Strawberry is a popular berry plant. It is often grown without even knowing the variety, and is called Victoria. If we consider the situation from a scientific point of view, this is not entirely correct. The fact is that strawberry is a wild form with small berries, and Victoria is considered the predecessor of many common varieties. So what exactly is the difference between strawberry and Victoria?
Description of strawberries
Strawberries are a dioecious crop, with male and female flowers located on different bushes.If the plant is actively flowering and there are no berries, it is worth saying that this is a male crop. Fruits appear only on female bushes, while male ones are required for pollination. At the same time, male plants are characterized by active development and aggressively conquer space on the site.
To understand the difference between strawberries and Victoria, it is worth considering the appearance of the fruit. Strawberries are characterized by small berries that are directed upward. They seem to rise above the bush. Victoria is distinguished by large and heavy fruits that are hidden under the leaves. In addition, strawberries have fairly light flesh.
Description of Victoria
This plant is a garden strawberry. It is considered the first variety brought to Russia, which to this day does not lose its popularity. At the same time, real crops are grown much less frequently.
Victoria is characterized by the following botanical features:
- the bushes are large in size;
- the plant has creeping shoots that can take root;
- the root system is fibrous, and it sinks into the ground by 20-25 centimeters;
- the leaves are considered quite powerful and have a dark green color;
- during the flowering period, white flowers appear on the bushes;
- flowering begins in May;
- many ovaries appear on the bushes;
- Fruiting occurs in June.
Reasons why they are confused
Both crops are included in the genus “strawberry”. However, many people do not know how to distinguish these plants. This raises a lot of questions and confusion. To understand this, it is worth paying attention to the history of the origin of cultures.
Strawberries are wild strawberries, which received this name because of their dense berries - balls.The growing zones of the crop are concentrated in open areas and forest edges. Then, after the king’s decree, the plant began to be grown in gardens.
Meanwhile, breeding work was carried out in France aimed at domesticating the plant. At the same time, scientists concentrated their efforts on breeding varieties with large fruits. As a result, it was possible to obtain a new variety, which was named after Queen Victoria of Great Britain. It was bred by pollinating Virginia and Chilean strawberries.
At the end of the eighteenth century, the plant came to Russia. Based on it, many varieties were obtained - remontant and ordinary.
Main differences
Not everyone knows the differences between the plants in question. They touch on a number of aspects that relate to appearance and aroma, yield, and growing characteristics.
Appearance and aroma
Strawberry bushes differ from strawberry bushes in their large size. They have many light green leaves that rise above the flower stalks, whereas Victoria's have them on the ground.
There are significant differences in berries in size and color. Strawberries have small fruits up to 5 grams. They are distinguished by a red-violet color on the sunny side and light pink in the shade. Victoria has large red or pink fruits. At the same time, strawberries have a richer and more fragrant aroma. Victoria has a fairly neutral scent.
Harvest quantity
Victoria is characterized by higher productivity. This is due to the fruiting of all bushes. Strawberries are harvested exclusively from female rosettes.
Benefit
Both types of berries contain mono- and disaccharides, proteins, acids, fiber, and pectins. They also contain vitamins, minerals, and water. Thanks to their diverse composition, fruits provide great health benefits.
Berries have a good effect on the health of people who have metabolic disorders, intestinal disorders, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, and the thyroid gland. The high content of antioxidants has a stimulating effect on memory development and activates brain functions.
The berries are used to make masks and lotions for body care. To fill the body with vital energy, during the fruiting period you need to consume up to 1.5 kilograms of fruits per day. For the winter, it is worth making preparations in the form of jam and preserves or drying the harvest.
Features of cultivation
Caring for the crops in question has almost no differences. Agricultural technology means the same thing. However, when landing there are some nuances that relate to the choice of location. Strawberries grow well in the shade, but Victoria requires sunny areas. Both types of plants delight with abundant flowering. At the same time, strawberries are inferior to Victoria in terms of yield parameters.
The cultures under consideration have a number of features. The difference between them affects the appearance of bushes and berries, taste, and yield parameters. There are also some peculiarities in the landing rules.
