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When planting strawberries on a plot, gardeners give preference to large-fruited, high-yielding varieties with an extended fruiting period. Naturally, the taste of the berries must also be of high standards. Large-fruited varieties meet these requirements remontant berries, which include the Geneva strawberry.
The variety was bred quite a long time ago; already in the 90s of the last century, gardeners were actively growing “Geneva” on their plots. If you pay attention to the description of the variety, photos and reviews of the “Geneva” strawberries, you will immediately feel the desire to plant a magnificent variety.
Description and characteristics of the variety
A more detailed acquaintance with the description and photo of the “Geneva” strawberry variety will help gardeners grow an excellent harvest. Therefore, let's start with external characteristics to imagine what the plant will look like in the garden:
Bushes Strawberry varieties "Geneva" are powerful, rather squat and spreading. Therefore, planting too close can lead to thickening of the rows and the spread of gray rot. One bush gives from 5 to 7 mustaches. This is an average for the crop, so the variety does not require their constant removal.
Leaves "Geneva" is light green in color and medium in size. Peduncles are long. But the fact that they are not erect, but inclined towards the soil, leads to a low position of the berries.When planting Geneva strawberries, care should be taken to ensure that the berries do not touch the ground.
Berries. One bush produces fruits of different sizes. “Geneva” is a large-fruited variety; one berry in the first wave of fruiting reaches a weight of more than 50 g. Gardeners note the main disadvantage of the variety is the tendency of the berries to become smaller during the growing season. Late harvesting is different in that the strawberries become almost 2 times smaller. But the aroma is so persistent and rich that the place where the strawberries are planted can be determined from afar. The shape of the fruit resembles a truncated red cone. The pulp is aromatic, juicy, sweet taste. According to the description of the variety, the fruits of the Geneva strawberries do not have an acidic taste, but they cannot be called cloyingly sweet either. Gardeners note a very pleasant, memorable taste.
Now let's move on to those characteristics that most attract strawberry lovers.
Fruiting. According to the description, the “Geneva” strawberry belongs to the remontant varieties, and reviews from gardeners indicate the stability of fruiting even under unfavorable conditions. But the variety has some peculiarity.
The Geneva crop is harvested for the first time in the first ten days of June. Then the bushes of the variety undergo a short-term rest for 2.5 weeks. At this time, the strawberry throws out its mustache, and re-blooming begins.
Now the berries are harvested in early July, and the plants form and root rosettes on their tendrils. After the formation of the 7th leaf, these rosettes begin to flower, which ensures further uninterrupted fruiting until frost.This is the peculiarity of the remontant variety “Geneva”, which bears fruit on young plants, and not just on mother ones. If the variety is grown in a bad year, when there are few sunny days and it rains often, then “Geneva” still produces a good harvest due to internal reserves.
Resistance to diseases and pests. Genetically, the variety was bred so that the main fungal and viral infections are not capable of causing significant harm to Geneva. Spider mite infestations are also not harmful to plantings. It is necessary to pay attention to the prevention of gray rot. This disease affects Geneva strawberries when the requirements of agricultural technology are violated.
Life cycle. Strawberries of the "Geneva" variety "age" much earlier than ordinary varieties. According to reviews from gardeners, the strawberry variety “Geneva” has this feature. For a maximum of three years you can hope for a high harvest, and then the yield drops, making further cultivation of old bushes unprofitable.
Growing Basics
The description of the Geneva strawberry states that the variety can be propagated using layering (whiskers) or seeds. Propagating strawberries by rooting mustaches is quite simple, so this method is also available to novice gardeners. The tendrils that appear after the first wave of fruiting are rooted using a “slingshot” or planting in separate pots. The earlier rooting is carried out, the more powerful the strawberry seedlings will be.
The second method is more labor-intensive and complex. It is chosen by experienced gardeners. Let's take a closer look at the process of sowing seeds and caring for seedlings.
Sowing
Some gardeners begin preparing purchased seeds for planting as early as January. First, the planting material is placed in the refrigerator on the top shelf and left for a month. In the regions of the central zone, sowing is scheduled for the end of February or the beginning of March. In the southern regions the deadlines are shifted 2 weeks earlier.
Start sowing. It is best to use ready-made universal soil for seedlings. Containers with a diameter of 10-15 cm are suitable as containers. For the germination of Geneva strawberry seeds, ensure the substrate humidity is at least 80%. To do this, add 800 ml of water to 1 kg of dry soil and mix until smooth.
Now fill the container with wet soil, but not to the very top. You should leave 2-3 cm for quality care of seedlings. The surface is compacted quite a bit and laid out on top Strawberry seeds variety "Geneva". Now sprinkle the seed with a thin layer of soil or sand, moisten it with a spray bottle, cover it with glass (film) and place it in a bright, warm place. Now you have to be patient. Strawberry "Geneva" sprouts sprout unevenly. The first ones may appear after 35 days, and the remaining ones on the 60th day.
Care
Until the first shoots appear, keep the soil slightly moist. The ideal temperature for germination is 18 ºC -20 ºC. At this temperature, the seeds germinate in 2 weeks. The emerging sprouts signal that the seedlings should be moved to a very well-lit place. If this cannot be done, then the “Geneva” seedlings will have to be illuminated. The second important condition is regular ventilation.
Picking
Strawberry seedlings "Geneva" are sprouting at the stage of 2 true leaves.This usually happens after 1.5-2 months. Seedlings are planted in separate containers at the same depth.
Now care consists of moderate watering and mandatory hardening 2 weeks before planting. As soon as the Geneva seedlings undergo adaptation, the bushes are planted in a permanent place.
Planting seedlings in open ground
There are two planting dates for Geneva strawberries, which, according to gardeners, are the most favorable. In the spring, the event is scheduled for mid-May or a little later, and in the fall - mid-August and until the end of September. The best place to locate strawberry beds is considered to be an area where legumes, parsley, garlic, radishes or mustard were grown. But nightshades, raspberries or cabbage are not very successful predecessors for Geneva. It is important to choose a sunny and level place for the variety to prevent moisture stagnation on the ridges. Strawberry "Geneva" prefers loam or sandy loam with a neutral (or slightly acidic) reaction. But the crop does not like peaty or soddy-podzolic soil. In this case, measures will have to be taken to improve the structure. Prepare the soil in advance. For spring planting of seedlings, preparatory work begins in the fall, for autumn - in the spring:
- They dig up the earth with a pitchfork, simultaneously clearing weed, garbage and other plant debris.
- When digging 1 sq. m add compost, humus or manure (1 bucket), wood ash (5 kg).
- A month before the planned planting date, add 1 tbsp to the soil. spoon of Kalifos product per 1 sq. m area.
The process of planting Geneva at different times of the year is absolutely identical.
If we take into account the description of the variety and reviews of gardeners about the Geneva strawberry, then it is better to plant remontant varieties in late summer or autumn.In this case, the seedlings have time to take root before the onset of winter. Pests and diseases also become less active at this time of year, which helps preserve the viability of young plants.
There are two ways to plant strawberries:
- private (25 cm x 70 cm);
- carpet (20 cm x 20 cm).
Planting is easier for plants if it occurs on a cloudy day. Place 1-2 seedlings in one hole and make sure that the roots do not bend upward and the heart is above ground level. The soil is compacted and the strawberries are watered.
Caring for mature bushes
Proper care of Geneva strawberry bushes consists of:
- loosening the soil and mulching (straw, agrofibre);
- abundant regular watering, preferably drip watering (the variety has shallow roots);
- feeding (very important after harvesting the first harvest);
- timely treatment against pests and diseases;
- weeding rows, removing excess tendrils and reddened leaves.
The remontant variety “Geneva” does not need to be pruned so that the plant does not lose its vitality.
To prevent freezing, the beds are covered with straw before winter. Many gardeners practice growing Geneva strawberries in protected soil, especially in regions with cool climates. This makes it possible to collect the second wave of ripened berries in full.
Reviews
In addition to the description of the variety and photos, reviews from gardeners play a big role in getting to know the Geneva strawberries.
