Features of planting and caring for honey variety strawberries

History of selection

Honey is a variety of table strawberry. This plant is usually understood as the Honey variety, bred by American breeders. Despite the fact that the hybrid is characterized by a high content of sugars in the pulp, it received its name due to the place where it was bred. It became the provincial American town of Honeoye (abbr. - Hone), where in 1979, by crossing the local varieties Vibrant and Holiday, this highly productive plant was born.

On the territory of Russia and neighboring countries, the hybrid was regionalized relatively recently. The plant was included in the register of safe and productive varieties of fruit crops only in 2013. The best territory for cultivation is considered to be the North Caucasus zone, as well as the central regions with a temperate climate.

Reviews from gardeners:

Last spring I bought strawberries at the market. The seller said that the berries will melt in your mouth and you will like them with their honey taste. He described the variety for a long time and, to be honest, I didn’t really believe it. Having tasted the berry at home, I decided to find out more about the variety. In the fall, I bought and planted seedlings in my garden. Now I'm looking forward to spring. I really want to try my berries.

The Honey variety grows under film for me and this early variety of strawberries pleases me with berries a month ahead of schedule. The fruits are quite large. Fruiting is extended. By the end of the harvest, the fruits become smaller, but the taste and aroma become more pronounced.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Honey strawberry is one of the best representatives of modern selection. The hybrid has not only individual yield indicators, but also morphology. Thanks to this, breeders managed to obtain a truly unique and productive plant, distinguished by a special shape and type of development.

Did you know? The official year of birth of strawberries is considered to be 1766. At this time, spontaneous pollination of several varieties of strawberries occurred in the collection of plants of the French botanist Antoine Duchesne, which led to the appearance of large and fleshy berries in the plants.

Bushes

The hybrid is distinguished by rather tall and large bushes, with strong and straight shoots, covered with a large number of leaves. The leaf blade of the plant is medium-sized, trifoliate, of complex shape. The leaves are located on elongated petioles no less than 10 cm long. The petioles have slight pubescence, which is a characteristic feature of the variety. During flowering, the stem is covered with numerous flowers, up to 3 cm in diameter. Each plant can have about 10–15 delicate white flowers, which are united into a small corymbose-type inflorescence.

Video: Strawberry Honey

Fruit

The fruits of the variety have a complex structure; they are a multi-nut berry formed from an overgrown receptacle. The shape of the fruit is characteristic, cylindrical-conical. The color of the peel is deep red, with a glossy sheen, the flesh when cut is a delicate red-pink hue.

It is characterized by moderate juiciness, increased sweetness, and light sourness. The density of the pulp is uniform, there are no cavities inside the fruit. A special property of the variety is that the aroma of the berries increases as generations change, so the latter fruits are considered especially valuable and have a richer taste.

Strawberry Honey

I planted the Honey variety strawberries for their tasty, sweet berries.
As soon as I tried these juicy, honeyed berries, I fell in love with this variety. I’ve been growing it in the garden for 3 years now and have never regretted it. An early variety, planted in the fall. She doesn’t like wet soils, so she planted them where it is drier and has more light. For the winter I cover it with straw and leaves, it overwintered normally and in the spring it took root well, producing good bushes, flowers, and then berries. The berries are medium in size, aromatic and sweet. The largest berries are the first, then they become a little smaller. My whole family loved this berry for its taste. We eat it fresh in large quantities, but the garden bed is not large yet. The berry is also suitable for preparation - preserves, jams, compotes, desserts. The skin of the berry is thin, it is better not to transport it. To increase the strawberry harvest, I decided that I would make the largest beds possible for this variety. I propagate these strawberries by dividing the bush; they don’t produce much runners, but I don’t need to thin out the beds. For seedlings I use two-year-olds, they are best suited for this. The variety is not difficult to care for and is resistant to diseases and pests. In the fall, I prepare strawberries for winter and the next season - I cut off old leaves and fertilize the soil. I was choosing strawberry seedlings and was attracted by the Honeydovaya strawberry variety. I really love sweet strawberries, and this variety is so sweet that the taste of its berries is compared to honey. The soil on my site is suitable, loamy. From the seedlings planted in the fall, the following year I received my first harvest of strawberries. The berry pleased us not only with its very sweet taste and rich aroma, but also with its large size, 30-35 grams. A very juicy berry, you can eat a lot. For preparation I use later sweet and sour varieties, and we eat this fresh as a dessert. Next year I will take the bushes and divide them so that there will be more of such delicious strawberries. Whiskers can also be propagated, but strawberries produce little of them. I tear off the whiskers so that the plant’s forces go into the berry, and not into the whiskers - this way the berry turns out larger. While harvesting, I noticed that the later berries are smaller, but they are even sweeter than the earlier ones. We ate these strawberries with pleasure at the beginning of summer, and then occasionally individual berries appeared on them, very tasty. The variety overwinters well, withstands frosts down to -20, but you never know what kind of frost it will be. I always cover my strawberries for the winter, including this variety, and my strawberries have never frozen.

Strawberry Honey is an early variety, growing on my plot in a greenhouse or under film. I take care of this variety because our climate in the Urals is harsh and spring comes late - as if it doesn’t freeze out. For the long winter, I fertilize and cover the strawberries well, and open them when the weather in the spring becomes even and soft, and there is enough sun. This strawberry bushes well, but the shoots are really not enough, I would like more to plant. The yield is average, and the berries are medium in size with a tendency to decrease. But the main value of this variety is the sweetness of the berries, it is like honey, which is why the variety is called so - Honey. Usually strawberries are sweet only when they are very ripe, the rest of the time they are more sour. And this variety is not sour at all, even if the berry is not ripe, and therefore it is one of my favorites. And the sweetness of the berry usually depends on humidity - in rainy weather it can give more sourness, but this variety was picked in the rains, and the berry is sweet. Our children also eat this variety more; it is also more delicate in texture, not rough and without voids inside. The berry has a lot of juice and is moderately strong. I don’t bring berries to the city, I eat them straight from the garden or prepare them day after day at the dacha - grind them with sugar or boil them.

I bought the Honey variety by mail. Frost-resistant variety with sweet berries. I planted it, and over the summer until late autumn it grew in the garden bed and produced tendrils - I saved everything for the spring, without tearing anything off. For the winter, it was covered with leaves, symbolically. There was up to 20 cm of snow, but nothing happened to the strawberries; in the spring everything sprouted, even the unrooted tendrils. The harvest is early, first the berries were picked larger, then smaller, ripening proceeds smoothly, at the same time. The berry is poured quickly, literally before our eyes. The taste is really sweet, not sour, honey-like for a reason, there is a cloying sweetness in it, but due to its juiciness it is pleasant. I don’t have a sweet tooth, but this variety of strawberries suits my taste and my family likes them. The downside is that the bushes produce a maximum of 2-3 horns. There are few whiskers and the rosettes on them are tiny and weak. I usually remove such mustaches; they are of no use. And here you have to tinker in order to somehow propagate these strawberries, and from year to year there are fewer and fewer mustaches. In the new year I will try to propagate by dividing the bush, I have not tried this yet, I have always propagated other varieties of strawberries with a mustache or taken new seedlings. If it doesn’t work out, you will have to buy additional seedlings, otherwise the harvest will not be enough.

This year I received my first harvest of Honey variety strawberries at my dacha. I really liked the berry - it is large, juicy, very sweet and aromatic. For me, this is the ideal strawberry - the berries are excellent in shape and taste. The sweetness of the berry is increased, it is sweet when green, and when ripe it is pure honey. The yield is good, at first I collected a bowl and ate it in a few minutes. I can eat this berry endlessly, the taste doesn’t get boring. Sweet and sour strawberries quickly give me heartburn, but this variety doesn’t, and I can finally eat as many strawberries as I want. Next year I will start growing this variety; strawberries produce mustache, but not abundantly. The rosettes on the tendrils are not large, but the roots of this variety are well developed and the shoots take root well. The variety is worth growing - the berry is juicy and the skin is thin, such a berry is pleasant to eat, but difficult to transport, so you cannot buy it on the market, but only grow it. The variety is resistant to pests and hardy in the cold season. Like any strawberry, it loves loose soil and lots of sun. It does not require much watering, the root system is well developed and extracts water from the ground in any weather, so it is not afraid of heat.

Selecting the best seedlings for planting

Today there are many producers and home breeders of strawberry seedlings, so the market is overflowing with an abundance of seedlings. The strawberry variety Honey is no exception, however, planting material is often characterized by low rooting activity. This is due to the fact that the plants were bred with serious errors or were not stored properly, which often leads to a deterioration in their activity and even death.

To avoid this, when purchasing, you should pay attention to seedlings that must have:

• thick leaves, with a rich green color, without any spots or other pathologies;
• at least 3-4 full pages;
• dense horn, at least 7 mm thick;
• a well-developed root system (at least 7–8 cm long), without foci of putrefaction or any other pathologies.

It is imperative to choose the right place of sale. Healthy and high-quality seedlings are almost always found in specialized stores operating under a license from professional nurseries. Homemade seedlings do not always meet varietal standards, as well as the required viability . In addition, such plants should be discarded because they are often infected with all kinds of fungi and pest larvae.

How to feed the variety

When choosing a feeding technique, you must remember that for the Medovaya variety, both complex organic and mineral types of fertilizers are important. Mineral supplements for strawberries can be purchased at a specialty store. Honey strawberries require adherence to exact proportions when applying mineral fertilizers, which are written on the package.

In order to accurately calculate the required amount of fertilizer for the Honey variety, you need to take into account the composition of the soil. If there is an excess of chemical compounds, you can burn the foliage and roots of the strawberry. If mineral fertilizers have been used for too long, then you should switch to organic fertilizers gradually. With proper selection of soil, Honey will receive more minerals from the soil. The best organic fertilizers are ash and chicken manure.

Using these tips, you can get a high-quality harvest of the popular strawberry variety.

Step-by-step planting technology

Strawberry seedlings are planted in early spring (late April) or early autumn (first half of September). Autumn planting is considered the most acceptable, since it allows you to get the first fruits next spring, while with spring planting this will take more than 1 year. Strawberries are planted according to the standard pattern. To do this you need:

• carefully level the previously dug area and remove all pollutants, weed residues, etc. from the soil;
• mark parallel rows on the soil, with row spacing of about 50 cm;
• in each row, at a distance of 30 cm, make small indentations (10x10 cm);
• place a plant in each hole, and then tightly cover its root system with soil;
• thoroughly water the plantings with settled water heated to +18...+20°C.

Reproduction

The Honey Summer variety can be propagated by seeds, tendrils, and dividing bushes. When planting seeds, you must keep in mind that sprouts sprout somewhere in the 45-60th day. Planting takes place in January-February. It is better to plant the seeds in prepared soil (humus and sand in a ratio of 5 to 3). In this case, the soil must be moistened and covered with polyethylene to prevent water evaporation. When the seedlings germinate, the film is removed. When the first leaves appear, the strawberries are picked into separate containers.

When plants are propagated by dividing the bush, they select the most fruitful bush, 2-3 years old, without diseases and pests, with a powerful crown. Divide the bush into separate horns so that each has a powerful root system.

The easiest way to reproduce is to use a mustache. The first and second order tendrils are separated from the mother plant and planted in a permanent place in late July - early August. Before winter, the seedlings will take root, develop and bear fruit abundantly the next season.

Features of care

Like any fruit crop, honey strawberries require appropriate care for good growth and long-term fruiting. The procedure provides for a special regime of watering and fertilizing, soil treatment and preventive spraying with protective equipment. This allows you to create a favorable microclimate that stimulates the productivity of the beds.

Video: How to properly care for strawberries in spring, summer and autumn

Watering, loosening

Periodic moistening of the beds is the key to a high-quality strawberry harvest. Without this, the berries will acquire a less rich taste, and will also lose their juiciness and characteristic aroma.

It is best to use drip irrigation for moisturizing , calculating about 1–2 liters of liquid/bush/day. In its absence, you can use root irrigation, as well as row-spacing irrigation. In this case, the water consumption should be about 10 l/1 m², and the frequency of the procedure should be once every 3 weeks. During particularly hot periods, the number of waterings can be increased, up to 3-4 procedures per week.

Find out more about how often and correctly to water strawberries.

Loosening is considered a mandatory procedure that follows watering. It is performed 1–2 days after watering the beds, or at least once a week. This makes it possible to saturate the soil with oxygen, as well as eliminate weeds, the development of which often inhibits plant growth and the formation of berries.

Since strawberry roots are in the upper layers of the soil, loosen the soil carefully, to a depth of no more than 5–7 cm.

Top dressing

Fertilizing is carried out from the second year after planting. With qualified preparation of the site after planting, right up to wintering, the plants do not need any additional elements, so the procedure begins only in the spring.

Important! It is best to apply fertilizing immediately before watering. This will improve the effectiveness of the procedure and also activate beneficial microflora in the substrate.

Fertilize at least 3 times per season, according to the following scheme:

1. In mid-late April, plants are fed with a solution of cow manure (1:10) or nitroammophosphate (30 g/10 l of water). Fertilizing is given at the rate of 10 liters of working mixture per 1 m² of beds.
2. During the period of budding and berry formation, plants should be given additional potassium. To do this, use a solution of chicken manure (1:15) or potassium nitrate (30 g/10 l of water). The feeding consumption should be about 10 l/1 m².
3. The last feeding is carried out in late autumn, before preparing the plants for wintering. Strawberries are fertilized with a solution of nitroammophoska (30 g/10 l of water), at the rate of 10 l/1 m² of plantings.

Preventative treatment

Among gardeners, the Honey strawberry is considered a fairly resistant variety to fungi and pests, but despite this, it is necessary to carry out a number of preventive measures, which begin 2-3 weeks after planting and are carried out throughout the entire growing season.

Scheme of preventive treatments for strawberries against fungi and pests:

Preparing for cold weather

Young and adult plants are able to quite successfully withstand seasonal frosts under snow cover down to -20°C. In regions with colder winters or little snowfall, it will be necessary to prepare the bushes for the seasonal cold.

To do this, each individual bush should be mulched with sawdust, pine needles, coconut coir, seed husks, etc. In this case, the thickness of the mulch should be at least 10–15 cm. In their absence, you can use a special artificial canvas to cover the plant (spunbond). If strawberries have been grown on the site for more than one year, mature bushes can be pruned before wintering. This will make it possible to rejuvenate them, as well as enhance productivity.

We recommend reading in more detail on how to protect strawberries from frost.

Disease and pest control

If it was not possible to protect the beds from all kinds of pests and diseases, you should immediately resort to combating the problem. Neglecting the danger can lead to sudden wilting of plants and instant death of plantings in just 7–10 days.

With the development of all kinds of putrefactive foci, as well as other manifestations of fungal infections, the affected plants should be sprayed twice, with an interval of 2 weeks, with any complex fungicide based on copper-containing substances (Skor, Quadris, Amistar, etc.).

In case of insect pests, the beds should be sprayed with Actellik, Kemifos or Novaktion. This procedure is done 2 times, with an interval of 2 weeks, and in addition to the plants, the row spacing should also be sprayed.

Did you know? Strawberries are a natural aphrodisiac. Its berries contain a huge amount of zinc, which increases sexual desire and also significantly increases the likelihood of conception.

Additional landing nuances

Before planting, the area must be dug up several times and thoroughly treated to remove weeds. Next, you need to add fertilizers such as ash, humus and diluted chicken droppings to the soil. Honey strawberries also need a complex of mineral fertilizers.

Garden strawberries are considered an unpretentious plant. However, you should be especially vigilant when choosing seedlings. They must be two years old. Ideally, you should choose seedlings that are placed in separate peat pots two years old.

When planting strawberries, you need to ensure that the rosettes remain on the surface of the ground. If you overdo it with the planting depth, the plant may begin to rot from the roots. In the autumn season, you need to cut off old leaves and carry out a thorough cleaning of the beds. It is also important to remember that without additions the Honey variety can withstand frosts down to -20 degrees. If the winter turns out to be without snow, the beds should be insulated with black agrofibre mulch. It is black agrofibre that contributes to additional heat retention in the soil. If the winter is too frosty, you can insulate the plant using arcs.

Harvest and storage

Honey strawberries are harvested as the fruits ripen. This is done manually to avoid damage to the delicate berries, and each fruit must have a stalk. Neglect of these requirements contributes to a sharp decrease in the shelf life of the crop.

Store fruits in common plastic, wooden or paper containers covered with natural fabric. The optimal temperature for storing berries is within 0…+2°C. This makes it possible to maintain the freshness of the crop for 4 days after harvest. At room temperature, strawberries can be stored for no more than 24 hours.

To increase the shelf life of the crop, it is recommended to pick the fruits in their unripe phase, in which case they can be stored for up to 7–10 days. Frozen berries can be stored for about a year.

Honey strawberries are a real godsend for the household, because the plant pleases with ripe fruits for 3 weeks, and is also distinguished by a bountiful harvest. The hybrid does not require complex care, so generally accepted measures will be sufficient for its successful cultivation. In this case, special attention should be paid to fertilizing and watering strawberries, which will directly affect the quality of the harvest.

a brief description of

Advantages of the variety

• created in Russia, zoned to our conditions, including suitable for cultivation in the Urals and Siberia;
• long-term fruiting throughout the summer;
• withstands cold temperatures down to minus 20ºС only under a snow cover, and significantly lower temperatures when covered with non-woven material;
• long, large peduncles that give the bushes a decorative appearance;
• high sugar content and pronounced strawberry taste;
• berry pulp without a pronounced core and voids.

Disadvantages of the variety

• mandatory abundant watering of bushes during hot periods;
• large bushes require a large area;
• needs fertile soil and good feeding, and every three years it is necessary to change the growing area, otherwise the yields will decrease.

Subsequent care of the crop

During the growing season, Honey Summer strawberries need good care. The bushes are regularly watered, fed and the soil between them is loosened.

Water strawberries at least 2 times a week, especially during the formation of the ovary. The stream of water is directed under the plants; moisture should not get on the leaves and flowers.

To stimulate fruiting, plantings are fed with mineral complexes. Fertilizers must be applied at least 3 times:

• at the beginning of the growing season;
• during the period of flowering and ovary formation;
• after harvest to achieve a second wave.

Experienced gardeners recommend feeding Honey Summer strawberries again after harvesting the autumn berries, which increases the plant’s immunity.

Many summer residents refuse mineral fertilizers, since organic mixtures have shown the best results. Infusions of fermented grass, ash, bird droppings or mullein are often used. In addition, Honey Summer strawberries respond well to leaf feeding with a solution of ammonia, manganese, boric acid or iodine. Foliar feeding stimulates the plant’s immunity and protects it from various diseases.

Preparing for winter

You need to start preparing Honey Summer strawberries for winter from mid-August. The photo shows how to properly trim foliage from bushes after fruiting.

After which the soil between the rows is well loosened and fed with ash, a solution of mullein or bird droppings. You can use complex mineral fertilizers that are plowed into the rows.

In the fall, they continue to care for the strawberries as usual, water them, and pick off the mustache. By winter the bushes will be covered with young leaves. The last water-charging irrigation is carried out at the end of October. But if the weather is rainy, then they don’t do it. The root system has enough natural moisture for winter reserves.

Cover the Honey Summer strawberries after the night temperature drops to stable levels. The most reliable shelter for bushes is pine needles. It does not attract rodents, does not get wet and protects well from frost. But you can use straw, humus, dry leaves, compost.