Description and characteristics of strawberries of the Marmalade variety, cultivation and propagation

A crop with a similar name should be the favorite of all gardeners. Indeed, strawberries of the Marmelada variety are very popular both in cultivation and on the market. High yield and disease resistance make it unpretentious in care. And the berries cannot be confused with other varieties.

Description and characteristics of strawberries of the Marmalade variety

The berries fully correspond to their name, although they look similar to other varieties, but the aroma leaves an unforgettable mark on Marmalade.

Bushes

Marmalade strawberry bushes are low and slightly spreading. The dark green foliage is high above the ground, making harvesting much easier. The inflorescences stretch above the leaves, making the bed appear white in the spring during flowering. The flowers of the variety have many petals, with a yellow center in the center.

The inflorescences have a thickened stem, which is why they are able to hold large fruits above the ground. This feature is important for strawberries, since the crop will not be susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew or rot.

The flowering of strawberries of the Marmelada variety is very intense and long-lasting. Few tendrils are formed on the queen cell.

Berries

Features of Marmalade fruits:

• the weight of some specimens reaches 40 g, but the average weight is 30 g;
• regular conical shape with a blunt tip;
• color bright red, tip white;
• the seeds are yellow, slightly pressed into the pulp;
• strong aroma;
• The taste is excellent, the berries are more sweet, but with a slight sourness.

During ripening, strawberry fruits turn red. They are arranged in clusters on the inflorescence. Sometimes the largest berries resemble the merging of two, and some clumsiness is observed. At the stage of technical ripeness, the Marmalade pulp becomes dark red, dense and juicy. Thanks to these characteristics, strawberries are perfectly stored and transported over long distances.

Strawberries of the Marmelada variety, the description of which attracts many summer residents, have an excellent presentation and are highly valued on the market.

Drought and frost resistance

Varietal strawberries tolerate low temperatures from 0 to -15 degrees. But if frosts intensify and there is little snow on the garden bed, it requires shelter. This nuance should be taken into account when laying out strawberry plantings.

Important! With large snowdrifts in the garden, the Marmalade variety can withstand -30 ⁰WITH.

The plant also tolerates drought, but with timely watering. But the scorching rays of the sun can bake the crop, it will become sluggish and flabby. The fruits will pour faster, which spoils the taste of the berries. It must be remembered that excessive watering is also negative for the plant.

Ripening period and yield

The ripening period is average. The first strawberries can be picked as early as July. During the season, Marmalade can produce up to 1 kg of fruit from one bush. If you follow all the rules of agricultural technology, you can harvest the crop twice per season.

The greatest return is observed in the second and third years of cultivation. On an industrial scale, Marmalade strawberries are renewed every 3-4 years, in private garden plots at least once every five years.

Transportability

Despite the juiciness of the fruit, Marmalade is well transported in paper boxes and wooden boxes with a layer of up to 20 cm. If the berries have green leaves, the transportation period may increase. In its pure form, the crop can release juice.

Advantages and disadvantages of strawberries

Varietal features due to which Marmalade berries are loved by gardeners:

1. The fruits are large and sweet with a strong aroma, which is very welcome in cooking.
2. High yield, sometimes up to two times per season, but it requires little attention.
3. Unlike other varieties, it tolerates heat and severe frosts well.
4. Feels good during transportation.
5. The variety is resistant to diseases.

But there is always a “fly in the ointment”:

• deterioration in taste when grown in areas with a continental climate, where unstable weather prevails;
• Marmalade strawberries are demanding on soils, acidity should be slightly increased - up to 7 units;
• requires frequent renewal of plantations.

Opinions about strawberries are divided, but the number of gardeners growing them is not decreasing. Strawberry remains one of the most common varieties. A double opinion most likely depends on the region, the growing climate, and also on non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology.

The nuances of growing berries

To achieve results when growing berries, you need to put in a lot of effort, although agricultural technology does not differ from the rules for growing any variety.

Boarding time

The best time for planting young bushes is considered to be the end of August. From August until the onset of severe frosts there is still a lot of time during which the plant will take root and grow its root system well. Next year the strawberries will produce their first harvest.

Selection and preparation of a site

Choosing a site for strawberries is an important step in cultivation. Lighting, wintering, soil moisture depend on it:

1. If there are slopes in the garden, then it is better to place the bed at the top. A lot of moisture accumulates below, which has a detrimental effect on the roots of Marmalade. In addition, there is not enough light in the lowlands. But there is still an advantage: in winter there is a lot of snow there; even in a winter with little snow, the berry fields do not have to be covered.
2. Strawberries love space. If it is deficient, the lateral shoots, if not pruned, will thicken the queen cell. Select a site with neutral or slightly acidic soils.

Strawberries of the Marmelada variety are planted in an open area where there is sufficient lighting and there are no trees or shrubs nearby.It should not be placed near potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes, as viral diseases from vegetable crops can spread to the berry garden. And also, if there is little snow in winter, the plantings can be covered or objects for snow retention can be placed.

Preparation of planting material

Planting material can be purchased, or you can grow it on your own plot if you have several pure-quality seedlings. You need to buy them only from trusted distributors or gardeners and nurseries.

Young Marmalade strawberry bushes must be carefully selected:

1. They should not have dry roots or leaves.
2. The leaves are bright green with pubescence that looks like a silvery coating.
3. The middle bud should be thickened.
4. The bush is low, not elongated due to lack of sun.
5. It is better to buy seedlings in containers; their root system is not damaged and will quickly take root.
6. Mustache sections should be visible, approximately 4 cm.

If strawberry seedlings are grown independently, then caring for them is similar to caring for the mother plant. As the tendril and daughter rosettes on it develop, they are sprinkled with earth. This happens at the beginning of summer. And at the end of August they can be cut off, dug up and transplanted to the main bed.

Planting scheme

The planting scheme for varietal strawberries is simple. Leave about 30 cm between adjacent bushes, more is possible, and leave 20 cm between rows. If a queen plant is planted, then it is better to increase the distance so that there is room for digging in side rosettes.

Plant care rules

Care should be carried out according to an established scheme: watering, fertilizing, weeding, loosening, mulching, treatment for diseases and pests.

How to water correctly?

The best way to water strawberries is drip irrigation. If it is not possible to equip such humidification, you will have to do it manually. Young seedlings are watered from above with a watering can to wash away the dust from the leaves. When the plant begins to bloom, it is irrigated at the root so as not to wash off the pollen from the flowers.

The frequency of soil moisture depends on weather conditions. Here it is necessary to remember that very wet soil is unsuitable for this variety of strawberries. Water Marmalade at least once a week, if the soil requires it. During the ripening process, watering is reduced to once every two or three weeks.

Fertilizer requirements

If the season is dry, in the spring it is necessary to mulch with rotted humus so that the soil does not crack, and organic elements will enrich the soil, which has been depleted since the fall.

Shelter for the winter

This procedure is quite simple. It is important to remember here that you cannot weed strawberry plantings before sheltering, so as not to damage the root system before wintering.

Mulch in the form of corn trunks and leaves, flower tops, and straw is suitable as a covering material. Be sure to put anti-rodent agents under the mulch. Cover the top with agrofibre or other covering material. Any rag will do.

Reproduction

There are several known methods for propagating Marmalade strawberries. In any case, the varietal characteristics are preserved.

With the help of a mustache

The whiskers are the daughter rosettes of the strawberry, of which there are up to three or four. It is better to choose the first two stepsons from the queen cell as planting material. By the time of transplantation, they have time to gain strength and take root.

Important! Each offspring should have 3-5 true leaves, and the root collar should be at least 6 mm.

Dividing the bush

This technique is used if there are few tendrils on the strawberries or they are of poor quality. Take a three-year-old bush and use a sharp knife to cut it into as many pieces as there are central buds. It is important that the root is well developed. As a result, you should get up to three new bushes.

Important! The procedure is carried out from spring to the end of summer so that the roots have time to take root and the plant gains strength for wintering.

Seeds

A rather labor-intensive method of propagating strawberries. It is better to buy seeds in specialized stores. They should be planted in shallow seedling boxes; when two pairs of leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate containers or cassettes. When they reach a height of 10 cm, the seedlings are planted in the beds.

Protection from diseases and pests

Sustainability strawberries to pests and diseases relative, they will be in any case. Only timely treatment of the berry garden with fungicides and insecticides will save the crop from death.

The most common problems with Marmalade strawberries:

• powdery mildew;
• strawberry mite;
• snails, slugs;
• gray rot;
• white spotting.

Effective folk remedies include: wood ash, tobacco dust and garlic solution.

Collection and storage

The strawberry harvest begins in June at intervals of two days.They are picked with the stalk so that the berries do not lose their presentation. In this form they are stored frozen, packaged in small containers. At low temperatures, the berries are kept for more than six months.

Strawberries can be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures from 0 to +4 degrees for no more than a week, but those subject to heat treatment, in the form of winter preparations (compotes, jams, preserves) - for about a year.

Strawberries of the Marmalade variety are loved by many summer residents for their unpretentiousness, but it is worth noting that many are not delighted with them. In any case, it is better to have different varieties of strawberries on your plot. After all, the taste and quality of berries can be affected by weather conditions, which will be better in the future.