Description and characteristics of Sonata variety strawberries, planting and care

Dutch breeders gave the world not only many types of tulips, but also elite berry varieties. New hybrids were developed to produce varieties with good taste characteristics, high density structure and transportability. The strawberry variety Sonata has the above characteristics.

Description and characteristics of the Sonata variety

The variety was bred in 1990. The bushes are small, there are few tendrils. Peduncles are strong, anthers are large. Sonata is a dessert variety that stands out for its sweet taste with slight sourness. The berries are shaped like a wide cone, uniformly red.

Pros and cons of strawberries

The variety is notable for the following advantages:

• compact bushes;
• resistant to many diseases;
• frost-resistant;
• unpretentious, adapts quickly;
• bears fruit for a long time (from mid-summer to early autumn);
• the structure has a high density, which allows you to collect and transport berries without compromising their presentation;
• suitable for industrial and dessert cultivation;
• brings a big harvest.

However, the variety has certain disadvantages:

• the mustache is weakly formed;
• weakly resistant to verticellosis;
• at high humidity the heart and roots begin to rot;
• bushes need to be heavily fertilized and balanced microelements introduced into the soil.

Rules for growing a plant

If a gardener plans to grow Sonata strawberries, he needs to figure out when and where it is best to plant this berry, how to choose the right seedlings and plant them. If you follow all the growing rules, you can reap a good harvest.

Landing dates

It is advisable to plant seedlings in mid-summer or March. Seedlings planted in summer adapt to a new place, they form buds, which will bring a harvest the next season. Planting seedlings in March is also considered a good option and provides favorable conditions for the growing season.

The worst months for planting are August and September. The bushes will barely have time to adapt, but will not accumulate strength for the winter season.

Selection of seedlings

By choosing the right seedlings, the gardener guarantees himself that he will reap the harvest in the first, or at most the second, season. Each seedling should have four to five leaves. There should be no stains or plaque on them. The color is uniform and the skin is elastic. A sign of a good seedling is a thick horn (from 7 to 8 millimeters).

There is no need to take limp sprouts. It is better to choose fresh sprouts whose rhizomes have a fibrous shape and are more than 70 millimeters long. Experienced gardeners claim that seedlings grown using frigo technology perform well.

Drop off point

The beds should be made in sunlit areas. It is advisable that the planting site be protected from wind gusts in the form of trees or bushes that grow nearby. An increased level of groundwater or the location of a vegetable garden in a low-lying area can cause rotting of rhizomes and fungal infections. Therefore, it is better to plant bushes on a hill.

Landing technology

Landing is required taking into account the following recommendations:

1. The rhizomes of the seedling must be carefully distributed in the recess, making sure that they do not curl into a ball.
2. The growth point (heart) should protrude slightly above the earth's surface.
3. The bushes are not prone to growing, so they need to be planted at a distance of 250-300 millimeters from one another.
4. Upon completion of planting, the soil is well watered and mulched.

Nuances of crop care

According to the description of the Sonata strawberry variety, obtaining a good harvest is possible only if the rules of care are followed. Understanding them is not so difficult; even a novice gardener can do it.

Watering, weeding and loosening

After planting, the bushes need to be watered abundantly. As they adapt, the volume of water can be reduced.It is necessary to water the soil until the end of September so that the bushes gain strength for wintering.

Irrigation in spring should be intensive during flowering and reduced during fruit ripening (minimum 7 liters per square). Monitor the condition of the soil, do not allow excessive moisture.

Watering should be done twice a week. It is recommended to water the bushes using the rain or drip method.

Weeding is a mandatory procedure when it comes to growing Sonata strawberries. If the beds are clean, pests will not accumulate on them. In addition, strawberry bushes will receive more essential microelements.

It is necessary to loosen the soil after each irrigation or rain. Loosen the ground and remove weeds. It is recommended to remove weeds at least three times during the season.

Fertilizer and mulching

Strawberries are very demanding when it comes to feeding. The fertilizers used must include magnesium, manganese components, iron, and other elements. In the spring season, it is recommended to use fertilizers containing nitrogen, which accelerate growth.

Before the bushes begin to bloom, treat the soil with azophoska, dilute 2 tablespoons of this substance in a bucket of water. To increase the yield, spray the bushes with a solution consisting of a bucket of water and the compositions Ryazanochka and Sudarushka (5 milliliters each).

It is necessary to mulch the soil with compost or rotted manure. Mulching must be done 6 months or 14 days before planting. To disinfect the soil, use green manure.

Providing protection from frost

At the end of summer, strawberries need to be cut, the ground should be cleared of weeds and debris.At the beginning of autumn, the soil must be fertilized with manure that has rotted, or with mineral fertilizers. In October, the soil is covered with straw or agrofibre (layer thickness - 50 millimeters).

Diseases, pests and methods of prevention against them

The variety is not as susceptible to powdery mildew as other types of strawberries. However, the heart and rhizomes of Sonata strawberry bushes often rot. In addition, this variety is very susceptible to verticillium.

To prevent illness, follow these recommendations:

• plant seedlings at the distance indicated above, do not allow the beds to become crowded;
• clean plants from leaves and branches that are damaged;
• carry out rejuvenation;
• avoid using fresh manure;
• treat the rhizomes of seedlings before planting with a weak manganese solution;
• Do not allow the soil to dry out or become waterlogged.

Having discovered verticillium, treat the plants with special means. You can use Benorado, Fundazol. You can prevent the spread of gray rot by spraying the bushes with Teldor and Bayleton.

Sonata breeding rules

Strawberry Sonata propagation is carried out:

• seeds;
• dividing the bush into parts;
• antennae.

When the bushes grow, few tendrils are formed on them, which is why the appropriate propagation method is used infrequently. The most commonly used method is dividing the bush into parts. It is implemented using the following algorithm:

1. Digging up an adult plant.
2. Careful separation of rhizomes.
3. Place the rhizomes of each part in the rooter.
4. Planting strawberries.

Harvesting and storage

The variety is considered quite productive. During the season it is possible to get 1.5-2 kilograms of fruit from one plant.If the strawberries grew in closed ground conditions, then it is possible to get up to 14 kilograms of fruit from one square.

The collected fruits are placed in plastic/wooden boxes, which are covered with soft paper or fabric material. The berries are placed in one layer. There is no need to sort fruits before storing them. It can be done later, before the berries are eaten. The slightest movements of the fruits in the container can cause damage, causing them to quickly darken or rot.

Berries need to be cooled to zero to two degrees as quickly as possible after picking. Chilled berries can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Unrefrigerated fruits remain fresh for only 1 day.

For storage, use glass jars or containers with lids. There is no need to rinse the fruits before storing; they will begin to produce juice.

Growing berries is an interesting and useful activity, especially if you can harvest a large harvest. Strawberries Sonata are considered productive, the main thing is to try and provide proper care to the bushes of this plant.