Strawberry Zenith: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation and reproduction

Among the variety of varieties of garden strawberries, it is worth paying attention to Zenith strawberries. According to its characteristics, it is ahead of many hybrids. Its cultivation has some nuances that you need to familiarize yourself with before you start growing a berry crop.

Description and characteristics of the garden strawberry variety Zenith

Strawberry variety Zenit of medium ripening period is obtained by crossing varieties Zenga Zengana and Redcoat. A short, medium-sized herbaceous shrub with compressed, wrinkled, dark green leaves with a slight waxy coating.

Peduncles are short, medium in thickness, placed below the level of the leaves. Inflorescences are compact, few-flowered. The Zenith variety is valued for its rounded, deep red berries. The average weight of one fruit varies from 16 to 30 g. Juicy pulp is dense, fragrant with a dessert taste.

You can enjoy the taste of the fragrant fruits of the Zenith variety from mid-July.

Main positives and negatives

The advantages of the Zenith strawberry variety, for which it is appreciated by gardeners, include:

• high and stable yield;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• resistance to cultural diseases;
• hardiness to winter frosts and adaptation to sharp fluctuations in temperature;
• transportability without loss of marketability;
• versatility in use, which allows you to use berries not only fresh, but also used when harvesting for the winter;
• Perfect for both hobby gardening and commercial growing.

The disadvantage of Zenith strawberries is the susceptibility to fruit rot and demanding regular watering.

Specifics of growing strawberries

Zenith strawberries should be planted according to certain rules, and planting material should be selected with great care. Only under these conditions is a good harvest guaranteed.

Planting material

When choosing planting material, you need to pay attention to the number of real young leaves, which should be at least 3, having a he althy green color without dark and white dots. The root system of seedlings must be branched, at least 7 cm long. Before planting, the roots of seedlings must be treated. To do this, place the bushes in a weak saline solution for 20-25 minutes.Then rinse them under running water and shorten them to 5-8 cm.

Date and place

You need to plant seedlings in the spring, as soon as the snow melts, or closer to autumn, in late August, early September in cloudy weather or in the evening. The landing site should be flat, sunny and protected from the wind. The plant prefers loamy soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. It is better to choose a site with light, moisture-absorbing and breathable soil.

The plant does not tolerate stagnant water, so if there is a possibility of flooding the bushes, you need to build high-quality drainage.

Landing

Zenith strawberry planting technology includes several stages:

1. Make holes, keeping the distance between the bushes 20 cm, and between the rows - 40 cm.
2. Place seedlings so that the root collar is flush with the surface.
3. Compact the soil, water well and mulch.

Important! In the first days after planting, plants need to be shaded so that they can take root faster.

Tips for caring for garden strawberries

Productivity largely depends on well-carried out care, so Zenit strawberries need to be surrounded by attention and care.

Water and fertilize

An important method of agricultural technology is to keep the soil moist. It is recommended to water according to the following schedule:

• after landing every day for 2 weeks;
• then reduce watering to 1 time in 2 days;
• when the plants take root and get stronger, as needed, preventing the soil from drying out.

It is better to water Zenith strawberries in the morning or evening hours, using a small amount of water. In the spring, before the beginning of the formation of fruits, a universal or organic fertilizer should be applied. During the flowering period, feed with mullein infusion.

Loosening and mulching

The plant is responsive to soil loosening. This helps to retain moisture in the soil, improve oxygen access to the roots, and also remove perennial weeds. Loosen the soil in the row-spacing to a depth of 10 cm, and not deep near the bushes, so as not to harm the root system, which is superficial. When loosening row spacing, pay attention to bare roots. They need soil filling or hilling.

Strawberry Zenith loves moist, well-drained soil, and the mulch layer will retain valuable moisture for it, creating a favorable water-air regime for the roots. Straw, sawdust, needles, mowed grass are suitable as mulch.

Wintering

During the cold season, it is important to prevent plants from freezing. To do this, you need to cover the strawberry bushes with a special material, which can serve as a layer of straw or dry foliage.

Treatment from diseases and pests

Zenith strawberries are not immune from powdery mildew, gray rot, brown spot and nematode attacks, strawberry mites, aphids. There are simple recommendations that will help prevent the appearance of diseases and pests:

• observance of crop rotation and not growing strawberries in one place for more than 4 years;
• treatment of purchased seedlings before and immediately after planting;
• buying planting material only in verified places;
• timely destruction of infected plants and weeds and spraying bushes with special protective agents;
• planting between rows of plants that repel harmful insects.

Preventive measures take less effort and time than the subsequent fight against diseases and insects.

Strawberry propagation method

Culture can be propagated using methods such as dividing the bush, seeds and whiskers. To divide the bush, use 2-3-year-old plants with a developed root system. In autumn or spring, dig up a productive bush and divide it so that each horn has roots and a leaf rosette. After that, seat the received parts in the allotted place.

When propagating a crop with seeds, you need to buy or independently collect seed material, which is planted in small boxes with a soil mixture. Then send the containers to a cool place until the first shoots appear. Then, for 10 days, transfer the seedlings to a warm, well-lit room.After the time has elapsed, plant the seedlings in open ground.

To propagate Zenith strawberries with a mustache, it is necessary to outline developed bushes with large berries during fruiting. Choose large outlets and root them. As 4-6 leaves form on the rosettes, cut off the mustache and transplant to a permanent place, without shaking the soil from the roots, then water.

Harvest and storage of crops

Experienced gardeners advise harvesting Zenith strawberries in the morning, while picking the berries with the stalk. When removing, try not to touch the pulp. After picking the berries, put them in a cold place for 2 hours, the temperature of which is 2 degrees.

Store strawberries in a well-ventilated container, which will serve as a plastic container, cardboard or wooden basket. Growing and breeding Zenith strawberries in the garden is not a difficult task, as it might seem at first glance.It is important to plant correctly, take into account all recommendations for care and enjoy a delicious berry.

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