Probably, every gardener will have at least a couple of strawberry bushes on the site. These berries are very tasty and also have a rather attractive appearance. Of course, in order to get a good harvest, you need to make a lot of effort. Strawberries require careful care. However, in our time, you can find a huge number of new varieties that are characterized by high productivity and unpretentiousness. These berries are usually larger.
In this article we want to talk about the variety of strawberries “Honey” or “Honeoye”. It was bred by American breeders, based on the Vibrant and Holiday varieties. This strawberry has been grown since 1979, so by now it has managed to gain considerable popularity. Below you can see a description of the Honey strawberry variety, as well as photos and reviews.
Characteristic of the variety
This is an early high-yielding variety with large fruits. Honey has strong compact bushes. The root system is well developed. Peduncles are strong, can easily withstand the weight of ripe berries. The variety also forms large dark green leaves that can grow up to 22 cm in length.
The bush begins to grow actively from the second week of April. It is at this time that the plant begins to prepare and gain strength before fruiting begins. Flowering can continue for two weeks. About 15 flowers are formed on the bushes. All berries on the bush begin to ripen at the same time. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, ripening begins from the second week of May to the end of the month.
The berries ripen within 2 weeks. Every 2-3 days it is necessary to collect fruits. The weight of each strawberry is about 35-40 grams. It has a beautiful rich color and shiny skin. The flesh may be red or orange-red. The density of strawberries is medium. The fruits have a sweet taste with a slight sourness. There is a characteristic aroma of strawberries.
By the end of the fruiting period, the berries become noticeably smaller. At the same time, they acquire a more pronounced taste and smell. The variety does not have the ability to bear fruit twice in a season. From the second week of June, mustaches begin to actively form on the bushes.
The variety is transportable. Strawberries can be stored for up to 3 days and retain their attractive appearance even after being transported over long distances. At the same time, the freshness and taste of the berries are not lost. The advantages of this variety also include high frost resistance, as well as immunity to various leaf diseases. In addition, the variety is distinguished by very high yields. From only one Honey bush, about 0,4 kg of berries can be harvested per season. The variety loves chernozem soils, but also feels good on other types of soil.
The description of Honey strawberries also contains some disadvantages:
- Honey does not tolerate excess or insufficient moisture;
- when stored fresh for a long time, the berries darken and lose their taste properties;
- possible diseases of the root system.
Of course, the advantages of this variety prevail, and the disadvantages are not so significant as to refuse to grow such strawberries in your garden. Next, it’s worth figuring out how to properly plant and grow the Honey variety.
Planting and care
It is advisable to plant the Honey strawberry variety in the fall. In this case, it is important to take into account the time of onset of frost. A month before the cold snap, strawberries should already be planted. The best time for landing is evening. This variety loves flat, well-lit areas. Slightly acidic soil is suitable for growing Honey. Strawberries feel good in loamy and sandy soils.
Before planting strawberries, organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied. For one square meter of beds, you will need about 7-8 kg of organic matter. You can also prepare a nutrient solution from 50 grams of superphosphate and 30 grams of potassium sulfate.
When choosing seedlings, it is necessary to pay attention to the width of the root neck. On a healthy strawberry, it is at least 1 cm. Too long roots should be cut off, leaving about 5–8 cm. All dried and damaged leaves must be cut off. Then the seedling is lowered into the prepared hole, straightening the roots. Then the hole is covered with soil to the beginning of the upper part of the bush.
Planted strawberries must be watered and the soil mulched with peat or humus. The first week the plants will have to be watered daily. After that, the number of waterings should be reduced to 1 time in 7 days. The soil around the bushes can be covered with a special film or straw. Every 2 weeks, the soil is loosened and the plants are fertilized as needed. From time to time, you can carry out prevention with special preparations for diseases and pests. If there are signs of infection, all affected leaves and flower stalks should be removed immediately.
Strawberry Honey is picky about the level of soil moisture. Gardeners who grow this variety should be careful when watering the bushes. Both excess and lack of water can adversely affect the condition of plants. It is also necessary to regularly remove all weeds from the garden.
Conclusion
Many gardeners choose the Honey variety for growing on their plots. This strawberry has a high yield, as well as very attractive and tasty berries. The bushes are quite hardy and strong, they tolerate frost well. The variety is highly resistant to most diseases. Berries easily tolerate transportation, making strawberries great for sales. Of course, like any other variety, Honey has certain disadvantages. This strawberry reacts sharply to a lack or excess of moisture and may be subject to diseases of the root system. But, following the rules of care, you can not worry about such manifestations. It is better to plant Honey in your garden and see for yourself how good a variety it is.
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