Description and characteristics of Pineapple variety strawberries, planting and care

Garden strawberries are grown in summer cottages and gardens throughout the summer. Among the many varieties of garden berries, there are unusual varieties. A hybrid with a memorable taste and distinctive external characteristics is called Pineapple Strawberry.

Description and characteristics of the Pineapple variety

This variety became a cultigen after crossing wild varieties of Chilean and Virginia strawberries. There are no analogues to these berries in the wild. The author of the breeding selection is the Dutchman Hans de Jong. Cultivation of the variety began in the 18th century. Botanical description of the species:

• belongs to the type of remontant and large-fruited;
• the height of the bushes reaches 20 centimeters;
• the average diameter of the berries reaches 2.5 centimeters;
• large dark green leaves form a wide rosette;
• inflorescences are collected at the tops;
• the color of the fruit can vary from cream to pink;
• When the grains ripen, the surface of the fruit acquires a red tint.

The taste of the berries can be sweet, sweet-sour or moderately sweet. The variety has a pronounced aroma. For long-term storage, the shock freezing method is used to preserve the shape and beneficial properties of the crop.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of a variety are its ability to resist infections that often affect other varieties.

The peculiarity of Pineapple Strawberry lies in its shade, which does not attract the attention of birds or small insects.

Pineapple strawberry bushes grow in one place for 4 or 5 years. At the same time, the stability of fruiting is maintained. The flowers of the crop retain the feminine principle, so other varieties with male flowers are planted nearby to grow.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• impossibility of propagation by seeds;
• does not tolerate long-term storage and transportation;
• susceptible to rot with excessive watering.

Rules for growing crops

Garden strawberries are among the most demanding crops. Gardeners have to make a lot of effort to harvest the planned harvest at the end of the fruiting period.Caring for berries includes performing agrotechnical steps in strict sequence.

How to choose the right seedlings

Before planning plantings, you need to choose seedlings that quickly adapt and allow you to get a harvest of berries. The main criterion for choosing a healthy seedling is its appearance:

• developed root system, up to 7 centimeters long;
• the presence of green leaf plates (3 or 4 pieces);
• no damage, spots, rashes on the stem and leaves.

The roots of the seedling should be visible in the drainage holes if they are placed in peat cups or other containers for sale.

Information! Elongated stems of seedlings are evidence of a lack of light; such a seedling will not take root well after planting.

When and where to plant berries

Seedlings are planted in autumn or spring. Autumn planting will allow harvesting in the summer, and after spring planting the fruits are harvested the following year. Periods when the soil is warmed up to +18 or +20 degrees are suitable for planting. Seedlings are planted in the early morning or late evening; a cloudy day without precipitation is suitable for the procedure.

The place for strawberries is chosen taking into account the exposure of the soil to sunlight. Pineapple strawberries love the sun, so planting them on the southern sides of the plots is completely justified. The place must be level. In the lowlands, fog often accumulates in the morning - this is not suitable for the crop. In addition, it should be borne in mind that stagnation of water is detrimental to strawberries.

Soil acidity should be from 5 to 6.5 pH. Different types of soil are acceptable for the variety, but chernozem containing wood ash is most suitable.

Open ground planting scheme

Before planting, the soil is prepared in advance. It is dug up and fertilized with nitrogen-containing complexes.Experienced gardeners advise digging up the soil, scattering ammonium nitrate granules on the surface. After this, the soil is covered with a film, this helps normalize the acidity level.

Before planting directly, holes are dug. Their depth should not exceed twice the size of the root system. The roots are straightened and carefully sprinkled with soil. The duration of the adaptation period depends on the integrity of the root system:

• deep planting can lead to rotting of the roots;
• shallow planting may cause freezing.

An important condition is the placement of the apical bud above the ground. The root collar is placed at ground level.

The planting pattern depends on the space allocated for strawberries. Main options:

• in one line: between rows - 90 centimeters, between sockets - 20 centimeters;
• two-line: between rows - 70 centimeters, between bushes - 20 centimeters;
• in three lines: rows of strawberries are planted on 1 ridge, the distance between the rosettes is 30 centimeters.

Nuances of caring for garden strawberries

After planting, an important stage in caring for strawberries begins. It includes the use of agrotechnical methods, the correctness of which determines the future harvest.

Watering, weeding and loosening the soil

Pineapple strawberries need frequent and regular watering, although waterlogging of the soil leads to the development of fungal diseases. That is why gardeners recommend adhering to the basic rules regarding watering:

1. Before the bushes bloom, the sprinkling method is used.
2. After flowering and fruit formation, only root watering is used, without touching the leaves and fruits.
3. Settled warm water is suitable for irrigation (cold water can damage the root system).
4. During dry periods, the mulching method is used (it helps retain moisture).

Strawberries need loosening after each heavy watering or precipitation. This contributes to additional saturation of the root system with oxygen and prevents the growth of weeds. The soil is loosened between the rows, as well as at a distance of at least 5 centimeters from the mother bush. At the same time, the depth of loosening is controlled so as not to damage the overgrown root system of the strawberries.

Weeding is planned depending on the condition of the soil. To avoid the proliferation of parasites, remove weeds in a timely manner.

Fertilizer application

Fertilizing is necessary for Pineapple strawberries during the period of flowering and berry formation. For this purpose, potassium-phosphorus mixtures are used. Carry out exclusively root feeding, without touching the leaves or flowers.

Before planting, the soil is fertilized with organic mixtures. Use mullein, humus or compost. Along with planting, a small amount of wood ash is added to the holes. After harvesting, the bushes are fed with nitrogen-containing complexes.

Mulching

Mulching, as an agrotechnical method, is of great importance for crops. Advantages of its use:

• preventing weed growth;
• soil protection from insects;
• moisture retention on dry days;
• protection from excessive exposure to sunlight during hot periods.

For mulching, straw, pine branches, and mown grass are used. The choice of material depends on the weather and temperature conditions of the region.

Trimming tendrils and leaves

When strawberries grow excessively, yields decrease. The main pruning is carried out after harvesting, in the fall. The tendrils and leaves are trimmed with garden tools.Select damaged and dried parts. The mustache is cut at a distance of at least 10 centimeters from the base of the rosette. The leaves are not cut off to the very root, so as not to disrupt the integrity of the stem.

What and who needs to be protected from?

The main danger to the Pineapple strawberry variety is a fungal infection called gray rot. It develops in the soil due to excess watering or precipitation. First, the root system is affected, and then the rot spreads to the stem and fruit. The fruits become covered with wet spots, which are especially noticeable on red varieties.

Measures to combat gray mold include adjusting irrigation, proper mulching and maintaining crop rotation. Strawberries cannot be planted after fruit trees, tomatoes, and melons.

The strawberry variety often attracts the strawberry-raspberry weevil. This is a small black bug that is easy to notice on the plant. It appears on strawberries during the flowering period, its purpose is to destroy the buds. Before flowering, preventive treatments are carried out in regions where this parasite is most often found. For this purpose chemicals are used. The folk method of treating leaves and buds with tobacco infusion helps get rid of the beetle for several seasons.

Types of variety propagation

The variety cannot be propagated by seeds. Division is also not always suitable for this variety. The main method that gardeners choose is propagation by mustaches.

To do this, large and dense shoots are buried at a distance of 30 centimeters from the mother plant. During the summer they take root and go to winter as independent bushes.

Harvesting and storing strawberries

After harvesting, the berries are prepared for wintering. In autumn, pre-winter watering is carried out.Moistened soil cools more slowly, this gives the bushes time to adapt to lower day and night temperatures. The bushes are covered with special material if there is a possibility of frost. In the southern regions, for wintering it is enough to mulch the soil around the bushes with a layer of pine branches or sawdust.

Strawberries of this variety are not prone to long-term storage. It becomes watery and begins to rot on the side where it comes into contact with the container, so gardeners recommend recycling or freezing it.