Description of strawberries of the Moscow delicacy variety, planting and care

A hybrid variety, widespread in the CIS countries, created by Dutch breeders. The main feature of Moscow delicacy strawberries is their development regardless of daylight hours. Bud formation occurs at any level of sunlight. The remontant variety is popular due to its good taste and abundant production of berries during the second fruiting of the season.

Description of culture

A remontant medium-sized hybrid does not take up much space on the site, since the bushes are compact, the stems do not extend above 40 cm, and the leaves are located close to each other. The Moscow Delicacy variety is not characterized by abundant mustache formation.

Description of the plant:

• leaf blades are rich green, slightly pubescent;
• stems are thin, hard, pale green;
• the root system is developed, reaches a depth of 7 cm, the roots spread evenly in different directions;
• flowers are hidden under leaves;
• the fruit is cone-shaped, with a blunt apex, weighs about 60 g;
• the surface of the berry is smooth, red, with light brown achenes visible on it;
• the pulp is sweet, without cloying, with slight sourness, tasting score - 4.7 points.

Characteristics of strawberries Moscow delicacy

Remontant strawberries with neat bushes and large fruits grow both in greenhouse conditions and in open ground. The plant lives and bears fruit for up to 5 years.

Flowering period, ripening time, yield

Strawberries, a Moscow delicacy, bloom at the end of May. Plants that receive quality care produce their first harvest of the season in early June. The second batch of berries can be collected in August.

The second yield is higher, accounting for about 70% of the total harvest for the season. One bush per year produces up to 1.2 kg of fruit.

The berries are well stored and do not lose their marketability during long-term transportation, which is why many farmers grow Moscow delicacy strawberries for sale.

Application area

The berries are suitable for fresh consumption and for cooking:

• jam;
• fruit salad;
• compote;
• dessert pastries;
• berry ice;
• vitamin cocktails.

For long-term storage, strawberries are frozen.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Moscow Delicacy variety is characterized by fairly strong immunity. With proper care and adherence to the watering regime, the roots are not affected by fungal infection, and above-ground shoots are not affected by insect pests.

Main positive and negative aspects

The Moscow Delicacy variety has been popular among gardeners for a long time. Its main advantages:

• early ripening;
• high productivity;
• transportability;
• the possibility of growing all year round, in the warm season - in open ground, in the cold season - in a greenhouse;
• resistance to most pathologies characteristic of berry crops.

The disadvantages include:

• the need to cover the plantation for the winter;
• weak formation of whiskers (one whisker per 6-8 plants);
• the need to update the plantation every 4-5 years.

Subtleties of growing varieties

In each region, the planting time is determined by weather conditions, but strawberries are planted only after the soil has warmed to +18 °C.

When forming a strawberry plantation, it is important to consider crop rotation. The best area for strawberries is where they used to grow:

• green manure (it is advisable to embed them in the soil when digging);
• leguminous plants;
• garlic, onion;
• roots.

You cannot plant strawberries in an area where nightshades grew. These crops have similar diseases.

Selecting the best seedlings for planting

Seedlings should be purchased from a nursery, not from hand. High-quality planting material has not only last year’s foliage, but also at least two young leaves. The leaf blades are rich in color, slightly pubescent, without deformation or signs of disease. The thickness of the lower part of the stem should be about 0.7 cm.Root development system, roots are elastic, flexible, moist, without signs of damage by insects.

Before planting, it is advisable to disinfect the roots: dip them in a pale manganese solution for 15 minutes.

Selecting a landing site

Strawberries should grow in a sunny place. The plantation is set up in the southern part of the garden. The place should be elevated, protected from strong winds. It is unacceptable to plant in lowlands, where there is a high probability of rotting of roots and shoots due to high humidity.

The soil in the selected area is prepared 2 weeks before planting:

• dig up;
• remove weeds;
• add organic matter and sand in a ratio of 2:1.

Landing technology

Planting strawberries is carried out according to the following algorithm:

• planting holes are made at a distance of 40 cm from each other;
• to save space and make further maintenance easier, planting is carried out using the two-row method (the distance between rows is 20-25 cm, between stripes - 60 cm);
• pour a little ash into the holes (it will speed up rooting);
• The plant is carefully placed in the hole, covered with soil, and watered.

Nuances of crop care

Strawberries Moscow delicacy are not capricious, but there are certain nuances of cultivation. One of the main features of the variety is extreme sensitivity to waterlogging of the soil, so watering control must be careful.

If there is excess moisture, the surface of the berries cracks. With a lack of moisture, the taste of the fruit deteriorates.

Watering frequency

The first days after planting, strawberries are watered daily, but moderately. Use lukewarm water. After rooting, watering is reduced and its frequency is adjusted to weather conditions.If there are hot days without precipitation, then water 3 or 4 times a week.

Fertilizers and fertilizers

Fertilizing strawberries carried out according to the following scheme:

• at the beginning of the growing season, the ground is watered with ammonia to accelerate the development of greenery;
• During the flowering phase, potassium fertilizer is added; the use of organic matter and ash is acceptable;
• to increase the number of inflorescences, spray with a solution of boric acid (a teaspoon of the substance per 10-liter bucket of water);
• The development of strawberries is positively influenced by the addition of manure infusion.

With an excess of nitrogen in the soil, strawberries produce small and sour fruits.

Preparing for winter

The Moscow Delicacy variety is characterized by low frost resistance. Therefore, for the winter, the plantation must be covered with agrofibre or other insulating material. Some summer residents put spruce paws on the bushes, pour soil on top, and in winter add more snow.

Before winter insulation, strawberries are pruned and leaf litter is raked. The soil is treated with drugs to prevent infection.

Diseases and pests

The Moscow Delicacy variety is immune to infection and insects. But sometimes strawberries are affected:

1. Strawberry mites that can devastate a berry garden in two years. These insects lay eggs on the underside of leaf blades. They live where warmth is combined with high humidity. Symptoms of damage include drying out of shoots and the formation of small dry fruits. They fight the pest with insecticides. For prevention, treat the berry garden with Bordeaux solution, pull out the weeds in a timely manner, and loosen the soil after harvesting.
2. Nematodes. Symptoms: drying of berries before ripening.A plant affected by worms will have to be dug up by the roots and destroyed, otherwise the pest will spread to other bushes.
3. Fungal infection. To prevent it, the area is treated with a solution of copper sulfate every season in early spring and autumn.

Reproduction methods

It is possible to propagate Moscow delicacy strawberries:

• seeds;
• removal of sockets;
• dividing the bush.

The most used method is seed. Since strawberries produce few tendrils, it is rarely possible to propagate them using the rosette method.

Harvesting and storage technology

If the strawberries are intended for sale and long-term transportation, then the stalk cannot be torn off when harvesting. The berries of the Moscow Delicacy variety will not ripen; if they are picked ahead of time, they will remain sour. Therefore, only fruits that have reached full maturity are harvested..

The harvest is stored for about 3 days in a cool, dry room or 5 days in the refrigerator. Frozen berries retain their shape and beneficial qualities.