Strawberry Florence: variety description and characteristics, cultivation and propagation

Florence strawberries have many advantages in their characteristics, so the variety is often found in summer cottages. To get the best results, you need to get acquainted with the timing of planting, propagation methods and features of crop care. In addition to watering and fertilizing, you should definitely take care of sheltering the beds for the winter. With proper storage in berries, it will be possible to preserve all the benefits and taste.

Description and characteristics of Strawberry Florence

Variety Florence is distinguished by the late boundaries of the ripening of the crop. Fruiting continues throughout the month, from the last days of June to the end of July.

Appearance

Bushes grow powerful, strong and compact. On strong and thick stems, several peduncles are formed, which are above the level of the leaves. The leaves are dark green with a glossy surface.

The berries are large, the pulp is dense, without voids, deep red. The shape of the fruit is elongated-conical. The mass of each berry reaches 40-65 g. High fruiting in one place lasts for five years.

Pollination

The flowering period starts at the end of May and lasts for two weeks. Up to 6 inflorescences are formed on each strong peduncle. Flowers large, white. Florence strawberries do not require pollinating insects, as flowers of both sexes are formed on the bush.

Strawberry yield

The variety is unpretentious and hardy, so the crop can be harvested under any conditions. But with careful attention and careful care, the yield can be increased to 1.5 kg from each bush.

History of selection and region of growth

Florence Strawberry was bred by English breeders by crossing two productive varieties: Vikoda and Vima-Tarda. The result is a variety that is resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions. The berries have a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma, reminiscent of wild strawberries.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of the Florence strawberry variety include:

• high immunity to common diseases;
• renewal of the beds is carried out infrequently, as the culture is able to develop in one place for up to five years;
• since the mustache is small and short, the planting care is minimal;
• high winter hardiness (withstands frosts down to -20 degrees);
• good cold and wet summer tolerance;
• berries are stored for a long time and transported over long distances without losing their shape;
• versatile use of berries with high palatability.

In the description of the strawberry variety, disadvantages are also indicated:

• in dry, hot summers, the quantity and quality of the crop are reduced;
• in a rainy summer, the risk of infection with late blight, gray mold, brown spot increases;
• high nutrient requirements;
• in cold regions, the duration of fruiting is significantly reduced.

Knowing the positive and negative aspects of the Florence variety, you can avoid many troubles during the cultivation of strawberries.

How to plant a berry?

For strawberries, you should choose a suitable place, calculate the timing of planting and properly prepare the soil. If these conditions are met, the crop will form high, and the berries will be sweet, without voids.

Choosing a seat

When choosing a place for planting Florence strawberries, a number of conditions must be observed:

• land should be flat;
• temporary shade allowed only at lunchtime;
• strawberries love loose, fertile soil with a high content of sand or loam and good aeration;
• if groundwater passes nearby, then a small hill should be made;
• beds should be protected from drafts.

When to plant?

Both spring and autumn planting of strawberry bushes is allowed. The procedure in each season has its own characteristics:

• In autumn, planting begins in early September. Before frost, the plant will have time to take root, and the first fruits will appear next summer. It is important to cover young seedlings for the winter, otherwise there is a big risk that the roots will die off and the plant will die.
• If you plant bushes in the spring, then you can harvest only a year later. Before the end of frosts for the night, be sure to cover the beds. In summer, it is recommended to remove mustaches and flower stalks so that all nutrients go to the development of leaves and roots.

In any season, they start planting only when the ground warms up to +14 degrees. It is better to plant strawberries in rainy or cloudy weather.

Site preparation

The selected area for planting strawberries is dug up in autumn, weeds are removed and fertilizers are applied (humus is suitable). If the acidity of the soil is high, then liming is carried out.

In the spring, the site is loosened again and all weeds are removed. The beds begin to be made a few days before planting seedlings.

Principles of planting

Planting Strawberry Florence involves a series of follow-up actions:

• holes are dug on the site with a depth of 18 cm and a diameter of 11 cm;
• the interval between the recesses is made at least 41 cm;
• the hole is moistened and fertilized;
• at the bottom of the hole they make a mound, on which they plant a bush and straighten the roots;
• fall asleep with earth and lightly crush.

After planting, it is desirable to mulch the soil with straw, sawdust, rotted humus.

Rules for the care of strawberries

Getting a large number of quality crops directly depends on proper and good care. Strawberries Florence needs regular watering and micronutrient application.

Irrigation

Immediately after planting strawberries in the garden, watering is carried out every three days. Calculate 10 liters of water for each square. m. As soon as the bushes adapt to a new place, irrigation is reduced to once every 7 days.

The need for moisture increases during the flowering of strawberries, and at the fruiting stage, watering should be reduced. It is enough to moisten the beds once every two weeks.

Feeding

Since the bushes and the berries themselves are large, repeated fertilization is required throughout the growing season:

• Spring requires the introduction of nitrogen, which contributes to the development of the ground part of the plant. In early spring, it is also recommended to add compost or humus.
• With the advent of ovaries, it is necessary to add compounds based on potassium and phosphorus.
• After harvesting most of the crop, a solution of chicken manure is used.
• Autumn is useful to add humus or rotted manure. The components will strengthen the roots and give the plant strength for a successful winter.

Preparing for winter

In early September, strawberry bushes loosen and spud. A month later, they begin laying a layer of mulch (straw, fallen leaves, spruce branches). The ideal option is to cover strawberries with agrofibre.

Methods of reproduction

The most common method of propagation is considered to be rooting a mustache or dividing a bush. The hardest thing is seed propagation.

Seeds

Propagation by seeds is a long and laborious option. The material is first sown on seedlings in boxes, covered with glass and placed on a well-lit windowsill. Crops are watered daily. After 3.5 weeks, the first shoots should appear.

When two true leaves appear on young sprouts, they are transplanted into separate containers. After unfolding 6 leaves, they start transplanting to open beds.

Rosettes or mustaches

Most often, gardeners use division by child outlets:

• Choose bushes with powerful and strong mustaches.
• The mustaches chosen for breeding are pressed to the ground and secured with a wire bracket.
• Only one outlet is left on the escape, all the rest are removed.
• When the rosettes take root, the mustache is cut off from the bush.
• Already in the fall, the bush is ready for transplanting to a permanent place.

Dividing the bush is considered a simple way of reproduction. Bushes of three years are suitable, which are divided into several parts. Each part must have he althy roots and at least five leaves.

Pest and disease control

Of the diseases that most often affect strawberry bushes, they distinguish: verticillium, powdery mildew, brown or white spot, gray rot. As a preventive measure for infection, watering is carried out with a solution based on the Fitosporin preparation.

When the first signs of the disease are detected, treatment should be started immediately. Solutions based on drugs such as Fundazol, Chorus, Bayleton, Maxim, Bordeaux liquid, Oxyhom, Teldor are effective.

Whitefly and weevil are considered dangerous for Florence strawberries. To protect plants from pests, bushes are treated with insecticides ("Confidor", "Decis").

Rules for harvesting and storing crops

Harvesting is carried out up to 9 times per season, every 3-4 days. It is desirable to collect berries in the morning hours after the dew has come down. The fruits are picked carefully, together with the stalk, and put in boxes.

Harvested fresh crop at a temperature of 0 to -3 is stored for six days. For longer storage, the berries are frozen or made into sweet dishes. Even after thawing, the berries do not lose their shape, aroma and great taste.

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