Content
Strawberry Mara de Bois is a variety of French origin. Produces very tasty berries with a bright strawberry aroma. The variety is demanding in terms of care, does not withstand drought well, and has average frost resistance. Suitable for growing in the south, and in the regions of the middle zone - only under cover.
History of selection
Mara de Bois is a strawberry variety bred in the 80s of the 20th century by French breeders of the Andre company based on several species:
- Crown;
- Ostara;
- Gento;
- Red Gauntlet.
The variety was successfully tested and received a patent in 1991. It quickly spread throughout Europe and the USA. It is also known in Russia, but is not included in the register of breeding achievements.
Description of the Mara de Bois strawberry variety and characteristics
The bushes are low (15–20 cm on average), the number of leaves is small, and the growth rate is average. The apical growth is not pronounced, the plants spread out well, but overall they look compact.The leaf blades are trifoliate, dark green in color, with a bubbly surface and slightly rising edges. The foliage protects the berries well from wind and rain.
Strawberries of the Mara de Bois variety are a monoecious plant (each bush has male and female flowers). The peduncles are thin, low, covered with a small layer of pubescence. They grow at foliage level in large quantities. Each peduncle has 5–7 inflorescences.
The shoots are shortened, creeping, and come in three types:
- Horns with rosettes of leaves (3–7 in one) produce flower stalks growing from the apical buds (due to this, the yield increases).
- Whiskers are creeping branches that develop after the flowers wither. They take a lot of moisture and nutrients, so it is better to remove them periodically.
- Peduncles form 30 days after the start of active growth. They emerge from flower buds. The life cycle ends with the formation of fruits (after another 30 days).
The roots are developed; whorls forming horns are visible at the base of the stem. In the future, each layer can take root. The root system is represented by a modified scaly stem. It nourishes the plant throughout its entire life cycle, which lasts 3 years. After this, the root becomes darker and dies. Therefore, it is better to renew plantings every 2–3 seasons.
Strawberries Mara de Bois have an exquisite taste and aroma
Characteristics of fruits, taste
The berries are bright red, medium in size (weight 15–20, less often up to 25 g), typical conical shape. It has been noticed that in spring and autumn the fruits are larger than in summer. Different fruits may differ in appearance - heterogeneous. The seeds are yellow, small, superficial.
The consistency of the berries is very pleasant, tender, medium density.The taste is multifaceted, “for gourmets” (5 out of 5 points according to the tasting rating). The sweet note is pronounced, there is a pleasant sourness, and a rich strawberry aroma. There may be small cavities inside, which does not spoil the taste at all.
Ripening time, yield and keeping quality
Mara de Bois is a remontant variety: strawberries appear several times a season from the beginning of June to the first days of September. The total yield is 500–800 g per bush. The transportability and keeping quality of the berries are average. But if the temperature conditions are observed (5–6 degrees Celsius) and the packaging is correct (not too tightly, in 4–5 layers), it can be transported without damage to the fruits.
Growing regions, frost resistance
The frost resistance of Mara de Bois strawberries is rated above average. It takes root well in the southern regions (Krasnodar, Stavropol Territories, North Caucasus and others). In the middle zone and the Volga region it grows under cover. In the Northwest and other northern regions, breeding is problematic, and the taste may be worse. It is also difficult to grow in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East, but possible (if there are no returning or early autumn frosts in the summer).
In most regions of Russia, Mara de Bois strawberries can only be grown under cover
Resistance to diseases and pests
The variety is immune to powdery mildew. But resistance to other diseases is average or weak:
- Fusarium wilt (brown coating on leaves, drying out);
- white spot (spots on leaves);
- gray rot (mold on berries due to high humidity).
Also, yields may fall due to the appearance of pests: slugs, aphids, weevils.
The main preventive measure is to treat Mara de Bois strawberries with Bordeaux mixture or other fungicides (before flowering):
- "Profit";
- "Ordan";
- "Fitosporin";
- "Maksim".
Insecticides used against insects:
- "Fitoverm";
- "Akarin";
- "Biotlin";
- "Match".
It is also recommended to use folk remedies (infusion of tobacco dust, ash with laundry soap, garlic cloves, onion peels, decoction of potato tops and many others). Processing of Mara de Bois strawberries is carried out in cloudy weather or late evening, in the absence of strong wind and rain. If chemicals are used, then harvesting can only begin after 3–5 days or more.
All other plants must be immediately treated with a fungicide - folk remedies are not suitable in this situation.
Fusarium - an incurable disease of strawberries
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The indisputable advantage of the Mara de Bois variety is its harmonious, sweet, bright taste with a pleasant strawberry aroma. This is a classic strawberry, the berries of which are especially pleasant to eat fresh. Along with this, they can be prepared in other traditional ways: jam, jam, berry juice.
The Mara de Bois variety needs good care, but produces very tasty berries
Pros:
- exceptionally pleasant taste;
- tender, juicy consistency;
- marketable berries;
- high productivity;
- the bushes are compact and do not take up much space;
- produces a harvest from June to September;
- immunity to powdery mildew;
- can be grown not only horizontally, but also vertically.
Minuses:
- the culture is demanding of care;
- frost resistance is average;
- does not tolerate drought well;
- there is a tendency to a number of diseases;
- there are voids in the berries;
- produces many shoots that need to be removed.
Reproduction methods
Strawberries Mara de Bois are propagated using standard methods:
- mustache;
- dividing the bush.
The plant has a lot of shoots. As they appear, they are cut off from the mother plant and planted in moist, fertile soil, buried 3–4 cm. This method is suitable for young plants in their first year of life.
It is recommended to divide bushes that are 2-3 years old (in late spring or early autumn, after harvesting the entire crop). To do this, the Mara de Bois strawberries are dug up and placed in a bowl with settled water. After a few hours, the roots will separate on their own (no need to pull them). If you get a double horn, you can cut it with a knife. The delenki are planted in a new place, watered, and carefully mulched on the eve of frost. In this case, all flower stalks must be removed during planting.
Planting and care
To grow large and tasty Mara de Bois strawberries, as in the photo and in the description of the variety, you need to organize careful care: the variety is demanding, but all efforts will pay off. First of all, you need to choose a place for Mara de Bois - the following requirements are imposed on it:
- moderately humid (not low);
- not arid (hillocks are also not suitable);
- the soil is light and fertile (light loam, sandstone);
- the soil is acidic (pH in the range of 4.5–5.5).
Plantings can be covered with agrofibre
It is undesirable for Solanaceae, as well as cabbage and cucumbers, to previously grow in the area where it is planned to grow Mara de Bois strawberries. The best predecessors: beets, carrots, oats, garlic, legumes, dill, rye.
In the south, Mara de Bois strawberries are planted in late April or early May.In the middle zone - towards the end of May or early June in Siberia, in the Urals - in the first weeks of summer. It is recommended to fertilize the soil with manure in advance (a month in advance) - a bucket per 1 m2. Planting pattern: 25 cm between bushes and 40 cm between rows.
Rules for caring for Mara de Bois strawberries:
- watering weekly (in hot weather - 2 times) with warm water;
- mulching with peat, sawdust, sand (layer at least 15 cm);
- mustache removal – regularly;
- loosening the soil - after moistening and heavy rains.
Mara de Bois strawberries are fed several times a season:
- In spring, nitrogen compounds (urea or ammonium nitrate 15–20 g per 1 m2).
- During the formation of buds - wood ash (200 g per 1 m2), as well as superphosphates and potassium salt (foliar feeding).
- During fruit formation - organic matter (mullein or droppings): 0.5 liters of infusion per 1 bush.
Preparing for winter
To prepare Mara de Bois strawberries for winter, you need to remove all the tendrils and dry leaves and add spruce branches or agrofibre. If winters are snowy, shelter is minimal.
Conclusion
Mara de Bois strawberries are demanding to care for, but they are productive and produce very tasty berries, which are noticeably different from a number of domestic varieties. It is better to grow under cover; in the south it can also be grown in open ground. Regular watering, removal of whiskers and fertilizing are required.
Reviews of the strawberry variety Mara de Bois
