Strawberry Marshmallow
Content:
High-yielding variety of strawberry Marshmallow. Features of planting and growing berries. Reviews of practicing gardeners.
Strawberry Marshmallow: variety description
Strawberry Marshmallow: photo
Gardeners in almost all Russian regions grow more than one variety of strawberries, experimenting with new ones every year. Today, the variety of strawberry varieties bred by breeders is so great that, at times, it is difficult to determine their choice. Indeed, on my site I would like to see not just a novelty of breeding achievements, but also a variety that is guaranteed to give a good harvest of berries.
Recently, varieties bred by Danish breeders have become quite popular. These include the strawberry Zephyr. This variety, according to the reviews of gardeners who have already tried it, is distinguished by a high yield, as well as large, sweet and fragrant berries.
Repairing strawberries Marshmallow can be found in gardens and farms. It is a very early variety that yields a good harvest in various conditions, both outdoors and in the greenhouse.
Strawberry bushes are compact, with rather large corrugated emerald-green leaves, erect petioles up to 10 cm long. Garden strawberries of the Zephyr variety give many strong peduncles that easily hold large berries, the number of which on each shoot can be more than 20. Fruits are shiny, deep crimson color, do not crumble, firmly holding on to the stalk. The pulp is juicy, without voids. Strawberry Marshmallow berries are sweet, aromatic. The weight of one is from 20 to 35 g, the size of the fruits is the same. However, some gardeners have managed to grow real "champions", whose weight reaches 60 g. In general, the yield of strawberries "Zephyr" of this variety can be up to a kilogram of berries from each bush.
It is recommended to propagate strawberries of the garden variety Zephyr by dividing or by rooting shoots (whiskers), since during seed reproduction there is a rather high probability that the young remontant strawberry Zephyr will not fully retain the properties of the mother bush. The bush gives a mustache in large quantities, allowing you to choose the most developed of them.
In order to constantly get good harvests of berries, it is advised to rejuvenate strawberries of the Zephyr variety every four years.
Gardeners who practice the cultivation of remontant strawberries Zephyr also note a weak susceptibility of the plant to diseases and root rot.
Strawberries "Zephyr" are not remontant, however, with proper planting and proper care, fruiting will be long.
Bushes are brought in from the first year of planting. The first harvest will be possible in the third decade of May. And when growing strawberries in a greenhouse, the berries appear at the beginning of the month.
By the way, in areas where the temperature drops to -35 degrees in winter, this strawberry is also successfully grown. The only thing when a winter with little snow is given, it is better for the berries to provide shelter.
The variety is versatile, the berries are eaten fresh, canned, frozen. The fruits tolerate transportation well, do not flow or deform.
Planting and caring for strawberries
Strawberry Marshmallow: video about a variety of garden strawberries
Growing strawberries of the Zephyr variety does not present any difficulties, the berry does not require any special care. It is important to follow only the rules of agricultural technology of this berry culture.
Planting strawberries Zephyr, like most other varieties of berries, is recommended in late summer - early autumn, so that by the time of winter the bushes have time to get stronger and gain strength.
The soil for planting strawberries should be fertile, moisture-absorbing and breathable. Therefore, if necessary, organic fertilizers and complexes of useful minerals that increase its fertility are introduced into the soil. The berry will grow well on soils with a neutral ph - the level where onions, beets, cabbage were previously grown.
When planting strawberries, Marshmallows are recommended to use a two-line scheme. The distance between the bushes in a row should be 15-20 cm. The next row is planted in parallel at a distance of 45 cm from the first. Repeat this two-line tape every 70 cm.
The depth of planting holes for marshmallow strawberries should correspond to the size of the horse system of the plant. Too long roots are pruned, distributing the remaining ones so that they are directed straight down. The root collar after planting the bush should be exactly at the level of the soil. The planted plants are watered and immediately mulched with straw in order to maintain moderate soil moisture, which is especially necessary for young bushes at first.
In the summer season, marshmallow strawberries are watered at least once a week. Increase watering during flowering and ovary formation. At this time, a lack of moisture can lead to a partial loss of yield, obtaining small and dry berries.
In addition, if possible, it is better to irrigate with a drip method, since moisture on leaves, flowers and ovaries can provoke the appearance of diseases. The drip system will avoid such consequences, as well as ensure timely soil moisture.
Abundant fruiting requires adequate nutrition. Strawberries of the Zephyr variety, like no other plant, are able to extract useful substances, macro and microelements from the soil. Therefore, to get a good harvest, you cannot do without top dressing. Their absence or lack will lead to the depletion of the plant and will accordingly affect fruiting. It is recommended to fertilize strawberries "Zephyr" twice a month using a mixture of equal proportions of ammonium nitrate, potassium salt and superphosphate. It is important to exclude chlorine-containing preparations from the number of fertilizers.
Also, strawberries need to loosen the soil and remove weeds. To slightly reduce the number of these processes, it is recommended, again, to mulch the beds or use black agrofibre.
And, of course, caring for large-fruited marshmallow strawberries includes preventive treatments against diseases and pests. In the spring, for this purpose, strawberry beds are treated with fungicide solutions, and some gardeners practice spraying plants with a solution of copper sulfate.
But, it must be remembered that when the garden strawberry Zephyr blooms and bears fruit, processing is excluded.
Strawberry Marshmallow: reviews of gardeners
Strawberry Marshmallow: photo of strawberries
Gardeners growing strawberries of the Zephyr variety, first of all, note the sweet taste and aroma of the berries. The yield of the Zephyr strawberry variety also fully corresponds to the declared characteristics. Farmers who grow berries in large quantities also leave only positive reviews about this variety, especially pointing out that this variety never fails with the harvest.
Those who planted strawberry bushes of the Zephyr variety about three years ago easily multiplied the strawberry of this variety and prepared planting material for rejuvenating the plantings. Moreover, such reviews were left not only by experienced gardeners, but also by “beginners”.
No one has identified any peculiarities or difficulties in caring for the berry. The only point that Siberian gardeners pay attention to is the need to provide shelter for the Marshmallow strawberries for the winter.