Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Florence, cultivation and propagation

The Florence strawberry has many advantages in its characteristics, so the variety is often found in summer cottages. To get the best results, you need to become familiar with planting dates, methods of propagation and the peculiarities of caring for the crop. In addition to watering and fertilizing, you should definitely take care of covering the beds for the winter. If stored properly, the berries will retain all the benefits and taste.

Description and characteristics of Florence strawberries

The Florence variety is distinguished by its late harvest ripening. Fruiting continues throughout the month, from the last days of June until the end of July.

Appearance

The bushes grow powerful, strong and compact. Several peduncles are formed on strong and thick stems, which are located above the level of the leaves. The leaves are dark green with a glossy surface.

The berries are large, the pulp is dense, without voids, and rich red in color. The shape of the fruit is elongated-conical. The weight of each berry reaches 40-65 g. High fruiting in one place continues for five years.

Pollination

The flowering period begins at the end of May and lasts two weeks. Up to 6 inflorescences are formed on each strong peduncle. The flowers are large and white. For Florence's strawberry, pollinating insects are not required, since flowers of both sexes are formed on the bush.

Strawberry yield

The variety is unpretentious and hardy, so the harvest can be harvested under any conditions. But with careful attention and careful care, the yield can be increased to 1.5 kg per bush.

History of selection and region of growth

Florence strawberries were bred by English breeders by crossing two productive varieties: Vikoda and Vima-Tarda. The result is a variety that is resistant to disease and adverse weather conditions. The berries have a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma, reminiscent of wild strawberries.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of the Florence strawberry variety include:

• high immunity to common diseases;
• renovation of beds is carried out infrequently, since the crop can develop in one place for up to five years;
• since few whiskers are formed and they are short, the maintenance of the plantings is minimal;
• high winter hardiness (withstands frosts down to -20 degrees);
• good tolerance to cold and humid summers;
• berries are stored for a long time and transported over long distances without losing their shape;
• universal use of berries with high taste.

The description of the strawberry variety also indicates the following disadvantages:

• in dry, hot summers, the quantity and quality of the crop decrease;
• in rainy summers, the risk of infection with late blight, gray mold, and brown spot increases;
• high requirements for feeding;
• in cold regions, the duration of fruiting is significantly reduced.

Knowing the positive and negative aspects of the Florence variety, you can avoid many troubles when growing strawberries.

How to plant berries?

For strawberries, you should choose a suitable place, calculate the planting time and properly prepare the soil. If these conditions are met, the harvest will be high, and the berries will be sweet, without voids.

Selecting a location

When choosing a place to plant Florence strawberries, a number of conditions must be observed:

• the land plot must be level;
• temporary shade is allowed only at lunchtime;
• strawberries love loose, fertile soil with a high content of sand or loam and good aeration;
• if there is groundwater nearby, then a small hill should be made;
• beds must be protected from drafts.

When to plant?

Both spring and autumn planting of strawberry bushes is allowed. Carrying out the procedure in each season has its own characteristics:

• In autumn, planting begins in early September.Before frost, the plant will have time to take root, and the first fruits will appear next summer. It is important to cover young seedlings for the winter, otherwise there is a high risk that the roots will die and the plant will die.
• If you plant the bushes in the spring, you will be able to harvest the harvest only after a year. Before the end of frost, the beds must be covered at night. In summer, it is recommended to remove the tendrils and peduncles so that all the nutritional components go to the development of leaves and roots.

In any season, planting begins only when the soil warms up to +14 degrees. It is better to plant strawberries in rainy or cloudy weather.

Site preparation

The selected area for planting strawberries is dug up in the fall, weeds are removed and fertilizers are applied (humus is suitable). If the acidity of the soil is high, then liming is carried out.

In the spring, the area is loosened again and all weeds are removed. The beds begin to be made a few days before the seedlings are planted.

Planting principles

Planting strawberries Florence includes a number of subsequent steps:

• holes are dug in the area with a depth of 18 cm and a diameter of 11 cm;
• the interval between the recesses is made at least 41 cm;
• the hole is moistened and fertilized;
• at the bottom of the hole they make a mound on which they plant a bush and straighten the roots;
• cover with earth and lightly press down.

After planting, it is advisable to mulch the soil with straw, sawdust, and rotted humus.

Rules for caring for strawberries

Obtaining a large quantity of high-quality harvest directly depends on proper and good care. Strawberry Florence needs regular watering and the addition of microelements.

Watering

Immediately after planting strawberries in the garden, watering is carried out every three days. Calculate 10 liters of water per square meter. m. As soon as the bushes adapt to the new location, irrigation is reduced to once every 7 days.

The need for moisture increases during strawberry flowering, and during the fruiting stage, watering should be reduced. It is enough to moisten the beds once every two weeks.

Top dressing

Since the bushes and the berries themselves are large in size, repeated application of fertilizers is required throughout the growing season:

• In spring, nitrogen is required, which promotes the development of the above-ground part of the plant. In early spring, it is also recommended to add compost or humus.
• With the appearance of the ovaries, it is necessary to add compounds based on potassium and phosphorus.
• After harvesting most of the crop, a solution of chicken manure is used.
• In autumn, adding humus or rotted manure is useful. The components will strengthen the roots and give the plant strength for a successful winter.

Preparing for winter

In early September, strawberry bushes are loosened and hilled. After a month, they begin laying a layer of mulch (straw, fallen leaves, spruce branches). The ideal option is to cover the strawberries with agrofibre.

Reproduction methods

The most common method of propagation is rooting the mustache or dividing the bush. The most difficult situation is with propagation by seeds.

Seeds

The option of propagation by seeds is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The material is first sown into seedlings in boxes, covered with glass and placed on a well-lit windowsill. Crops are watered daily. After 3.5 weeks, the first shoots should appear.

When two true leaves appear on the young shoots, transplant them into separate containers. After unfolding 6 leaves, they begin to transplant into open beds.

Rosettes or mustaches

Most often, gardeners use division by daughter rosettes:

• Choose bushes with powerful and strong mustaches.
• The whiskers selected for propagation are pressed to the ground and secured with a wire bracket.
• Only one rosette is left on the shoot, all others are removed.
• When the rosettes take root, the mustache is cut off from the bush.
• Already in the fall the bush is ready to be transplanted to a permanent place.

A simple method of propagation is to divide the bush. Bushes of three years old are suitable, which are divided into several parts. Each part must have healthy roots and at least five leaves.

Pest and disease control

The diseases that most often affect strawberry bushes include: verticillium, powdery mildew, brown or white spot, and gray rot. To prevent infection, watering is carried out with a solution based on the drug “Fitosporin”.

When the first signs of the disease are detected, treatment should begin immediately. Solutions based on drugs such as Fundazol, Horus, Bayleton, Maxim, Bordeaux mixture, Oxychom, Teldor are effective.

Whiteflies and weevils are considered dangerous pests for Florence strawberries. To protect plants from pests, bushes are treated with insecticides (“Confidor”, “Decis”).

Rules for harvesting and storing crops

Harvesting is carried out up to 9 times per season, every 3-4 days. It is advisable to pick berries in the morning after the dew has disappeared. The fruits are picked carefully, along with the stalk, and placed in boxes.

The fresh harvest is stored at temperatures from 0 to -3 for six days. For longer storage, the berries are frozen or made into sweet dishes. Even after defrosting, the berries do not lose their shape, aroma and wonderful taste.