Description and characteristics of the Malvina strawberry variety, planting, cultivation and care

Among late-ripening strawberry varieties, Malvina is one of the most common. The plants bear large berries with a distinct taste and juicy pulp. The hybrid bred in Germany is superior to other varieties in many respects, but has a number of cultivation nuances.

Description and characteristics of the Malvina variety

The Malvina variety has several distinctive features and characteristics. When choosing this variety of strawberries for growing in your summer cottage, you should first study the detailed description.

Productivity

From one bush you can collect from 700 g to 1 kg of berries. The yield indicator depends on the surrounding climatic conditions, agricultural technology, soil type and other external factors. Over time, the amount of harvest decreases, so it is recommended to periodically propagate the bushes and remove unproductive specimens.

Fruit

The berries of the Malvina variety are large, dark crimson in color with a pronounced shine. The strawberry shape is cone-shaped, the average weight varies between 40-60 g.

Transportation

The dense pulp allows the harvested crop to be transported. During transportation, the berries do not lose their presentation and high taste.

Bushes

Malvina strawberries ripen on strong bushes with large leaves of a brilliant green color. Plants are inclined low to the ground, so soil moisture is retained longer.

Peduncles

At the beginning of the summer period, 5-8 flowering horns are formed on the bushes. Each of them contains 6 inflorescences. The flowers are self-pollinating, which simplifies the care process.

Breeding history

Strawberry Malvina was developed as a result of a hybrid crossing of Sophie varieties and a clone from Schimmelpfeng and Weihenstefan. The variety was developed as a result of the work of breeder Peter Stoppel from Germany.

Pros and cons of strawberries

The Malvina variety is characterized by several positive and negative qualities. The advantages include:

• plants are resistant to adverse weather conditions and undergo temporary cold spells;
• the bushes bear fruit within a month, which makes it possible not to stretch out the harvest for a long period;
• the variety forms a large number of shoots, which allows active propagation of fruit-bearing bushes;
• berries are rarely susceptible to diseases and pest attacks;
• The harvested crop is suitable for universal use, including fresh consumption, processing and storage.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

• the bushes may not have fully formed leaves due to the genetic inheritance of the variety;
• The Malvina variety does not tolerate drought well, so you need to regularly monitor soil moisture.

How to plant Malvina

When planting strawberries, it is necessary to take into account a number of standard rules. An integrated approach to cultivation will allow you to obtain a harvest with high taste characteristics in due time.

Preparation of planting material

Before planting seedlings in a permanent place, several preparatory steps are required. The roots of the seedlings are soaked for 1.5-2 hours in a solution of a biogrowth stimulator.

This allows plants to quickly adapt to new conditions and actively continue their development.

When selecting young bushes for planting, they need to have 3-5 leaves. The roots should be smooth, without signs of rotting. The optimal length of seedling roots is 10-12 cm, otherwise the roots are trimmed with scissors.

Selection of location and timing

For growing Malvina strawberries, a flat, well-lit area, protected from through blowing, is suitable. The site may be located on a slight slope, towards the south or southwest.

Particular attention should be paid to the type of soil - the best option would be soil that is loosened, cultivated and cleared of weeds.The Malvina variety will produce a large harvest when planted in sandstone, loam and black soil. Strawberries of this variety are grown in one place for 5 years. Planting berries is alternated with root crops, herbs, flowers and legumes.

Planting times depend on the region. The most promising option is spring planting. In the southern regions, sowing is carried out in April, and in the middle zone - in early May. If the bushes set buds early, it is possible to plant new plants in early autumn so that they have time to take root before the onset of frost.

Site preparation

Strawberry beds prepared in advance. If autumn planting is planned, preparation is carried out at the end of summer, if in spring, digging and fertilizing is required in September. During the preparation process you must:

1. Dig up the area to a depth of 20-30 cm. To add looseness after digging, add river sand and organic matter to the heavy soil.
2. Add compost or rotted manure at the rate of 1 bucket per square of land. Organic fertilizers can be replaced with nitrophoska.
3. Check the acidity of the soil. The earth should be slightly acidic or neutral. If the indicator is less than 5.5, treatment is carried out with dolomite flour.

Planting scheme

The Malvina variety is recommended to be grown according to a single-line scheme. A distance of 90 cm is left between the rows, and 20 cm between the bushes. Over time, the spaces between the rows are filled with growing shoots, which are formed by rooting rosettes.

Further care for berries

To achieve high taste characteristics from the crop, it is necessary to provide comprehensive care throughout the entire growing process. Strawberries are unpretentious in care, but only if basic agrotechnical practices are followed, they bear fruit intensively.

Watering frequency

Watering strawberries necessary for rapid rooting and root development. Moisten the soil in the early morning or late evening, avoiding water getting on the leaves. If the plants were planted in the fall, the bushes are watered at the beginning of the growing season - at the end of April. The standard amount of watering is 1-2 times a week, but the frequency may vary depending on precipitation and climate.

Feeding rules

Fertilizers need to be applied to the soil several times during the season. With active growth of foliage on recently planted bushes, the soil is fertilized with nitrogen, which favors the formation of berries. Ammonium nitrate solution and urea are suitable for this purpose. During the flowering period of strawberries, complex mineral fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are added to the soil.

After harvesting, fertilizing is used to form strong fruit buds. In this case, the soil is treated with superphosphate or sodium chloride. Among organic fertilizers, you can choose a solution of wood ash, superphosphate and cow manure.

Preparing for winter

On the eve of winter, strawberry bushes are covered with a layer of mulch or protective material. In areas with a cold climate, it is better to give preference to the second option so that the plants do not die due to a strong drop in temperature. The use of shelters allows you to maintain a comfortable microclimate near the bushes.

Disease and pest control

When growing strawberries, it is recommended to periodically inspect the plantings in order to promptly notice signs of infection and pest damage. If not properly cared for, berries can be infected with verticillium, brown spot and fusarium.Among the pests of Malvina strawberries, thrips and weevils are often found.

To eliminate diseases and repel harmful insects, it is necessary to carry out protective spraying with insecticidal and fungicidal preparations. It is also recommended to perform preventive treatment of the beds 1-2 times during the season.

Cleaning and storage

Ripe berries can be picked by hand or cut off along with the stalk. To save time on sorting berries, it is better to sort them directly during harvesting. Rotten and damaged specimens should be discarded, as they can lead to damage to other berries.

The selected harvest must be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Berries can be poured into a container and left in a special compartment for vegetables and fruits, where the optimal temperature is maintained. If you want to freeze the berries, it is better to put them in a plastic bag. When placing strawberries in storage, you should not put a large number of layers on them so as not to crush the lower berries.