Content
Onda strawberry is an Italian variety that appeared in 1989. Differs in large, dense berries, which are convenient to transport over long distances and use fresh and frozen. The pulp is juicy and sweet, with a pleasant, pronounced aroma. Another advantage is high yield. Strawberries are unpretentious in care, so even a novice gardener can cope with agricultural technology.
Breeding history
Strawberry Onda (Onda) bred in Italy on the basis of two varieties:
- Honeoye;
- Marmolada.
The variety was successfully tested, after which it began to be grown on an industrial scale. In Russia, the Onda strawberry has just begun to spread. The variety is not included in the register of breeding achievements.
Description of the Onda strawberry variety and characteristics
Onda strawberry bushes are medium-sized, rich green leaves, moderately large, of a typical shape. The plants are not sprawling, so they can be cultivated even in small beds.
Characteristics of fruits, taste
In the description of the Onda variety, the following characteristics of the berries are given:
- the shape is correct, rounded, with a pronounced cone at the bottom;
- the color is bright red;
- glossy surface;
- the sizes are large;
- weight on average 40–50 g (in subsequent seasons it becomes smaller to 25–30 g);
- pulp of medium density, red.
Strawberries have a good taste and pleasant aroma. A pronounced sweetness with a moderate, balanced sourness is felt.
Ripening terms, yield and keeping quality
The yield of Onda strawberries is good: for the whole season, each plant produces 1–1.2 kg of large berries. In subsequent years, the mass of fruits becomes smaller, therefore, the yield decreases. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to regularly propagate the bushes and get new plants.
The variety belongs to the mid-season: berries are formed in the first weeks of summer. You can collect them from the end of June to the end of July. The berries are strong enough so they can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for a long time. The fruits are transported in boxes, stacked on top of each other in 3-4 layers.
Onda strawberries can be transported long distances
Growing regions, frost resistance
The variety has good frost resistance. This allows you to grow strawberries in the open field not only in the south, but also in the regions of Central Russia:
- middle band;
- Black earth;
- Volga region.
However, in the Northwest, as well as in the Urals and Siberia, shelter is required. It is in greenhouse conditions that Onda strawberries give the maximum yield. Also, the variety has good drought resistance. But to get juicy and tasty berries, you need to organize regular watering, especially during a hot period.
Disease and pest resistance
In the description of Onda strawberries, it is indicated that the variety has good immunity. For example, plants do not suffer from anthracnose and root rot. There are no data on immunity from other diseases. Damage by pests is possible: aphids, weevils, leaf beetles, nematodes, whiteflies and many others.
Therefore, during the growing season, it is recommended to carry out several preventive treatments. To prevent fungal diseases in the spring, before flowering, Onda strawberry bushes are sprayed with a solution of any fungicide:
- Bordeaux liquid;
- Teldur;
- "Maksim";
- Horus;
- Signum;
- "Tattu".
In the summer, during the invasion of insects, folk remedies are used:
- infusion of tobacco dust, chili pepper, onion peel;
- a solution of wood ash and laundry soap, powdered mustard;
- decoction of marigold flowers, potato tops;
- mustard powder solution.
If folk remedies did not help, Onda strawberries are treated with insecticides:
- Biotlin;
- Inta-Vir;
- Green Soap;
- "Confidor";
- Fitoverm and others.
Onda strawberries can be processed only in the evening or in cloudy weather, when there is no wind and rain. If chemicals are used, the crop can only be harvested after 3-7 days.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Onda is a high-yielding variety that produces tasty, large berries. They can be used both fresh and for different blanks. Summer residents appreciate this strawberry for other advantages.
Onda berries are large, regular in shape and bright in color.
Pros:
- very pleasant taste;
- high productivity;
- marketable condition;
- good keeping quality and transportability;
- frost and drought resistance;
- immunity to certain diseases;
- dense pulp that allows the berries to be frozen.
Minuses:
- strawberries become smaller over the years;
- in some regions it is necessary to grow under cover.
Reproduction methods
The Onda variety can be propagated in several ways:
- mustache;
- dividing the bush.
Shoots for propagation are used only in June (before the beginning of fruiting). They are torn off and planted in fertile, light and moist soil. Plants have time to take root before the end of the season. In autumn, they need to be mulched or covered with agrofibre (like the mother bushes).
Also, Onda strawberries can be propagated by dividing the bush. In late spring or early autumn, they dig up several maternal specimens and put them in glasses of water. After a few hours, the roots are divided, if necessary, use a knife. Then they are planted and grown like the rest of the plants. This method allows you to rejuvenate old Onda strawberry bushes. In this case, the yield will be maintained at a high level.
Planting and leaving
Onda strawberries are planted in mid-May, when the temperature will not drop below + 15 ° C during the day. The landing site should not be waterlogged. Lowlands are not allowed, although it is also better to exclude hills. The soil should be loose and fertile (sandy loam, loamy), acidic environment (pH about 5–5.5). 2 months before planting in the ground, it is recommended to close up manure at 5-7 kg per 1 m2.
It is undesirable to make a bed with predecessors from the Solanaceae family (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes), as well as with cucumbers and cabbage.
Onda strawberries are planted according to the standard scheme, leaving a distance between the bushes of 30 cm and between the rows of 40 cm.It is recommended to put a pinch of wood ash or superphosphate and potassium sulfate in each hole (at the rate of 100 g per 1 m2). Then watered with warm, settled water and mulched with peat, sawdust, hay.
Growing strawberries on a spunbond can get rid of weeds
To get healthy Onda strawberry bushes that correspond to the description of the variety and photos, gardeners in their reviews recommend adhering to the following rules:
- Watering weekly (during drought, 2 times a week). Pre-settled water is used at the rate of 0.5 liters per 1 seedling. You don't need to give too much moisture - the soil should dry out.
- Fertilizer for Onda strawberries is applied 3 times per season. At the beginning of April, they give urea or ammonium nitrate (20 g per 1 m2). At the stage of bud formation, wood ash is introduced (100-200 g per 1 m2) and superphosphate with potassium salt (20 g per 1 m2 or foliar method). During active fruiting, organic matter is given. Mullein is diluted 10 times or droppings 15 times. Use 0.5 liters per bush.
- Periodically weed the bed and loosen the soil. It is especially important to do this after watering and rains, so that the earth does not have time to cake and does not become too dense.
Preparing for winter
Despite the fact that the variety is quite frost-resistant, it still needs to be prepared for winter. To do this, in September and early October, they recommend:
- tear off all mustaches;
- water the plants moderately, preventing the soil from drying out;
- cut off part of the leaves (you can roughly half);
- cover the planting with spruce branches or agrofibre, pulling it over metal arcs.
You can also use straw and leaves for mulch, but they can rot. And in the straw, mouse nests are often made.
For the winter, planting strawberries should be covered with agrofibre
Therefore, it is better to use a herbicide or complete weeding at the end of August.
Conclusion
Strawberry Onda is a relatively new variety for Russia, which has just begun to be planted in the regions. The berries are large, the care is standard, and the yield is quite high. Therefore, both summer residents and farmers can pay attention to this culture.
Reviews of gardeners about Onda strawberries
