Strawberry Geneva

When planting strawberries on a plot, gardeners prefer large-fruited, high-yielding varieties with an extended fruiting period. Naturally, the taste of the berries should also be at the level of high standards. Such requirements are met by large-fruited varieties of remontant berries, which include strawberries “Geneva”.

The variety was bred a long time ago, already in the 90s of the last century, gardeners actively grew “Geneva” on their plots. If you pay attention to the description of the variety, photos and reviews of the Geneva strawberries, then immediately there is a desire to plant a magnificent variety.

Description and characteristics of the variety

A more detailed acquaintance with the description and photo of the Geneva strawberry variety will help gardeners grow an excellent harvest. Therefore, let’s start with external characteristics to imagine how the plant will look in the garden:

bushes strawberries of the “Geneva” variety are powerful, rather squat and sprawling. Therefore, too close planting can lead to thickening of the rows and the spread of gray mold. One bush gives from 5 to 7 mustaches. This is an average for a crop, so the variety does not require constant removal.

Leaves “Geneva” is light green and medium in size. Peduncles are long. But the fact that they are not erect, but inclined to the soil, leads to a low position of the berries. When planting Geneva strawberries, care should be taken that the berries do not touch the ground.

Berries. Fruits of different sizes grow on one bush. “Geneva” refers to large-fruited varieties, one berry in the first wave of fruiting reaches a weight of 50 g more. The main disadvantage of the variety, gardeners note the tendency of berries to shrink during the growing season. Late harvest is different in that the strawberries become almost 2 times smaller. But the aroma is so persistent and rich that the place of planting strawberries can be determined from afar. The shape of the fruit resembles a truncated red cone. The pulp is fragrant, juicy, sweet taste. According to the description of the variety, the fruits of the Geneva strawberries do not have an acidic taste, but they cannot be called sugary-sweet either. Gardeners note a very pleasant memorable taste.

Now let’s move on to those characteristics that most attract strawberry lovers.

Fruiting. According to the description, Geneva strawberries belong to remontant varieties, and gardeners’ reviews indicate the stability of fruiting even under adverse conditions. But the variety has some peculiarity.

The first time the harvest of “Geneva” is harvested in the first decade of June. Then the bushes of the variety have a short rest for 2,5 weeks. At this time, strawberries throw out their whiskers, and re-flowering begins.

Now the berries are harvested in early July, and the plants form and root rosettes on the whiskers. After the formation of the 7th leaf, these rosettes begin flowering, which ensures further uninterrupted fruiting until frost. This is the peculiarity of the remontant variety “Geneva”, which bears fruit on young plants, and not just on mother plants. If the variety is grown in a bad year, when there are few sunny days and it often rains, then “Geneva” still gives a good harvest due to internal reserves.

Disease and pest resistance. Genetically, the variety is bred so that the main fungal and viral infections are not capable of causing significant harm to Geneva. Spider mite invasions are also not terrible for plantings. It is necessary to pay attention to the prevention of gray rot. This disease affects strawberries “Geneva” in violation of the requirements of agricultural technology.

Life cycle. Strawberry varieties “Geneva” “age” much earlier than ordinary varieties. According to gardeners, the Geneva strawberry variety has such a feature. For a maximum of three years, you can hope for a high yield, and then the yield drops, which makes further cultivation of old bushes unprofitable.

Growing basics

The description of the strawberry “Geneva” indicates that the variety can be propagated using layering (whiskers) or seeds. Propagating strawberries by rooting a mustache is quite simple, so this method is also available to novice gardeners. The mustache that appears after the first wave of fruiting is rooted with the help of a “slingshot” or by planting in separate pots. The earlier rooting is carried out, the more powerful strawberry seedlings will turn out.

The second method is more laborious and complex. It is chosen by experienced gardeners. Let us consider in more detail the process of sowing seeds and caring for seedlings.

Sowing

Some gardeners start preparing purchased seeds for planting as early as January. First, the planting material is placed in the refrigerator on the top shelf and left for a month. In the regions of the middle lane, sowing is scheduled for the end of February or the beginning of March. In the southern regions, the deadlines are shifted 2 weeks earlier.

Start sowing. It is best to use ready-made universal soil for seedlings. Containers with a diameter of 10-15 cm are suitable as containers. For the germination of Geneva strawberry seeds, a substrate moisture content of at least 80% is provided. To do this, add 1 ml of water per 800 kg of dry soil and mix until smooth.

Now fill the container with moist soil, but not to the very top. Leave 2-3 cm for quality seedling care. The surface is compacted quite a bit and strawberry seeds of the Geneva variety are laid out on top. Now the seed is sprinkled with a thin layer of soil or sand, moistened with a sprayer, covered with glass (film) and placed in a bright, warm place. Now you have to be patient. Strawberry sprouts “Geneva” sprout unevenly. The first may appear after 35 days, and the remaining on the 60th day.

Care

Until the first sprouts appear, keep the soil in a slightly moistened state. The ideal temperature for germination is 18 ºC -20 ºC. At this temperature, the seeds germinate in 2 weeks. The emerging sprouts signal that the seedlings should be moved to a very well-lit place. If this is not possible, then the seedlings of “Geneva” will have to be illuminated. The second important condition is regular ventilation.

Picks

Strawberry seedlings dive “Geneva” at the stage of 2 true leaves. This usually happens after 1,5-2 months. Seedlings are planted in separate containers at the same depth.

Now care consists in moderate watering and mandatory hardening 2 weeks before planting. As soon as the seedlings of “Geneva” undergo adaptation, the bushes are planted in a permanent place.

Planting seedlings in open ground

There are two terms for planting Geneva strawberries, which, according to gardeners, are the most favorable. In spring, the event is scheduled for mid-May or a little later, and in autumn – mid-August until the end of September. The best place for the location of strawberry ridges is the area where legumes, parsley, garlic, radishes or mustard were grown. But nightshade, raspberries or cabbage are not very successful predecessors for Geneva. It is important to choose a sunny and leveled place for the variety to prevent moisture stagnation on the ridges. Strawberry “Geneva” prefers loam or sandy loam with a neutral (possibly slightly acidic) reaction. But the culture does not like peaty or sod-podzolic soil. In this case, measures will have to be taken to improve the structure. Prepare the soil in advance. For spring planting of seedlings, preparatory work begins in the fall, for autumn – in the spring:

1. The earth is dug up with a pitchfork, at the same time clearing of weeds, debris and other plant residues.
2. When digging for 1 sq. m add compost, humus or manure (1 bucket), wood ash (5 kg).
3. A month before the scheduled date of planting, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of “Kaliyfos” per 1 sq. m area.

The very process of landing “Geneva” at different times of the year is absolutely identical.

If we take into account the description of the variety and the reviews of gardeners about the Geneva strawberries, then it is better to plant remontant species at the end of summer or autumn. In this case, the seedlings have time to take root before the onset of winter. Pests and diseases at this time of the year also lose activity, which allows you to save the viability of young plants.

There are two ways to plant strawberries:

• private (25 cm x 70 cm);
• carpet (20 cm x 20 cm).

Planting is more easily tolerated by plants if it occurs on a cloudy day. 1-2 seedlings are placed in one hole and make sure that the roots do not bend upwards, and the heart is above ground level. The earth is tamped and strawberries are watered.

Care for adult bushes

Competent care for strawberry bushes “Geneva” consists of:

• soil loosening and mulching (straw, agrofibre);

  

• abundant regular watering, preferably drip (the variety has a superficial location of the roots);

  

• feeding (very important after the first harvest);
• timely treatment from pests and diseases;
• weeding rows, removing excess whiskers and reddened leaves.

Pruning of the remontant variety “Geneva” can be omitted so that the plant does not lose its vitality.

To prevent freezing, the ridges are covered with straw before winter. Many gardeners practice growing Geneva strawberries in protected ground, especially in regions with a cool climate. This makes it possible to collect the second wave of ripe berries in full.

Reviews

In addition to the description of the variety and photos, gardeners’ reviews play a big role in getting to know Geneva strawberries.