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At least a small bed with strawberries is an integral part of the vast majority of personal plots. There are extremely many varieties of this berry by breeders, so gardeners are trying to choose those that combine outstanding taste with high yields and relative ease of care. All these criteria are met by the French strawberry Mariguete.
History of breeding
Strawberry Mariguette (Mariguette), also known under the names “Mariguette” and “Mariguette”, is bred by the French company “Andre”. The creators of the variety are positioned as universal, ideal for cultivation in the continental European climate.
Its “parents” were strawberry varieties Gariguette (Gariguetta), well known in France since the beginning of the last century and considered one of the elite varieties of berries, and Mara des bois (Mara de Bois) – an achievement of breeders of the same company, which appeared in the late 80s . From the first Mariguet “inherited” the characteristic shape and size of the berries, from the second – a typical “strawberry” taste and aroma, remontant.
The name Mariguette is a combination of the names of two varieties that became the “parents” of this strawberry.
The name Mariguette is a combination of the names of two varieties that became the “parents” of this strawberry.
At home, this variety appeared on sale in 2015. In Our Country, strawberry Mariget was certified in 2017. The variety has not yet been included in the State Register.
Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Mariget
The creators of Mariget are positioned as strawberries, practically devoid of flaws. The description is indeed extremely inspiring for any gardener.
Appearance and taste of berries
Strawberry Mariget looks very presentable. The berries are one-dimensional, relatively large (25-30 g), regular cone-shaped or elongated teardrop-shaped, with a pointed nose. The skin is dense, smooth, glossy, pink-red.
Fully ripened berries are characterized by a pronounced aroma of wild strawberries. The flesh is pale red, soft and juicy, not too firm. The taste is balanced – very sweet, with a slight refreshing sourness.
Mariguete berries were recognized by professional tasters as one of the sweetest
Flowering period, ripening period and yield
Mariget belongs to the early remontant varieties of strawberries. It blooms in mid-May. Fruiting begins in the first decade of June and ends in early October. In a warm subtropical climate, the crop is harvested until frost. For the whole summer, an adult plant brings 0,8-1,2 kg of berries.
In terms of yield, Mariguet strawberries are comparable to Cabrillo. But it loses to the most “productive” varieties, for example, Harmony.
Frost resistance
Cold resistance up to -20 ºС allows Mariget strawberries to winter without damage in the subtropical climate of southern Our Country, even without shelter. But in the middle lane, she still needs “protection”, especially if the winter is predicted to be harsh and with little snow.
Disease and pest resistance
According to breeders, Mariget strawberries are practically immune to pathogenic microflora. During the cultivation of “experimental” specimens, there were no cases of infection with true and downy mildew, spotting of any kind, root rot and other diseases affecting the root system.
Mariget strawberries, as practice shows, are also not particularly interesting to pests. Even with massive attacks on neighboring bushes in the garden, they bypass these plants.
Pros and cons of the variety
The advantages of Mariguete strawberries clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Pros | Cons |
Endurance and ability to adapt to a wide range of climatic and weather conditions | If at a time when there is a strong heat for a long time and there is no precipitation, regular watering is not ensured, the berries become smaller, “shrink”, the taste noticeably worsens |
High immunity (this applies to both diseases and pests) | The bushes are relatively low (up to 30 cm), but sprawling, they need a lot of space in the garden |
Cold hardiness sufficient for cultivation in temperate climates |
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Ability to tolerate short-term drought without damage |
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Long fruiting |
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Very good yield |
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External presentability of fruits (preserved after heat treatment and freezing) |
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Excellent taste and aroma of berries |
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Universal purpose of strawberries (it can be eaten fresh, frozen, used for any homemade preparations and pastries) |
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Keeping quality (up to five days under optimal conditions) and transportability (due to dense skin) |
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Preserves, jams, compotes retain the taste and aroma characteristic of fresh berries, strawberries do not turn into unappetizing porridge
Peculiarities of growing
In order for the Mariget strawberry to bear fruit stably and abundantly, it is necessary to take into account important nuances and recommendations regarding its planting and agricultural technology. Moreover, the “requirements” of the variety are few:
- The preferred place for the beds is a flat area or a slope of a gentle hill. Lowlands and places where cold, moist air stagnates are not suitable. Like any strawberry, Mariget does not tolerate northern winds and harsh drafts.
- The ideal substrate is humus-rich loamy or sandy loamy soils. They are quite light, well pass water and air. Acidity – necessarily neutral (within 5.5-6.0 pH). Although, in principle, Mariget strawberries take root in any soil, except for very heavy clay, swampy, sandy, rocky soils.
- If groundwater approaches the surface closer than 0,5 m, it is necessary to look for another site or build beds with a height of at least 30 cm.
- When planting between adjacent strawberry bushes, Mariget leave 40-50 cm. The interval between rows of plantings is 60-65 cm.
- The method of reproduction is standard – with a mustache. Two-year-old abundantly fruiting bushes are selected as “uterine” ones. They leave a maximum of five mustaches with three rosettes on each. Thus, one plant produces 15 new ones. It is only necessary to remember that at the same time it will not be possible to harvest from the “uterine” strawberry bushes of Mariguet. All emerging flower stalks and buds are immediately removed.
- Plants need daily watering only immediately after planting, before rooting. The average rate is 2-3 liters of water per 1 m². As soon as new leaves appear, they switch to weekly watering, spending 5-7 l / m². In extreme heat, the intervals are reduced to 3-4 days, the rate is increased to 2-3 liters per bush.
- Strawberry Mariget prefers specialized store fertilizers. Natural organics will not harm it, but it will not provide all the macro- and microelements in the volumes that the bushes need with such a long fruiting and high yield. Top dressing is applied four times per season – at the time the first leaves appear, at the budding stage, 4-5 weeks after harvest and immediately after fruiting. The fertilizer used first must contain nitrogen. Further, Mariget strawberry bushes require mainly phosphorus and potassium.
- In preparation for winter, a bed cleared of plant debris is thrown over with spruce branches, straw, fallen leaves, after adding peat or humus to the bases of the bushes (mounds 10-15 cm high). Additionally, it can be installed on top of the arc by pulling lutrasil, spunbond, or any other covering material on them.
Mustaches on the bushes are formed relatively little, but planting material will not be in short supply
Mariget strawberry plantings need to be updated every 4-5 years. At the same time, it is necessary to move the bed to a new location, taking into account the requirements of the crop rotation. Otherwise, not only the quality of the berries suffers – the endurance of plants, their immunity worsens.
Conclusion
Strawberry Mariguet is a new French variety, specially created for cultivation in the continental European climate. It was launched quite recently, so it is not yet very popular in Our Country. However, there are all prerequisites for this. Mariget stands out against the background of other varieties with a combination of “basic” advantages for a gardener (taste of berries, yield, undemanding). No significant deficiencies were found.