Honey Strawberry: description and characteristics of the variety, planting, growing and care with photo

The bred variety is named after the city of Honeoye. Obtained by crossing varieties Vibrant and Holiday. Growing honey strawberries requires simple but important planting and care rules.

Description of the variety and its characteristics

The varietal indicators of a plant are what gardeners first of all pay attention to when deciding to breed one or another variety of strawberries. The taste indicators of berries, plant resistance to diseases, yield per bush are taken into account.

Appearance of bushes and fruits

The bush is compact, powerful, with a well-developed root system, up to 0.3 m high. The leaves grow up to 22 cm long. The bush has been actively growing since the second week of April. Peduncles in strawberries are strong, able to withstand large berries. Fruit weight reaches 40 g. They are rich bright red color, medium density. The berries are sweet with a pleasant sourness, have a rich strawberry flavor. At the end of the season, the berries become smaller, but the taste and aroma become richer.

When it blooms

In the middle of May strawberry beds are covered with many white flowers. When flowering lasts two weeks, 14-16 flowers are formed on a bush.

When it yields

Berries ripen, depending on the place of growth, from mid-May to early June. When using growth stimulants, creating a greenhouse effect, strawberries will begin to bear fruit a couple of weeks earlier. The collection is carried out every 2-3 days. By the end of the season, the fruits become less, but the strawberries are more fragrant and sweet.

Weather resistant

Strawberries are unpretentious to external conditions. It tolerates heat well, can do without watering for 3-4 days. Perfectly tolerates low temperatures down to -18 ^oC.

Beginning of fruiting

This strawberry is considered a short daylight crop. Early variety. Under the film ripens in late April - early May. In the southern regions, on open ridges, the first berries ripen in early May.

Shelf life and transportability

Transportability is one of the advantages of the variety. Fruits about 3 days keep a trade dress. Handles transportation well.

Use

In addition to using fresh berries, they are excellent for thermal processing, freezing. After defrosting, strawberries retain a pleasant aroma. Jams from it have aroma and pleasant sourness.

Growth regions

Grows well in non-chernozem middle regions of Russia, in the center and in the south of Ukraine, Belarus. Since the bushes are sensitive to prolonged lack of moisture, it is better not to grow in dry areas.

Pros and cons

The variety has the following positive aspects:

yield, subject to agricultural technology, is 1.2 kg per bush;
fruits steadily for several years;
hardy, can survive even with improper care;
tolerates hot weather, drought, waterlogging;
has average, high immunity to some diseases;
tolerates temperature drops to -18 ^oC;
tradeable appearance is preserved for 3 days.

The disadvantages of this variety are minor:

despite good immunity, strawberries are prone to diseases of the root system;
requires the correct water regime, when waterlogged, rotting occurs;
when stored for more than 3 days, the berries darken, become not juicy.

How to grow honey strawberries

To obtain a quality crop, it is important to carefully consider the requirements for choosing planting material and follow the technology of planting bushes.

Requirements for planting material

It is recommended to purchase seed material in speci alty stores or prepare it yourself. When using whiskers or dividing the bush, the mother plant must be he althy, undamaged.

Site selection and soil preparation

For full growth and fruiting, bushes are recommended to be planted on flat areas. To prevent the development of fungal diseases, the area should be well ventilated. The place should be well lit and protected from the north wind. The soil is suitable slightly acidic, sandy or loamy. A few weeks before planting the bushes, the soil must be fertilized with superphosphate, potassium sulfate and organic matter.

Planting garden strawberries

Landing sequence:

rows spaced 0.5m apart;
landing is recommended in cloudy weather or in the evening;
hole depth should be about 0.3 m;
pour water into the hole, put bushes, sprinkle with earth;
apical bud should be at ground level;
moisten the ground, mulch.

Nuances of care

To obtain a high-quality stable crop, it is important to follow simple but necessary requirements for the care of strawberries.

Irrigation

During the first week after planting, the bushes are watered daily. Then once a week is enough. In very hot weather - twice a week. Drip irrigation gives excellent results and helps save energy. Mulching is recommended to retain moisture.

Feeding

This variety is hardy, but requires fertilization. In April, it is necessary to make a solution of mullein with urea in parts 1 to 10. When flowering, it is recommended to make foliar top dressing. During the formation of ovaries, fertilize with mineral complex preparations. The last top dressing should be done after harvest. For this, organic fertilizers are used.

Mulching

This procedure is performed to preserve moisture, prevent the development of diseases. It also helps keep the berries clean. Straw, dry grass, needles are ideal.

Preparing for winter

Weeding strawberries in the fall is not recommended, you can damage the roots, which will not have time to recover by winter. Remove dry, damaged leaves. After it is necessary to process from pests, diseases for prevention. In cold regions, as well as where there is little snow, it is recommended to make a shelter for the winter. To do this, use needles, straw or dry grass.

Propagation of strawberries

In speci alty stores you can buy seeds and germinate them, then plant them in open ground. You can prepare seeds yourself. To do this, you need to take a he althy strawberry, cut off a thin skin and dry it.Before germinating seeds, treat with a solution of manganese, soak for a day and plant in a prepared container. Seedlings grow 2-3 months. Transplant bushes to produce in the presence of 2-3 leaves.

But it's easier to buy or purchase strawberry seedlings in a nursery or from friends. If strawberries grow on the site, it will not be difficult to propagate them. Mustache this variety gives a lot. To obtain high-quality seedlings, you need to leave 2-3 bushes for reproduction. In such bushes, you need to cut off all the flower stalks. Leave only the mustache. They should take root in a season. At the end of summer, transplant them to a new place.

Reproduction can be done by dividing the bush. To do this, dig a bush older than 3 years. Place in a container of water to facilitate division. Divide the bush so that each part has a socket. Trim the roots a few inches. This will stimulate the development of lateral roots. Treat sections with manganese solution.Plant in beds.

Diseases

The variety is susceptible to some types of fungal diseases. To prevent their spread, it is recommended to plant bushes in sufficiently ventilated areas, to carry out timely preventive treatment of plants.

Phytophthora wilt

Fungal infection, pathogens are microorganisms of the species Phytophthora. Bushes are infected through the affected rhizome. For treatment, it is recommended to treat with a solution of "Fundazol", which must be applied under the root of the bush. Produce good drainage.

Grey Rot

Infection of bushes is produced by a fungus that spreads through the water, the atmosphere. The plant is completely affected. It is necessary to treat with a solution of Bordeaux liquid or means "Switch", "Derozal". To prevent the disease, experts advise changing the planting site of strawberries after 3-4 years.

Brown spotting

Caused by a fungus, infection occurs through the mycelium that remains to overwinter on leaf plates. For destruction, it is necessary to treat the plants with a solution of Bordeaux mixture even before the start of the growing season.

Powdery mildew

A fungal infection spread through water or the atmosphere. Rainy weather is an excellent breeding ground. Leaves and fruits are affected. For the fight, it is recommended to treat the bushes with a copper emulsion with soap. Spray before flowering begins. After flowering, it is recommended to use "Topaz" or similar preparations.

Pests

In addition to diseases, bushes are overcome by pests, for the extermination of which it is recommended to use a number of measures. In addition, harmful insects can become carriers of diseases.

Strawberry Whitefly

This is a very small insect, similar to a white butterfly, 1.5 mm long. They settle at the bottom of the leaf plate, suck the juice out of it, and lay eggs on it. The larvae stick to the leaf plates of the bush and are not visible. They do not like sunlight, hiding in shady areas. They hibernate in the upper layers of the soil and plant debris. For protection, treat bushes with pesticides before flowering and after harvest.

Leaf beetle

The bug, the size of which ranges from 3-4 mm, is brown in color. It actively destroys the flesh of the leaves throughout the growing season. It is mainly activated during the flowering of bushes, ripening of berries.

For prevention, it is necessary to weed out cinquefoil and wild rosemary around the beds, as the beetle uses them for food. Loosening the soil destroys the beetle pupa, making it available to other insects. Before flowering, it is recommended to treat with Karbofos or a similar insecticidal preparation.In early spring, pollinate the ridges with tobacco dust.

Nematode

These are transparent worms. They settle in the tissues of the plant, feed on its juice. It is impossible to cure strawberries, the bushes must be removed with a root ball. Treat the earth with a solution of copper sulfate 5%.

Cleaning and storage

The first strawberries are harvested in mid or late May. The collection continues for 2 weeks, is carried out every 2-3 days. For transportation, an unripe berry with a whitish tip is collected. They are removed from the bush with a sepal and a fragment of the stalk, so they retain their presentation longer.