable and lasted in cultivation for about a hundred years, in some places it is still preserved.
Old but not forgotten variety
Strawberry Victoria description of the variety photo reviews of gardeners about it are presented below.
Characteristics of the variety
It is a vigorous plant that produces a large bush with dark, healthy leaves. Victoria strawberries are not afraid of winter frosts, but the flowers are sensitive to spring frosts. This is not a very early, but resistant strawberry variety. For a good harvest it requires sufficient watering. According to gardeners, the variety is for quick consumption, as it spoils easily and is not transportable. But the taste of this variety is beyond praise.
Strawberry agricultural technology Victoria
In order to get a good harvest of berries you need to work hard. Strawberry cultivation begins with its planting. The beds for this berry should be located in a place that is illuminated throughout the day.
The best soil for Victoria strawberries is light sandy loam or loamy soil. This soil is heavier, but it retains moisture well, which is important for growing this berry.
With its deficiency, plants are inhibited.To enrich the top layer of soil with oxygen, loosen the soil after each watering. The depth of loosening next to plants is no more than 4 cm, so as not to damage the roots.
Soil preparation
The ground for planting strawberries in spring you need to prepare it in the fall, and for the summer - in the spring. When digging, select all the roots of weeds, adding 10 kg of humus or compost per square meter. m. Be sure to add complex fertilizer up to 70 g per square meter. m.
This must be done in advance and strictly according to the instructions included with the drug. Most often, chalk or dolomite flour is used for these purposes. Liming with these substances can be carried out once every 5-6 years. If such a procedure is not possible, there is a way to gradually increase the pH by frequently adding ash, which also alkalizes the soil, while simultaneously enriching it with potassium and microelements.
Landing technology
Only healthy plants are propagated. In the summer you can take already rooted rosettes of the first year of life. The root system should be strong, and the bush itself should have 4-5 leaves. For spring planting, take last year's overwintered plants.
They must fully comply with the Victoria strawberry variety and be healthy and strong no older than the second year of life. It is better not to let the selected bushes bloom so that all the energy is spent on forming rosettes.
Planting is carried out in holes fertilized with humus and ash with the addition of 1 tsp.complex fertilizer. The holes are well shed with water - at least 1 liter per bush. Planting depth - the lower level of the roots should be 20 cm from the soil level. You can't put your heart to sleep. Advice! It is better not to fill the hole completely, so that next year you can add a little humus to the strawberry plants.
There are many strawberry planting schemes. Each gardener chooses the most convenient way to place plants. The main thing is to maintain a distance between bushes of at least 25 cm, and between rows of at least 40 cm.
Further care for strawberries comes down to watering during drought and loosening the soil after it. Feeding during the growing season is required. Standard scheme: in early spring, during the formation of buds and after harvest.
Advice! Do not feed strawberries with nitrogen fertilizers in late summer or early fall to better prepare the plants for winter.
Let's sum it up
Strawberry Victoria is an old, but proven and very tasty variety. Give him a place in your garden beds, and he will reward you with a harvest of berries with an unforgettable taste.
