Description and characteristics of the Asia strawberry variety, yield and cultivation

Strawberries of the Asia variety have a lot of advantages, but the characteristics also indicate disadvantages. To get a large, sweet harvest, you need to pay a lot of attention to planting and caring for the crop. During cultivation, be sure to take into account the irrigation regime, rules for adding microelements and other agrotechnical practices. Strawberries are propagated in three main ways.

Description and characteristics of strawberries Asia

The variety was bred by Italian breeders relatively recently. It is successfully cultivated in all regions of Russia. Thanks to its powerful roots, the variety resists frosts down to -16 degrees. If there is little snow in winter, the plant should be covered with straw, spruce branches or fallen leaves.

Appearance of bushes and fruits

Strawberry bushes are quite large and erect. The leaves are large, light green in color, the surface is slightly wrinkled. The mustache is strong and thick, rather short.

The berries are large in size, weighing up to 45 g. But larger specimens can also be found. The shape of the fruit is different: diamond-shaped, elongated-conical or comb-shaped. The color of the berries is deep red with a glossy surface. The pulp is dense, there are no voids. The taste is sweet due to the high sugar content.

Productivity and ripening time

The strawberry variety is an early ripening crop. The first berries begin to ripen in early June. Fruiting continues for a month. The harvest is numerous. If you follow all the rules of agricultural technology, you can remove up to 900 g of ripe berries from one bush.

Flowering and pollination

Asia strawberries begin to bloom in the second half of May. On tall and strong shoots, many large peduncles are formed, most of which are female. The plant is a partially self-fertile plant.

A good harvest of strawberries can be harvested through insect pollination.If Asia strawberries are grown indoors, then another variety must be planted nearby, which will become a pollinator.

Sustainability

Strawberries of the Asia variety are characterized by high resistance to diseases such as verticillium and all types of spot. But the plant is often affected by powdery mildew, anthracnose and chlorosis.

The variety is characterized by average tolerance to dry days and severe frosts. Strawberries continue to develop in frosts down to -17 degrees, but provided there is a lot of snow. Otherwise, the root branches quickly die off and the plant dies.

Pros and cons of the variety

The positive qualities of strawberries include:

• high harvest numbers;
• persistent resistance to bacterial infections;
• the pulp of the berries is juicy and dense, withstands transportation over long distances;
• The use of berries is universal.

Among the negative aspects of culture, the following characteristics are noted:

• cannot withstand frosts below -16 degrees;
• poor tolerance to cold summer days;
• the crop is susceptible to fungal diseases;
• When grown in a greenhouse, taste qualities are lost.

Landing Features

When planting, it is important to leave a large distance between the bushes (approximately 38 cm). The ideal option is to plant in a checkerboard pattern; with this method, all plants will receive enough light and nutrients.

Immediately after planting strawberries, it is recommended to mulch the soil. Straw, sawdust, and hay are used as mulch. The thickness of the mulch should be at least 4.5 cm.

Time for planting seedlings

Strawberries are planted in spring or early autumn. Each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. A plant planted in spring quickly adapts and gains strength.But during the planting season, the crop is not formed. The bushes begin to bear fruit only after a year. In order for all the energy to go towards the formation of greenery and roots, it is necessary to cut off the tendrils and flower stalks in the summer.

If you plant strawberries in the fall, you will be able to harvest the first harvest in mid-June. The disadvantages include a high risk of freezing in the winter months, so care should be taken to ensure reliable insulation.

Selecting a location and requirements for soil composition

When choosing a place to plant Asia strawberries, you should take into account some of the requirements imposed by the crop:

• Only a flat piece of land is suitable;
• light should fall on the site without obstacles (short shadow is allowed at lunchtime);
• beds must be protected from drafts;
• strawberries love loose, fertile soil with good aeration;
• if groundwater passes nearby, then an artificial hill is made.

12 days before the proposed planting of the bushes, the ground is dug up, plant debris is removed and fertilizers are applied. The ideal option is a mixture of humus, wood ash, urea and river sand.

Planting young strawberry seedlings

Planting strawberries is carried out by observing the following step-by-step actions:

• 10 days before planting, the area is disinfected using a solution of copper sulfate;
• at a distance of 38 cm, dig holes 22 cm deep;
• the space between the rows is 75 cm;
• Fertilizers are added to each hole;
• make a mound at the bottom of the hole and place seedlings on it, straightening the roots;
• Cover with soil and lightly compact.

Features of care and reproduction

The development of strawberries largely depends on the quality of care. The propagation of bushes must be carried out correctly so that the strawberries quickly adapt to the new place and continue to grow.

How to water

Strawberries can withstand a lack of moisture for a couple of days, but this should not be allowed. In hot and dry weather, it is advisable to water the beds once every three days. Each bush requires about 2.8 liters of water. Watering should only be done in the morning or evening hours. Before flowering, watering is carried out by sprinkling. During the flowering period, avoid getting moisture on the green part of the plant.

Weed control

It is important to prevent the growth of weeds in strawberry beds, especially at the stage of berry formation. Weeds create shade and increase the risk of spreading disease.

Drugs such as Sinbar, Select, Prism, Fusilad, and Devrinol are used against weeds.

Loosening and hilling the soil

After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil to prevent the formation of a dry crust. Thanks to the procedure, air and micronutrients penetrate in sufficient quantities and without obstacles to the underground part of the plant. Hilling is carried out after loosening in the spring and autumn. It helps strengthen the root system, improve air access to the underground part of the plant and remove weeds.

Fertilizer application

During the growing season, Asia strawberries require several feedings:

• Immediately after planting, nitrogen-based compounds are applied. The component promotes the development of green mass. A liquid solution made from bird droppings or mullein is suitable.
• Before the flowering period begins, it is recommended to water the beds with a solution of urea and wood ash. Additionally, the greenery is sprayed with a solution based on Agricola and Ovary.
• After harvesting, another feeding is carried out. It is useful to add a composition of potassium and boron.
• In the fall, humus or compost is laid out around each bush, and adding a solution with superphosphate is also useful.

When applying fertilizers, the dosage should be strictly observed. Excess, as well as lack of microelements, leads to the development of fungal diseases.

Shelter for the winter

They begin to cover strawberry bushes for the winter after the temperature reaches below -5 degrees. Plants are covered with straw, spruce branches, fallen leaves, and hay. Experienced summer residents install arcs over the beds onto which covering material is pulled.

Reproduction

The Asia strawberry variety is capable of propagation by stepsons, dividing the bush and seeds. The last method is the most difficult.

Stepchildren

The most common option for propagating strawberries is using mustaches:

• The flower stalks of bushes that are two years old should be cut off so that all the nutritional components go to the stepchildren.
• The mustache is pressed to the ground and secured with staples.
• Only one outlet is left on the shoot.
• Already in July, the rosettes will take root, and the shoots are cut off from the bush.
• At the beginning of autumn, the bush can be transplanted to a new place.

Since the Asia variety produces few whiskers, it is better to use the propagation method by dividing the bush.

Seeds

The most difficult thing to do is propagate through seeds. Planting requires compliance with some rules:

• 3.5 months before planting, the seeds are moved to a cool place at a temperature of +2 degrees;
• Before sowing, the seeds need to be thoroughly dried;
• in January they begin sowing seeds for seedlings;
• The container is placed on a well-lit windowsill;
• the room temperature should be at least +20 degrees;
• seedlings begin to be transplanted into open beds at the end of May.

Dividing the bush

For propagation, take a bush that is three years old. Divide it into several parts.Each separated bush should have healthy root branches and several leaves. Prepared seedlings are planted in the garden in early September.

Diseases and pests

Strawberries of the Asia variety are often attacked by pests such as strawberry mites, aphids, sawflies, nematodes, and weevils. Preparations such as Karbofos and Chlorophos will help in the fight against insects.

As a preventive measure, strawberries are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, as well as with the preparations “Hom” and “Horus”. Before flowering, use the drug "Neoron". To strengthen the immunity of strawberries, treatment is carried out with Zircon.

Strawberry bushes are often affected by powdery mildew, gray rot, and brown spot. The drug “Topaz”, “Bayleton” helps to cope with the infection.

Harvest and storage

Ripe berries are easily separated from the stalk. If the crop is supposed to be stored for storage or transported to another place, then the berries are picked slightly unripe along with the stalk. The harvested crop is laid out in boxes or boxes.

The berries are stored for three days at a temperature of 0-2 degrees. If longer storage is required, the berries are frozen or made into various sweet dishes.