Monterey Strawberry: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

Remontant American Monterey Strawberry won the hearts of gardeners with its attractive ripe berries, large fruit and genetic ability to bear fruit all season. Growing remontant varieties is a laborious task, the gardener must know all the subtleties and nuances of handling a whimsical berry. California Beauty is recommended to be grown in temperate regions.

The main characteristics of the Monterey variety

American breeders created Monterey in California in the early 2000s. The Albion hard-fruited strawberry variety was taken as a basis.

Characteristic variety:

• Light Neutral Day Repair Berry.
• Mid-early, begins to bear fruit from the end of May.
• Forms a strong bush with large leaves.
• High yield, up to 2 kg of berries per season from one bush.
• Large fruit, fruit weight 50 g.
• The taste of the berries is balanced, sweet, the fruits do not sour.
• Strong immunity.

California berry can be grown indoors. In greenhouses, Monterey bears fruit all year round. Ripe fruits are elastic, keep their shape well, berries can be used for whole-fruit canning.

Strawberry Description

Powerful American strawberry bush forms up to 14 peduncles. The flowers are large, white on thick stems. Child rosettes give additional crop.The leaves are large, shiny, regular shape. The root system is well developed. Fruits are conical in shape, pointed at the base.

Fruits Monterey in four stages. At extremely high temperatures, the berries do not have time to ripen completely, the yield decreases.

Positive and negative aspects of garden strawberries

Monterey is a proven remontant garden strawberry variety suitable for commercial cultivation. The variety tolerates the mistakes of novice gardeners, but requires care and compliance with agricultural technology.

The main benefits of strawberries include:

• Winter hardiness: the berries do not require additional shelters for the cold season (if the air temperature does not drop below -25 ^{C), it is enough to sprinkle the bushes with organic mulch.}
• Undemanding to watering, with a sharp change in the level of humidity, the fruits remain juicy.
• Can start flower buds at +2 temperature ^C.
• Produces a moderate number of stepchildren.
• Excellent transportability of a ripe crop.
• Seedlings take root quickly, do not get sick.

Disadvantages of the variety include:

• Soil Requirements: Monterey does not tolerate sandy or loamy soils.
• Light-loving plant, does not tolerate shade and partial shade.
• The bushes grow rapidly, it is necessary to observe rows when planting seedlings and the distance between the bushes.
• In order not to reduce the yield, it is necessary to renew plantings often.

Monterey is genetically resistant to major strawberry diseases. The plant responds well to fertilizing. With regular fertilization, it fully reveals its full potential.

Rules for growing crops

Growing garden strawberries is not an easy process. First of all, you need to choose the right seedlings and a place for strawberry plantings. Seedlings must first be prepared for transplantation and properly planted in the soil, preventing the beds from thickening.

Time and place of landing

Repair strawberries can be planted at any time of the year, except for winter and late autumn. In the spring, once the danger of frost has passed, the young seedlings are ready for planting in the beds.

The terrain for American strawberries must be chosen correctly - Monterey does not like to grow on slopes and depressions. The site should be flat and well lit. The nutritional characteristics of the soil should be at a height. Temperate black earth is a great option.

Important! California remontant strawberries will not grow in acidic, limestone-rich soils.The Monterey root system does not tolerate stagnant moisture, the groundwater level should be no higher than 1 m. The absence of drafts is a necessary condition for a good strawberry yield.

Preparation of seedlings

Monterey is propagated in four ways:

1. Seeds.
2. Seedlings.
3. By dividing the bush.
4. Usami.

Dividing a bush and planting seedlings are the simplest and most reliable options. Plantings are formed from he althy, not twisted bushes with a good root system. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat the roots with antimicrobial agents or sprinkle them with wood ash. Too long roots are shortened by a third. Withered or yellowed leaves are removed.

Boarding process

The soil is being prepared for planting within a month. The beds must first be dug to a depth of 30 cm, weeds removed, and a complex of mineral and organic fertilizers applied. Mandatory superphosphate and humus.

Planting is done in the evening hours or in cloudy, little sunny weather. Holes and rows are marked on the garden, observing the ratio: 50 cm between rows, 40 cm between bushes. In addition, humus can be added to each well and a small amount of urea can be added. The seedlings are placed in recesses (20 cm), spreading the roots, sprinkled with earth.

Important! The core of the bush should not be covered with earth, the plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern. Each bush must be watered and make small shelters from the scorching rays of the sun.

Nuances of plant care

Care for Monterey is traditional, like for most remontant berry varieties. Top dressing, weeding, loosening, carrying out preventive measures to protect plants from pests and diseases.

Weed control

Strawberry plantations must be periodically loosened, the optimal depth is 3 cm. The roots of the plant must be ventilated and receive oxygen. The loosening process is combined with the cleaning of weeds. It is imperative to remove weeds, they take food from the berries and can be carriers of diseases. In early spring, it is important to clear the plants of debris, old leaves and winter shelters in the form of mulch. So young buds will be released, and the plant will quickly gain strength for growth.

Feeding

Strawberries bear fruit all season, the soil is quickly depleted. Fertilizers must be applied regularly. Top dressing with cow cakes, bird droppings is a proven method. The main thing is not to "burn" the plants, be sure to observe the dosage. From mineral fertilizers, nitrophoska, urea, superphosphate, wood ash are used.

Irrigation

Drip irrigation is the best way to moisten the soil and leaves of plants, fertilizers can be introduced through it.With excessive moisture, strawberry roots may begin to rot, but the taste and structure of the fruit will not deteriorate, the berries will not become watery. This feature is genetically incorporated by breeders.

Water plants should be 3-4 times a week. If strawberries are grown outdoors, then only in the evening or early in the morning.

Wintering

Opinions about the frost resistance of berries vary. Manufacturers declared the relative hardiness of the plant to frost. Monterey does not require additional shelters for the winter at temperatures not lower than -25 ^{C. But experienced gardeners close strawberries of this variety for the winter with a film or covering material.}

Protection against diseases and pests of strawberries

Powdery mildew disease is a major problem in growing Monterey strawberries. The disease spreads quickly and can destroy all strawberry plantations.

First of all, it is necessary to remove all affected leaves, stems and fruits from infected plants. It is also recommended to remove the top layer of soil under them. To stop the spread of the disease, you can use chemicals.

You can't plant strawberries after potatoes - this is the crop rotation rule. If this law is not observed, strawberry plantings can be overcome by a nematode, which is difficult to cope with. As a soil disinfection, table s alt is used in proportions of 1 tablespoon of s alt per 1 liter of water. Water the soil with this solution before planting strawberry seedlings on the beds.

Crop propagation

Quality seedlings are obtained from seeds and grow seedlings on their own. Experienced gardeners propagate Monterey by dividing the bush: at the same time thin out the beds and increase the number of bushes.

Monterey remontant strawberry in the process of growth and fruiting forms a sufficient amount of whiskers. Dropping in child rosettes is a traditional and productive way to grow strawberries.

Collecting and storing garden strawberries

American strawberries are used commercially. Monterey fruits have an elastic strong protective film, the berries do not crumple and do not quickly “give juice”. Berry transportability is excellent.

Monterey fruits can be preserved with whole berries. You can freeze them and decorate desserts. At the same time, the berry retains a rich sweet taste and delicate aroma. It is recommended to store fresh strawberries in wicker baskets or fruit boxes in a dark, cool, ventilated place.

The Monterey strawberry variety is known to gardeners and has been grown in household plots for two decades. During this time, a lot of positive feedback about this culture has accumulated.To get a decent harvest, you will have to work hard, but the result will please you: large fragrant berries are on the table all year round.

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