Tsarskoselskaya strawberry: variety description and characteristics, planting and care rules

High-yielding varieties of garden strawberries are popular with homeowners and farmers who grow berries for sale in the market. Of the mid-late varieties, it is recommended to pay attention to the development of domestic breeders - Tsarskoye Selo strawberries. The variety belongs to the middle-late and has a universal purpose. One of the main advantages of strawberries is its unpretentiousness in growing conditions and care.

Main characteristics of strawberries

The garden strawberry variety Tsarskoselskaya was bred by the breeders of the Leningrad Experimental Station and entered into the State Register of Fruit Crops in 2002.It is recommended for cultivation in the Central region of Russia, but it also takes root well in other climatic zones due to its undemanding care.

The originators of the strawberry variety compiled the following description of the culture:

1. The bushes of the garden strawberry variety are semi-spreading, densely leafy, medium in height.
2. Sheet plates are large, painted dark green, matte.
3. Middle late ripening - this means that the first berries are harvested in late June or early July, depending on the growing region.
4. Thanks to the parent varieties, Tsarskoselskaya endures weather changes and significant temperature drops in winter, does not need to create special shelter.
5. After the end of flowering, medium-sized fruits are tied on the bushes - the weight of one berry is in the range from 50 to 70 grams.At full maturity, their color becomes dark red, with a pronounced sheen, the shape of strawberries is blunt-conical, sometimes slightly ribbed. The sweet, slightly sour flesh has a rich strawberry flavor and received a score of 4.6 from tasters.
6. During the season, a large number of pale red mustaches form on the bushes, so even a novice gardener can propagate the variety on the site.
7. The universal purpose of the fruit allows not only to enjoy berries in the summer, but also to make blanks for the winter.
8. The variety is characterized by high immunity to the main diseases of the crop.

Good and bad sides

Domestic gardeners growing the Tsarskoselskaya strawberry variety on their plots noted the following positive characteristics of this variety:

• high yield - with sufficient care per hectare plantations harvest about 7.4 tons of fruit;
• resistance of bushes to frost and weather changes in summer;
• large berries with a pleasant taste and rich aroma;
• possibility of reproduction due to a large number of whiskers;
• high transportability and decent presentation of berries.

Tsarskoselskaya has few shortcomings, these include:

• medium resistance to strawberry sawfly;
• the need for constant fertilization to achieve the declared yield.

Tips for planting the Tsarskoselskaya variety

For planting garden strawberry seedlings, an open sunny area is selected, in the shade the berries will form small and will sour. Loams with neutral acidity and high fertility are considered ideal soil for Tsarskoselskaya. If the soil in the garden does not meet these requirements, it must be improved, otherwise the declared yield cannot be obtained.

The best predecessors for strawberries are herbs, garlic and marigolds, the latter are also recommended to be planted in the aisles or nearby, as they repel pests. 2-3 weeks before planting, the selected area is dug up on a spade bayonet and organic and mineral top dressing is applied. It can be humus at the rate of 8 kg per hundred square meters and superphosphate.

Algorithm for planting strawberry bushes:

1. Half an hour before planting, the roots of garden strawberries are dipped into a growth stimulator, for example, "Kornevin", this will help the seedlings to quickly adapt to a new place.
2. Make shallow holes 50 cm apart.
3. The seedlings are carefully lowered into them, spreading the roots, and covered with the remaining soil.
4. Plentifully moisten the plantings and lay a mulch layer of straw or rotted sawdust around the bushes.

It is allowed to plant strawberries both in spring and autumn, in September, in the latter case, during the winter, the bushes adapt to the site and, with the advent of spring, will begin to form flowers and bear fruit. However, it must be remembered that the variety shows the maximum yield in the 2nd year after planting. Since strawberries are self-fertile, there is no need to plant pollinators nearby.

Nuances of care

Despite the fact that Tsarskoye Selo is unpretentious in care, elementary procedures should still be carried out. Garden strawberries need regular and abundant irrigation, otherwise the bushes begin to dry and produce small berries. They use warm settled water for irrigation, irrigate strawberries once a week, if there is a strong heat, do it every 3-4 days.

The variety will be able to demonstrate the declared yield only if additional nutrients are added. Fertilize bushes several times throughout the season:

1. First time top dressing is needed in the spring, before flowering. Mineral fertilizers are introduced with a high concentration of nitrogen, it is necessary for intensive growth of green mass.
2. The second feeding is done when the bushes are in bloom, using organic matter - bird droppings or mullein.
3. For the third time, strawberries are fertilized after the end of fruiting, phosphorus-potassium mixtures are introduced.

Disease and pest control

Strong immunity of the variety eliminates the need for preventive treatments against gray rot and other common crop diseases. Of the insects, strawberries are sometimes affected by the strawberry sawfly. As a preventive measure, drugs such as Actellik or Fufanon are used.

Collection and storage

Berry picking is carried out in cloudy and dry weather, thus it is possible to extend the shelf life of fresh strawberries. The crop that could not be eaten immediately is processed into jam and compotes, and fruits can also be frozen.

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