Strawberry Alba: variety description and characteristics, reproduction and cultivation with a photo

Many farms are now growing strawberries for sale. They acquire varieties for planting that do not lose their presentation during transportation, but are inferior in taste and aroma to berries that ripen in summer cottages and suburban areas. At the beginning of the 21st century, New Fruits, a company from Italy, developed a fruitful variety of garden strawberries. Alba is well transported, takes root in a temperate climate, beautiful berries ripen early.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The closest relative of garden strawberries Cal or Albion is grown in many countries of Western Europe, in Russia, Moldova, Belarus. Alba strawberries are ripe both in the greenhouse and in the garden.

Appearance of the plant

Powerful bush of the Italian variety, reaching a height of 35 cm, covered with large leaves of bright color. On strong, elongated peduncles, conical-shaped berries are tied, which, when ripe, acquire the same size and beautiful shade.

Terms of flowering and fruiting

Buds on Alba strawberries appear in the second decade of April, in the greenhouse - a week earlier. In the south of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, berries ripen in mid-May, in the middle lane and Belarus, strawberries ripen until June 15.

Yields

Alba bears fruit once a season, because it is not a remontant strawberry, but the berry picking lasts 14-16 days. The variety pleases not only with early ripening, but also with high productivity. Under favorable conditions, about a kilogram of berries are harvested from one bush, in Russia the yield of garden strawberries is somewhat lower and amounts to about 800 g.

Description of fruits

Strawberries are formed on long peduncles that bend and fall down when they ripen. The Alba variety has different berries:

large size;
red crimson;
elastic pulp.

One fruit weighs about 30 g, has a conical shape, pleases with sweet and sour taste, garden aroma. Berries that ripen almost simultaneously are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Use

Early strawberries are enjoyed by both adults and kids. In addition to fresh consumption, Alba fruits are frozen, used in the preparation of compotes, jams, preserves. Berries are ground with sugar.

Transportability and shelf life

In boxes, strawberries of Italian origin tolerate transportation well, do not lose their presentation, do not drain juice. The fruits of most varieties are stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, but dense berries at 0-2 ° C lie for a whole week.

Advantages and disadvantages of Strawberry Alba

The variety of Italian selection has many advantages. Garden strawberries take root in a cool and dry climate, depart after frost. Alba benefits include:

quick and friendly maturation;
presence of immunity to diseases;
attractive berry appearance;
high productivity;

The variety does not suffer from verticillosis, is not afraid of powdery mildew, is not affected by Fusarium. Strawberries also have disadvantages, but there are few of them. The taste of berries is evaluated not at 5, but at 4.7 points. To get a good harvest, you need not to neglect agricultural technology and carefully care for plantings. Variety Alba is infected with ascomycetes, suffers from brown spotting.

Rules for growing a plant

Strawberries love loose lands, in areas where groundwater comes close to the surface, feels uncomfortable, needs good lighting. Before planting strawberries, the soil must be fertilized with organic matter, mineral components must be added.

Sowing seeds

There are several ways to propagate Alba strawberries. If the crop is already growing on the site, you can divide the bushes, but in order to preserve varietal characteristics, reduce the risk of developing diseases, plant seeds.

Seed material is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate. The bottom of the transparent container is covered with gauze or cloth. With the help of a toothpick, small strawberry seeds are laid out, sprayed with water, left warm. Two days later, the planted seeds are sent to the refrigerator for hardening.

Peat tablets or boxes are filled with a disinfected substrate, which is prepared by combining sand and garden soil in the same volume. A little lime is added to the soil.

In mid-latitudes, seed is planted in January or February. Strawberry seeds are laid out in shallow grooves, moistened, but not sprinkled with soil. The container is covered with film or glass until sprouts appear.

So that young seedlings grow well:

Regularly water with settled water with a syringe.
Feed with ash or mineral complexes.
Once a month, the substrate is treated with Trichodermin.

Strawberry seedlings Alba dive into separate containers. Before moving to a permanent place, young bushes are hardened, when plaque appears, they are sprayed with biological fungicides.

Growing from seedlings

Cultivation of Alba strawberries from seeds is a long process, so many summer residents acquire bushes with roots. When placing them in the soil, you need to monitor the growth point.It should be above the surface. Strawberries are planted by the end of summer, choosing a cloudy day. It is best to start the procedure in July, August or spring. The plant has time to get stronger before frost or the onset of heat.

Soil for planting

Alba develops well and bears fruit in loose soil, the application of mineral fertilizers, the addition of organic matter in the form of bird droppings, compost, biohumus helps to improve the structure of the soil.

Plant pattern

Holes are being dug in the area developed for strawberries. A little sand is poured into each hole, bushes are lowered, the space is filled with soil and moistened with water. Alba seedlings are placed every 20-25 cm, between rows up to 40 are left. The ground under the plants is covered with sawdust and hay, mulched with compost.

Features of strawberry care

Although Alba is considered an unpretentious variety, you need to take care of the plantings carefully - feed, moisten the soil, and prepare for wintering in mid-latitudes.

Irrigation

Strawberry roots are located close to the surface and cannot get water from the deep layers of the earth. Culture especially needs moisture before the appearance of flowers. The plant responds positively to a drip or sprinkler irrigation system. After watering, the soil is loosened and mulched, which prevents the rapid evaporation of water. Seedlings need to be moistened every day, then the amount of irrigation is reduced to 3 times a week so that the soil does not dry out.

Mulching

After planting and watering the bushes, as well as for the winter, the ground under the strawberries is covered with different materials. In summer and spring, this helps to retain moisture. In autumn, plants are mulched to protect against freezing of the soil, damage and death of the roots:

The needles repel pests, prevent the development of diseases.
Strawberries are fed with green manure and straw.
The bushes are covered with tree bark for the winter.
Plants can be mulched with sawdust.

In recent years, black film or spandbond has been used. The material, produced using a special technology, maintains an optimal temperature, does not let in hot sunlight.

Preparing for winter

Alba does not tolerate frosty snowless weather. To protect plants from freezing, you can spud each bush, covering it with peat or compost on top. Suitable for mulching:

needles;
tops;
hay.

Some gardeners install arcs, stretch agrofibre or spunbond. Covering material is removed in the spring.

How is the variety propagated?

There are several ways to increase strawberry plantings.

Hive dividing method

To propagate the Alba variety, in the spring they dig up plants aged 2 to 3 years from which the largest number of berries were harvested:

With a disinfected tool, the roots of the bushes, together with the outlet, are separated into parts - 2 or 3.
Slices are treated with potassium permanganate.
Plants are planted in prepared holes.

With this method of propagation, strawberries quickly become stronger. In the same season, the first fruits appear.

Rooting tendrils

In late June - early July, in a greenhouse or greenhouse, the earth is mixed with peat, fertilized with humus. Prepared soil is poured into the container and antennae are placed, which are regularly moistened and fed with mullein. When 6 leaves appear, strawberries are sent to the garden.

Seed method

The method when planting the Alba variety is rarely used, small grains do not always sprout. Seed material must be purchased at specialized centers. Seeds are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, placed in containers with a substrate, kept warm in good light, dive when a leaf appears. In the spring, the seedlings are hardened and sent to the ground.

Cure diseases

To prevent the development of brown spot, the reproduction of ascomycetes fungi, Alba bushes are transplanted to a new place every 4 years, the roots are soaked in a growth stimulator before the procedure, the soil is disinfected with an iodine solution. When brown spots appear on plants:

Remove and burn dried leaves.
The bushes are watered with potassium permanganate.
The beds are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.

Alba is not affected by powdery mildew. The variety does not suffer from Fusarium.

Pest Protection

Strawberries attract nematodes. To prevent the appearance of parasites, the bushes of the plant are dipped into hot water before planting, and then into cold water, the beds are weeded from weeds, and the earth is disinfected with lime or blue vitriol.

Weevil, wintering under leaves, lays eggs in flower buds in spring.

The treatment of plants with ash or mustard helps to cope with this pest. To protect strawberries from strawberry mites:

Remove the remains of stems and roots.
The bushes are mowed at the end of summer.
The beds are treated with colloidal sulfur or onion peel.

If the leaves of the plants are attacked by aphids, the earth and strawberries are watered with infusion of garlic or a soapy solution of mustard. To protect against the bear, they put baits, sow calendula. Plants are saved from slugs by covering the beds with agrofiber, mulching with sawdust, spraying with s alt.