Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Fireworks, cultivation and care

Strawberries Fireworks are in great demand among gardening enthusiasts, this is explained by their relative unpretentiousness to growing conditions and excellent consumer qualities. Its fruits have a pleasant taste and pronounced aroma. To achieve a rich harvest, you need to know the basic rules of agricultural technology and the peculiarities of growing this variety of strawberries (it is often called garden strawberries).

Strawberry variety Fireworks: description, characteristics

This type of strawberry was obtained by the All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Selection of Fruit Plants named after I.V. Michurin. The parent pair are the varieties Zenga Zengana and Red Coat. The strawberry variety Fireworks belongs to the category of mid-season and high-yielding crops.

The bushes are characterized as powerful, erect, with medium foliage. Externally, the plant looks like a ball. The color of the leaf mass is dark green and has a glossy sheen. A distinctive feature of this variety is the ovoid shape of the middle blade of the leaf blade.

Strawberry Fireworks stands out for its abundant and lush flowering. Thanks to strong peduncles, the plant can produce a rich harvest. The plant-forming ability of garden strawberries is high, the green mustaches are of medium length. The color of the formed buds is white, the flowers are not twisted, bisexual.

The berries grow on average 13 g, their shape is predominantly truncated-conical, with a short neck. As the fruits ripen, they change color from scarlet to burgundy. The structure of the pulp is dense, the color is dark red. There are white veins on the strawberry cut; there are no other light inclusions.

Strawberry Fireworks, under favorable conditions, can produce up to 1 kilogram per bush. Productivity indicators are 155-184 centners per hectare.

Juicy berries have a sweetish-sour taste. Sugar content is 7.3% and acidity is 1.2%. Strawberry's tasting score out of a maximum of 5 is 4.8.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the positive characteristics of the variety, experienced gardeners note:

• ability to consistently produce crops;
• high productivity rates;
• friendly ripening of strawberries;
• universal purpose of fruits;
• high commercial and consumer qualities;
• not afraid of long-distance transportation;
• sufficient resistance to dry weather and low temperatures;
• increased immunity to the main strawberry diseases (gray rot, powdery mildew) and parasitic individuals.

But, despite the whole list of advantages, strawberries Fireworks also have their disadvantages, including:

• the need to regularly remove the mustache;
• small berry size.

How to plant strawberries correctly

In order for plants to grow and develop normally, it is necessary to adhere to certain recommendations when planting.

Disembarkation time and place

The optimal time for planting is early spring, when warm weather sets in and the threat of return frosts has passed, as well as August-September. It is better to choose cloudy days to select strawberry seedlings for a permanent location. It is more effective to mark the beds in areas that are well lit and protected from draft winds. The soil at the planting site should not have high humidity, otherwise there is a high probability of putrefactive processes developing on the root system of the plants.

Strawberries take root well in fertile soils, with the exception of peat soils. You can increase the nutritional level of the soil by adding humus or wood ash during deep digging. An insufficient amount of useful components in the soil has a detrimental effect on both the plants themselves and the future harvest; it turns out small and sour.

It is more advisable to form beds for planting strawberry seedlings with a width of up to 1 meter; the height of the sides is determined by the level of groundwater and soil characteristics.

Preparation of planting material

To avoid problems in the future, you should purchase strawberry seedlings only from trusted nurseries.She must be strong, healthy, without signs of disease. Stocky annual plants should have a rosette with 3-5 leaves, a strong apical bud, and a horn diameter of 1.5 centimeters. The length of the root system of the seedling is from 5 centimeters.

To prevent the appearance of root rot or spotting on strawberry leaves, it is recommended to pre-disinfect the planting material. For these purposes, it is effective to use a solution of potassium permanganate, prepared at the rate of 1 g of product per 10 liters of water. The seedlings are washed in it. You can also soak strawberries in a solution of 2 tablespoons of table salt, 1 teaspoon of copper sulfate and 5 liters of water (procedure time 5 minutes), then rinse.

Planting process

The algorithm for planting strawberry seedlings in open ground includes:

• Formation of planting nests using a scoop in accordance with the size of the plant root system.
• Moisten the holes at the rate of 0.5 liters of water per hole.
• Placing a bush in a hole.
• Sprinkle the roots with soil, leaving the heart at soil level.
• Compacting the soil and watering.
• If necessary, shading with agrofibre.

Proper planting of strawberries is the key to a bountiful harvest.

Nuances of caring for the variety

Among the main measures for caring for planted plants are: regular removal of weeds, irrigation, fertilizing, and carrying out preventive procedures.

Watering and fertilizing

In spring, the soil is moistened starting from the last days of April at the rate of 10 liters of water per 1 square meter. In hot weather, strawberry bushes are irrigated 3-4 times a week, and in the fall, once a week is enough.It is better to choose the time for watering in the morning, and do not allow water to get on the leaves.

It is not worth adding nutritional compounds in the first year after planting. They begin to carry out feeding procedures only from the second year, using either organic fertilizers or ready-made mineral complexes. In early spring, nitrogen-containing mixtures are used, in September - phosphorus-potassium mixtures. Before flowering and after harvesting the fruits, it is effective to add humus, wood ash or a solution of manure.

Weeding, loosening, mulching

To prevent weeds from taking away nutrition from strawberries, you need to regularly remove them. Loosening the soil eliminates oxygen starvation of the roots. The presence of mulch under the bushes helps retain moisture in the soil.

Pest Control Methods

You can preserve the plantings and prevent the invasion of parasitic individuals by destroying weeds during the strawberry growing season and removing plant debris from the site. And also through deep digging of the soil and compliance with crop rotation. A properly organized irrigation system significantly reduces the likelihood of pests appearing on strawberries.

Protection from diseases

Copper-containing preparations are used as preventive measures against fungal diseases when 3-4 leaves have grown. The use of Kuproxat, Champion, Coside is effective. It is possible to protect plantings from gray rot using Switch, Horus, Teldor.

Strawberry propagation

According to the description, you can propagate Fireworks garden strawberries by seed, by dividing the bush, and by using a mustache. The first method of propagation is quite labor-intensive; it involves preparing seeds, planting them in the ground, caring for them, and picking the sprouts into separate containers.If it is intended to propagate the crop through the mustache, then first-order specimens are selected, their roots are sprinkled with soil and watered regularly. They are separated from the mother bush after rooting.

Divide the strawberry bush in spring or autumn; it must be at least three years old. On each division you need to leave one horn, at least three leaves and healthy roots. The resulting rosettes are planted in early August.

Collection and storage of garden strawberries Fireworks

It is better to harvest the crop 2 days before it is completely ripe, placing it in a plastic or any suitable container with holes for ventilation. Store strawberries in containers, laid in one layer. Before storing, the products are cooled to 0- +2 degrees. The shelf life of the harvested crop at a temperature of +20 degrees is only a day.

The Fireworks variety is in great demand among gardeners; it has mostly positive reviews. When growing, you should follow basic agricultural practices and purchase high-quality planting material.