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

Strawberries are a berry with a wonderful taste and aroma, loved by many. One of the most popular strawberry varieties in recent years has become Carmen.

This variety of berry was bred in the Czech Republic in 2001 and has become widespread. It is known to every gardener.Sometimes such strawberries are called “gourmet berries” because they have a pronounced taste.

This species is so popular not only because of its excellent taste, but also due to its very high yield. The advantages and disadvantages of Carmen's strawberries will be discussed further.

Description and characteristics of strawberries Carmen

The variety is very productive and is perfect for growing in garden plots. It is also cultivated for commercial sale in small areas.

The bushes are quite large and strong. The leaves are large and oval-shaped, with jagged edges. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences and arranged in such a way that they receive a sufficient amount of light.

The berries can be very large, they have the shape of a blunt cone. The pulp of the fruit is dark red in color, quite dense in consistency and sweet. The berry has a strong pleasant aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages of the plant

The variety is quite stable and reliable; it is considered a variety of medium and medium-late ripening. The weight of the berries is on average 30-35 g; at the first harvest they can weigh up to 50 grams. On average, one bush can produce up to 1 kilogram of berries per season.

The fruits can be used both fresh and processed. After heat treatment or freezing, they do not lose their taste and aroma.

In the description of the species, it is also worth noting that the plant is very resistant to low temperatures and easily adapts to various conditions. If you follow the rules of care, it can survive even the rainy season normally.

An additional advantage of the Carmen strawberry variety is that it is able to produce a harvest quite late, when other varieties are no longer able to bear fruit. Bushes of this variety produce the largest number of fruits in the second year.

However, the species has some disadvantages. Yields may not always be stable. Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that the fruits gradually decrease in size and weight. By the end of fruiting, the weight of the berry may decrease to 20 grams.

The best yield of this variety is in the second year of life. In the fifth year of staying in one place, the level of fruiting drops sharply and the berries become significantly smaller.

In addition, the bush of the Carmen variety itself is very voluminous, which makes frequent planting impossible.

The nuances of growing a variety

This variety of garden berry has some features that should be taken into account when growing.

Choosing a place to plant strawberries

When planting, it is important to choose a place where there will be no drafts. Do not plant berries on a slope or on a hilly surface. It’s great if the soil is loamy.

If there is a high content of sand and clay, add peat or humus.

Before planting, you need to properly prepare the area:

• remove weeds;
• remove excess moisture or moisten the soil;
• apply fertilizer if necessary;
• loosen the soil.

The most suitable level is pH-6.0. If the acidity level in the soil is increased, then liming is carried out.

Boarding time

Propagation by bushes can only be suitable for plants that are already 2-3 years old. This is done in the spring before flowering, or in the fall after the end of the last harvest.

If Carmen strawberries are grown from seeds, they must be of good quality.

Landing in the ground

It is necessary to plant in the ground at a time of day so that there is no active sunlight.

For some time, the planted part will have to be artificially darkened. This is done until the plants form a strong root system and can confidently grow on their own.

The selected bush without damage must be dug up and divided into several parts with a knife. Each part should contain several leaves and roots.

The bushes are planted at a distance of at least 50 cm, the distance between rows should be about 40-45 cm.

It must be remembered that when planting seedlings in a hole, you should not put too much pressure on the roots - the plant may die.

Rules for caring for crops

The basic rules of care are:

• regular moderate watering;
• removal of the very first peduncles;
• removing weeds and excess strawberry tendrils;
• loosening the soil.

Since the fruits of this variety are quite large, it is very important to fertilize the plant additionally.

How to water strawberries

In the first days, you need to water the plants daily, preferably with rainwater. The water temperature for irrigation should not be low.

An excellent solution for watering would be drip irrigation.

How to fertilize

During flowering, plants need to be fertilized with organic fertilizers. You can also use a solution of boric acid. The liquid with fertilizers is applied to the soil as follows: 30 g of the finished solution is used per square meter of soil.

Loosening and weeding

After watering the bushes, the soil needs to be loosened and weeds removed. You should remove overgrown tendrils in a timely manner, since a plant of this variety will have a lot of them, this can reduce the level of fruiting.

Strawberries need regular weeding. The need for it will be significantly less if there is mulch.

Mulching

In some cases, when caring for berry bushes, it is necessary to mulch. This procedure involves covering the top layer of soil under the plant with mulch.

It can be the following organic materials:

• straw;
• cut grass;
• sawdust;
• tree bark;
• turf;
• compost;
• moss.

They can also be inorganic:

• film;
• non-woven material;
• expanded clay;
• paper production waste;
• gravel;
• pebbles

Gravel, crushed stone and pebbles are rarely used for mulching strawberries, as this interferes with caring for the bushes.

Mulching allows you to retain the necessary moisture, while the soil moisture will be moderate. Thanks to this coating, beneficial minerals are not washed out from the top layer, and it also effectively protects the plant roots from drying out or freezing.

Such a protective layer will not allow sunlight to pass through and it will be difficult for weeds to grow near the bushes. Mulch retains moisture, which means that the amount of watering will be significantly less; there will simply be no need for it.

The coating maintains a constant temperature in the top layer of soil, and also maintains the necessary balance between the root system and the upper part of the plant.

The layer of organic mulch will decompose over time and provide additional nutrients for the strawberries. The process occurs throughout the entire period of growth, color and fruiting.

Some modern materials used for mulch look very aesthetically pleasing and can serve as the basis for a beautiful garden design. A summer resident can not only successfully grow strawberries, but also make the beds very aesthetically pleasing.

Treatment of diseases and preventive measures

This species is quite resistant to most diseases characteristic of strawberry bushes. The exception is gray rot - berries are easily affected by it.

The disease spreads very quickly and in a short time can destroy a large number of not only fruits, but also entire bushes. Appears in conditions of high humidity and if plants are planted in a poorly lit and ventilated place.

Affected plants are treated completely with chemical solutions (Teldor, Horus, Switch, Alirin-B). There are also a number of folk remedies that help get rid of rot (infusion of ash, mustard, solution of manganese and iodine). Mulching is an excellent preventative method.

Pests and ways to get rid of them

There are also a number of pests that can harm plants.

Bushes of the Carmen variety may be affected by mites. For removal, any summer resident can successfully use such products as “Fufanon”, “Neoron”.

If damaged by a weevil, the plant will not be able to bloom. To get rid of pests, they are sprayed with an infusion of wood ash or an “Insecticide” product. In this case, it is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant.

Leaf beetles are capable of infecting plant leaves. They are destroyed with insecticides or treated with wormwood infusion. Slugs are destroyed using freshly slaked lime or appropriate chemicals. If affected by a nematode, you will have to completely remove the affected bush.

Reproduction Carmen

Reproduction can be carried out in several ways:

• with the help of stepchildren;
• seeds;
• dividing the bush.

Seeds are planted in late winter or early spring. Typically, this method is used to produce seedlings in industrial quantities; amateur gardeners more often use the other two methods.

Plants are planted in the ground around mid-May. Strawberries of the Carmen variety can also be planted in the fall, in early September before the onset of the first frost.

Collection and storage of strawberries

Thanks to their dense structure, the berries are able to keep their shape well for several days. This sets them apart from many other varieties.

Fruits of this type can be easily transported, but the distance should not be too great, and the container for storage and transportation must be reliable, because any strawberry is a very delicate berry and can quickly lose its presentation.