Content
Many strawberry varieties of foreign selection have taken root in the country, which are suitable for climatic and soil conditions. The industrial variety Symphony is loved by our gardeners for its bright taste and unpretentiousness. Bred in Scotland back in 1979 on the basis of the famous varieties Rhapsody and Holiday. These strawberries are grown in open ground and in greenhouses.
Characteristic
The durability and popularity of the mid-late strawberry variety Symphony is ensured by the extended harvest period for dessert berries. You can enjoy the magnificent looking fruits for almost two months, starting from the end of May or mid-June, which depends on the region. The Symphony variety is not remontant; it was bred for climatic conditions with frosty winters and short summers. And it meets the requirements with a harmonious composition of excellent taste, the ability to maintain an attractive appearance for a long time and resistance to harsh weather. The variety colonizes summer cottages and garden plots in the Urals and Siberia, enduring frosts with the help of gardeners.
According to reviews from gardeners, the strawberry variety Symphony keeps ripe berries on the bushes for a long time: they are picked for several days without fear that the appearance and structure of the pulp will deteriorate.They also remain in containers for some time during transportation and retain their commercial appeal. On average, each strawberry bush produces 2 kg of berries, less per year of planting. Harvests of Symphony strawberries in the second year, as stated in the description of the variety and in reviews, with good care reach 3.5 kg per bush. Thanks to these positive properties of the Symphony strawberry fruit, it is grown by large and small agricultural producers. The variety is also popular among amateur gardeners, because it can grow in one place for five years without losing productivity.
The Symphony variety is a dessert variety; berries with remarkable healing properties are best consumed fresh. The strawberry variety is widely represented in the retail chain due to its delicious appearance. The berries are used by the food industry and at home for jams, jams and other preparations. Excess firm berries can be frozen to preserve a bit of summer flavor for a winter's day.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The obvious advantages of Symphony strawberries are reflected in the description of the variety, numerous photos and reviews from gardeners.
- Excellent dessert taste, large size and appetizing appearance;
- Consistent ripening and uniformity of fruits;
- Excellent yield of the variety, meeting the requirements of industrial cultivation;
- Unpretentiousness to weather conditions. Grows in hot and cold regions without defects for berries;
- High shelf life and transportability;
- The variety is resistant to verticillium blight, blight and gray rot.
Some commentators consider the lack of remontant properties of the almost ideal strawberry variety Symphony to be a disadvantage.
Description
Symphony strawberry bushes are powerful, with dense foliage. The root system is well developed, deepens to 25-35 cm. Large leaves are dark green, hard. Veins protrude from the bottom of the leaf blade. The shoots spread up to 40 cm, the shortened horns of peduncles are numerous. Peduncles are strong, slightly pubescent, with a large number of flowers.
Bright red, regular conical shaped berries of large and medium size. The skin is shiny. Symphony strawberry fruits are dense, fleshy, juicy. Sweet berries smell pleasant, like strawberries. Weigh 30-40 g. The seeds are deepened into the fruit, small, yellow.
Growing
Strawberries are propagated by dividing the bushes and rooting the tendrils. As reported in the description of the Symphony strawberry variety, it is planted in August, September or April. Autumn planting makes it possible to harvest the first harvest next year. The site is prepared in advance. Six months before planting the strawberries, the soil is dug up and fertilized. For 1 sq. m take a bucket of humus or compost, 150 g of superphosphate, 100 g of potassium fertilizer.
Reproduction by divisions
Choose 3-4 year old Symphony strawberry bushes - well developed, with numerous horns and rosettes. They are dug up in spring or autumn and divided into parts.
- Each part must have long powerful roots, a horn, a rosette;
- In healthy seedlings, the apical bud is visible, the shoots are strong and have at least three leaves;
- You need to carefully consider the leaves of seedlings when purchasing. Their deformation and wrinkling are not allowed.Such defects may be signs of tick infestation.
Reproduction by mustache
Strawberries of the Symphony variety have a few mustaches. Most of all they are reproduced by a 2-3 year old bush. Planting material is selected from such plants.
- The tendril is cut off and placed in water with a solution of a root formation stimulator;
- When the roots and rosette are created, it can be transplanted into soft, nutritious soil;
- Water daily for 5 days to keep the soil wet;
- On the 6th day, the soil is mulched and not watered until the top layer dries;
- The seedling is placed on the site after 2 weeks.
Landing rules
Having prepared the seedlings and the plot, mark out the ribbons for the strawberries. The symphony grows quickly, scattering shoots to the sides, so the distance between the holes is 35 cm. If a two-line scheme is used, the distance is increased to 40 cm.
- The holes are dug to a depth that corresponds to the length of the roots and filled with water;
- Fertilize with a mixture of peat and humus, 1 part each;
- For better survival, pinch the longest root and cut off the leaves, leaving at least three;
- The rosette must be left on the surface;
- The top of the hole is mulched.
Care
After planting in autumn or early spring, young Symphony strawberries are covered with film or spunbond to protect them from frost. If flower stalks appear in the spring, they are torn off, giving the root system a chance to strengthen. If there is insufficient rain, strawberries are watered, then the soil is loosened and mulched. Make sure that water does not get on the plant. Accordingly, drip irrigation is preferable for strawberries. It is especially important during flowering and berry filling.
- It is advisable to remove the autumn mulch in the spring from the top layer of soil, removing hidden pests at the same time;
- The soil from another area is enriched with humus, compost and sprinkled under Symphony bushes;
- Trim dry and damaged leaves from bushes;
- Leaves are removed after fruiting from bushes older than two years.
Top dressing
The Symphony variety needs regular fertilizer to grow large berries.
- In the spring, for each bush, give 0.5 liters of nitroammophoska solution (25 g per 10 liters of water);
- Another option for spring feeding: 1 liter of mullein solution (1:10) and ammonium sulfate. Chicken manure is diluted 1:15;
- During the formation of ovaries, Symphony strawberries are fed with wood ash, products with potassium, phosphorus or complex fertilizers: Master, Kemira. Carry out foliar feeding with boric acid;
- After fruiting, especially after mowing strawberry plants, the bushes are optionally fertilized with urea, organic matter, and mineral complexes.
Preparing for winter
Fertilized in August, the strengthened bushes enter winter. In late autumn, strawberries are mulched with straw, covered with dry branches, and spruce branches can be placed on top. The Symphony variety is winter-hardy, but if frosts drop below 25 degrees, especially without snow, the bushes must be covered with agrotex or straw. The material is pulled over branches or on low arches.
Plant protection
Some diseases of the Symphony variety are caused by fungi.
- Strawberries suffer from black rot - darkening of the roots. Use Horus, Phytodoctor;
- In greenhouses, powdery mildew may spread on bushes of the Symphony variety, which can be eliminated with the help of the preparations Fundazol and Switch;
- Fungicides will help fight wilt;
- In the spring, the soil on the site is treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture to prevent pests.
A little care for planting will bring a generous harvest of tasty and healthy fruits.
