If you are tired of sour strawberries that crumble in your hands and do not have a strong smell, pay attention to the Alba variety. This is not just a berry, but a dessert grown in the sun: dense, aromatic, with the taste of wild strawberries, caramel and a slight hint of vanilla.
What makes Alba special:
- Double fruiting. The harvest appears in June and August.
- Giant berries. Each weighs 30-40 grams, larger than a walnut, ideal for freezing and desserts.
- Incredible sweetness. Sugar content up to 10–12%.
- Frost resistance. Tolerates down to –25°C without shelter if the roots are mulched.
- Rot resistance. Even in rainy summers, the berries do not spoil; the thick skin protects them from moisture.
How to grow:
- Plant in a bed with light, well-drained soil. Best on raised ridges.
- Water regularly, but do not overwater. Strawberries don't like “wet feet”.
- Feed with ash and humus in the spring and after the first harvest.
- Remove the whiskers if you do not plan to reproduce.
- In the fall, mulch the bed with straw or leaves.
Alba will become your favorite berry. It is added to yogurt, frozen whole, or eaten straight from the garden. And in August, when everyone has already run out of strawberries, a second harvest of sugar giants will appear in your garden.
Question and answer:
Why are my strawberries sour even if there is a lot of sun?
Acidity often depends not on the sun, but on the variety. Many old varieties are initially sour. “Alba” was bred specifically for its rich sweet taste.
Are there remontant strawberries that bear fruit before frost?
Yes, “Alba” is a remontant variety. It produces the first harvest in June, and the second from August until the cold weather.
