Strawberry Zumba: variety description and characteristics, planting and care rules

Strawberry Rumba or Zumba is a variety of horticultural crops with high commercial value. It has a very attractive appearance, so it is in great demand among farmers doing business. But, in addition to excellent external parameters, the fruit of this variety is distinguished by excellent taste. This combination of features explains the high demand for the berry.

Description and characteristics

The Rumba strawberry variety belongs to the early ripe varieties of the crop.

Berries have the following characteristics:

• correct, ideal (by the standards of specialists) form;
• saturated color;
• sweet taste;
• large sizes.

In addition, the berry tolerates transportation well even over long distances. It is able to maintain its integrity, taste and useful properties for a long time.

Note. When growing strawberries in a greenhouse, harvesting begins 2 weeks earlier than when growing a crop in the open field.

Main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Zumba strawberries have strengths and weaknesses. First, about the virtues, which include:

• unpretentious care;
• early ripening;
• fast fruiting period in greenhouse cultivation;
• high resistance to cold and frost;
• strong immune system, allowing the culture to resist many phytopathologies.

Zumba has fewer disadvantages, but they still exist:

• when growing in high humidity conditions, strawberry fruits may acquire a sour taste;
• the plant is able to absorb moisture, so excessive rainfall or excessively frequent watering can cause the berries to become "watery";
• with improper care, strawberries change their taste, it becomes putrid or bitter, at best - tart;
• when fertilizing is not applied in time or is completely absent, the crop yield decreases.

With proper care, strawberries do not cause trouble, but bring a stable, rich harvest.

Specific cultivation of Zumba strawberries

Optimal conditions should be provided for growing strawberries of this variety. Attention must be paid to the soil, and it does not matter whether the culture will grow in open ground or in a greenhouse.

Soil selection

For Zumba fertile soil is selected from the category:

• loam;
• sandy soil;
• grey forest land;
• Chernozem.

Clay soil is considered unsuitable for growing Zumba strawberries.

You should choose a place so that groundwater is at least 80 cm from the surface of the earth. Also, you can not plant strawberries of this species in the area where green manure plants were grown before: rapeseed, leek, mustard or garlic.

Instructions for preparing seedlings

3-4 days before picking, seedlings are recommended to be placed in a cool place. Moderate coolness will allow strawberries to get used to changing growing conditions. It will also positively affect the immunity of the plant, accelerating the process of its adaptation in the open field.

Seating algorithm

The scheme for picking seedlings of Zumba strawberry seedlings is as follows:

1. Make holes in the ground with a distance of 30 cm between each of them.
2. The depth of the pits corresponds to the length of the roots. In a he althy plant, the roots reach 10 cm in length, but they can be longer, so they are allowed to be cut.
3. Pour water into the wells, wait until it is absorbed.
4. Into the depths of each hole, place strawberry roots and sprinkle with earth, then tamp it tightly with your hands.

It remains only to spread the leaves protruding above the soil surface - and the process of planting the plant is over.

How to care for Zumba

Caring for strawberries is not difficult, but certain rules must be strictly observed.

Zumba needs regular, moderate watering. For 1 m 2 beds will take from 10 to 12 liters of water. It should be settled and not very cold. During such work, weeds should be removed in parallel. It is necessary to start loosening the soil around the end of April, when the snow has completely melted. After loosening the soil, it is recommended to mulch.

	Criteria Feeding	Fertilization should be regular, because Zumba needs constant feeding. Fertilizers containing a high concentration of potassium are suitable for her.It gives the berries elasticity, density, saturation. And during flowering, it is recommended to fertilize with wood ash or humus.

Three-4 years after planting strawberries, they must be moved to another place, as they can deplete the soil on which they are located.

Protection from diseases and pests

Often Zumba strawberries are invaded:

• whiteflies;
• raspberry-strawberry weevil;
• spider mites.

Insecticides should be used before flowering or after harvest to protect the plant from these phytopathologies. And in order to prevent the development of diseases, with the advent of spring, it is recommended to treat the bushes with the Azocen preparation.

Crop propagation

Gardeners recommend propagating strawberries of this variety with a mustache. As soon as young shoots form on the bush, they should be pressed to the ground, lightly separated and immediately rooted. Sometimes the plant reproduces itself in this way.

Second option - division. It implies the differentiation of bushes into segments with their subsequent placement in prepared holes. But this method, in comparison with the propagation of strawberries with a mustache, has a low efficiency, since the seedlings do not take root well.

Collection and storage rules

The harvest period falls in mid-June, although it all depends on the region where the strawberries grow. They collect it in boxes of small capacity - no more than 3-4 kilograms.

Store fresh strawberries at high temperatures is not recommended. In this form, it will last no more than 2-3 days. In the refrigerator, the fruits will remain suitable for longer - about a week. When frozen, the shelf life of the berry increases to almost 1 year, and preservation is usable for six months.

Strawberry Rumba (Zumba) is a popular berry variety that is very popular among entrepreneurs.But it is quite suitable for growing at home. This process is not too laborious, besides, the plant does not cause much trouble. If you provide him with protection from the cold and give him elementary care, he will annually delight with a generous harvest.

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