One day, the author of the blog “Ideal Garden” (12+) made the classic mistake of a summer resident – he believed in flashy advertising and threw away proven old varieties of strawberries, replacing them with fashionable new products. The result turned out to be predictable: the harvest is scanty, the taste is so-so. I had to go back to basics. Now his plantation bears fruit quietly for 5-6 years without replanting, and per season it harvests about 35 kilograms of selected berries.
Long-lived varieties
Borovitskaya – a real gem. With normal care, the bush produces almost a kilogram of sweet berries. The first fruits ripen a month and a half after flowering.
Mashenka impressive in size: the first berries easily weigh 50 grams. This is the case when one berry and the plate is full.
Miracle of the World fully lives up to the name. The variety bears fruit almost continuously until frost. It has been growing on the site for the fifth year now – and without any complaints.
Marvelous takes productivity: up to 600 grams from one bush with good care.
Festival captivating character. It is unpretentious, gives excellent taste even in rainy summers, when other varieties become limp.
Watering, fertilizing and rejuvenation
Complex fertilizers are applied (30 g per square meter). At the time of flowering – potassium and phosphorus (25 g/m²). After harvesting – nitrogen (20 g/m²). The author warns: it is better to slightly underfeed than to overfeed. From excess fertilizer, the berries become watery and lose their taste.
Water strictly at the root – 7 liters per square meter once a week. In hot weather – twice. The soil is mulched with straw in a layer of 3–4 cm, this retains moisture and deters weeds. After each watering, loosen the soil by 3–4 cm.
Every three years, rejuvenation is carried out: old leaves are removed and the soil is loosened to a depth of 3–5 cm.
Result
Old strawberry varieties work stably for 5–6 years without loss of yield. Over the last season, 35 kg of selected berries were collected from 50 bushes. Borovitskaya pleases with its dessert taste and aroma with a fruit weight of 20–25 g. Mashenka keeps the bar at 40–50 g at the first harvest. Miracle of the World runs from June to October with a short pause. Divnaya and Festivalnaya help out in any weather.
“With proper care, these varieties rarely get sick and can withstand frosts down to -25°C and drought. The main thing is to follow agricultural practices: regular fertilizing, moderate watering, loosening the soil. I recommend renewing the plantation every 4-5 years,” the summer resident shares.
Read also what to do after tulips bloom for luxurious buds in the future.
