Content
Russia is a huge country, and while gardeners in one part of the country are still planting seedlings of garden strawberries in the ground, in other regions they are already trying the first berries. Therefore, you should not recommend the same varieties for cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Moscow Region, no matter what crops we are talking about. Naturally, when choosing suitable varieties for growing strawberries in the Moscow region, it is necessary to take into account all climatic and weather factors inherent in this region. After all, as experienced gardeners know, from the right choice strawberry varieties 50% of success depends. This article will try to describe the best varieties of strawberries for the Moscow region. As far as possible, all possible indicators will be taken into account, including even the decorativeness of the variety.
Influence of climate on strawberries
In the conditions of central Russia, to which the Moscow region belongs, it is important to choose varieties that are quite frost-resistant and at the same time withstand relatively dry summer conditions. Although it is the weather conditions of the Moscow region in the summer that are almost ideal for the development of strawberries: warm, but not hot days, with sufficient rainfall.
Quite a large number of sunny days make it possible for sweet berries to form.
Therefore, judging by the reviews of many gardeners, ultra early varieties of garden strawberries are not very suitable for the Moscow region. There is a high probability that their bloom could be frozen. In this case, you can generally forget about the harvest. It is also not very productive to cultivate many remontant varieties in this region, since their second and third wave of fruiting may completely disappear due to the same frosts.
There is still a way out of such situations: over the plantings of strawberries, you can install arcs and cover them in spring and autumn with film or non-woven material for the period of night frosts.
How to choose the best strawberry variety
As you know, there are no comrades in taste and color, so everyone will have their own choice of the best varieties of strawberries. However, there is a set of criteria that are commonly used when describing varieties. It is for these indicators that anyone can choose exactly the variety that they like most of all.
- The size of the berries - for many strawberry lovers, this indicator is important, since not only makes it easier to pick strawberries, but also gives rise to boasting to neighbors and loved ones of their successes in gardening. Fruits weighing more than 50-60 grams are considered large, and the size of berries of some varieties can reach up to 120 grams.
- Productivity - this indicator is fundamental for most gardeners. After all, strawberries are a rather demanding berry to care for, and I want all efforts not to be wasted, but to reward you with a decent harvest. As a guide, it can be noted that, on average, one strawberry bush can produce about one kilogram of berries. If the yield of a variety is significantly lower, then either the variety is not suitable, or you have violated the conditions for its cultivation.
- Taste and aroma - for many, this characteristic is decisive, since if the variety produces a large number of large, but tasteless or sour berries, then it can be left only for compotes and jam. But this parameter is also the most unreliable, since it is very individual.
- Resistance to growing conditions and diseases - this indicator is one of the most important for those who are not ready to devote too much time to caring for strawberry plantings. In addition, it implies that the berry does not have to be treated with chemicals once again, which means that you can enjoy its ecological cleanliness.
In addition to the above parameters, the following characteristics are of particular importance for those who are going to grow strawberries for commercial purposes:
- Density is one of the most important criteria for strawberries in terms of storage, transportation and sale. In the presence of a sufficiently dense consistency of berries, they are usually more protected from various rot and are able to maintain an appetizing appearance longer.
- The same appearance and size is a very convenient option for selling strawberries.
- Amicable ripening of berries - this feature helps to get a harvest immediately in a fairly large volume so that it can be easily realized.
If you like a particular variety, you should not dwell solely on it. It is better to find several varieties with different ripening times. Thus, you can extend the strawberry consumption period up to two months even without using remontant varieties.
Although there are varieties that may well combine both those and other characteristics.
If you do not want to spend all your free time on the strawberry plantation, it is better to choose varieties that are more resistant to various weather disasters and common diseases. With the modern variety of strawberry varieties to choose from, it is not at all necessary to sacrifice either taste or yield for this.
The best varieties for the Moscow region
Since there are unimaginably many strawberry varieties at the moment, it will be easiest to consider them in accordance with the ripening dates, as well as taking into account other equally important characteristics.
Early varieties of strawberries
As already mentioned, early strawberry varieties for the Moscow region are not an ideal choice, but there are so many interesting options among them that it might be worth the risk for the sake of them. Moreover, it is not so difficult to put shelters for the period of possible night frosts during flowering. But you can enjoy a truly sweet and tasty berry already in the first half of June.
Alba
A highly productive variety originally from Italy. The bush is capable of producing 1.2 kg of berries. The berries are medium, weighing 25-30 grams, do not become smaller by the end of the season. It ripens in early to mid-June. The berries are bright red, conically elongated. Can be planted in containers for earlier fruiting at home, and taken outside in summer. Differs in resistance to diseases, well stored and transported.
Vima Zanta
It is one of the earliest varieties. Child of crossbreeding Elsants and Crowns... These strawberries can be easily distinguished by the folded leaves. The first fruits appear at the end of May. Differs in unpretentiousness and especially frost resistance. The berries are quite large, about 40 grams, regular shape, juicy and sweet. Perfectly stored and transported. Mustaches are formed in large numbers.
Darselect
A relatively recent variety has already managed to fall in love with many gardeners. The berries are dense and large, up to 70 grams. The bushes are powerful, resistant to both weather conditions and diseases.
Deroyal
You are guaranteed early strawberries when planting this variety. It is resistant to most diseases and can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. Berries weigh up to 50 grams, they are dense, juicy and sweet.
Kimberly
A very early Dutch variety. Kimberly is one of the ten best strawberry varieties that are used in Russia, including for industrial cultivation. Beautiful, even, fragrant, large berries weighing up to 50 grams. Taste - honey-caramel, sweetness does not depend on weather conditions. Among the advantages are winter hardiness and resistance to fungal diseases.
Late varieties
Late varieties of strawberries are an excellent choice for the conditions of the Moscow region, since they, as a rule, differ in yield and size of berries, and also depend little on weather conditions in the region.
In addition, the ripening of their fruits usually falls on the warmest and sunniest days in the middle lane - in the second half of July - early August, which means that the berries soaked in the sun will delight with their sweetness.
Bohemia
Although the variety is not remontant, there have been cases when it produced berries on new outlets. Bohemia is a strawberry of domestic origin, it has a high yield, up to 1.5 kg per bush. Berries are dense, large, up to 50 grams, with a shiny skin, stored and transported perfectly. Taste characteristics are high, resistant to diseases and pests.
Bogota
Late strawberries ripening in late July - early August. Judging by the description of those who grew it on their site, the berry is beautiful, it reaches large sizes already at the first harvest and does not grow smaller in the future. Feature Bohemians are light leaves, it is because of their tenderness that strawberries are more susceptible to pest infestation than other varieties. The taste is wonderful, sweet and sour with a strawberry aroma.
Black Swan
One of the largest-fruited varieties, the mass of berries reaches 70 grams. The berries are delicious and sweet. According to many gardeners, it is one of the best late varieties. Berries are able to ripen and pour sweetness even in partial shade. Due to their large size, they are a little loose, you can remove them even unripe - they are already sweet. Very late - fruits ripen until mid-August.
Vima Xima
A medium late strawberry variety, ripens in the second half of July. The berries are tasty and aromatic, thanks to their beautiful shape, they will serve as a good decoration for the table. Fruit weight is about 45 grams. Berries are suitable for any processing, including freezing. Vima Xima forms few whiskers and is also resistant to powdery mildew.
Large and productive varieties
If you plant the strawberry varieties listed below, then you are unlikely to have to complain about the yield. As a rule, the most productive strawberry varieties are also the largest-fruited.
Gigantella
One of the most famous varieties in Russia in recent years, since, in addition to its large-fruited (berries can reach 110-120 grams), it is resistant to strawberry mites and gray rot. The bushes themselves are very powerful, up to 70 cm in diameter. The berries have a sweet taste and firm flesh, ripen from the end of June and retain the sweetness of the fruit even in a rainy summer. Productivity - about 1 kg per bush. Forms numerous whiskers that must be removed to increase yields.
Chamora Turussi
This variety, despite its mysterious origin, is famous for its harvests. From one bush, you can get up to 3 kg of sweet giant berries, as in the photo. With proper care and feeding, the berry mass can reach 120-130 grams. But unfortunately, Chamora Turussi is very unstable to fungal diseases, and quite demanding to care for.
Lord
Mid-late strawberries are native to England. The bushes are powerful, the yield increases with age and by the second year it reaches 2.5-3 kg per bush. The berries taste good and have a pleasant aroma.
Repaired varieties
Quite a lot of repaired varieties have appeared in recent years, but not all of them are capable of fully bearing fruit in the Moscow region.
Queen Elizabeth 2
This variety of garden strawberries of Russian selection is truly one of the best remontant varieties that can be grown practically throughout Russia. The berries are of good density, juicy and sweet, their average weight is 40-50 grams, but there are specimens weighing up to 120 grams. They retain their shape when cooked and are great for freezing. Strawberries winters well, but are not drought-resistant enough. The optimal timing for planting seedlings of this strawberry is late summer - early autumn. Wintering flower stalks allow you to get a very early harvest of berries. Fruiting lasts until frost. But the bushes spend so much energy on the formation of fruits that it is recommended to renew them annually with new whiskers so that the berries do not lose size.
Temptation
This strawberry hybrid has an exquisite nutmeg flavor. The berries are quite large, 30-40 grams, ripen from the end of May until the first frost. Due to its long peduncles, it is good to plant it in hanging pots, where it will attract attention with cascades of shoots. From one bush per season, you can get about 1.5 kg of berries.
Diamond
The variety has a stable yield. Fruit size is average, about 20-30 grams. By the taste of berries, it is considered that it has no equal among remontant varieties. Diamond is resistant to diseases and pests. Actively forms a mustache.
Evie 2
A very young, but already promising variety with a juicy, fresh, sweet berry, weighing about 30 g. Yielding, up to 2 kg per bush. Differs in drought resistance.
Interestingly, the description states that it is capable of bearing fruit for up to 5 years without changing the size of the berry, which is an unprecedented thing for a remontant variety.
Other interesting varieties
There are many more varieties of strawberries suitable for cultivation in the Moscow region, but which varieties cannot but be mentioned are Shelf and Garland.
Shelf
If you want to have the most sweet strawberriesthen be sure to try this variety. The berries are sweet even when semi-ripe, when grown in partial shade and in all weather conditions. It ripens around the end of June - beginning of July. The berries are large (50-65 g), dense. Among the advantages of the Shelves and productivity, and resistance to gray rot, and frost resistance.
Garland
One of the best representatives of the so-called ampelous strawberries, which is able to bear fruit on its own mustache during the entire warm season. If you plant the Garland in a flowerpot or a tall flowerpot, you can get a cascade of strawberry greens, strewn with flowers and berries at the same time.
In addition to the yield (800-1000 g per bush), the Garland is also distinguished by rather large berries for ampelous strawberries, up to 40 grams, and an excellent taste.
Conclusion
As you can see, among the many varieties of strawberries for the Moscow region, you can always choose exactly what is best suited to your requirements.
