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Tulip Strong Love surprises with deep, rich shades of ripe pomegranate. Its petals feel like leathery material and have a beautiful dark tint. For the appearance of the flowers, as well as for the unpretentiousness of the Strong Love variety in care, it was highly appreciated by gardeners.
Description of Strong Love tulips
Strong tulips belong to the Triumph class - the most popular in the world. It was developed by crossing Darwin and Simple early tulips. The Strong Love variety is a Dutch selection, obtained on the basis of another similar variety called Strong Gold. They are united by the shape of the inflorescences and are distinguished only by the color of the petals.
The Strong Love variety has a slender shape. The flowering stems are strong and durable, reaching a height of 50–55 cm. The flowers are single and large, classically goblet-shaped, 6–10 cm high. They retain a decorative appearance, both in buds and after opening.
In the Strong Love tulip variety, the color of the petals changes from bright red at the top edge to dark burgundy at the base. Such shades look impressive against the backdrop of dense foliage and powerful stems.
The leaves are gray-green or green in color and have a smooth or slightly wavy edge. Harmonizes with red-burgundy tones of flowers.
The flowering period is average, lasts up to 3 weeks and occurs in April–May. The duration depends on weather conditions and how well the place for planting tulips is chosen.
Other features of the Strong Love variety:
- petals are glossy, leathery;
- flowering occurs once per season;
- the shape changes from a narrow, cone-shaped to a wider, goblet-shaped;
- the foliage is lush;
- the leaf blades are large, matte, their length reaches the middle of the buds;
- ability to produce a large number of baby bulbs.
Tulips are grown to decorate gardens, flower beds, and also on an industrial scale. They are used for cutting because they remain fresh for a long time. Suitable for medium or late forcing. But sometimes the shapes of plants turn out to be curved. This is the disadvantage of the Strong Love variety.
Flowers are often sent out for International Women's Day on March 8
Planting and caring for the Strong Love tulip variety
In Russia, Strong Love tulips are planted almost everywhere. They are used to decorate areas. Planting and care require constant attention.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The garden plot where it is planned to grow Strong Love tulips must meet the following requirements:
- good lighting throughout the day;
- a flat surface without lowlands, ravines, or crevices in which moisture can stagnate;
- protection from drafts and cold winds;
- loamy or sandy loam soils, or any garden soil;
- soil with neutral or low acidity, or alkaline;
- lime content;
- it is advisable to add sand or peat to lighten heavy, dense soils;
- soil fertility;
- presence of drainage.
Landing rules
Tulips are the first plants to produce buds immediately after the snow melts. The best time to plant Strong Love is autumn. Bulbs that take root before the cold weather go into a dormant state for the winter. In spring, stems and buds form. And after flowering is complete, the bulbs are dug up and stored in a dark, cool place until autumn.
Planting is carried out in September or October, depending on weather conditions in a particular area. The soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm should be from +7 to +9 degrees.
When planting Strong Love tulips in spring, you must follow a number of rules so that the plants bloom immediately:
- Keep the bulbs for 12 hours in the refrigerator (not in the freezer).
- Treat with a light solution of potassium permanganate.
- Root in the soil.
Tulips should be planted in spring before April
Watering and fertilizing
Watering Strong Love tulips should be abundant and regular. At the same time, the amount of moisture that plants need decreases over time. After the end of the flowering period, watering is gradually reduced.
Strong Love tulips need to be fed at least 3 times during the growing season.Complex mineral compositions with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium bring the greatest benefit to plants.
Reproduction of tulips Strong Love
The culture is propagated using baby bulbs. They do this as follows:
- In mid-summer, the bulbs are dug out of the soil.
- Dry it.
- Sorted, damaged, diseased specimens are sorted and rejected.
- Healthy bulbs are stored for the winter in a well-ventilated, cool room.
Diseases and pests of Strong Love tulips
Strong Love tulips can be affected by pests and diseases caused by fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
Disease | Source and route of infection | Signs | Treatment |
Gray rot | The fungus Botrytis cinerea and the specific tulip parasite Botrytis tulipae are spread by airborne spores, especially in high humidity | Small brown or yellow spots on leaves | Fungicide treatment |
Fusarium | Fusarium fungi, infection through soil | Slow development of the aerial part, damage to the bulbs | Plant destruction and soil treatment |
Variegation | Viruses transmitted by insects and garden tools | White streaks on flowers and leaves, curvature of the stem, crushing of buds and bulbs | Removing infected instances |
August disease | The Tobacco necrosis virus parasite penetrates through damage to the bulbs | Brownish streaks on the leaf blades, then cracks, bending of the stems and leaves, brown spots on the bulbs | Destruction of diseased plants |
Strong Love tulips can be affected by scab, rust, white and bacterial rot and other diseases
Insects can also harm the crop: nematodes, aphids, mole crickets, mites, cutworms, slugs.For preventative purposes, before planting tulips, the flower beds are dug up, weeds are removed, and damaged bulbs are disposed of. Insecticides are used to control insects; some, such as slugs, are collected by hand.
Photo of tulips Strong Love
Connoisseurs of the strong love tulip variety share photos and descriptions of the flowers.
The bright garnet-colored petals of the Strong Love variety attract attention in the garden plot
Combinations with other early flowering bulbous crops look beautiful
In flower beds, the crop should be placed in the foreground, against the background of boxwood, gypsophila or bush chrysanthemums
Conclusion
Tulip Strong Love is good both in flower beds due to its long flowering and as a cut flower. The variety is grown on an industrial scale and is appreciated by amateur gardeners. Its main advantage is its slender, classic goblet-shaped buds and pomegranate petals.
