It is difficult to surprise fans of growing garden strawberries at the present time, but still, strawberries blooming with bright pink flowers are a certain exotic. After all, the sight of bushes at the time of flowering can bewitch even a sophisticated gardener. And at Tuscany strawberries, berries can ripen on the bushes and buds can bloom at the same time. Of course, such a phenomenon is hard to resist and many really cannot believe whether this miracle really exists or is it just another Photoshop trick.

Strawberry Tuscany

Variety description

Actually, Tuscany is not a strawberry variety. This is an F1 hybrid bred by ABZ seeds in Italy in 2011. The main consequence of this fact is that it is useless to germinate seeds from Tuscany strawberries to obtain the same characteristics as the mother bush. But Tuscany reproduces pretty well with whiskers, so in terms of reproduction, everything is quite real, if you do not mean your own seeds.

Attention! If you are a fan of seed propagation, then it would be better to buy the seeds of this hybrid in a store from an official supplier.

Almost immediately after its release, the Tuscany strawberry hybrid became the winner of the FleuroStar World Competition.

  • Strawberry bushes Tuscany, indeed, are distinguished by powerful growth. Not exceeding 15-20 cm in height, they can grow up to 40-45 cm wide. At the same time, the length of the shoots can reach one meter. This property allows the strawberry hybrid to be used for planting in hanging baskets, planters and other vertical structures.

    Strawberry Tuscany

  • The hybrid belongs to the ampel remontant varieties of garden strawberries. This means that in addition to flowering and fruiting during almost the entire warm season, from spring to autumn, Tuscany strawberry bushes are able to form long shoots with flowering rosettes on them. That is, this hybrid is able to bloom and form tasty berries on its shoots, even without the rooting of the latter. It is this phenomenon that helps to create the effect of an ampelous plant, strewn with flowers and berries at the same time.
  • The leaves are dark green in color and have a characteristic sheen.
  • Flowers of a bright ruby ​​​​hue are soon replaced by scarlet berries of a medium-sized conical shape.
  • The berries weigh an average of about 35 grams, are quite dense, sweet, juicy, have the aroma of wild strawberries.
  • In one season, about 1 kg of delicious and sweet berries can be harvested from each strawberry bush.

    Strawberry Tuscany

  • Tuscany strawberry seeds are characterized by excellent germination, and the bushes obtained as a result of cultivation are aligned in size.
  • Hybrid Tuscany is resistant to high temperatures and drought. It also quite successfully resists adverse growing conditions, including many fungal diseases: spotting, root rot, etc.

Fundamentals of agricultural technology

In general, Tuscany strawberries are a representative of ordinary garden strawberries, so all the basic rules of agricultural technology do not differ from ordinary varieties.

Tuscany hybrid bushes are planted in spring or autumn.

Advice! If you use purchased seedlings, then it is better to prefer spring planting – in this case, already in the current season there is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and delicious taste of strawberry bushes.

If you want to grow Tuscany strawberries from seeds, then they are usually sown at the very end of winter, and the seedlings survive in the ground in the spring and summer. Of course, by the end of summer it will be possible to enjoy the first flowers and berries, but in this case you will harvest a full-fledged crop only next year.

Strawberry Tuscany

If Tuscany strawberries are planted in the ground, then it will ideally look like a groundcover along paths in the garden or on an alpine hill. Much more often it is used for landings in various vertical and suspended structures. In both cases, it is necessary that the soil in which you plant it is both light, breathable and fertile. You can use ready-made mixes for strawberries from stores, or you can make your own. The following recipe is perfect:

  • Peat – 6 parts;
  • Sod land – 3 parts;
  • Humus – 3 parts;
  • Sand or vermiculite – 1 part.

The main thing in the process of planting seedlings of this hybrid is to plant plants at a fairly significant distance from each other. There should be about 80 cm between them, and it is even better to increase the distance to 120-150 cm.

The fact is, Tuscany strawberries actively form mustaches, which take root easily in the very first weeks. Therefore, if this process is not controlled, then by the end of summer the entire space around the bushes will be filled with mustaches with flowering and fruiting rosettes.

Strawberry Tuscany

When planting seedlings of Tuscany in hanging or vertical containers, each bush should have at least 2-3 liters of land.

Watering Tuscany should be regular: quite plentiful at the beginning of the growing season and moderate from the moment the first fruits are formed. In hot weather, watering is necessary twice a day: in the morning and in the evening.

Important! It is necessary to water Tuscany strawberries during flowering and fruiting strictly under the root, in order to avoid the spread of rot.

But the most important secret of the successful cultivation of this hybrid is regular feeding – after all, plants spend a lot of energy on flowering and berry formation. It is necessary to feed Tuscany strawberries every 14-18 days. It is best to use a complex fertilizer with a maximum content of trace elements in chelate form. The content of macronutrients should be approximately in the following ratio N:P:K = 1:3:6.

Strawberry Tuscany

In order for the berries to be able to ripen for a longer period of time, it is recommended to cover the plantings with a film at the beginning and at the end of the growing season. In autumn, with significant drops in temperature, you can bring baskets or planters with strawberries into the house. With additional lighting, you can extend the ripening period of berries for another one to two months. Then it is advisable to place the strawberry bushes for the winter period in a room in which the temperature does not fall below -5 ° C in winter.

Comment! With a warm greenhouse or winter garden, Tuscany can become a real gem during the long winter months.

Reviews of gardeners

Strawberry Tuscany

Reviews about Tuscany strawberries, the description of the variety and the photo of which are located above, are mostly favorable, although many gardeners talk more about its decorative effect than about its taste.

Svetlana, 38 years old, Smolensk
I bought remontant strawberries of the Tuscany variety with small seedlings. They landed her in the spring, she didn’t even have time to get stronger, as it should, but she already bloomed. The flowers, of course, are very beautiful, and if you let it grow, then a whole pink bush turns out. Even the neighbors asked me what kind of flowers I got so unusual. And when they found out that it was strawberries, at first they did not believe, and then they asked for seedlings. Her berries are small, but sweet, suitable for jam, and so eat right from the bush. Mustache propagates very easily. I have been growing it for two years now, so in the second year I first cut off the first flower stalks, so that later there would be a larger harvest. So, from May to the end of September, she practically delighted us with both flowers and berries.
Maria, 29 years old, Lipetsk
In the spring, I bought two Tuscany strawberry bushes already blooming in the shopping center. I planted them on the balcony – in May they already picked the first berry. Strawberries bloomed and fruited all summer. There were no mustaches this year, but there were many flowers. By autumn, the berries have become smaller in size, but I like the flowers in it the most – they are so unusual, they attract attention.
Alina, 32 years old, Moscow
For several years now, a unique variety of Tuscany strawberries has been living on my balcony and in my room. It gives berries almost all year round – in winter I bring it into the room, hang a lamp over it, and in spring, summer and autumn it feels great on the balcony. I feed it from spring to autumn every two weeks with a complex fertilizer, I water it regularly. My children are very happy when the next berries ripen, and I am in awe of the flowers – they are so cute. At home, you have to pollinate strawberries by hand – but it’s not difficult at all – brush over the flowers with a brush and that’s it. I also try to make the resulting rosettes take root immediately, otherwise it will be difficult for the mother bush to feed all its “children”. And I don’t leave more than five mustaches on the bush – I cut off all the rest. That’s all the tricks.

Conclusion

Strawberry Tuscany is a bright and original representative of the strawberry kingdom, so if you are passionate about growing this tasty and healthy berry, then you should try growing this hybrid.

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