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What gardeners cherish and cherish in their garden plots, calling strawberries, is actually large-fruited garden strawberries.
Real strawberries were eaten by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as they grew in considerable quantities in European forests. For the first time it was introduced into culture by the Moors in Spain. Since then, it has been grown as a cultivated berry in the gardens of many European countries. There were even new varieties of this berry: musky, nutmeg, with the aroma of cinnamon.
The history of the creation of large-fruited strawberries
Large-fruited strawberry by origin American. At first, meadow strawberries, the so-called virgin strawberries, were brought to Europe, which grew in abundance on the territory of North America. It happened in the 100th century. The novelty took root, they began to grow it in European gardens, including the Paris Botanical Gardens. After XNUMX years, strawberries from Chile also got there. The berries, unlike virgin strawberries, were lighter in color and had a sweet taste. Between these species, pollination took place, the result of which gave rise to the whole variety of modern varieties of garden strawberries.
The difference between true strawberries and garden strawberries
What is the difference between plants that are strawberries, but are habitually called strawberries in the botanical sense of the word?
- Those berries that we grow and call strawberries are most often dioecious; the wild species has female and male plants. The latter do not produce berries and, due to their aggressiveness, can displace females.
- A garden berry can be found in the wild only in the place of an old abandoned berry garden, since there is no such species in nature. Her wild sister has several species and grows in nature not only in different countries, but also on different continents.
- Both species can grow in nature, but the horticultural culture quickly runs wild without care, giving small berries.
- The garden version is quite difficult to separate from the stalk, while this is very easy to do with the wild berry.
- The wild berry loves shady areas, and its garden relative in the shade simply will not produce a crop.
- The flesh of a true strawberry is white, and the berry itself is not all colored; garden strawberries are characterized by a red or pink color, except for the Mitse Schindler and Payberry varieties with white berries and red seeds.
- Peduncles of true strawberries are very strong and located above the leaves, garden strawberries rarely boast of such dignity, under the weight of berries, the peduncles lie on the ground.
True strawberries are represented by photographs:
From a botanical point of view, strawberries and garden strawberries belong to the same genus, strawberries of the Rosaceae family, but of different species, which, according to some sources, can be from 20 to 30. The most famous and beloved: garden strawberries or strawberries, wild strawberries, which also has garden forms with larger berries. They originated from a subspecies of alpine strawberries that blooms all summer, so they themselves are remontant.
Zemclunica
Real strawberries can most often be found in the collections of botanical gardens, since it is unpromising for growing in horticultural culture, which cannot be said about its hybrid with garden strawberries, which is called zemklunika. There is more than one variety of this berry. All of them are very decorative, they give a good harvest of not very large ones – up to 20 g of berries, which are dark in color, often with a purple tint. Zemklunika took the best from both her parents: taste and large-fruitedness from strawberries, and frost resistance and decorativeness from strawberries. Her berries are very tasty with a peculiar nutmeg aroma.
The history of the name Victoria
Garden strawberries are often called Victoria. What is the difference between strawberries and victoria and is there really a difference? Let’s figure out where this name came from and how to correctly call everyone’s favorite berry – strawberry or victoria? Why is this berry called so?
As often happens, at one time there was a confusion that for a long time gave the garden strawberry the name Victoria.
Earlier, until the end of the 18th century, wild strawberries were eaten in Our Country. The first berries of large-fruited virgin strawberries appeared in the royal garden during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In Europe, then, work was already intensively carried out on the selection and breeding of new varieties of large-fruited strawberries by crossing Virginian and Chilean strawberries. One of these varieties was obtained in France and named Victoria.
It was Victoria strawberries that were the first representative of large-fruited garden strawberries that came to our country. Since then, all garden berries in Our Country have long been called Victoria, in some regions this name of the berry still exists. The variety itself turned out to be very durable and lasted in culture for about a hundred years, in some places it has survived to this day.
An old but not forgotten variety
Strawberry Victoria description of the variety, photo reviews of gardeners about it are presented below.
Characteristic of the variety
This is a strong plant that produces a large bush with dark and healthy leaves. Strawberry Victoria is not afraid of winter frosts, but the flowers are sensitive to spring frosts. This is not a very early, but resistant strawberry variety. For a good harvest requires sufficient watering. According to gardeners, the variety is for quick consumption, as it easily deteriorates and does not have transportability. But the taste of this variety is beyond praise.
Strawberry farming Victoria
In order to get a good harvest of berries, you need to work hard. Cultivation of strawberries begins with its planting. The beds for this berry should be in a place that is illuminated throughout the day.
The best land for Victoria strawberries is light sandy or loamy. Such soil is heavier, but it retains moisture well, which is important for growing this berry.
With its lack of plants are oppressed. To enrich the top layer of soil with oxygen, loosen the soil after each watering. The loosening depth next to the plants is no more than 4 cm, so as not to damage the roots.
Soil preparation
The soil for planting strawberries in the spring should be prepared in the fall, and for the summer – in the spring. When digging, all the roots of weeds are selected, while introducing 10 kg of humus or compost per square meter. m. Be sure to add complex fertilizer up to 70 g per square meter. m.
This should be done in advance and strictly according to the instructions attached to the drug. Most often, chalk or dolomite flour is used for these purposes. Liming with these substances can be carried out once every 5-6 years. If such a procedure is not possible, there is a way to gradually increase the pH by frequent application of ash, which also alkalizes the soil, while enriching it with potassium and trace elements.
Landing technology
Only healthy plants are propagated. In summer, you can take already rooted sockets of the first year of life. The root system should be strong, and the bush itself should have 4-5 leaves. For spring planting, last year’s overwintered plants are taken.
They must fully comply with the Victoria strawberry variety and be healthy and strong no older than the second year of life. It is better not to let the selected bushes bloom, so that all the forces go into the formation of rosettes.
Planting is carried out in wells fertilized with humus and ash with the addition of 1 tsp. complex fertilizer. The wells are well shed with water – at least 1 liter per bush. Planting depth – the bottom level of the roots should be 20 cm from the soil level. You can’t sleep with your heart. Advice! It is better not to fill the hole completely, so that next year there will be an opportunity to add some humus to the strawberry plants.
There are many ways to plant strawberries. Each gardener chooses the most convenient way to place plants. The main thing is to keep the distance between the bushes at least 25 cm, and between the rows at least 40 cm.
Further care for strawberries comes down to watering in drought and loosening the soil after them. Top dressing during the growing season is required. Standard scheme: in early spring, during the formation of buds and after harvest.
Advice! Do not feed strawberries with nitrogen fertilizers in late summer and early autumn so that the plants are better prepared for winter.
To summarize
Strawberry Victoria is an old, but proven and very tasty variety. Give him a place in your beds, and he will thank you with a harvest of berries with an unforgettable taste.