Large-fruited strawberry Vima Xima can be grown in almost all regions. The berries have good taste and retain their presentation for a long time, which allows them to be transported over long distances.
- Characteristics and description of the Vima Xima variety
- Origin and growing regions
- Pros and cons of strawberries
- How to grow the variety correctly?
- Landing dates
- Preparation of planting material
- Selection and preparation of a site
- Landing technology
- Nuances of caring for strawberries
- Watering, weeding and loosening
- Fertilizer application
- Mulching
- Protection from pests and diseases
- Reproduction of the variety
- Collection and storage of strawberries
Characteristics and description of the Vima Xima variety
The culture is distinguished by its large berries and taste, which have their own unique shades of strawberries mixed with wild strawberries. Vima Xima's strawberries have positive characteristics and the following description:
- belongs to the mid-late type;
- the harvest can be harvested as it ripens, but only once;
- from one bush you can get a harvest of up to 800 grams;
- the berries are large, on average up to 50 grams;
- the fruits have a dark red color and a persistent aroma;
- the bushes are powerful, erect, but during the ripening period the berries gradually bend towards the ground;
- whisker formation is weak;
- leaves are large, dark green;
- the root system is developed;
- tolerates illness and low temperatures well.
The fruits can be used both for fresh consumption and as preparations for the winter. The thick skin allows strawberries to be stored and transported for further use over long distances.
Origin and growing regions
The culture is not a remontant variety; it was bred by Dutch breeders in 1981. It appeared in our regions relatively recently, in 2013, but is very popular among gardeners.
Feels good in the Central region (Moscow, Bryansk, Ryazan, Tula, Smolensk, Vladimir regions). However, with proper planting and regular care, it can be grown and bear fruit in other regions.
Pros and cons of strawberries
The strawberry variety has the following positive and negative qualities:
Advantages | Flaws |
Good yield variety | Excessive moisture can lead to voids inside the berries |
Heat resistance | For long-term storage, it is allowed to change the container, otherwise it will be damaged. |
The fruits are large, the pulp is sweet | Powdery mildew is susceptible to disease |
Undemanding to soil | |
Suitable for perennial cultivation |
Also, one of the advantages of the variety is resistance to low temperatures and ease of harvesting, since the berries are noticeable from afar.
How to grow the variety correctly?
Like any type of crop, strawberries require compliance with growing rules. In addition to watering and fertilizing, it is necessary to correctly determine the planting location and possible neighbors.
Landing dates
Strawberries are most often planted in the spring. After the snow melts, the seedlings are planted in the ground and covered with film. Without using film, seedlings are planted only after the soil has warmed up.
It is also possible to plant the crop in the fall; this type of procedure is carried out in mid-September so that the plant has time to take root well before the onset of the first frost.
Preparation of planting material
When choosing seedlings, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:
- the roots of the seedling must be well developed, without rot or damage;
- the seedling must have 3-5 leaves without visible damage;
- the core must be pink with a diameter of at least 20 mm;
- If greenhouse seedlings are used, the greenhouse must be regularly opened for hardening off several weeks before planting.
Before planting in open ground, it is necessary to treat the plant with an antiseptic; this action will reduce the risk of diseases.
Selection and preparation of a site
Strawberries prefer open areas, without shaded areas. Land plots planted with trees and shrubs are not used. The soil should be neutral acidity with plenty of nutrients.It is recommended to plant oats on the site a year before planting; it saturates the soil with the substances necessary for strawberries.
Before planting, the soil must be prepared:
- remove grass and roots;
- loosen the soil;
- add superphosphate and humus fertilizer.
Planting is carried out only after the soil has settled.
Landing technology
To plant seedlings, you must perform the following algorithm of actions:
- fluff up the prepared area of soil;
- make holes up to 10 cm deep;
- distance between holes 20-30 cm;
- the seedling is lowered into the hole, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with soil on top;
- planted seedlings are watered.
A distance of up to 40 cm should be maintained between rows.
Nuances of caring for strawberries
Strawberries are a variety of unpretentious crops. With proper care, it begins to bear fruit in the first year after planting. However, full fruiting begins in the second year after planting the seedlings in the ground.
Watering, weeding and loosening
Strawberries love moist soil. Lack of moisture leads to diseases and reduced yields. It is recommended to water strawberries every three days. If the soil retains moisture, the period between irrigations increases, since otherwise damage to the berries and roots may occur. In hot weather, drip irrigation is used.
Weeding of the area is carried out if necessary. The roots of the crop are located in the upper layers of the soil, so it is recommended to remove most of the weeds manually.
Loosening the soil is carried out before each watering; with this procedure, the soil is saturated with oxygen, and the plant develops better.
Important. After planting the seedlings, the first inflorescences are removed. This is necessary for the plant to become stronger and larger ovaries to form.
Fertilizer application
The crop prefers nutritious soil, so it is recommended to follow the following fertilizer application algorithm:
- Before flowering, potassium fertilizers are applied;
- at the moment of formation of inflorescences, it is necessary to water with a urea solution (1 glass per 10 liters), avoiding the root area;
- after the inflorescences fall off, chicken droppings dissolved in water are used (1 kg per bucket of water);
- After harvesting, mineral fertilizer and humus are applied.
Fertilizers must be applied carefully, avoiding contact with inflorescences and leaves.
Mulching
Mulching reduces the risk of weeds and retains moisture. The first layer of mulch is used immediately after planting the seedlings in the ground. To do this, humus and sawdust are mixed in equal proportions. The mulch layer must be changed after 3-4 weeks.
Protection from pests and diseases
The Vima Xima variety is resistant to various diseases. However, with improper care, the following types of diseases can occur:
- Powdery mildew - manifests itself as a white coating on the leaves and shoots; if the disease occurs, the damaged areas are removed. Damaged bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (1%).
- White rot - appears during the period when fruits ripen. A white coating forms on the berries, and the fruit becomes watery. Damaged berries and shoots are removed, and the plant is sprayed with Derosal.
Among the pests it is necessary to highlight:
- Strawberry nematode - manifests itself in the form of a small caterpillar that damages the fruit and stems of the plant, leading to spoilage. To eliminate the pest, a solution of copper sulfate is used.
- Strawberry mite - a pest that damages the leaves of the bushes and leads to a decrease in yield; the first symptoms of infection are the formation of cobwebs on the bushes. For treatment, a strong decoction of onion peels is used.
- Slugs often damage ripe berries. To eliminate pests, superphosphate is used, which is sprayed between the beds.
Ignoring diseases on bushes very often leads to complete loss of the crop and further death of the plant.
Important. In order to prevent the risk of strawberries being infected by pests next season, the bushes are mowed in the fall after harvesting.
Reproduction of the variety
The plant can reproduce in three ways:
- Dividing the bush - the mother bush is divided into several parts and immediately transplanted into open ground.
- With mustache - several strong bushes are selected for propagation, from which the inflorescences are removed during the summer. The released tendrils are dug in and after roots appear, they are transplanted to a new bed.
- Seeds. This method is the most difficult. To obtain seeds, several ripe berries without damage are selected. The berries are crushed to a porridge state and washed. The resulting seeds are dried and planted in special containers to obtain seedlings.
The most commonly used method is sprouting mustaches; this type of propagation allows you to quickly obtain seedlings without harm to the mother bush.
Collection and storage of strawberries
Strawberries ripen sequentially, so up to 8 harvests occur in one season. Strawberries are collected in wooden boxes and placed in a cool place. In this state, the berries can be stored for up to 4-5 days.If it is necessary to transport the crop over long distances, it is recommended to collect strawberries 2 days before full ripening.
The Vima Xima culture is famous for its berry size and taste. The berries contain all the beneficial components for the human body, so they are often used as a fresh product, as well as for winter preparations. The growing process does not require any specific skills; it is enough to follow the standard rules for caring for strawberries.