Strawberry Moscow delicacy: variety description and characteristics, planting and care

Hybrid variety, widely distributed in the CIS countries, created by Dutch breeders. The main feature of the Moscow delicacy strawberry is its development regardless of daylight hours. Budding occurs at any level of sunlight. The remontant variety is popular due to its good taste, abundant berry formation during the second fruiting season.

Description of culture

Repair medium-sized hybrid does not take up much space on the site, because the bushes are compact, the stems do not stretch above 40 cm, the leaves are close to each other. Abundant mustache formation is not typical for the variety Moscow delicacy.

Plant description:

leaf plates deep green, slightly pubescent;
stems thin, stiff, pale green;
the root system is developed, reaches a depth of 7 cm, the roots evenly spread in different directions;
flowers hidden under leaves;
fruit is cone-shaped, with a blunt top, weighs about 60 g;
the surface of the berry is smooth, red, light brown achenes stand out on it;
the pulp is sweet, without cloying, with a slight sourness, tasting score - 4.7 points.

Characteristics of strawberries Moscow delicacy

Repair strawberries with neat bushes and large fruits grow both in greenhouse conditions and in open ground. The plant lives and bears fruit up to 5 years.

Flower period, ripening time, yield

Strawberries bloom Moscow delicacy at the end of May. Plants that receive quality care produce their first crop of the season in early June. The second batch of berries can be picked in August.

The second yield is higher, accounting for about 70% of the total harvest for the season. One bush per year produces up to 1.2 kg of fruit.

The berries are well stored, they do not lose their commercial attractiveness during long-term transportation, so many farmers grow strawberries for sale.

Scope of application

Berries are suitable for both fresh consumption and cooking:

jam;
fruit salad;
compote;
dessert baking;
berry ice;
vitamin shakes.

For long-term storage, strawberries are frozen.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Moscow delicacy variety is characterized by rather strong immunity. With proper care, compliance with the irrigation regime, the roots are not affected by a fungal infection, and above-ground shoots are not affected by pests.

Main positives and negatives

The variety Moscow delicacy has been popular with gardeners for a long time. Its main advantages:

early ripening;
high yield;
transportability;
possibility of growing year-round, in the warm season - in the open field, in the cold season - in the greenhouse;
resistance to most pathologies characteristic of berry crops.

From the disadvantages should be mentioned:

the need to shelter the plantation for the winter;
weak whisker formation (one whisker per 6-8 plants);
the need to renew the plantation every 4-5 years.

Subtleties of growing varieties

In each region, the planting time is determined by weather conditions, but strawberries are planted only after the soil warms up to +18 °C.

When forming a strawberry plantation, it is important to consider crop rotation. The best area for strawberries where they used to grow:

green manure (it is desirable to plant them in the soil when digging);
legumes;
garlic, onion;
root crops.

You can not plant strawberries in the area where the nightshade grew. These crops have similar diseases.

Choosing the best seedlings for planting

Seedlings should be bought from a nursery, not from hand. High-quality planting material has not only last year's foliage, but also at least two young leaves. Leaf plates of saturated color, slightly pubescent, without deformation and signs of disease damage. The thickness of the lower part of the stem should be about 0.7 cm.

Before planting, it is advisable to disinfect the roots: lower them for 15 minutes in a pale manganese solution.

Selecting a landing site

Strawberries should grow in a sunny place. The plantation is set up in the southern part of the garden. The place should be elevated, protected from strong winds. It is unacceptable to plant in a lowland, where there is a high probability of rotting of roots and shoots due to high humidity.

The soil in the selected area is prepared 2 weeks before planting:

dig up;
remove weeds;
add organic matter and sand in a ratio of 2:1.

Fitting technology

Planting strawberries is carried out according to the following algorithm:

planting holes are made at a distance of 40 cm from each other;
to save space and facilitate further care, planting is carried out in a two-row method (the distance between rows is 20-25 cm, between strips is 60 cm);
pour a little ash into the holes (it will speed up rooting);
the plant is carefully placed in the hole, covered with earth, watered.

Nuances of culture care

Strawberry Moscow delicacy is not capricious, but there are certain nuances of cultivation. One of the main features of the variety is its extreme sensitivity to waterlogging of the soil, so watering control must be thorough.

When excessive moisture is present, the surface of the berries will crack. With a lack of moisture, the taste of the fruit deteriorates.

Water frequency

The first days after planting, strawberries are watered daily, but moderately. Use slightly warm water. After rooting, watering is reduced, its frequency is correlated with weather conditions. If there are hot days without precipitation, then water 3 or 4 times a week.

Fertilizers and top dressings

Strawberries are fed according to the following scheme:

at the beginning of the growing season, the earth is watered with ammonia to accelerate the development of greenery;
potash fertilizer is introduced into the flowering phase, the use of organic matter and ash is acceptable;
to increase the number of inflorescences, spray with a solution of boric acid (a teaspoon of the substance in a 10-liter bucket of water);
the development of strawberries is positively affected by the introduction of manure infusion.

With an excess of nitrogen in the soil, strawberries produce small and sour fruits.

Preparing for winter

The variety Moscow delicacy is characterized by low frost resistance. Therefore, for the winter, the plantation must be covered with agrofiber or other insulating material. Some summer residents put spruce paws on the bushes, pour soil on top, and in winter they throw more snow.

Before winter warming, strawberries are cut, leaf litter is raked. The soil is treated with drugs to prevent infection.

Diseases and pests

The variety Moscow delicacy is immune to infection and insects. But sometimes strawberries hit:

Strawberry mites that can empty a berry in two years. These insects lay their eggs on the underside of leaf blades.They live where heat is combined with high humidity. Symptoms of damage - drying of shoots, the formation of small dry fruits. Fight the pest with insecticides. For prevention, the berry is treated with a Bordeaux solution, weeds are pulled out in a timely manner, and the soil is loosened after harvesting.
Nematodes. Symptoms - drying of berries before ripening. A plant affected by worms will have to be dug up and destroyed, otherwise the pest will spread to other bushes.
Fungal infection. To prevent it, every season in early spring and autumn, the site is treated with a solution of copper sulfate.

Reproduction methods

Probably breeding strawberries Moscow delicacy:

seeds;
outlets;
dividing the bush.

The most used method is seed. Since strawberries produce few whiskers, it is not often possible to propagate them with rosettes.

Technology for harvesting and storing crops

If strawberries are intended for sale and long-term transportation, then the stem cannot be torn off when harvesting. The berries of the Moscow delicacy variety will not ripen if they are picked ahead of time, they will remain sour. Therefore, only fruits that have reached full maturity are harvested.

The crop is stored for about 3 days in a dry, cool room or 5 days in the refrigerator. The frozen berry retains its shape and useful qualities.