Content
- 1 Choosing a strawberry variety for the middle zone
- 2 Strawberry varieties for the middle zone
- 3 The best early varieties of strawberries for the middle zone
- 4 Large-fruited strawberry varieties for the middle zone
- 5 Yield varieties of strawberries for the middle zone
- 6 Features of growing strawberries in the middle zone
- 7 When to plant strawberries in the middle zone
- 8 Strawberry care
- 9 Conclusion
Strawberries began to be grown as a houseplant about 200 years ago. Now these berries are so popular that they are found in almost every garden plot. The variety of varieties bred is simply amazing. Each of them differs in the ripening time and taste of the berries. There is also strawberry, which can bear fruit twice a season. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, everyone can choose the variety that suits them. Of course, when choosing, it is very important to take into account the climatic conditions of your region. Therefore, now we will talk about how to choose the best strawberry varieties for the middle zone.
Choosing a strawberry variety for the middle zone
The fact is that the range of strawberry varieties for central Russia is not so rich.The climatic conditions in this area are very unstable, and there are very few truly warm and sunny days. Rainfall may be rare, resulting in frequent droughts. All this should be taken into account when choosing varieties for your site.
Summarizing all of the above, we can make a list of criteria for suitable varieties:
- tolerance to spring frosts;
- the ability to grow and develop even in drought or rainy conditions;
- high disease resistance, especially to fungi, which most often infect plants in moist soil.
It is very important to follow this list when choosing strawberries. Some species grow well in the southern regions of the country, but may not bear fruit at all in the central regions.
Strawberry varieties for the middle zone
Some varieties can grow well in any conditions. These plants are in great demand because they do not require special conditions. These varieties include:
Gigantella
Refers to the Dutch varieties of strawberries. Gigantella is resistant to many diseases. It has large fruits and a pleasant sweet-sour taste. The pulp is quite dense, thanks to which the strawberries do not lose their presentable appearance for a long time. She is not afraid of frosts and pests. The fruiting period is long, from the beginning of June until the onset of cold weather.
Queen Elizabeth
The variety is large-fruited, the berries are very tasty and sweet. They have a pronounced pleasant aroma. Buds on the bushes form already in late autumn - early winter. During the summer, the fruits are harvested 2 times. The berries are dense and tolerate transportation well. Suitable for freezing.
Lord
Juicy red-burgundy fruits ripen towards the end of June. This species has large berries. It easily tolerates dry weather and cold. Resistantly fights various diseases and pests.
Zenga-Zengana
This plant has small berries, they taste sweet and smell very pleasant. The bush is resistant to a variety of weather conditions. Rarely attacked by insects.
The best early varieties of strawberries for the middle zone
The following varieties of early strawberries are most often grown in this area.
Sudarushka
The berries of this variety have a regular rounded shape. The weight of each berry can range from 15 to 35 grams. They have a bright scarlet color and shiny skin. The pulp is quite juicy and tasty. The strawberry smell is pronounced. The plant tolerates frost well. Boasts immunity to viruses and bacteria.
Elsanta
Dutch variety with sweet and sour fruits. They are large in size and rich red in color. The berries are dense and shiny. The variety can be stored for a long time. Most often, the berries are picked while still unripe before transportation. In greenhouse conditions, the fruits ripen by the end of May.
Darselect
One of the youngest varieties, as it was developed relatively recently. The first fruits begin to turn red in early June. The berries have a high density. The color of the fruit is very rich, red-orange. The weight of each berry is about 50–70 grams. The fruits are sweet with a slight sourness. Darselect rarely gets sick.
Alba
This species came to us from Italy, where it was bred. Alba's productivity is high. It ripens quickly and is distinguished by its oblong fruit shape. The berry has a pleasant sweet taste. The fruits are hard and dense.The experience of gardeners shows that berries grow well not only in a greenhouse, but also in an open garden bed.
Vima Zanta
The Elsanta and Crown. Vima Zanta is characterized by slightly curled leaves, as well as large round berries. The weight of each fruit is approximately 40–45 grams. They are quite sweet and aromatic. Many praise this species for its frost resistance and high immunity to diseases. The berries tolerate transportation well. The plant does not require much attention and grows well both indoors and outdoors.
Large-fruited strawberry varieties for the middle zone
Kiss-Nelis
Strawberries are medium early. It has large berries and high yields. The pulp is quite dense and has a pleasant smell. The fruits are delicious, rich cherry color. The variety has proven itself to be resistant to pests and diseases.
Marvelous
These strawberries are more mid-early than early. It has beautiful oblong fruits. The berries are bright red in color with a pleasant sweet and sour taste. The variety boasts high resistance to gray rot. It is also rarely affected by other fungal diseases.
Clery
The variety bears fruit well in the middle climate. He is not afraid of cold weather and all kinds of diseases. Undemanding to care and growing conditions. It has large oblong berries.
Belrubi
The variety is famous primarily for its taste. Yields are relatively low. The fruits are medium size, dark burgundy in color. Strawberries easily tolerate winter frosts and rarely get sick.
Yield varieties of strawberries for the middle zone
This group includes mainly new varieties that are characterized by high yields and large fruits with excellent taste. These include the varieties listed below.
Marmalade
Refers to decorative varieties. It has high yields and incredibly appetizing berries. It begins to bear fruit in the second week of June. The fruits are red, rich in color, and small. Excellent for fresh consumption, as well as for preservation and drying.
Symphony
The variety was brought to us from England. He is not afraid of frost and drought. Has high immunity to most strawberry diseases. Each berry can weigh about 30–40 grams. They are all quite large and fragrant. They have a rich scarlet hue. They are easy to transport over long distances.
Roxana
The variety is late, but with high yields. The berries can be stored well. The plant rarely suffers from exposure to cold. The fruits are fragrant, quite dense and tasty. The berry grows well both in greenhouses and in open ground. Needs timely watering and regular feeding.
San Andreas
Refers to the remontant type of strawberry. The fruits are large, each berry weighs about 30 g. They have a pleasant sweet taste. The pulp is not very dense, so transport San Andreas It won't work over long distances.
Pandora
The plant has good frost resistance. Even if frosts begin after the bushes bloom, the plants will not be harmed. The variety is high-yielding and has large, sweet berries. They are quite dense, making strawberries quite transportable.
Zenkora
She also came to us from the North Caucasus. The bushes are medium-sized and quite dense. Each fruit weighs about 50 g. The berry is conical in shape and dark cherry in color.It is very meaty and tasty.
Features of growing strawberries in the middle zone
Homemade strawberries are heat-loving plants. Moisture is also necessary for its normal growth. Today it is very easy to choose strawberry varieties for any area. There are certain species that grow well in a variety of conditions. But, no matter how versatile the plant is, it must be planted in a sunny place.
The soil for growing strawberries should not be too wet. This will prevent the plants from developing properly. Also, the bed should not be blown by northern winds. You should take a responsible approach to the choice of site, since the crop yield directly depends on it.
The most suitable soil for strawberries is sandy and loamy soil. It should also contain enough humus and minerals. Before planting strawberries, the bed must be carefully dug up and all weeds. After this, the top layer of soil is leveled and watered with a solution of copper sulfate.
Approximately 70 cm is left between the rows of bushes. This is necessary for good growth. In order for not only the first, but all harvests to be generous, the sprouts should be broken through after the first harvest.
When to plant strawberries in the middle zone
Climate conditions in the middle zone allow you to plant strawberries both in spring and autumn. By planting bushes in the fall, you can get a modest harvest of berries by the beginning of the season.But at the same time, spring planting almost 100% guarantees that the seedlings will take root and not freeze when frost sets in. Gardeners have noticed that bushes planted in spring are stronger and healthier. More specific planting dates depend, of course, on weather conditions.
To protect plants from the cold, planting is usually started in August. But in the spring you can plant strawberries in May. If cold snaps and frosts are not predicted, then even in April.
Strawberry care
Caring for berries in the middle zone is practically no different from caring for them in other regions. In order for your plants to grow well and produce a generous harvest, it is important to follow these rules:
- perform regular watering as needed in the morning or evening;
- It is imperative to fertilize the soil in autumn and spring throughout the entire growing season;
- weed and loosen the soil as needed. You can mulch the soil with straw. This is to protect plants from diseases;
- removal of tendrils and darkened leaves. Old shoots should also be plucked;
- inspecting plants for signs of disease. Treatment of bushes to prevent infection by viruses and bacteria;
- Rejuvenate strawberries every 3 years.
Conclusion
The information from this article proves that growing strawberries in the middle zone is not at all difficult. This culture is undemanding in terms of conditions and care. In the conditions of the middle zone, you can grow early, mid-season and late varieties of strawberries. Most varieties have high frost resistance and rarely get sick.But still, like any other plants, strawberries need to be fed and watered. It is also necessary to remove old leaves and shoots every season. Such simple care will not take much time, but will undoubtedly give good results.
