Description of the remontant strawberry variety San Andreas, planting and care

Remontant Strawberry variety Albion For many years now it has been pleasing summer residents with its berries. But upon closer acquaintance with it, gardeners discovered the annoying disadvantages of the variety - low frost resistance, weak resistance to spotting and oak berries. And the improved new product that appeared aroused widespread interest. American strawberries of the San Andreas variety have become a faithful assistant for both ordinary summer residents and large farmers.

Characteristics and description of Strawberry San Andreas

The day-neutral variety was bred in 2001 by American breeders D. Shaw and K. Larson. The strawberries are patented and owned by the University of California. The parents of the crossing were two varieties. This is the already well-known neutral Albion and license plate Cal 97.86-1. Available on the market since 2008. Named after a geological fault that runs throughout California.

Roughly speaking, this is an improved Albion. All the weak points were taken into account, and the breeders tried to correct everything in the new variety. And they largely succeeded.

Taste and sugar content

The taste qualities of strawberry fruits are at a high, stable level. The variety, unfortunately, does not live up to very tasty remontants such as Murano, Cabrillo, Marighetta. And its parent, Albion, is slightly inferior in this regard. But you can’t call its berries ordinary either.

When trading in markets, the berries fly away. For personal consumption, it is advisable to let the fruits ripen well, even a little overripe. Then the taste will be great. The level of sugar in fruits (Brix) ranges from 7 to 10%, depending on the ambient temperature (description of the originators).

Description of the bush and ripening time

The plant has a powerful growth force, but the bush is quite compact. The average strawberry height is 25 centimeters and the width is 30 centimeters. The leaves are serrated, large, moderately pubescent, dark green.Moreover, at the beginning of the growing season they are darker than in subsequent months. The flowers are large and white.

The peduncles are long, strong, and hold unripe berries suspended. Moreover, the variety produces up to a dozen flower stalks at once. As the fruits ripen, the flower stalks lie down on the ground. Recommended planting pattern: 30-35 centimeters between plants in a row and 50 centimeters between rows.

The fruits are beautiful, fleshy, smooth and uniform. They are conical in shape, bright red in color, and shiny. The berries are large and very large, strawberries are spectacular in size, weighing on average 25-30 grams. But the fruits can be filled up to 50-60 grams. Not every remontant strawberry is capable of this.

San Andreas ripens simultaneously with early varieties of one-time fruiting. In the southern regions - in the first ten days of May, in the central zone at the end of May and beginning of June. Strawberry fruiting continues until late autumn. Often the bushes go into winter - with unripe berries and flowers. A greenhouse will help to significantly extend the berry season and shift the start of spring fruiting by a month.

Advantages

Despite the abundance of more delicious new products, the American is not losing ground in the market. All strawberries, and especially remontant ones like San Andreas, quickly exhaust their resources. But it is capable of successfully bearing fruit in the second year. And in protected soil conditions, with heating and additional lighting, fruiting will last almost all year round.

Impact of rain

This variety has a dense, strong berry with elastic, elastic skin. Therefore, during rains, the berries do not rot for even a couple of days. They retain their structure and commercial qualities. But to be on the safe side, of course, it is better to mulch the beds.

Productivity

San Andreas has high and stable yields. In experimental fields in California, a maximum yield of 3.29 kilograms per bush was obtained per year. In our country, productivity per bush is, on average, 1.0-1.2 kilograms. When growing strawberries in protected soil conditions (in film, polycarbonate, glass greenhouses), productivity indicators are significantly higher.

The gardener decides for himself where it would be more appropriate for him to grow the variety.

The influence of negative weather factors

The variety shows stable and high resistance to adverse external conditions. The berries retain their firmness for a long time in high humidity and cool weather. During storage, the fruits are resistant to rotting. Resistant to sunburn. Frost resistance of strawberries is at a high level.

Positive and negative aspects of the variety

There are no ideal plants. Like any variety of strawberry, San Andreas has its pros and cons. But it compares favorably with many in that there are much more of these advantages. But even its negative aspects do not prevent it from occupying a leading position. Moreover, both in summer cottages and in industrial fields.

Positive sides:

1. Beautiful, aligned, one-dimensional berries.
2. Large and very large fruits that retain their characteristics throughout the season.
3. High, stable yield, early spring ripening.
4. The variety is drought and heat resistant, resistant to negative external factors.
5. Ability to successfully bear fruit both in open and protected ground conditions.
6. Stable resistance to major diseases and pests of strawberries.
7. It has high frost resistance, shelf life and transportability.

Negative sides:

1. During the hot summer months, the taste of strawberries becomes bland and the fruits do not reach the desired size.
2. For intensive cultivation of San Andreas, it is recommended to renew the plantings annually. But if you do not overload the plant, you can grow it for another year without any problems.
3. Sugar levels vary depending on the ambient temperature.
4. To unlock its full potential, complete and regular feeding of the variety is necessary.

How and when to plant?

Seedlings with an open root system are planted in the spring, immediately after the frost has subsided, so that the plant can fully take root before the summer heat. In autumn, planting occurs from late August to early September. Seedlings with a closed root system (in pots) can be planted throughout the season.

Preparing the beds

Before planting strawberries, the beds are thoroughly weeded and mineral and organic fertilizers are applied. The soil is plowed or dug, followed by abundant watering.

Selection of planting material

When choosing seedlings with open and closed root systems, you need to pay attention to the following:

1. The thickness of the heart should be 1 centimeter or more.
2. Choose seedlings with a well-developed, fibrous root system.
3. The roots should be white or light brown.
4. Visually there should be no signs of disease or pest damage.
5. When choosing seedlings in pots, powerful, stocky plants with developed leaf apparatus are preferred. Color varies from green to dark green.

Landing technology

Seedlings with a closed root system are planted in a pre-prepared hole level with the ground. The tangled roots at the bottom of the pot are slightly straightened out. Seedlings with an open root are placed in the hole so that the heart is at soil level. Not lower and not higher.When planting, the roots straighten out and the hole is filled with soil. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly.

How to properly care for the crop?

To obtain high yields of tasty berries, San Andreas requires careful and correct agricultural technology. The plant responds positively to proper care.

Watering and fertilizing

San Andreas, like all remontants, requires regular, once every 10-14 days, fertilizing with complex fertilizers. Depending on the phase of strawberry development, the formula of applied fertilizers also changes. Watering, especially at the time of fruiting, should be regular. In summer, as the soil dries out - depending on the composition of the soil. On sandy soils, during peak heat, watering is carried out even after 1-2 days.

Weeding and loosening

To maintain health and provide air to the strawberry root system, it is necessary to carry out weeding and surface loosening of the soil 2-3 times a month. On mulched plantings, loosening and weeding are carried out only in row-spacings.

Mulching

The variety responds positively to mulching beds. This allows you to retain moisture in the soil during the hot summer months and protects the root from overheating. Mulch prevents unwanted weed growth and protects berries from gray rot in rainy and damp weather. Suitable straw, mowed green manure, black film, white and black agrofibre.

An excellent, albeit expensive, option would be mulching with agro-fabric.

Wintering

San Andreas has high frost resistance. It can winter without shelter down to -20 C degrees. Especially in regions with snowy and frosty winters, without frequent thaws. But to be on the safe side, it is advisable to cover the beds for the winter.Moreover, under the agrofibre, its own microclimate is formed, accelerating the ripening of strawberry fruits up to 2 weeks.

Disease and pest control

Resistant to many diseases and pests of strawberries. In particular, to spotting and strawberry mites. To maintain plant health, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments against diseases and pests several times a season. For example, a mixture of 1 fungicide and 1 insecticide. To choose from: Switch, Chorus combined with Actellik, Enzhio, biological product Actofit.

It is worth paying special attention to such a dangerous pest as the larva of the cockchafer. Or simply - Khrushchev. Watering 2-3 times per season under the root with a solution of Aktara, Antikhrushch, Nurell D. If there are ovaries or berries on the bushes, it is important to use only biological products!

Strawberry propagation

If the goal is to obtain the maximum number of seedlings, then annual renewal of plantings is mandatory. On mother plants, all flowers and ovaries are regularly removed so that the plant devotes energy to growth and vegetative propagation. Weekly spraying and watering at the root with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are recommended. For example, Plantafol (Plantator) with the formula 10/30/10.

Remontant varieties and, in particular, San Andreas are recommended to be renewed annually so that the plant grows a lot of mustache.

Difficulties in growing and care recommendations

San Andreas is a remontant large-fruited variety, so to achieve high yields it requires competent agricultural technology. Regular provision of moisture, spraying and watering with fertilizer solutions under the roots and along the leaves. Plus preventive treatments against diseases and pests and soil mulching. There are no special problems when cultivating this strawberry.

Fruit harvesting and storage rules

In the summer months, strawberry fruits are collected in the early morning hours or in the evening, when solar activity has already subsided. Berries picked in the heat are worse in taste and quality and spoil faster. When picking in early spring or autumn, on the contrary, it is advisable to pick the berries when the sun's rays heat them, drying the morning dew from the fruit.

Berries are collected in plastic booties (1 and 0.5 kilograms) or small, flat cardboard boxes with a capacity of up to 5 kilograms. In this case, transportability and keeping quality will be maximum. After harvesting, it is advisable to cool the fruits, if possible. This procedure further increases the commercial characteristics of strawberries during subsequent transportation.