Content
Vivara strawberry is an ideal variety for growing in continental climates. The plant, bred in Italy, easily acclimatizes and can produce crops both in open ground and in a greenhouse. Fruitfulness and sweet taste attract the attention of gardeners. Before growing Vivaro strawberries, it is important to read the description of the variety, photos and reviews from gardeners.
History of selection
The variety was bred by Italian breeders. They set themselves the task of creating a cold-resistant and easy-to-transport crop.
Strawberry Vivara has taken root in the CIS countries
It is often compared to another Italian variety, Mucano, and is considered an improved version. Vivara strawberries are actively grown for personal purposes. The variety is suitable for commercial breeding.
Characteristics and description of Vivara strawberries
Vivara strawberries are remontant, capable of blooming and bearing fruit many times. Grows well in open and closed ground.
Vivara has a compact, medium-sized bush, tall, strong peduncles that bend under the weight of the berries. The leaves are dark green in color and edged with teeth.The berries are quite large. Their weight is 20–30 g.
Appearance and taste of berries
The symmetrical Vivara strawberries resemble a cut cone with a rounded tip.
The bright red skin begins to darken after full ripening. The sweetness of the berry is complemented by a slight sourness, and there is a strawberry aroma.
Flowering period, ripening period and yield
The flowering period begins at the end of May and lasts until mid-October. At this time, 1–2 kg of berries are collected from the bush. The variety is early-bearing; in July you can observe the appearance of the first berries after spring planting. Strawberry Vivara is self-pollinating. The cycle of ripening of berries and the appearance of new flowers lasts 5–6 weeks. Collection in open ground can be carried out until the first frost.
There are no gaps between waves of fruiting - flowering occurs continuously. To prevent strawberries from becoming depleted, it is recommended to sometimes break off the flower stalks, stabilizing the process.
Strawberry Vivara is among the top 5 fruit-bearing varieties
The crop actively bears fruit for five years, after which the soil begins to deplete. To extend the period, use additional fertilizing. At the end of April, strawberries can be fertilized with mullein, manure, or a mixture of organic compounds. Feeding is carried out 2-3 times per season. They begin to add nutrients in the spring. Yeast, which contains beneficial proteins and chemical microelements, is in demand among gardeners. They activate the growth of Vivara and fix it more firmly in the ground after transplantation. You can also increase the yield and strengthen the plant with the help of special mineral fertilizers.
Frost resistance
The strawberry variety tolerates immediate climate changes well. It is frost-resistant, allowing it to take root quickly after planting. Vivara also tolerates heat well. The berries are not baked and do not lose their taste.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Strawberry Vivara resists well the main diseases of the crop. Pathology can be identified by the following signs:
- white or brown spots on the leaves are a symptom of spotting;
- whitish cobwebby coating is a feature of the manifestation of powdery mildew;
- Fruit rotting is observed during rots.
It is recommended to grow Vivara strawberries using black agrofibre. This allows you to protect seedlings from gray rot.
Thanks to immunity, strawberries can be grown without the use of chemicals; Vivara is resistant to root rot, anthracnose, and strawberry mite. In rainy and cold seasons, bushes are sprayed with iodine solution for prevention. For powdery mildew, use a concentrated mixture of iodine and milk; this composition will not harm the foliage.
You can repel pests by scattering tobacco dust over the beds. As a preventive measure against parasites and diseases, strawberries and soil are sprayed with garlic infusion and a decoction of onion peels. If spots often appear on strawberries, treatments with Fitosporin are necessary twice a year.
Pros and cons of the variety
Vivara has both pros and cons. The positive qualities of the variety outweigh the negative ones.
Advantages | Flaws |
High, continuous fruiting, which the bushes retain for 4–5 years | To maintain a good harvest, the variety requires attention from early spring to late autumn (watering, loosening, mulching, pruning, replanting, preparing for winter) |
Self-pollination | The bushes produce few whiskers, which slows down the reproduction rate |
Sweet taste | In cold climates, with cloudy and rainy summers, sugar content decreases |
Ease of transportation | If you do not use additional bait, the quality of the fruit deteriorates every year. |
Large berries |
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Cold weather resistance |
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Immunity to diseases |
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The versatility of the fruit |
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Landing
Seedlings are planted in the ground from spring to autumn. The mustaches are transplanted at the end of July. Planting in the summer will give the bushes time to take root, get stronger, and prepare for frost in order to bear fruit next year. The ideal place for cultivating Vivara would be a sunny area with slight shading. The site is first dug up and all weeds and roots are removed.
A few weeks before planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers: compost from leaves, rotted waste, wood ash. When planting, it is important that the root collar goes shallow into the ground. The first weeks require daily watering.
Bushes are planted at a distance of 30–40 cm from each other
Care
To get a bountiful harvest, Vivara strawberries will need proper care. The plant needs regular irrigation. Before flowering begins, rain watering is suitable; after the ovaries form, it is recommended to use the drip method. It is advisable that warm water goes directly to the root. 1 requires 10 liters.
Vivara strawberries require regular weed removal. Weeding should be done so that the grass does not take away nutrients from the crop and does not shade it.The weeding process is combined with loosening and surface covering of the soil with mulch. In this case, the roots receive enough oxygen.
The Vivara strawberry produces a moderate amount of whiskers. The rosettes quickly take root and produce a harvest in the first season. Whether to leave them or not depends on the area. Dry, reddened leaves must be removed.
Vivara does not require special preparation for adverse conditions. For regions with cold winters, snow cover will be sufficient. Where the climate is unstable, the beds are covered with spunbond. You can cover the top with spruce branches.
Reproduction
Reproduction is carried out using a mustache. The process of their formation begins after cutting off the flower stalks on the bushes. It is recommended to root the grown rosettes in plastic containers. In this case, seedlings are formed with a closed root system.
The children closest to the mother bush are considered the strongest
The rosettes are separated after the development of the root system. The transplant can be done immediately. It will take about two weeks to adapt.
Those who plan to buy seedlings should pay attention to their external characteristics:
- The leaves should be uniform in color, without spotting or dry edges.
- Developed root system, without growths or signs of diseases on the root collar.
- Strong socket.
Conclusion
Vivara strawberries have gained popularity among European gardeners. The commercial, cold-resistant, large-fruited variety does not lose its relevance. Growing strawberries does not require much effort; a good harvest can be achieved with minimal agrotechnical skills, which is favorable for beginning gardeners.
