Just 10 years ago, it was rare to find large-fruited remontant varieties of strawberries in garden plots and dachas. Today, the number of daylight neutral (day neutral) varieties is increasing simply exponentially. Domestic and foreign breeders are offering more and more new varieties that differ in taste, aroma, berry size and degree of resistance to climatic conditions, pests and diseases.
Albion strawberries belong to the strong middle class; they bear fruit in several waves, which allows harvesting from late spring to mid-autumn.
Description of the variety
Next you can learn more about Albion strawberries, description of the variety and its features. The variety was bred by plant breeders from America. In the USA there are better climatic conditions for it, but in mid-latitude areas the assortment is also designed to give decent results.
The bushes have strong, dark green leaves, strong and long flowers. The weight of the fruits does not cause them to bend towards the ground, this makes harvesting convenient, and the berries do not rot from contact with the ground.
Feature of the variety: young leaves shine as if covered with oil.
Albion is a strawberry variety whose properties are not affected by seasonality and daylight hours. From early summer to mid-autumn, this strawberry variety will delight you with 3-4 waves of the resulting harvest. In the northern regions, the last fruits may not ripen and the bush with berries will be covered with a layer of snow.
To increase productivity from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, owners choose to cultivate this berry in greenhouses. Strawberries can produce their first harvest in the second year after planting.
When using a greenhouse, the crop can yield up to 2 kg of fruit per bush. Gardeners talk about weight: 300-500 g. The existing difference shows that the variety requires proper care and proper climate conditions.
Albion strawberries reach their highest yield in August.
Reviews
Irina, 35 years old, Klin
I learned about Albion strawberries from reviews on the Internet. Many consider this variety to be southern, capricious and too tender. I decided to try it here, in the risky farming zone. I bought 10 frigo seedlings and planted them in the fall, on a warm day after rain. For the winter it was mulched with straw. In the spring, all the bushes actively began to grow, bloomed early and the first berries appeared in June. Although the variety is remontant and, as they say, does not produce a lot of mustaches, they constantly grew on me - I did not have time to trim them. On those that remained, the first rosette was placed immediately in the pot and cut from the mother bush after complete rooting. During the season, a decent amount of our own strong and healthy seedlings were collected. This year I will make a few more beds so that the harvest will be larger. The berries are very tasty and fragrant! Firm but juicy, sweet but sour. Everything in moderation!
Timur, 41 years old, village. Alekseevskoe
In my opinion, Albion is more suitable for amateur cultivation. The berry is large and tasty, superior in quality to the proven Lord and Rügen. But the yield is average and requires serious care. We have been doing this for several years. In the first year, during spring planting, the bush yielded 300-400 grams for each fruiting cycle (with autumn planting, the result was slightly higher). The maximum we managed to collect was 700-800 g, this was with drip watering and regular fertilizing. The higher the yields, the faster the bushes wear out and the plantings need to be rejuvenated. Perhaps, in our climatic conditions, the variety is simply not able to realize its full potential.
Lydia, 57 years old, Voronezh region.
Last year, Albion strawberries became a pleasant discovery for me. We only go to the dacha on weekends; we don’t have much time to care for the strawberry beds. Of course, we fertilized the soil well before planting and watered it whenever possible. I didn’t cut off the mustache or flower stalks. The harvest pleased us almost until the autumn frosts. The last berries remained unripe, but we managed to eat ripe ones over the summer. The taste is delicious, the size is medium, so they are well suited for food and preparations for the winter. They hold their shape well in jams and compotes, and look beautiful in homemade cakes and other desserts.
Fruit characteristics
The description of strawberries required for Albion continues with a story about what its fruits look like. In general, large berries range from 30-50 g, their size increases due to fertilizing. The skin on the fruit is bright red with a pink core.
On one bush you can find heart-shaped, oval and oblong fruits, but for the most part the berries are equal and are great for sale.
The pulp is known for its high density, which increases the ability to lie down and be transportable, but is not to the taste of many gourmet gardeners.
Watering garden strawberries
After planting, strawberries need daily watering until complete rooting; in dry areas and in the absence of rain for a long time, they can be watered 2 times a day with an interval of 12 hours.
After each watering, the soil must be fluffed and mulched; work around the bushes should be done very carefully so as not to damage the surface root system.
More on the topic: What interesting things you can learn about strawberries
Strawberries especially need watering at the beginning of the berry ripening period, as well as after fruiting.
The ideal hydration option for this variety would be drip irrigation.
Advantages
The main advantage of the Albion variety is its ability to bear fruit from May to October. There are also many other advantages:
- Drought resistance.
- Large fruits.
- A little mustache.
- High yield.
- Good storage capacity and preservation of presentation.
- Easy propagation using several methods.
- It is self-pollinating and can be grown in closed greenhouses
- Excellent immunity to most diseases, so it is possible to grow the variety without chemicals.
Some disadvantages include: poor tolerance to heat above +30 degrees, hollowness forms in the middle of the fruit due to incorrect growing techniques, chlorositis disease, and requires frequent care when caring for the plant in greenhouse conditions.
Pests and diseases
"Albion" is resistant to verticillium wilt and late blight. The variety resists anthracnose, but is susceptible to blight. For prevention, strawberries are treated with Topaz: the first time after the snow melts, the second time during flowering. Take an ampoule of the drug onto a bucket of water.
A good way to prevent diseases is to spray the bushes with iodine solution. 30 drops of the drug are diluted in 10 liters of liquid. Treat leaves from all sides.
When grown indoors, strawberries are attacked by pests. Fufanon, Aktellik, Aktara, Hom will help resist them.
Planting a crop
The Albion variety loves heat, so it is suitable for warm regions of the country. It is recommended to plant it at the onset of autumn. Then the bushes will take root before winter arrives, and next season they will bear fruit well.
In northern lands and temperate regions, planting should be done in the spring, and the first harvest must be discarded; for this, the flower stalks are pinched off so that the planting takes root well.
Choose a plot for planting Albion strawberries that is well-lit, flat or with a slight slope, protected from gusts of wind. The soil is enriched by introducing a considerable amount of organic fertilizers.
On depleted soils, up to 2 buckets of fertilizers per 1 m2 are required.
When planting, leave 30 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows. It is not allowed to deepen the bush too much or leave it with its growing point protruding from the soil. In all these cases, the strawberries will quickly or slowly die.
If fertilizers were not added during the preparation of the plot, then they need to be added during planting, the planted strawberries are well watered, the soil is mulched with hay and straw.
For large plantings, the spaces between the rows are covered with dark agro-fibre, which stops the growth of weeds. But there is a danger of infection of the root system with gray rot. Owners are advised to place straw or hay between the rows.
Growing Albion strawberries: features
The autumn months are best suited for planting Albion strawberry bushes. If you want to plant Albion strawberries in the spring, the plants may not have time to take root well and will produce a harvest that is an order of magnitude less than expected. But when planted in the fall, next summer Albion will thank you with a sufficient number of sweet and large berries. When planting seedlings, a handful of humus must be added under each bush.
The distance between plants should be about 30-40 cm, with row spacing equal to 40 cm. This variety produces a moderate number of tendrils, so tracking them is quite easy. As a rule, the strongest rosettes with the greatest fruiting potential are formed on the very first tendrils. It is better to leave them to take root in the same bed not far from the mother bushes.
Since the Albion variety is quite a valuable and expensive variety, it makes sense to try to root all its rosettes. But those that form on subsequent tendrils are best cut off and grown in a special separate bed - in a nursery. If flower stalks appear on the rosettes of the first year, they should be removed so that the bushes can grow more roots and leaves by winter and the next season. If these conditions are met, next year will be able to please you with a good harvest.
Watering for this variety is of decisive importance - it must be regular and sufficiently abundant. That is why the best option when growing Albion strawberries is to install a drip irrigation system.
Attention! Despite the fact that it comes from southern countries, Albion strawberries do not favor heat, so when the temperature increases above +30°C, yields decrease.
In early spring, immediately after the snow melts, it is very important to feed the strawberry bushes with any organic fertilizer. Subsequently, it is necessary to fertilize several times using complex fertilizers containing microelements in chelated form. It is especially important for strawberries to have a sufficient amount of iron chelate. If necessary, during the flowering period, you can foliar fertilize strawberry bushes with fertilizer containing iron. The main feedings are also carried out during flowering and during the formation of the first ovaries.
To protect Albion strawberries from various fungal infections, primarily from rot, you need to carry out preventive treatment several times with a solution of biofungicides: Fitosporin or Glyocladin. The first treatment is carried out after the snow melts, the second - during the flowering period.
A good way to prevent diseases is to spray Albion strawberry bushes with an iodine solution. For these purposes, 30 drops of iodine are diluted in 10 liters of water.
To preserve moisture and protect strawberry plantings from weeds, it is advisable to mulch the rows with a layer of straw or hay. The use of black film is not always rational, since it can provoke outbreaks of fungal diseases.
It is necessary to understand that in the climatic conditions of Russia, it is possible to obtain 1-2 kg of berries from an Albion bush only when grown in greenhouse conditions or in film tunnels. In open ground conditions, the actual yield will most likely be 500-800 grams per bush per season.
Watering and weeding
Despite the variety's tolerance to drought, it needs to be watered regularly - more when flowering, and less when berries are formed. In rows with strawberries, you need to regularly pull out weeds and loosen the soil.
To reduce maintenance, the soil is mulched. Before the arrival of winter, plants are covered with straw, spruce branches, fallen leaves, covered with film or white agro-fibre. The variety is able to grow well and produce berries in one place for 4-5 years.
How to collect and preserve the harvest
Garden strawberries are one of the most perishable berries. Harvesting and preserving a harvest is a whole science; it’s not without reason that many gardeners ask this question: not only experienced ones, but also beginners. Albion strawberries are a remontant variety that bears fruit throughout the season, so they need to be collected regularly.
If you do not plan to serve the berries immediately, and you need to store them for some time, then it is recommended to start picking approximately two days before full ripeness, when the berries are still pinkish. In this case, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Remove the berries intended for transportation, along with the sepals and small tails. Do this in the morning, but after the dew has dried.
The berry is best eaten immediately after picking.
Place the harvested strawberries in plastic boxes lined with soft cotton cloth; gauze is perfect for this. To prevent the fruits from softening during transportation, lay the strawberries in one layer. Cool the harvested crop 0…+2°C. Try to do this as soon as possible after harvesting; chilled fruits can last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For cold storage, use containers with vacuum sealed lids, or glass jars can also be used for this purpose. Before storing, do not sort or wash the strawberries.
Blast freezing will help keep strawberries fresh for a long time. Place clean berries on a plate and place in the freezer. When they harden, place them in a plastic bag or plastic container. This way, the strawberries won't stick together and you can get exactly as many berries as you need to consume at one time.
Reproduction and feeding
Propagation by seeds is a difficult matter, and strawberries can become dusty with other varieties. The Albion variety produces few tendrils; young plants produce more of them than those finishing fruiting. Well-rooted, overgrown bushes that are 2-4 years old can be divided and planted.
This type of strawberry requires fertilizing from time to time, since it bears fruit for a long time, during which the soil becomes depleted. The plants are given humus, a solution of slurry 1:10; vermicompost, bird droppings 1:20, herbal infusions.
In spring it is worth adding ash. In summer it is important to apply mineral fertilizers. When flowering, it is recommended to apply foliar fertilizing. Strawberries also require iron-containing fertilizers to increase yields.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Culture
According to the description of the Albion strawberry, the berry bush has many advantages. These include:
It grows quickly and forms many inflorescences around the entire perimeter. In mid-latitudes, harvesting begins in May and ends in mid-October. If you grow the crop under additional cover, you can pick juicy berries throughout the year.
Fruits with dense pulp. There are no voids when cutting.
Ideal for long-term storage. Ripe berries can be transported over long distances subject to temperature and humidity levels.
Resists many viral and bacteriological diseases. This criterion is based on the high location of ripe strawberries above ground level.
Proper watering and timely feeding make the bush the most stress-resistant to pathogenic pathogens.• The dense skin of the harvested crop prevents fungal infections from penetrating inside the berries. As a result, strawberries do not require additional chemical treatment, which increases their shelf life.
The disadvantages include:
- Areas with clay and loamy soils are not suitable for growing this variety. Particular attention must be paid to the lighting of the area. These characteristics negatively affect the taste.
- After 4 years, it is necessary to renew the strawberry plantings.
- The berry plant does not take root in northern latitudes. It freezes due to sudden temperature fluctuations.
Fighting parasites and diseases
The Albion strawberry variety has good resistance to common diseases of berry crops: late blight, anthracnose, verticillium, heart rot. In order to prevent disease, it is recommended to plant strawberries near or after nightshades, and not to plant near raspberries.
As a preventive measure in the spring, sweet berries can be sprayed with 2% Bordeaux mixture.
In order not to use chemicals in the fight against aphids, the bushes are sprayed with an aqueous solution of laundry soap and garlic, and marigolds are planted between the rows. In overcoming white spotting and chlorosis, the medicines Horus and Topaz can defeat the disease.
Growing and care
Russian gardeners have been growing Albion strawberries for more than ten years. During this time, certain agricultural techniques have developed that help adapt the American strawberry variety to Russian climatic conditions.
Watering
Excessive watering can cause rotting of the root system. You need to water moderately but often. Watering is done as needed. The frequency of watering depends on weather conditions. When grown in greenhouses, the plant should be watered at least 2 times a week.
If you choose an irrigation method, the drip irrigation system has proven to work best on strawberry plantations.
Loosening, weed control
Loosening should be done after each watering. The procedure promotes moisture retention and prevents weeds from taking root. Loosening is carried out carefully, trying not to damage the strawberry root system, which is located quite close to the surface of the earth.
The yield and resistance to disease depend on how thoroughly the plantations are cleared of weeds.
Removing a mustache
Albion strawberries do not form many runners. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage of the variety. Work on removing mustaches is not labor-intensive, and this is a plus. But for reproduction you will have to take care of each new outlet.
Planting material is expensive, so the small number of mustaches formed does not please gardeners.
Top dressing
The remontant strawberry variety Albion needs regular fertilizing, since fruiting is extended and the soil is quickly depleted.
Strawberries are fertilized with humus, diluted slurry (1:10), bird droppings (1:20), herbal infusions, and vermicompost. At the beginning of spring, adding wood ash will not hurt. In summer, you definitely need to add mineral complex fertilizers.
During flowering, the effect is best achieved by applying foliar fertilizers. Additionally, strawberries need fertilizing containing iron, which increases yield.
When working with remontant varieties, fertilizers are applied during each wave of flowering and ovary formation.
Pest and disease control
It is important to note the good resistance of Albion strawberries to late blight, heart rot, verticillium wilt and anthracnose, which can be said to be the main enemies of berry crops. To prevent infection with diseases, strawberries are not planted near nightshades (and after them), and strawberry plantations are not planted next to raspberries.
In the spring, for prevention, you can treat strawberries with 2% Bordeaux mixture. In order not to use chemicals if aphids settle on strawberries, the bushes are sprayed with grated laundry soap diluted in water, garlic infusion, and spicy crops, marigolds, are planted between the rows.
Despite good resistance to a number of diseases, white spotting and chlorosis may appear on strawberries. Drugs such as Topaz and Horus will help cope with diseases.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, strawberries must be covered to preserve the flower stalks. Agrofibre, straw, and pine spruce branches are suitable. Before covering the strawberries, weeds are removed, dried leaves are cut off, and water-recharging watering is done.
In the spring, you need to remove the cover in a timely manner so as not to provoke the development of root rot.
Strawberries or wild strawberries
Amateur gardeners often call this berry strawberry, but its correct name is garden strawberry.
Juicy, beautiful, sweet berries with an amazing aroma are good fresh, frozen, or canned. Compotes, jams, confitures, jams, opened in winter, will definitely remind you of sunny summer.
There are a huge number of types of strawberries, but breeders work tirelessly to improve and develop new varieties.
Large beautiful berries
In 2006, scientists at the University of California, USA, developed a new variety of remontant strawberry - Albion.
How to cover for the winter
Sheltering begins at the end of October or even in November, when the daytime temperature is below zero. Previously, it was impossible to cover the plants, as they would rot. The bed is weeded to remove weeds and the soil is slightly loosened. Albion can be treated with an antibacterial drug, for example, Bordeaux mixture (3% solution). Then the culture will not be afraid of gray rot and fungal microorganisms.
Attention! Before sheltering, do not water the berries; the ground should be dry.
Cover the beds with berries with dry straw, evenly distributing it over the entire area of the bed. Spruce branches, dry leaves from trees, and sawdust are suitable on top of the straw. At the last stage, the ridge is covered with windproof material - agrofibre, cardboard, film. Now the strawberries will calmly survive the frost.
