Strawberries (also known as garden strawberries or pineapples) are a favorite crop not only in Russia, but throughout the world. It’s not for nothing that this is the most commercially cultivated berry – its share in global berry production is about 70%!
They love it not only for its large fruit and wonderful sweet taste - one of the undeniable advantages for summer residents is that it is a fruit plant with the earliest ripening period.
- 7 unexpected facts about strawberries that will surprise you
Think you know everything about strawberries? Let's check!
Of course, breeders around the world have long been breeding the very best varieties of garden strawberries - they are trying to get larger and juicier berries, with different shades of taste, more productive and disease-resistant varieties, frost-resistant and very early, even decorative (for example, with pink flowers ). And they succeed - today there are more than 2000 varieties of this berry crop, as they say, “for every taste and color.”
Yes, yes, exactly “for color” - strawberries can have unusual colors not only for flowers, but also for berries. We are all accustomed to the fact that strawberries are berries of various shades of red, both outside and inside. Maybe someone is growing pink strawberries. Have you seen the white one?
There are several varieties and hybrids of white-fruited strawberries in the world - from fairly common to exotic and very expensive. Growing it is no more difficult than the usual red-fruited one, and its unusual color and various shades of taste will really appeal to your children and will surprise your neighbors, although most of its varieties are small-fruited. Moreover, it is safe in the garden - the birds almost never peck at the pale berries, which are inconspicuous to their taste.
It is also believed that such strawberries can be consumed even by those who are allergic to this berry - the fact is that white-fruited strawberries have impaired synthesis of the very protein that is associated with the appearance of the red color of the fruit, and is a strong allergen for some people . But this, of course, is better for you to decide with your doctor.
If you want to start cultivating such a curiosity, we will tell you what some well-known varieties of white strawberries look like and how they differ.
General and miscellaneous
In the Middle Ages, about five hundred years ago, our distant ancestors began to domesticate wild berries. True, this was done not for “food” purposes, but for aesthetic purposes. Strawberries were planted in gardens to admire their flowers, because... the berries themselves were not eaten.
The only difference between berries comes down to the shape and size of the fruit. In the garden version they are oblong and large, while in the forest version they are small and round.
In terms of their benefits to the human body and nutrient content, the berries are almost identical.
Description of the variety
The White Swede variety is medium-ripening and adapts well to the climatic conditions of the southern regions, where summers are especially hot and there is a lot of sun. In the northern regions of Russia, without shelter and greenhouses, it bears fruit poorly.
Bushes
The White Swede strawberry has compact bushes up to 20 cm high, with vertically oriented dark green leaves. The variety does not produce a lot of mustaches, but there are enough of them for propagation for personal purposes. One plant can produce up to ten flower stalks, which bear magnificent clusters of large white fruits.
Berries
The beautiful one-dimensional berries of the White Swede variety have a blunt conical shape. The white color is combined with a pink tint. The fruit weighs on average 20 g. If you water and feed on time, the yield will increase and the berries will be larger.
The fruits are always clean and do not lie on the ground. The juicy pulp has a balanced sweet and sour taste. The bright aroma reveals notes of strawberry and mulberry.
Due to the absence of red pigment, White Swede garden strawberries are considered dietary; they are consumed by people who cannot tolerate red varieties, including due to allergies
Productivity
The ripeness of strawberries is determined by the dark red seeds. In the first year of planting there is no need to expect a harvest, but two-year-old bushes produce up to 800 g of fruit. The fruiting season begins in the second half of June. These strawberries are not subject to long-term storage and long-distance transportation.
Benefit
In addition to the excellent taste, plant fruits have a beneficial effect on:
- cardiovascular system;
- improve immunity;
- supply the human body with vitamins and minerals.
Strawberries contain more vitamin C than lemons. In addition, it contains magnesium, iron, folic acid. Adherents of traditional medicine use strawberry decoction to treat urolithiasis, colitis and vitamin deficiency.
Wild berry juice perfectly “copes” with acne and blemishes on the skin. Dried leaves are brewed instead of regular tea.
The only negative point is an allergic reaction to the red pigment in the berries (in some people). However, breeding scientists have found an antidote to this scourge - they have bred white varieties of berries familiar to everyone since childhood.
Where to get seedlings
It will not be possible to obtain white strawberry seedlings from seeds, since modern propagation of hybrid varieties does not provide for this method. If you are offered to purchase seeds, you need to understand that this is quackery. The whisker propagation method has significant disadvantages. The resulting daughter plant will have all the characteristics of the mother plant, which means it will acquire all the diseases, trying to get rid of which is a waste of time. To ensure that the plant does not inherit diseases from the mother bush, propagation occurs using the in-vitro test tube method. A cell culture is taken, which, with the help of hormones, does not develop chaotically, but in separate sections: the branches and roots do not become too overgrown or lagging behind in development, which is very convenient for planting. The young plant is frozen using frigo technology to a temperature of -2°C. The seedlings already have well-formed flower buds and begin to bear fruit already 8-9 weeks after planting. Under favorable conditions and good care, plants can bear fruit all year round. At the same time, the seedlings are resistant to pests and diseases. The technology of preservation in a state of suspended animation allows plants to be transported over long distances.
We purchase Dutch "frigos", which are planted in 500g pots at the end of winter. In a month they will turn into seedlings with 3-4 leaves, which is very convenient to use for planting.
Unusual coloring
There is confusion with both the names of the berries and the color. Or rather, most people are sure that strawberries and wild strawberries are only red in color. However, this is not the case. Variants with white color have been grown in Europe for three hundred years!
It turns out that after crossing strawberries from Chile and Virginia, the berries almost completely lost the gene “responsible” for the scarlet color of the plant. The most interesting thing is that neither strawberries nor wild strawberries have lost their taste or their benefits. But they have gained a plus - people who are allergic to red pigment can eat them without fear.
Then, for reasons that are unclear, the white berries were safely forgotten. Only in the 21st century did Dutch farmers restore the variety and call it Pineberry. New varieties have different color shades and a unique taste.
What does white strawberry taste like?
Speaking of taste, it cannot be called standard and traditional, it is very different, you can even call the taste unusual. Ripe berries of white-fruited strawberries have a taste reminiscent of pineapple, and of course there is a pronounced strawberry taste, which is echoed by notes of honey flavor - such a mixture of flavors that will not leave anyone indifferent.
Tasters characterize the taste of white-fruited strawberries as pleasant and sweet, with a slight sourness, and sometimes give the berries the highest scores for taste characteristics, which vary depending on the variety.
By the way, there are not so few varieties of white-fruited strawberries, in addition to what we have already mentioned, we can name such cultivars as: Pineberry, Anablanca, Yellow Miracle, White Swan, White Lotus and White Soul Photo: Pineberry variety
Peculiarities
The advantages of white or pinkish strawberries are as follows:
- take up little space on the site;
- practically do not get sick;
- They have an unusual taste, in which the taste of pineapple and wild honey is felt.
It is impossible to find such strawberries on sale - their shelf life is extremely short. So, having planted an unusual variety at your dacha, you will have a product that cannot be obtained for any money.
Strawberries with white fruits have no less positive properties:
- environmentally friendly product, because grown without the use of chemicals;
- requires very minimal care;
- “indifferent” to both heat and cold;
- Birds do not eat the berries;
- can bear fruit several times during the growing season.
White fruits have no contraindications; even small children can eat them, because... they do not cause allergies.
History of selection
This unusual berry appeared in Europe about three hundred years ago. The history of this phenomenon became known after the selection of several species of wild strawberries growing in America - Chilean and Virginia.
Despite the uniqueness of this berry, by the beginning of our century, white strawberries had almost disappeared. And then a group of Dutch farmers decided that they should not allow this to happen, and not so long ago they recreated the American strawberry hybrid again.
French berry
A new and very rare variety bred in France - Anablanca. The berries of this strawberry have a pineapple flavor, are white or pinkish in color and weigh up to eight grams. The pulp is tender, so this variety cannot be transported. Among the positive qualities, experts note:
- disease resistance;
- minimal need for watering, even during hot weather;
- unusually pleasant taste.
Compact bushes make it possible to get a high yield from a small area.
Choose a place to land
Planting material can be planted in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. Proper care will ensure regular harvesting of tasty harvests. Lack of sunlight and clay soil types negatively affect the taste and size of ripe fruits.
It is recommended to plant white strawberries in areas where legumes or cereals grew.
In these places, high levels of potassium and phosphorus substances are noted, which have a positive effect on the growth and formation of leaves in the plant.
Before planting, it is necessary to clear the area of debris and weeds. The application of mineral fertilizer will increase the viability level of the young plant in a new location.
Growing
Growing plants with white berries is not that difficult. But it is necessary to adhere to certain rules.
- Should be planted in slightly shaded areas. It works best where corn or legumes previously grew. You should not use places where cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and raspberries previously pleased the owner of the garden.
- The soil for planting is dug up to thirty centimeters and saturated with nitrogen and potassium fertilizers.
- Water is poured into the depressions and the seedlings are placed.
Important! Make sure the plant roots are vertical! Otherwise, you will have to wait a long time for the first harvest. Maintain a gap of a quarter meter between bushes.
Care
Strawberries of the White Soul variety do not require careful care. The variety is quite unpretentious and drought-resistant. To obtain the best harvest, you should follow simple rules of agricultural technology:
- Moderate watering.
- Weeding.
- Loosening the soil.
- Application of fertilizers.
White Soul strawberries should be watered moderately; you should not overwater them. The optimal frequency of watering in hot summers is once a week. After watering, the next day, it is necessary to loosen the soil under the bushes, breaking the earthen crust, which prevents the penetration of oxygen to the root system.
Feeding
The White Soul strawberry is remontant and bears fruit throughout the season, giving a lot of strength and energy during fruiting. To replenish growth energy and a good harvest, it is necessary to nourish the plants by applying fertilizers. Nutrient supplements are applied in the following order:
- In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied (diluted infusion of chicken manure, infusion of green mass).
- Before flowering, it is recommended to feed strawberries with mineral supplements, including potassium, phosphorus, boron, magnesium, and zinc.
- After fruiting and before preparing for winter, plants are fed with mineral fertilizers without nitrogen additives.
Protection from diseases and pests
Strawberries of the White Soul variety are resistant to all types of diseases that can affect strawberries. The variety is also quite resistant to pest attacks. Only preventive measures are required to prevent the development of diseases and protect against pests. Traditional methods used:
- Spraying the bushes with iodine solution (40 drops per 10 liters of water).
- Treatment of plantings with garlic infusion (2 medium, chopped heads of garlic per bucket of water).
- Planting garlic, onions, calendula, and marigolds nearby.
- Spreading tobacco dust on the beds.
Trimming
Leaves and tendrils must be removed from the bush every year. Old greens take away the strength of the plant, and the yield drops. The best time to prune white strawberries is spring or autumn.
If the bush is covered for the winter, then the procedure should be carried out in the fall.
In summer, the plant mainly fed on the lower leaves. These should be carefully removed. On the top ones, buds can be preserved, which will produce a harvest the next year.
Anablanca
The variety's berries are absolutely white with red seeds, have an unusual taste with pineapple notes. They are round in shape, weighing up to 4 g per bush. There are many fruits on the bushes, but they are small in size. If the autumn is warm, then the crop bears fruit twice per season. It also grows well in containers, so it can be used to decorate the garden. Anablanca is unpretentious and does not require special care. Its downside is that it is not frost-resistant and requires shelter or cultivation in greenhouses for the winter. It is recommended to grow in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight.
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Top dressing
The basic rule for caring for garden strawberries is proper nutrition of the plants.
- The first time additional feed is introduced is when planting seedlings. The appearance of flowers on plants is a signal - it is necessary to pour ash under the bushes.
- The second feeding is carried out during the flowering period. Experts recommend preparing organic fertilizer for the plant in liquid form.
- The last time food is added is during the appearance of buds.
In order to get rid of weeds and prevent rotting, a ten-centimeter layer of hay or sawdust is laid on the ground. Mulching the soil is an effective method of maintaining plant health.
Yellow miracle
An unpretentious variety of garden strawberries with yellow sweet fruits produces up to 1000 berries per bush per season. Externally, the bushes resemble wild strawberry plants, but they are a garden crop. The flower stalks are raised high above the ground, each producing 7-11 berries weighing from 5 to 8 g. Their aroma and taste are simply magnificent. They are light yellow in color, the seeds are slightly darker and clearly visible. The yellow miracle is a winter-hardy species, unpretentious to soil and watering, and very hardy. The bushes do not have whiskers, which simplifies its cultivation.
