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

Among the unpretentious and highly productive varieties, Marshal strawberries can be noted. It is also valued for its quick adaptation to growing conditions, large-fruitedness and pleasant taste. To grow a rich harvest of strawberries, you need to become more familiar with its main characteristics and features of planting and care.

General information

The American breeder M. F. Well (1890) became the author of the fruitful strawberry. After the Second World War, Marshal was already known in Japan and European countries.

Description

Marshal strawberry has a powerful and sprawling structure. The bush does not exceed 15 cm in height, its root system is quite strong. The stems are straight and strong, the deciduous mass is distinguished by a light green color, outwardly the plates resemble umbrellas.

According to the description, the strawberry Marshal has thick peduncles, on which a large number of flowers are formed. They are large, white, hearts are bright yellow. Quite a bit they look out over the leaves. When the berries reach their technical maturity, the flower stalks lean towards the ground.

Marshal variety is positioned as a large-fruited plant, its berries have an average weight of 40-60 g, but under favorable growing conditions they can reach 90 g. Their color is bright red, the surface is glossy. The shape is wide wedge-shaped, in the upper part there is a concave spout.

Consumer qualities are excellent: the taste is sweet with a slight sourness, the aroma is rich strawberry. The pulp is distinguished by juiciness, light red color and the absence of internal cavities. Since the density of the pulp is medium, the variety does not tolerate transportation over long distances. But because of the excellent presentation and taste, it is in high demand.

Features

Marshal strawberry variety belongs to the category of medium ripening. With competent agricultural technology and comfortable climatic conditions, up to 1 kg of berries can be harvested from one bush. The highest productivity indicators are observed in the first year after planting strawberries in a permanent place, in subsequent years they decrease markedly.

Berry culture is not afraid of sub-zero temperatures, withstands frosts of -30 °C. She has a high degree of endurance to dry weather, as well as many fungal infections.

Advantages and disadvantages of strawberries

Both experienced and novice gardeners note the following positive characteristics of the Marshal variety:

high palatability;
large-fruited;
excellent yields;
long fruiting period;
friendly fruit ripening;
sufficient resistance to adverse environmental factors;
good survival rate;
universal purpose of fruits;
increased immunity to major ailments;
frost resistance;
drought tolerance;
high ability to form a mustache;
no need for extra feeding.

But, despite the whole list of advantages, Marshall strawberries also have some disadvantages:

low portability;
reduced yield in the second year after planting;
need for regular antennae removal.

Given the strengths and weaknesses of the berry crop, it is possible to harvest the richest possible harvest.

Cultivation of Marshal variety

Strawberry, although it does not belong to capricious cultures, but for its better rooting and vegetation, certain recommendations must be followed.

The right time

The optimal time for planting is early spring, when warm weather sets in and the threat of return frosts has passed. In regions with a warm climate, Marshal strawberries can be planted in late autumn. It is recommended to plant seedlings in a permanent place 2-3 weeks before the onset of cold weather.

Site selection and ground requirements

To provide Marshal strawberries with favorable conditions for growth, it is necessary to plant them in clearings that are sufficiently lit and protected from through winds. It is best if the place for planting strawberries is on the south side of the plot with a flat surface.

The area where moisture constantly accumulates during precipitation is not suitable for growing berry crops. Soil with excessive moisture provokes the development of putrefactive processes on the root system of plants.

It is more expedient to plant strawberries in the beds where garlic, onions, legumes, radishes, radishes, spicy plants, carrots grew before. But the places where potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers used to grow are not suitable for planting garden strawberries. The soil for strawberries should be slightly acidic, sandy or loamy. Also with good air and moisture permeability.

Before planting, the soil needs to be loosened, fertilized with organic matter. If the soil is loamy, then you need to add sawdust, sand, wood ash. In order to avoid infection of seedlings with pathogens, when digging the soil, all weeds are removed along with the roots.

Preparation of seedlings

Before planting plants in the ground, they are processed. The roots are immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate for several minutes and washed with clean water. For better rooting, you can keep them in a growth stimulator solution.

Plant pattern

Given the active growth of the upper part of strawberries, when planting, it is recommended to maintain a distance of 25 cm between seedlings, and 80 cm between rows. Planting bushes can also be done diagonally.

Strawberry planting technology:

Dig holes, the depth of which is determined by the size of the roots of plants.
Place seedlings in holes, spread roots.
Sprinkle with soil, tamp.
Water generously.

After a few days, the earth needs to be loosened to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface.

Nuances of variety care

The main measures for the care of Marshall strawberries include: removing weeds, loosening, moistening the soil, carrying out protective manipulations against diseases and pests.

Water and fertilize

From the beginning of the growing season, strawberries need to be irrigated regularly until harvest. The optimal time for procedures is morning and evening hours. Watering is done under the root. In hot weather, the bushes are moistened 2-3 times a week.

Feeding procedures are performed in May, early summer and autumn, it is especially important to bring nutrition at the stage of flowering and ovary formation. It is best to use herbal infusions, a solution of chicken, wood ash, and mullein for these purposes. In case of thinning shoots, potassium sulfate, ash or potassium nitrate are used.

Weeding and loosening

In order to prevent oxygen starvation and provide moisture access to strawberry roots, weeds must be regularly destroyed and the soil loosened. On clogged soils, the crop grows frail.

Mulching

Mulch - straw is used to preserve moisture in the soil. In addition, such an agricultural method allows reducing the growth of weeds, avoiding fruit contact with the soil, and increasing the fertility of the site.

Protection from diseases and pests

It is possible to prevent the appearance of parasites on strawberries by treating them with special preparations in the flowering phase and after picking the fruit. It is also effective to plant spicy crops, marigolds, calendula between plants. It is possible to prevent the development of fungal diseases by spraying bushes with fungicidal agents, cutting off regrown antennae.

Strawberry propagation

You can breed the Marshal variety with the help of seeds, and with the help of a mustache, and by dividing the bushes. The first method is more laborious, it is best to use the other two. Mustaches of the first order are sprinkled with soil, regularly moistened, and when they take root, they are separated from the mother bush. Delenki should have 3-4 leaves, one short shoot and he althy roots.

Collecting and storage rules

It is recommended to pick strawberries two days before reaching full technical maturity. The fruits are laid in one layer in a plastic or wooden container with holes. Harvesting should be done in dry weather. Before storing, the berries are cooled to 0-2 °C.

Strawberry Marshal is not a capricious and fruitful plant that bears fruit in any conditions. The main thing is to follow the correct agricultural practices and choose high-quality seedlings.