Old varieties of strawberries are interesting both for cultivation and for breeding work. Let's look at Ruby strawberries, the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, rules for growing and caring for them, how to deal with diseases and pests, and how to prepare plants for winter. How to properly propagate crops at home, how to collect and store ripe berries.
Description of the variety and its brief characteristics
Ruby strawberry plants are vigorous, spreading, reach a height of 40-50 cm, the leaves are large and green. Fruits in July, 10-25 flower stalks are formed on the plant. Rubin's berries are large - 70-100 g, round in shape, with juicy, sweet pulp. The taste is characteristic, but with a slight aftertaste of pineapple. Despite their softness, Ruby strawberries tolerate transportation and storage well. When picked, the berries come off easily and do not wrinkle.
Advantages and disadvantages of strawberry ruby
Landing rules
Fresh seedlings of Rubin strawberries can be bought in stores for vegetable growers or purchased on online shopping sites. Only non-sluggish, healthy seedlings with strong roots and developed leaves are suitable for planting.
Strawberry Ruby grows well on loam or sandy loam with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The soil should be fertile, well-groomed, soft, loose, and easily allow moisture and air to pass through. Before planting, organic matter - humus and ash - is added to the dug up soil and mixed well with it.
Planting time comes in spring or autumn. It is important that the air temperature is moderate and moisture is retained in the soil. Before planting, the roots of the seedlings are soaked in a solution of a root growth stimulator, then the lower leaves are removed, leaving only the middle.
Strawberry seedlings in the garden are planted according to a pattern of 35-40 cm in a row and 50 cm in row spacing. Such an area is necessary so that each plant has enough nutrition, it develops well and bears fruit. Strawberries are planted 1 pc.into the hole, water, press the roots, cover the beds with mulch.
Plant care tips
Like other varieties of strawberries, Ruby requires constant care when grown in home beds. If you neglect care, plants will not be able to show their full potential.
Watering and fertilizing
Water the strawberries in the garden, on average, once a week at a moderate temperature; if the weather is hot, then more often. Plants are fertilized at the beginning of the season, when the growing season begins, before flowering and after it. Standard organic and mineral fertilizers are used, the latter are diluted according to the instructions.
The variety is considered demanding in terms of watering and nutrition, so the application of fertilizers and water should not be neglected. Without them, you cannot get a good strawberry harvest.
Loosening and weed control
If the soil is not covered with mulch, which reduces the rate of moisture evaporation, loosen the soil after each watering. At the same time, weeding is carried out and weed seedlings are destroyed. To make the work of loosening and weeding easier, mulch is placed on the beds.
Weeds do not grow under it, and the soil dries out less. In addition to mulch made from plant material, you can use agrofibre or black film.
Removing a mustache
The whiskers pull on nutrients that the berries do not get. Therefore, all whiskers that will not be used for breeding should be trimmed as soon as they begin to grow. Whiskers are left only on those plants from which they want to get seedlings.
Preparing for winter
In the fall, when cleaning the garden, they also clean the strawberry beds.Remove all dry leaves and old mulch and lay on new mulch. The winter layer of mulch should be thick, at least 10-15 cm.
Disease and pest control
In general, the Ruby variety is considered resistant to diseases, fungal and bacterial. But in order not to waste time and effort on treating diseases that can still develop when plant immunity decreases, you need to carry out preventive treatments before signs of infection appear on the strawberries. Use conventional agrochemical pesticides, but before the ovary begins to grow. During the period of fruit formation and ripening, only biological preparations that have no waiting period can be used.
Reproduction nuances
Ruby strawberries are propagated by rooted tendrils. They are buried next to the bushes in the spring. All summer, until autumn, water and fertilize together with the parent plants. In the fall, when roots form on them, they are dug up and transferred to new beds. The whiskers are taken only from the best plants; they must be of the first order.
Collection and storage
Ruby berries are collected as soon as they are ripe, but do not allow them to become overripe. Overripe ones are poorly stored. Only whole specimens, not wrinkled or damaged by disease, are selected for storage. They are placed in baskets or plywood boxes in several layers. Store in a cool, dark room with moderate humidity.
Shelf life - no more than a month. Berries that are unsuitable for storage should be eaten or processed immediately. They make excellent sweet homemade preparations.
The Ruby variety is excellent for growing in home garden beds. Despite its demanding agricultural technology, with proper care it can produce an excellent harvest. Strawberries can be grown for your own consumption or for sale and profit.The collected berries can be transported without damage and stored for some time.
