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Amateur gardeners and agricultural producers involved in the cultivation of strawberries on an industrial scale often face the choice of which crop variety to use. The fact is that the varietal variety of strawberries can confuse even the most experienced gardeners.
We will try to tell you more about one of the varieties created by American breeders. Monterey strawberries have conquered more than one gardener, enjoying well-deserved popularity. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a variety, you need to know its botanical features, the rules of care and cultivation.
Video about Monterey strawberries in the country:
botanical properties
The remontant Monterey strawberry was obtained in California by university scientists by crossing the Albion variety and further breeding selection (cal. 97.85-6).
- The variety is medium early, belongs to the plants of the neutral day.
- The bushes are powerful, with a large number of peduncles, with bright green shiny leaves. Leaves with medium waviness, rather large. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant seedlings of Monterey strawberries closely: thickening reduces the yield.
- Blooms in early May until frost. The flowers are white, large, with a bright yellow core.
- The berries are dark red, glossy, large, weighing up to 30 grams. The fruits are conical in shape with a pointed tip.
- The fruits are dense, the skin is not damaged if you run your finger over it.
- Remontant strawberries are resistant to many strawberry diseases. Powdery mildew brings trouble.
Unlike other varieties of remontant strawberries, it gives a good harvest in winter, even in a city apartment.
Productivity of the variety
The yield of Monterey strawberries according to the description of the variety, photos and reviews of gardeners is excellent. Remontant garden strawberries bear fruit in waves, 3-4 times per season. One plant throws out up to 14 peduncles. From one bush you can collect 500 grams of sweet, without sourness, berries. Subject to all norms of agricultural technology, even up to 2 kg. Yields can be reduced at too high temperatures: the berry ripens without gaining weight.
Dense berries do not lose their presentation: they do not crumple during transportation, do not change their taste and shape when frozen.
Methods of reproduction
How to choose female sockets:
The Monterey strawberry variety begins to bear fruit in the second year, after a year and a half, the yield decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the planting material. Remontant garden strawberries of this variety can be propagated in any way: by seeds, mustache, root division (the most successful option for the Monterey variety).
Planting material obtained from seeds does not bear fruit in the first year after planting. As for mustache propagation, it should be noted that the Monterey strawberry variety gives them in a minimal amount, because all the forces of the plant are spent on creating a rich harvest. The planting material from the mustache is healthy, you can root the sockets in plastic cups or cassettes. Strawberry seedlings with a closed root system have a 100% survival rate.
Timely replacement of Monterey strawberry bushes allows you to get a rich harvest for several years in a row.
Mustache breeding secrets on video from gardeners:
Cultivation and care
For garden strawberries, a well-lit place is chosen; the sun should fall on the beds, based on the characteristics, for at least 6 hours.
When planting remontant Monterey strawberries, you need to take into account the 40×50 scheme: dense plantings lead to a decrease in yield. The wells are filled with water in advance, a little Kornevin is added. If ordinary beds are used, then the surface of the earth under the strawberry bushes must be mulched.
Otherwise, growing and caring for Monterey strawberries is not much different: loosening the soil, watering, weeding, pest control. Since the remontant variety produces a crop several times a year, it is especially demanding on top dressing. It is best to water Monterey strawberries using a drip system, and feed through it.
Care is simple, but the Monterey garden strawberry variety is thermophilic, requiring shelter for the winter even in the southern regions. Plants are usually covered with spunbond or mulch.
