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Early strawberry varieties allow you to harvest a good harvest at the end of spring. With the necessary care, their fruiting begins in mid-May. Not only domestic varieties are popular, but also the results of the selection of foreign specialists.
Benefits of early varieties
Growing early strawberries has several advantages:
- depending on the variety, the crop is harvested in mid-May;
- even with a lack of light and heat, the berries grow juicy and tasty;
- most plants are self-pollinated;
- fruiting is 3-4 weeks;
- breeding strawberries are frost-resistant, slightly susceptible to diseases;
- a wide selection of varieties according to characteristics;
- the plants are adapted for growing in different regions.
How to get an early harvest
Strawberries need to be cared for in order for them to harvest early. In the spring, a layer of earth up to 3 cm thick is removed from the breasts. This will eliminate pests wintering in the upper layer of the soil, as well as warm up the root system.
After loosening, the soil is sprinkled with sawdust, peat or straw. In spring, plants are fed with nitrogen fertilizer and mullein solution.
Another condition for early ripening of berries is weekly watering. Before flowering, you can spray on strawberries, but then you should switch to root watering.
Additionally, plants require the following care:
- weeding of beds;
- elimination of damaged elements;
- sawdust mulching when the first berries appear;
- regular collection of fruits.
Super early strawberries
Ultra-early strawberry varieties give harvest in mid-May. They are suitable for outdoor or greenhouse cultivation. The ripening of berries can be accelerated by using a covering material.
Alba
Italian strawberry alba it has a super early fruiting. The first harvest is obtained by mid-May. This is one of the best varieties in terms of yield and ripening time.
The plant grows up to 20 cm in height. Up to 1.2 kg of harvest is removed from each bush. The berries themselves are oval in shape, dense flesh and light aroma. The average fruit weight is 30 g, however, it can reach 50 g.
You can evaluate the quality of Alba berries by the photo:
Alba has a sweet taste, however, there is a slight sourness. Fruiting is 2.5 months. The variety is able to withstand frost and arid conditions. The plant is resistant to most diseases.
For the plant, they choose places that are well warmed up by the sun. During fruiting, Alba is demanding on watering.
Kama
Kama variety differs in compact bushes that form low peduncles. Therefore, the berries themselves grow low and are hidden under the leaves.
At the beginning of ripening, the weight of Kama berries is up to 60 g, then they become smaller (up to 20 g). The first crop is harvested in mid-May. One Kama bush gives up to 1 kg of cone-shaped, slightly ribbed fruits.
The berries have a bright taste, however, you need to wait until they turn bright red. Even red fruits have a sour taste, so there is no need to rush to harvest.
The maximum yield of Kama gives in the first year, then fruiting decreases. The cultivation period for this variety is up to 3 years.
Marvelous
Russian strawberry marvelous copes well with frost and drought.The plant forms a tall, upright bush. The leaves are large and shiny.
The Divnaya variety is distinguished by its oblong berries, which resemble a cone in shape. The pulp of the fruit is quite dense and sweet, has a strawberry flavor.
The weight of the fruits is 20-35 g. Up to 1 kg of harvest per season is removed from the bush. The fruits tolerate storage and transportation well. In one place, Divnaya grows up to 4 years.
The bushes are resistant to gray mold, however, they are prone to purple spot. In the spring, a spider mite may appear on them.
Honey
The first harvest of the Honey variety is harvested in mid-May. The strawberry forms a tall and sprawling bush with a powerful rhizome. The leaves grow large, dark green in color. The flower stalks are able to withstand heavy fruits and do not sink to the ground.
In terms of yield, Honey is considered the best variety. 1.2 kg of strawberries are harvested from each bush.
The berries have a weight of 30 g, predominantly conical in shape. At the end of fruiting, their size decreases, however, the taste becomes brighter. The pulp is juicy with a sweet and sour taste. Fruiting lasts 3 weeks.
Fleur
The Fleur variety was obtained by breeders in Holland specifically for cultivation in the northern areas of Scandinavia. This variety of strawberries is considered unpretentious and capable of always producing a good harvest.
Fleur strawberry is the earliest ripening and is ahead of other varieties in this indicator by a week. The bush is formed from 6-7 medium-sized leaves. Peduncles are long enough, erect type.
The berries are conical in shape and weigh about 35 g. The pulp has a dense texture and bright taste. The aroma of the fruit is pronounced. The plant tolerates long periods of rain and is not susceptible to disease.
Olbia
The super early Olvia variety allows harvesting at the end of May. With good care, one bush is capable of producing up to 1 kg of fruit.
Olbia is characterized by a powerful bush with spreading dark leaves. The plant produces few shoots.
The photographs show that the berries are quite large: weighing 35 g, round in shape. The flesh of the fruit is firm and sweet. Strawberries are suitable for transportation and have a long shelf life.
Thanks to its developed root system, the plant is able to withstand winter frosts. Olbia is resistant to fungal infections and little pests. The plant is able to tolerate drought.
Marshmallow
Early strawberry marshmallow was the result of a selection of Danish scientists. In good weather conditions, you can get the harvest in mid-May. For landing, partial shade is selected.
The bush gives large, shiny fruits weighing 40-60 g. By the end of fruiting, their size does not decrease. The pulp has a rich sweet taste and delicate aroma. Ripening of berries occurs simultaneously.
The yield of the Zephyr variety is up to 1 kg. Strawberries can withstand frosts down to -35 ° C with the obligatory presence of a snow cover.
The best early varieties
Medium-early varieties of strawberries are harvested in the second half of May - early June. For growing strawberries both foreign and domestic species are used. According to the description of early strawberry varieties, you can choose suitable options for your garden.
Maryshka
Strawberry Maryshka differs in mid-early ripening. The first berries turn red by the end of May. The plant forms a compact, low shrub with few leaves.
Maryshka has a powerful rhizome. The flower stalks are hidden under the leaves, however, the berries do not touch the ground.
The fruits are located in close proximity to each other, therefore they have a different shape. This is usually an elongated or flat cone.
Maryshka produces berries weighing 40-60 g. The aroma of the fruit resembles wild strawberries. The yield from one bush is 0.5 kg. Fruiting lasts 2 weeks.The plant remains resistant to winter frosts.
Daryonka
Daryonka variety bred in the Sverdlovsk region, therefore it is adapted to the climatic conditions of Russia. The plant has large erect leaves, slightly concave and drooping. Peduncles are at the level of the leaves.
The berries are medium and large in size, weighing up to 30 g. Their shape is blunt-conical with a pronounced neck. The pulp has a sweet and sour taste.
Daryonka is resistant to winter frosts and spring cold snaps. There are no special conditions for growing, however, constant watering is required.
Kokinskaya Zarya
The domestic variety Kokinskaya Zorya belongs to the dessert varieties of strawberries. Fruiting begins at the end of May and lasts until June.
Kokinskaya Zarya gives a stable harvest. The berry has a red color and firm flesh. The fruits are quite large, reaching 35 g in weight. From each strawberry bush, up to 0.8 kg of yield is obtained.
Plants are not damaged after winter frosts. Kokinskaya Zarya is resistant to fungal infections and strawberry mites. For landing, select areas that are abundantly illuminated by the sun. However, drought tolerance is average.
Mashenka
Mashenka is one of the best varieties of strawberries in garden plots. The plant itself has a compact appearance, however, the stems and leaves are quite powerful.
The maximum weight of the berries reaches 100 g. At the beginning of the season, large fruits are formed, then their size decreases and reaches a weight of 30-40 g. The shape of the berries is comb-like, slightly flattened.
The variety is distinguished by early ripening and high yield (up to 0.8 kg per bush). Masha is appreciated for her taste.
The disadvantage of plants is their sensitivity to frost. The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -15 ° C.
Clery
Strawberry Clery grown by Italian breeders. This variety has been cultivated for wholesale in Europe for over 20 years.
The flowering of seedlings begins with the onset of May, and the first harvest is harvested at the end of the month. Representatives of the Clery variety are tall bushes with a few dark green leaves.
The plant forms 3-4 high inflorescences. The berries are cone-shaped and weigh 25-40 g. From one bush, you can get up to 0.6 kg.
Clery has a sweet taste, the fruits are dense without a pronounced aroma, they are stored for a long time and are suitable for transportation.
Octave
Strawberry Oktava ripens towards the end of May, however, the maximum harvest is taken at the beginning of June. The bush is slightly spreading, medium in size. Leaves are rather compressed, dark green. The flower stalks hold the berries above the surface of the leaves.
The octave produces large fruits weighing up to 40 g. The color of the berries is dark red with a shiny surface, the shape is a wide cone with a pronounced neck.
Octave's pulp is juicy and has a characteristic aroma. The taste is rich, sourness is felt. Due to its dense structure, Oktava strawberries are suitable for transportation.
Frost resistance remains at an average level. Octave is practically not susceptible to diseases.
Kimberly
Strawberry Kimberly forms a small but powerful enough bush. The leaves are medium in size and round in shape. Strong peduncles of the variety do not fall under the weight of the berries.
The fruits are heart-shaped and heavy (40-50 g). Berry pulp sweet and juicy. Kimberly has a delicate caramel-like taste.
Kimberly's yield is up to 2 kg from each bush. The fruits are preserved for a long time during transportation and storage. Plants tolerate frost well. Kimberly is not very susceptible to diseases, prefers flat areas, abundant sunlight.
Asia
Strawberry Asia was developed by Italian scientists for industrial use. However, the variety has become widespread in garden plots.
Early maturing Asia has a strong root system and is able to withstand severe frosts. Plants are resistant to diseases.
The bushes are large enough with wide leaves and thick shoots. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, have a rich green color.
The Asia variety is characterized by large berries weighing about 30 g. The shape of the fruit is conical, slightly flattened, the color is bright red. Strawberry taste is sweet with strawberry aroma. Up to 1 kg of harvest is removed from one bush.
Elsanta
Strawberry with the unusual name Elsanta was obtained by Dutch scientists. The plant grows a small bush with large concave leaves. The shoots are quite tall and thick, the peduncles are located at the level of the leaves.
Drought tolerance is moderate. The plant is not susceptible to fungal diseases, however, it can suffer from lesions of the root system.
Elsanta produces berries weighing 40-50 g in the shape of a cone. The pulp is fragrant, slightly sour. The maximum yield is 2 kg per bush.
Kent
Kent strawberry bred in Canada and is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. The plant is a tall shrub with flower stalks at the level of the leaves.
The first harvest is taken at the end of May. The berries are round, conical or heart-shaped. The weight of one fruit reaches 40 g.
Kent strawberries taste sweet and juicy. Ripening of berries takes place even in cloudy weather. Up to 0.7 kg of harvest is harvested from each bush.
Kent tolerates frosts of -20 ° C in the presence of snow cover. For seedlings, forest or chernozem soil is selected. On soils with high acidity, waterlogged and calcareous soils, plant growth slows down.
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Conclusion
Early strawberries begin to ripen by mid-May. Its best varieties are distinguished by good yield and high taste. To ensure early fruiting, you need to choose areas under the strawberry that are well lit by the sun. Plants need careful maintenance. This includes watering, removing weeds, soil mulching, timely harvesting and plant feeding.
