Description of strawberry variety Baron Solemacher, growing from seeds, planting and care

When growing Baron Solemacher strawberries, it is enough to adhere to the basic rules of agricultural technology in order to get a bountiful harvest. This dessert type of berry crop attracts the attention of gardening enthusiasts with its relative undemandingness to growing conditions, winter hardiness sufficient for middle latitudes, and the ability to bear fruit throughout the warm season.

Characteristics of the variety

Remontant strawberry Baron Solemaher (lat. Baron Solemaher) belongs to the alpine varietal group. It was obtained in 1935 by German breeders from wild strawberries. The plant is of early ripening and begins to bear fruit already in the year of planting in open areas. The high degree of productivity of the variety is maintained for 3-4 years.

Strawberry bushes are compact in size, their height is 15-20 centimeters, spherical in shape, medium spreading. The leaf mass is distinguished by its light green color, the presence of pubescence, and jagged edges. Short flower stalks distinguish strawberries from other varieties; they grow below the level of the leaves.

Already in May you can observe the appearance of a large number of peduncles with small snow-white flowers, and in early June the first harvest will appear. The berries ripen continuously throughout the summer season.

Alpine strawberries Baron Solemacher do not form runners; they are grown in seedlings and by dividing the bush. After planting in a permanent place, young plants quickly take root, “go” to growth, and the next year they can be propagated by division. Strawberry flowers are bisexual.

Description of strawberries

The berries of the Baron Solemacher variety have a conical shape, a bright red color and a glossy surface. Their weight does not exceed 3-5 grams. The fruit pulp is dense and juicy, with a pronounced forest aroma. The taste of strawberries is sweet, there is a slight sourness.

The sugar content of Baron Solemacher strawberries is 7.7%, and the acidity is in the range of 0.6-0.8%. The vitamin C content in berries is 82.4 milligrams per 100 grams.

The harvest has a dessert purpose, the tasting score regarding taste is 4.2 points.Strawberries are able to retain their marketability for a long time; they can be used both for fresh consumption and for winter harvesting.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the positive characteristics of strawberries, experienced gardeners note:

1. Ability to form ovaries even in the rainy season.
2. High productivity indicators, right up to the onset of cold weather.
3. Seed germination rate is 95%.
4. Sufficient drought and frost resistance (up to 35 degrees) of the bushes.
5. Increased immunity to major ailments and parasitic individuals.
6. Does not require large areas for placement (due to the absence of mustaches).
7. Long fruiting period.
8. Unpretentiousness to living conditions.
9. Stable harvest when grown both on the windowsill and in open areas.

But, despite the whole list of advantages, strawberries also have their disadvantages:

• the need to replant bushes every 3-4 years;
• Proper care is required for long-term fruiting;
• Lack of timely fertilizing reduces yields.

When planting the Baron Solemacher strawberry variety, it is recommended to adhere to a certain technology in order to provide the seedlings with maximum comfortable conditions for growth and development.

Planting strawberries Baron Solemacher

According to the description of the variety, it is optimal to plant young seedlings in a permanent place in June. Such timing allows plants to quickly adapt to new conditions, take root, and, under favorable circumstances, produce their first strawberry harvest by the fall.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

The bushes take root best in well-lit clearings with moderate soil moisture.It is not worth planting alpine strawberries in damp lowlands, in beds with close groundwater, or where tomatoes and potatoes used to grow. When planting strawberry seedlings in areas with excessive moisture levels, it is necessary to make high beds with wooden sides. This approach will avoid further rotting of the root system.

Since strawberries prefer fertile soils, before planting, preferably in the fall, it is recommended to add rotted compost, wood ash or a mineral complex mixture. High productivity rates are observed when planting strawberry seedlings in the place where garlic, onions, carrots, legumes and spicy herbs previously grew. Planting near raspberry plantations and plums often leads to infection of strawberries with the raspberry weevil.

How to plant strawberries correctly

In order for the plants to have enough air, light, and nutritional components, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance when planting bushes. Densified plantings are one of the reasons not only for a decrease in yield, but also for the poor development of the plants themselves.

Particular attention should be paid to the growth point. Ideally, it should be flush with the ground surface. If the growing point is very deep, the strawberries will not be able to fully develop. Exposure of root processes threatens a low degree of adaptation of the seedling or its death. When planting a variety, it is very important not to allow excessive moisture in the soil, otherwise there is a high probability of developing fungal diseases.

Planting schemes

When planting strawberries in a single row, maintain a distance of 60-80 centimeters between rows, and 15-25 centimeters between young bushes.If a two-line planting scheme is used, then the interval between plantings should be 20-40 centimeters, and between rows - 80 centimeters, minimum - 60 centimeters.

The best time for planting is cloudy weather, morning or evening.

How to care for culture

In order for plants to bear fruit abundantly, it is necessary to carry out timely soil moisture, feeding procedures and loosening.

Watering mode

Strawberry Baron Solemacher responds with gratitude to regular and moderate irrigation. For active growth and effective fruiting, watering is carried out with warm, settled water. Spend 1 liter of liquid per planting. In the hot and dry season, the frequency of watering is 2-3 times a week. Plants especially need irrigation at the stage of flowering, ovary formation and fruit ripening.

The optimal way to moisturize strawberry plantings is to organize drip irrigation. With a regular supply of moisture to the underground part of the bushes, stable fruiting and rapid ripening of berries are observed.

Feeding

Throughout the season, the soil in the garden bed is saturated several times with useful components so that the strawberry bushes do not lack nutrition. Fertilizer mixtures (ammonium or potassium nitrate, organic matter) are used for the first time in March, when the snow melts. They are used according to the instructions, without exceeding the permissible norm, otherwise, instead of benefit, the plants will receive harm. Thus, excessive application of nitrogen significantly reduces productivity indicators, provoking only an intensive increase in green mass.

At the stage of ovary formation, it is effective to use phosphorus and potassium compounds, diluted slurry, and a compost-based solution.In the fall, diluted chicken manure should be added.

Weeding, loosening and mulching

To prevent weeds from taking away nutrition from the bushes, they are regularly removed. At the same time, the soil is loosened. You can protect plantings from the scorching sun and low temperatures by using mulch. Sawdust, peat, and conifer bark are suitable for these purposes.

Preparing for winter

First of all, you should inspect the bushes and cover the exposed roots with soil. Add mulch if necessary. Cover the plants with agrofibre, but only after the first frost. Remove the covering material during the thaw period. Between the rows, to retain snow, it is good to lay spruce branches. Watering in the fall is not necessary.

Treatment of strawberries against diseases and pests

Despite their high immunity, strawberries can be affected by rot and spotting. In order to prevent the disease, it is recommended to spray the bushes with 3% Bordeaux mixture in the spring, and 1% colloidal sulfur and copper-based preparations in the summer.

At the stage of fruit ripening, treatment with Lepidocide is necessary. In autumn, the plantation is sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture. It is effective to use a solution of Karbofos and Keltan against strawberry mites.

Reproduction methods

When growing Baron Solemacher strawberries from seeds, you need to use high-quality material - large and overripe berries, without traces of disease. The top layer is carefully cut off with a sharp knife, laid out to dry and better separate the seeds in a well-lit place. Store them in bags, paper bags, in a dry place. Their shelf life is 3-5 years.

If the method of dividing a bush is used to propagate a variety, then cuts are made at the growth points. They are planted in the soil after a short drying.To speed up the adaptation process, a temporary greenhouse is being built.

Harvesting

When the berries begin to ripen, it is advisable to harvest the crop every 2 days. The best time is evening and morning. For transportation of products, the fruits are collected unripe, carefully laid out in boxes. At a room temperature of 1-4 degrees, the crop can be stored for a week. But the humidity should be high.

The strawberry variety Baron Solemacher is an excellent option for growing both on the balcony and in open areas. Proper agricultural technology is the key to a rich harvest.