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Experienced summer residents and gardeners are well aware that behind the seductive taste and aroma of strawberries or garden strawberries, the hard work of growing and caring for them is often hidden. Therefore, it is not surprising that among the majority of strawberry lovers, the desire to find and plant varieties with the largest berries in their garden is increasing. Not only do such berries cause envy and admiration among all acquaintances and neighbors, but they also easily disperse in any market. The yields of these varieties are usually admirable as well, and the effort put into caring for the strawberries will not be wasted.
Bogota strawberries are rightfully considered one of the largest fruits in the realm of garden strawberries. But she has many other advantages, thanks to which, even after the end of the advertising boom, she continues to enjoy considerable popularity among gardeners.
Variety description
There is an opinion that the Bogota strawberry variety comes from Holland. There is no reliable data on this, but it is known for certain that it existed back in the late 90s of the last century, when it was submitted for registration to the State Register of Our Country by the North Caucasian Research Institute of Mountain and Foothill Gardening, located in Kabardino-Balkaria.
Strawberry Bogota was included in the State Register only in 2002, and the North Caucasian Scientific Center for Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking, located in Krasnodar, acted as the originator of the variety.
The variety is officially recommended for cultivation only in two regions of Our Country: in the North Caucasus and the Far East. It is in these areas that he is able to show the best of what he is capable of. However, Bogota strawberries are readily grown in other areas where they also do well, but yields and berry sizes can vary greatly depending on the climatic growing conditions and soil composition of a particular region.
Bogota strawberry bushes are distinguished by their powerful growth force and good foliage, although at the same time they look quite compact. They reach a height of 20-30 cm, and do not spread much on the surface of the earth. The leaves are leathery, dense, large, wide, light green in color, have a strong wrinkle and are folded at an angle along the central vein. They are held on thick, medium pubescent cuttings with wide, green stipules.
Both flowers and berries of this strawberry variety are large. White and bisexual flowers, followed by berries, are formed at the level of leaf growth. The inflorescences are many-flowered, so that more than a dozen berries can form on one peduncle. Large and thick peduncles quite successfully cope with their task and hold a significant crop of large berries well on their weight.
The mustache of the Bogota strawberry variety forms a lot and they are also powerful and thick. On the one hand, this is, of course, good, because it allows you to easily propagate the variety or choose the most healthy specimens for replacement. But, on the other hand, work on caring for strawberries is added at times.
In the south, it ripens, as a rule, in July, and in more northern regions it may begin to bear fruit closer to August. These ripening dates can be very convenient for those who wish to have an uninterrupted conveyor of strawberries on their site throughout the summer. Since it was during this period that many traditional strawberry varieties have already departed, and remontant varieties may not yet have time to gain enough sweetness.
Strawberries of the Bogota variety cannot be called drought-resistant at all – it requires mandatory irrigation and only under such conditions can show good yields. Although you can’t call it a record one, you can collect 600-800 g of berries from one bush. In industrial terms, the average yield of this variety is 127 q/ha. In this sense, it is inferior to the most productive varieties, like Elizabeth 2. But on the other hand, it surpasses many of them in terms of taste.
Strawberry Bogota is also quite demanding on soils and grows best on black soil – it is not in vain that it is zoned specifically for the conditions of the North Caucasus. On soils of other varieties, the size of the berries may not change for the better. In addition, this variety cannot be called frost-resistant – in the conditions of the middle lane, it can freeze without shelter.
A description of the Bogota strawberry variety would be incomplete without mentioning its resistance to diseases and pests. Here, the opinions and reviews of gardeners sometimes diverge. The originators claim that it has complex resistance to many diseases and successfully resists most harmful insects. To some extent, this is true, because its leaves rarely suffer from all sorts of spots, and the berries are not subject to decay, except when planted thickly or in very wet and rainy seasons.
Characteristics of berries
And yet, Bogota berries, which are the main value of any strawberry variety, can leave few people indifferent.
At one time, in numerous commercials about this variety of strawberries, it was stated that the most gigantic berry ripens in it, the mass of which easily reaches 160 cm. And the dimensions in a circle of about 10-12 cm do not even allow it to fit in a glass.
Perhaps, in the ideal conditions of the south of Our Country on chic black soil and subject to high agricultural technology, such sizes from Bogota strawberries can be achieved. But for most summer residents and gardeners, the size of the berries will be much more modest. The originators claim that the average weight of one berry is 12,9 grams. There is no particular contradiction here, since the average weight is taken from the total mass of berries for the entire harvest period. And only the very first berries are especially large, and even then in the most favorable conditions. In general, the fruits are really large, some of them seem to consist of several berries fused together, turned at an angle. Hence the wide variety of forms encountered – from truncated-conical to round-ridge-shaped.
The appearance of Bogota strawberries is very presentable – they are bright red, dense, shiny with many slightly depressed yellowish seeds.
The pulp is also red, has an average density. Berries do not crumple during storage, do not flow, therefore they are characterized by good transportability.
But the most important thing is still the taste. Many people are skeptical about large strawberries, believing that they cannot be especially tasty. But strawberry Bogota easily refutes such misconceptions. The berries are really sweet, with a slight harmonious sourness, and have a characteristic strawberry aroma. Professional tasters give Bogota strawberries one of the highest ratings – 4,8 points on a five-point scale.
Berries contain 8,6% sugars, 90 mg/% vitamin C and 0,72% acid.
The purpose of the Bogota strawberry variety is dessert – that is, the fruits are good, first of all, for fresh consumption. But this does not mean at all that it cannot be rubbed with sugar, frozen and used in a variety of sweet culinary dishes. Just because of the large size of the berry, it can be difficult to use it for cooking jam and for other whole preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of the Bogota strawberry variety are the following:
- Large size of berries and good yield;
- Excellent taste characteristics of berries;
- Good resistance to many diseases and, above all, to rot and spotting;
- Easily propagated due to the high mustaceous ability.
This variety also has some disadvantages:
- Demanding to growing conditions and care;
- Reduced frost resistance;
- Low drought tolerance.
Reviews of gardeners
Gardeners love the Bogota strawberry variety and are not shy about praising its berries. Moreover, the variety has been known for quite a long time and during this time it has gained a fairly good and reliable reputation.
Conclusion
Strawberries Bogota, perhaps, will require attention and care from you almost to a greater extent than other varieties. But on the other hand, it will thank you in full with large and very tasty berries in the season when there are practically no strawberries on the markets.