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Many varieties of strawberries of foreign selection have taken root in the country, which are suitable for climatic and soil conditions. The variety of industrial use Symphony fell in love with our gardeners for its bright taste and unpretentiousness. It was bred in Scotland back in 1979 on the basis of the well-known Rhapsody and Holiday varieties. This strawberry is grown in open ground and in greenhouses.
Characterization
The longevity and popularity of the medium-late strawberry variety Symphony is ensured by an extended period of picking dessert berries. You can enjoy the fruits of a magnificent view with pleasure for almost two months, starting from the end of May or mid-June, depending on the region. The Symphony variety is not remontant, it was bred for climatic conditions with frosty winters and short summers. And it meets the requirements with a harmonious composition of excellent taste, the ability to maintain an attractive appearance for a long time and resistance to harsh weather. The variety develops summer cottages and household plots in the Urals and Siberia, with the help of gardeners, enduring frosts.
According to gardeners, the Symphony strawberry variety keeps ripe berries on the bushes for a long time: they are harvested for several days without fear that the appearance and structure of the pulp will deteriorate. They also lie in containers for some time during transportation and retain their commercial appeal. On average, each strawberry bush produces 2 kg of berries, less in the year of planting. Symphony strawberry crops in the second year, as stated in the description of the variety and in the reviews, with good care reach 3,5 kg per bush. Thanks to such positive properties of Symphony strawberries, it is grown by large and small agricultural producers. The variety also came to taste in amateur gardening, because it can grow in one place for five years without losing productivity.
Dessert variety Symphony, berries with wonderful healing properties are best consumed fresh. The strawberry variety is widely represented in the distribution network, thanks to its delicious appearance. Berries are used by the food industry and at home for jams, jams and other preparations. Excess firm berries can be frozen to save a drop of summer flavor for a winter day.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The clear advantages of Symphony strawberries are reflected in the description of the variety, numerous photos and reviews of gardeners.
- Excellent dessert taste, large size and appetizing appearance;
- Friendly ripening and uniformity of fruits;
- Excellent yield of a variety that meets the requirements of industrial cultivation;
- Unpretentiousness to weather conditions. Grows in hot and cold regions without flaws for berries;
- High keeping quality and transportability;
- Variety resistance to verticillium, spotting and gray rot.
Some commentators consider the absence of remontant properties in the almost ideal Symphony strawberry as a disadvantage.
Description
Symphony strawberry bushes are powerful, with dense foliage. The root system is well developed, deepens up to 25-35 cm. Large leaves of a dark green shade, hard. Veins protrude from the bottom of the leaf blade. Shoots spread up to 40 cm, shortened horns of peduncles are numerous. Peduncles strong, slightly pubescent, with a large number of flowers.
Bright red, regular conical berries of large and medium size. Skin is shiny. Strawberry Symphony fruits are dense, fleshy, juicy. Sweet berries smell pleasantly like strawberries. They weigh 30-40 g. The seeds are deepened into the fruit, small, yellow.
Cultivation
Strawberries are propagated by dividing bushes and rooting mustaches. As reported in the description of the Symphony strawberry variety, it is planted in August, September or April. Autumn plantings make it possible to harvest the first crop next year. The site is prepared in advance. Six months before planting strawberries, they dig up the soil and fertilize. For 1 sq. m take a bucket of humus or compost, 150 g of superphosphate, 100 g of potash fertilizer.
Reproduction by divisions
Choose 3-4-year-old Symphony strawberry bushes – well developed, with numerous horns and rosettes. They are dug up in spring or autumn and divided into parts.
- Each part must have long powerful roots, a horn, a socket;
- In healthy seedlings, the apical bud is visible, the shoots are strong and at least three leaves;
- It is necessary to carefully consider when buying seedling leaves. Their deformation, wrinkling is not allowed. Such defects may be signs of mite damage.
Mustache breeding
Strawberries of the Symphony variety have a little mustache. Most of all they are reproduced by a 2-3-year-old bush. Planting material is taken from such plants.
- The tendril is cut off and placed in water with a solution of a root formation stimulator;
- When roots and rosette are established, can be transplanted into soft, nutritious soil;
- 5 days watered daily so that the soil is wet;
- On the 6th day, the soil is mulched and not watered until the top layer dries;
- The seedling is placed on the site after 2 weeks.
Rules of landing
Having prepared the seedlings and the plot, mark the ribbons for strawberries. The symphony grows rapidly, scattering shoots to the sides, so the distance between the holes is 35 cm. If a two-line scheme is used, the distance is increased to 40 cm.
- The holes are dug to a depth that corresponds to the length of the roots, and filled with water;
- Fertilize with a mixture of peat and humus in 1 part;
- For better survival, pinch the longest root and cut off the leaves, leaving at least three;
- The socket must be left on the surface;
- The hole is mulched on top.
Care
After planting in autumn or early spring, young Symphony strawberries are covered with a film or spunbond to protect them from frost. If flower stalks are created in the spring, they are cut off, giving the root system a chance to get stronger. With a lack of rain, strawberries are watered, then the soil is loosened and mulched. Make sure that water does not get on the plant. Accordingly, drip irrigation is preferable for strawberries. It is especially important during flowering and filling of berries.
- It is advisable to remove autumn mulch in spring with the upper ball of soil, removing hidden pests together;
- The soil from another site is enriched with humus, compost and sprinkled under the bushes of the Symphony variety;
- Cut off dry and damaged leaves from the bushes;
- Leaves are removed after fruiting from bushes older than two years.
Additional fertilizing
The Symphony variety needs regular fertilizers to grow large berries.
- In the spring, for each bush, give 0,5 l of a solution of nitroammophoska (25 g per 10 l of water);
- Another option for spring feeding: 1 liter of mullein solution (1:10) and ammonium sulfate. Chicken manure is diluted 1:15;
- During the formation of ovaries, Symphony strawberries are fed with wood ash, products with potassium, phosphorus or complex fertilizers: Master, Kemira. Carry out foliar top dressing with boric acid;
- After fruiting, especially after mowing strawberry plants, the bushes are fertilized with urea, organics, and mineral complexes of your choice.
Preparation for winter
Fertilized in August, strengthened bushes enter the winter. In late autumn, strawberries are mulched with straw, covered with dry branches, you can put spruce branches on top. The Symphony variety is winter-hardy, but if the frost drops below 25 degrees, especially without snow, the bushes should be covered with agrotex or straw. The material is stretched over branches or on low arcs.
Plant protection
Some diseases of the Symphony variety are caused by fungi.
- Strawberries suffer from black rot – darkening of the roots. Apply Horus, Phytodoctor;
- In greenhouses on bushes of the Symphony variety, powdery mildew may spread, which is disposed of with the help of Fundazol, Switch;
- Fungicides will help fight wilting;
- From pests in the spring, the soil on the site is treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.
Small cares for planting will bring a generous harvest of tasty and healthy fruits.
