To make strawberries last longer with tasty, aromatic berries, remontant varieties are planted, with different fruiting periods. Alpha strawberries can be classified as late - they begin to harvest in the second half of June. This variety is the result of the work of Russian breeders who used Surprise Olympiad and Festival Chamomile strawberries for crossing.
Description and characteristics of strawberry Alpha
Well-leafed, semi-spreading strawberry bushes grow 20-25 cm high. The green mass is formed by slightly wrinkled, medium-sized leaves with a crenate edge.The variety is characterized by late flowering and fruiting.
The berries of the first harvest weigh 20-45 grams. The strawberries of the following harvests ripen smaller. In terms of taste, the tasting score is 3.8 points (sourness is present), so the berry is most often used for technical processing. The fruits are formed of the correct shape.
The variety is resistant to powdery mildew and white spot. Since Alpha strawberries can be classified as drought-resistant and frost-resistant varieties, the crop is often planted by summer residents of the central regions, Moscow and Leningrad regions.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
When assessing the qualities of a plant crop, first of all, attention is paid to the advantages of the variety. Positive qualities of Alpha strawberries:
- high yield. With good care, you can collect about a kilogram of berries from the bush per season;
- resistant to diseases;
- frost resistance, drought resistance;
- easy care;
- Due to the dense structure of the pulp, the berries tolerate transportation well.
Among the disadvantages, the following can be noted: due to the distinct sourness, the berry is more suitable for technical processing, the bushes develop poorly, and the yield decreases when grown in regions with a rainy climate.
Growing rules
Any strawberry is a light-loving plant, so it is recommended to plant the bushes in well-lit beds. The optimal planting period is the end of July-August. If strawberry propagation is planned for spring, it is necessary to pluck flower stalks and tendrils from the bushes in the first year of life so that the plants become stronger. When choosing a place for a garden bed, take into account the rules of crop rotation - the predecessors of the crop can be radishes, peas, parsley, garlic, and beans.
When arranging beds, row spacing is made 0.65-0.7 m wide, and holes in a row are made in increments of 0.3-0.4 m. Since the leaves on spreading stems grow quite large, no more than 4 bushes are planted per square meter of area. When planting, you should not bury the plants too deep - the variety is prone to the appearance and development of root rot.
Features of care
The Alpha variety responds positively to regular and abundant soil moisture, but stagnation of moisture should not be allowed. The best option for watering the crop is to install a drip irrigation system. It is advisable to loosen the soil after watering so that the water does not stagnate.
Preparing for winter
The procedure for insulating strawberry beds begins with mulching the soil. Great options for organic mulch are grass clippings and fallen leaves. It is not recommended to cut off foliage for the winter - the green mass will protect the root systems from freezing in severe frosts and will retain snow on the beds during windy conditions. But it is advisable to cut off damaged, diseased or dried leaves and stems after harvesting.
In areas with severe frosts, bushes are covered for the winter. Lutrasil, spunbond, and agrotex are used as covering materials. To prevent plants from rotting, the beds are covered with canvas after the first frost.
Culture propagation
For vegetative propagation of plants, mustaches with rosettes are used that grow on the bushes. Strawberry Alpha “throws out” a few thick green mustaches. The largest rosettes form on the tendril stems. It is advisable to use them for breeding.
Planting stages:
- the sockets are pinned to the ground and buried a little;
- During the season, the rosettes are watered and the soil is fertilized;
- 10-14 days before planting young bushes, the mustache is cut so that the plants have time to get stronger;
- new bushes are planted in pre-prepared holes.
Experienced summer residents advise to look in advance for mother bushes - plants that have overwintered well and successfully bear fruit. A plant aged 1-2 years is considered suitable, and it is recommended to leave no more than 2-3 of the largest mustaches on the bush.
Cleaning and storage rules
Harvesting begins in the second half of June and lasts until mid-July. Since the berry pulp is quite dense, the fruits are well preserved, and there are no problems with storing or transporting the crop. Due to their peculiar sourness, Alpha strawberries are most often processed (jams, preserves, compotes are made).
If there is a desire to keep the fruits fresh, the harvest is placed in containers and stored in the refrigerator in a special compartment, where the temperature does not rise above 2 °C. The berries also freeze well. To ensure that the fruits retain their shape, they are first frozen separately, and then the berries are placed in one bag or container.
