Strawberry "Geneva": description of the variety, photos and reviews

Description and characteristics of the variety

A more detailed acquaintance with the description and photo of the “Geneva” strawberry variety will help gardeners grow an excellent harvest.
Therefore, let’s start with the external characteristics to imagine what the plant will look like in the garden: The bushes of the “Geneva” variety of strawberries are powerful, rather squat and spreading. Therefore, planting too close can lead to thickening of the rows and the spread of gray rot. One bush gives from 5 to 7 mustaches. This is an average for the crop, so the variety does not require their constant removal.

The leaves of "Geneva" are light green and medium in size. Peduncles are long. But the fact that they are not erect, but inclined towards the soil, leads to a low position of the berries. When planting Geneva strawberries, care should be taken to ensure that the berries do not touch the ground.

Berries . One bush produces fruits of different sizes. “Geneva” is a large-fruited variety; one berry in the first wave of fruiting reaches a weight of more than 50 g. Gardeners note the main disadvantage of the variety is the tendency of the berries to become smaller during the growing season. Late harvesting is different in that the strawberries become almost 2 times smaller. But the aroma is so persistent and rich that the place where the strawberries are planted can be determined from afar. The shape of the fruit resembles a truncated red cone. The pulp is aromatic, juicy, sweet taste. According to the description of the variety, the fruits of the Geneva strawberries do not have an acidic taste, but they cannot be called cloyingly sweet either. Gardeners note a very pleasant, memorable taste.

Now let's move on to those characteristics that most attract strawberry lovers.

Fruiting. According to the description, the “Geneva” strawberry belongs to the remontant varieties, and reviews from gardeners indicate the stability of fruiting even under unfavorable conditions. But the variety has some peculiarity.

The Geneva crop is harvested for the first time in the first ten days of June. Then the bushes of the variety undergo a short-term rest for 2.5 weeks. At this time, the strawberry throws out its mustache, and re-blooming begins.

Now the berries are harvested in early July, and the plants form and root rosettes on their tendrils. After the formation of the 7th leaf, these rosettes begin to flower, which ensures further uninterrupted fruiting until frost. This is the peculiarity of the remontant variety “Geneva”, which bears fruit on young plants, and not just on mother ones. If the variety is grown in a bad year, when there are few sunny days and it rains often, then “Geneva” still produces a good harvest due to internal reserves.

Resistance to diseases and pests. Genetically, the variety was bred so that the main fungal and viral infections are not capable of causing significant harm to Geneva. Spider mite infestations are also not dangerous for plantings

It is necessary to pay attention to the prevention of gray rot. This disease affects Geneva strawberries when agricultural technology requirements are violated.

Life cycle . Strawberries of the "Geneva" variety "age" much earlier than ordinary varieties. According to reviews from gardeners, the strawberry variety “Geneva” has this feature. For a maximum of three years you can hope for a high harvest, and then the yield drops, making further cultivation of old bushes unprofitable.

Strawberries "Geneva" - an excellent remontant variety for the garden

Not a single gardener has a question about whether to plant strawberries on his plot. The answer is obvious: of course, plant! You just need to choose the appropriate variety, which has high requirements. In the description, it should have large berries, high yield, ease of care, and repeated fruiting. Therefore, gardeners most often give preference to remontant varieties, such as “Geneva”. You can read a lot of positive reviews about this strawberry. And her photos whet the appetite of all those with a sweet tooth and not only that.

Advantages and disadvantages of remontant varieties

Remontant varieties are varieties of strawberries that are capable of blooming and bearing fruit many times during one growing season. Those who planted them on their plot can harvest several harvests of sweet berries per season. These varieties have a number of advantages:

• high productivity;
• large berries;
• compactness of bushes;
• decorativeness of plants;
• possibility of reproduction, both by mustache and seeds.

But remontant varieties also have their disadvantages:

• low frost resistance;
• demanding care;
• high demands for watering and fertilizing.

Berry variety Geneva
Nevertheless, these shortcomings do not scare away gardeners. After all, the reward for your efforts will be a magnificent harvest.

Most often, large-fruited strawberries, such as the “Geneva” variety, are planted in garden plots. But small-fruited remontant berries also have a big advantage - continuous fruiting throughout the season.

Attention! Remontant strawberries will perform best in the second year after planting. After 2 years, the yield will be smaller, as will the size of the berries.

Description of the variety "Geneva"

The “Geneva” variety is one of the brightest representatives of remontant strawberries with all its advantages. It was bred a little over 20 years ago in the USA, and around the same time it came to Russian gardeners.

Bushes of the "Geneva" variety are of medium height, but quite spreading. They should not be planted too close because this increases the risk of gray mold. The leaves on the bushes are medium, light green. The number of tendrils is small - up to 7 pieces per plant.

"Geneva" can simultaneously produce berries of different sizes. They are mostly large - about 50 g. The fruits have the shape of a truncated cone. The surface of the strawberry is shiny and ribbed, red in color. The pulp is also red, very juicy and aromatic. The taste of the berry is sweet, but not cloying, without sourness.

Advice. The "Geneva" variety is demanding on irrigation. The more thoroughly and regularly you water, the faster the berries will set and ripen. Also, the beds with these strawberries should be carefully weeded and mulched with fresh dill branches.

"Geneva" produces its first harvest in early summer. Already 2 weeks after picking, new berries begin to form. Unlike many other remontant strawberry varieties, “Geneva” does not bear fruit well for 2 years, but produces large fruits in large quantities within 5-6 years after planting.

Strawberry bushes

Growing Geneva strawberries from seeds

The strawberry variety "Geneva" can be propagated both with the help of mustaches and seeds. Moreover, the second method is more complicated, so it is worth considering its main aspects.

1. You should start preparing strawberry seeds for planting from January to March.
2. First, you should place the seeds in the cold for a month. The top shelf of the refrigerator is perfect for this.
3. Another option is to sow the seeds in a container and place them outside under the snow for a month. But this method is only suitable for snowy winters.
4. After this, the container with the seedlings should be taken home and covered with film. After 2-3 weeks, the first shoots will appear.
5. When each sprout has 3 full-fledged leaves, the seedlings can be plucked.
6. Seedlings are moved to open ground in late spring - early summer.

“Geneva” is a variety that performs well in the beds of domestic gardeners. With a little effort, the gardener gets an excellent harvest of sweet and large berries.

How to plant strawberries: video

Characteristics of the variety

A more detailed description and photo of the Geneva strawberry variety will help provide the right conditions for the crop and produce the expected result.

Main advantages

Remontant varieties perform better in the second year after planting: maximum fruiting and berry size. Already in the third year, the yield decreases noticeably. Strawberries Geneva pleases with a decent harvest for 5-6 years.

The main positive aspects of the variety:

1. If the current year is accompanied by unfavorable weather conditions, then strawberries, as a rule, bear fruit poorly. However, the Geneva variety is an exception. Even when there are few sunny days and it often rains, the bushes are strewn with sweet berries. This plant draws its strength from internal reserves.
2. A characteristic feature of the berry crop is its rich, strawberry aroma. Moreover, the smell is so strong that it can be smelled tens of meters from the landing site.

Flowering period, ripening period, yield

The Geneva strawberry variety bears fruit in stages. This is what distinguishes it from other remontant varieties. The berry crop blooms in May. The first harvest is harvested in early June. Afterwards the plant rests for about 15-20 days and produces mustaches. Re-blooming occurs. At the end of the first month of summer, the bushes are covered with white inflorescences for the second time. The berries ripen in early July. Then the bushes are formed and the mustache is rooted. When the 7th leaf appears on the young rosettes, the plant blooms. This ensures berry picking until frost.

Application area

The Geneva strawberry variety has proven itself well in cooking. The berries are used to prepare all kinds of desserts, compotes, juices, and purees. Strawberries are canned and made into preserves and jams. The fruit contains a small amount of liquid, which allows it to be better preserved when frozen and keep its shape after defrosting.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Strawberry Geneva is a genetically resistant variety. He is not afraid of fungal and viral diseases. The berries are not afraid of spider mite invasion. Only sulfur rot can harm them. This disease occurs as a result of failure to comply with basic care rules.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

When looking at photos of Geneva strawberries, a desire arises to purchase this variety. However, there is no need to rush; you need to decide on the positive and negative qualities of the berry crop.

• productivity;
• long fruiting;
• large fruit size;
• possibility of transportation;
• marketable condition;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• simple breeding process.

Disadvantages of the Geneva variety:

• low degree of frost resistance;
• demanding care;
• rapid aging of bushes.

Reproduction methods

Strawberries of the Geneva variety are bred using tendrils or seeds. The latter method involves processing the planting material, since without this the seeds do not germinate well. Strawberry seeds are wrapped in cotton cloth and placed in the refrigerator for a period of 30-40 days.

At this time, prepare a special substrate for planting seedlings. Composition: humus, river sand in proportions 5:3, respectively. This soil mixture is heated in an oven at 100 °C for 3 hours. After cooling, the seeds are sown.

The boxes with the substrate are covered with film and sent to the cold for 5 days. Afterwards they are transferred to a room with a temperature of + 22 °C. When the first shoots appear, the cover is removed. Irrigate the substrate from a spray bottle with warm water. Small seedlings of Geneva variety strawberries need additional lighting. Plant picking begins when there are 1-2 leaves. The temperature for growing strawberries is reduced to + 16 °C. When the seedlings have 5-6 leaves, it is time to transplant them into open ground.

Propagation of Geneva strawberries using whiskers is much easier. This year, the rosettes begin to actively bear fruit and throw out side shoots. They are not cut, but evenly distributed in the garden bed. Gardeners help the mustache take root:

• choose strong bushes;
• after complete rooting, separate from the mother plant;
• planted in a pre-dug and fertilized bed.

Reproduction

Geneva garden strawberries are propagated using tendrils or seeds. Rooting rosettes is not difficult to do; this method is accessible even to inexperienced gardeners. It is advisable to leave two rosettes on each antennae and remove the rest.

The seed method is more labor-intensive. In the Moscow region, seeds are sown in containers at the end of February. In the south - in early February. For successful seed germination, the substrate moisture level should be about 80%. The seed material is not deepened, but simply laid out on the surface. The container is covered with film or glass. Seed germination occurs within 35-50 days in a bright, warm place. Picking is performed at the stage of 2 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in the garden bed in May.

Strawberries and their beneficial qualities

Nutritionists say that strawberries can be consumed by everyone because of their fructose and glucose content, which are easily digestible sugars. Strawberries contain acids: citric, quinic, salicylic, malic. The berry also contains vitamin C, B1, B2, PP, carotene, iron, copper, phosphorus, calcium and many other vitamins and minerals.

Strawberries are loved all over the globe. In France they prefer April, unsweetened, which is associated with the arrival of summer. In America, strawberry festivals are held in cities - Plant City in Florida and Pasadena in Texas, also in Cyprus in the village of Derynia, in Germany in the city of Oberkirche, in Italy in Nemi, in Finland in the city of Suonenjoki, in Russia in the city of Baikalsk. Grow strawberries, experiment with new varieties. If you have chosen the Geneva strawberry variety, then with the right approach it will not disappoint you. Have a good harvest!

https://dachaotzyv.ru/klubnika-zheneva/

Selva strawberry care

We recommend reading our other articles

• Pig litter with bacteria
• Winter varieties of apple trees
• Grape press
• What are the benefits of goat milk?

With quality care, Selva strawberries will delight you with productivity. But what does it need for full fruiting:

During the first week after planting, the bushes are watered once a day so that they take root faster. They don’t spend a lot of water; systematicity is more important here, not abundance. Then watering is reduced to once every 3-4 days. If it rains regularly, watering can be stopped for a while.

With the Selva variety, excess tendrils are rarely cut off, because they can also begin to produce crops closer to the middle or end of summer, when a large rosette develops from them. Fertilizers are applied under the bushes 2-3 times during the entire growing season. In spring, it is worth adding ammonium nitrate to the soil at the rate of 10 g/10 l of water. And after flowering, make a solution of 15 g of potassium salt and 20 g of superphosphate mixed with 10 liters of water. If there are bushes on the site that are 2-3 years old, then they are fed first, since the same-year-old ones will produce a good harvest without it.

Thanks to lodging-resistant peduncles, the berries usually do not fall to the ground when ripe. But if there are a lot of them, the peduncle may fall under their load. To prevent strawberries from becoming smeared when ripe, it is advisable to lay mulch under the bushes and between the rows. It changes about once a month, sometimes more often - it depends on weather conditions. For example, if it rains constantly, the mulch will quickly rot and turn sour, so it is changed more often.

Selva strawberries are day-neutral varieties. It produces very large yields only in the first year after planting, then the yield decreases

So it is important to renew the plantings every year.

For the winter, in cold regions, strawberries are first covered with a layer of mulch (directly on top of the leaves), then a shelter is made of agrofibre, burlap, spruce branches or similar material

It is important that the strawberries are protected from the first frosts. In winter, they simply throw snow on it, which will serve as a “fur coat” from the cold

But in warm areas, minimal winter shelter is required; it is enough to simply put straw or hay on the plantation.

Important! Very often, before winter, all the leaves of strawberries are cut off. But in the case of the Selva variety, this cannot be done

It is the leaves that are the first level of protection of the roots from frost.

Characteristics of strawberries

Also check out these articles

• Summer pear varieties
• How to feed garlic in spring?
• Keeping and feeding goats at home
• Chinese cabbage

You can determine the quality of a variety by studying its characteristics. So, what is good about Geneva strawberries and what are their disadvantages?

• Fruiting is extended and stable. From year to year, strawberries delight with large harvests. At the same time, the crop ripens in waves throughout the warm season.
• Geneva strawberries produce a harvest even under unfavorable conditions.
• The variety is immune to most diseases that can cause harm to it. And yet, if growing conditions

  Berries can be transported over long distances, but only with timely harvesting from the garden and exclusively in low containers

  unfavorable, diseases can appear on the bushes.

• Frost resistance is at an average level. Bushes can withstand frosts in the middle regions of Russia without problems if they have winter shelter.
• Transportability is quite good. Berries can be transported over long distances, but only if they are harvested from the garden in a timely manner and only in low containers.

The main advantage of the variety, according to many gardeners, is that the bushes do not age as quickly as other types of strawberries. For 3 years, the bush can produce large yields, then the yield decreases, so for growing for sale, the bushes should be replaced every 3 years. But if you grow strawberries for your own needs, then you can rejuvenate the plantings once every 4-5 years.

Large-fruited strawberry “Geneva” Siberian Garden – review

Is growing strawberries from seeds an unrealistic task or is it worth trying?

In general, it’s not in my rules to write about seeds without a final result, but here, apparently, it won’t happen anymore.

I will note that everything has always grown for me; I am one of those people who are described as having a “light” hand. And this year I decided that I was already an experienced gardener and it was time for me to take on something more difficult. Shouldn’t I grow strawberries and even from seeds?)

Place of purchase: IM “First Seeds”

Price: 35 rubles

The design of the seeds is beautiful and colorful. I dare to suggest that we are overpaying about a third of the amount for this beauty.

The seeds are in a plastic bag. Very small. Promised 10 pieces, in fact there are 11 of them.

Here on the back there is super detailed information about the growing process.

Strawberry seeds are slow to germinate and it is extremely important to follow the planting regime

I previously studied the information, read reviews, read forums. Almost everyone had a positive experience of growing strawberries, but for some reason no one attached a photo.

Step 1: Preparing the soil

I used purchased, universal soil, suitable also for berry crops. There is already sand in the composition. Before planting, I baked the soil in the oven for an hour. Then she spilled it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Step 2: Planting Seeds

The seeds must be distributed on top of the moist soil; under no circumstances should they be buried in the soil. You need to put snow on top, a layer of several centimeters. Cover with cling film and place the container in the refrigerator for 5 days.

During this time, the snow melted and the soil became saturated with moisture. Now you need to put the pot with the seeds in a warm and bright place until they germinate. Carefully ensure that the soil does not dry out.

Step 3. We are waiting, sir.

So, I planted the seeds on February 24th. It’s the end of March, but things are still there. Not a single seed sprouted.

Macro view. Externally, the seeds also did not change in any way, in the sense that they did not even swell.

I read on forums that seeds take a very long time to germinate, you can even wait a month. But more than a month has passed, almost everything that I planted has long since sprouted and is thriving) It is likely that the problem is my crooked hands or the wrong soil, or maybe something was wrong with the planting, although I followed the instructions exactly.

But onions from the same manufacturer sprouted only two out of a hundred seeds, which allows me to conclude that the problem is most likely in the seeds.

I haven’t thrown out the pot of seeds yet, but you never know, a miracle will happen and I’ll still update the review, hope dies last.

I do not recommend these seeds, not even because they did not germinate. But because there is so much hassle and it’s really easier to buy ready-made seedlings, which take root much better.

Of course, I would like to boast about the harvest of a ripe dugout, but that’s not fate)

Thank you for your attention! All the best and good mood!

My other reviews about seeds:

Description of the variety

Geneva produces ripe berries in waves, with breaks of 3 weeks. The autumn harvest also forms on young rosettes rooted in summer.

Geneva's bushes are low, semi-spreading. The leaves are light green and medium in size. The peduncles are long and easily bend under the weight of the berries, so when growing Geneva, the use of mulching material is required to protect the fruits from contact with damp soil. The hair-forming ability is good (produces up to seven whiskers per season).

The size of the fruit varies greatly at different harvest periods. In the first wave of fruiting, the berries can reach a weight of 50 g and a length of 5-6 cm, then they become significantly smaller. You should not expect large fruits from bushes older than 2-3 years. The last autumn berries will weigh no more than 20 g. The shape of the bright red fruits looks like a truncated cone. The sweet taste and bright strawberry aroma characteristic of the variety remain unchanged throughout the season.

On forums, gardeners say that a Geneva strawberry patch can be found by its persistent strawberry aroma

Productivity

Geneva strawberries produce a stable harvest for the first two years, then the plantations are renewed. From each bush of a young bed, taking into account the harvest from young rosettes, you can collect up to 1 kg. delicious strawberries.

If you sacrifice spring flower stalks, the second harvest will increase significantly. Gardeners who have additional non-repairing early ripening varieties growing on their plots resort to this technique.

Strawberry Geneva

The Geneva variety was bred in America and was brought to Russia in the late 80s. This variety is distinguished by abundant fruiting and, regardless of this, they do not lose their quality for several years.

Description of the variety

The bushes are spreading, squat, medium-sized. No more than 7 mustaches are formed on each bush. The peduncle does not rise and, lying down, carries the berries outside the bush in different directions. The variety is distinguished by its growth intensity.

At the first harvest, the weight of the fruit reaches 50 grams. The shape of the fruit is truncated-conical, ribbed. The surface of the berries is bright red or cherry, glossy. The pulp has a pleasant sweet taste, slightly sour, juicy, dense, red, with a unique aroma, which, when fruiting, spreads beyond the area with the berries.

Transportability of berries is at a high level. The appearance does not suffer when transporting fruits.

The variety produces a bountiful harvest from early summer until autumn frosts. The first harvest is harvested in early June. The second is from July to the end of October.

If the autumn is warm, the harvest may extend into winter. After the first harvest is harvested, the bushes are covered with new flowers.

The rest period in Geneva takes 2 – 2.5 weeks. Unrooted young rosettes with seven leaves form the first flower stalks.

Rainy and cloudy weather does not affect the yield of the variety. Geneva compensates for the volume of berries in the summer-autumn period.

The bushes should grow without touching each other. Thickening of plantings leads to excess dampness and the appearance of gray rot. Geneva is not afraid of other diseases of viral or fungal origin. The variety is not afraid of spider mites.

Features of propagation and planting

The variety is propagated by seeds and tendrils

Seeds of this variety germinate rather poorly without special treatment. To get good shoots, they need to be placed in cotton cloth and put in the refrigerator for a month. For the soil mixture, take 5 parts of rotted humus and 3 parts of river sand. The mixture is stirred and calcined in the oven for 3 - 4 hours at a temperature of 100 degrees.

The seeds are sown. When sowing in open ground, the time for this stretches from the end of January to the beginning of March. When sowing in a box or pot, the best time is January. Street plantings are covered with a thick layer of snow or two layers of film. The box or pots are covered with film. The box with seeds is placed in a cold place for 5 days, then placed in a room with an optimal temperature of 22 degrees. The soil is irrigated with a spray bottle.

Planting seedlings in open ground

There are two planting dates for Geneva strawberries, which, according to gardeners, are the most favorable. In the spring, the event is scheduled for mid-May or a little later, and in the fall - mid-August and until the end of September. The best place to locate strawberry beds is considered to be an area where legumes, parsley, garlic, radishes or mustard were grown. But nightshades, raspberries or cabbage are not very successful predecessors for “Geneva”

It is important to choose a sunny and level place for the variety to prevent moisture stagnation on the ridges. Strawberry "Geneva" prefers loam or sandy loam with a neutral (possibly slightly acidic) reaction

But the crop does not like peaty or soddy-podzolic soil. In this case, measures will have to be taken to improve the structure. Prepare the soil in advance. For spring planting of seedlings, preparatory work begins in the fall, for autumn - in the spring:

1. The earth is dug up with a pitchfork, simultaneously clearing of weeds, debris and other plant debris.
2. When digging 1 sq. m add compost, humus or manure (1 bucket), wood ash (5 kg).
3. A month before the planned planting date, add 1 tbsp to the soil. spoon of Kalifos product per 1 sq. m area.

The process of planting Geneva at different times of the year is absolutely identical.

If we take into account the description of the variety and reviews of gardeners about the Geneva strawberry, then it is better to plant remontant varieties in late summer or autumn. In this case, the seedlings have time to take root before the onset of winter. Pests and diseases also become less active at this time of year, which helps preserve the viability of young plants.

There are two ways to plant strawberries:

• private (25 cm x 70 cm);
• carpet (20 cm x 20 cm).

Planting is easier for plants if it occurs on a cloudy day. Place 1-2 seedlings in one hole and make sure that the roots do not bend upward and the heart is above ground level. The soil is compacted and the strawberries are watered.

Planting seedlings in open ground

We recommend reading our other articles

• Fodder beet
• Early peach varieties
• Description of Saanen goats
• When to plant marigold seedlings in 2022

Geneva strawberries can be planted in spring (mid-May) or autumn (late August to late September). The place is chosen to be sunny, not darkened. The area must be level, clean, and fertilized. Geneva strawberries grow well on sandy loam or loam with neutral acidity.

The place for planting is sunny, not darkened.

Before planting, the ground must be cleared of weeds and then dug up, adding a bucket of humus and 500 g of wood ash to each square of planting. When planting in rows, the pattern is 25x70 cm; when planting in a checkerboard pattern, it is 20x20 cm. Holes are dug for the seedlings. Strawberries are placed in them, the roots need to be straightened so that they do not bend. After this, you can cover the roots with soil, compacting it with your hand so that voids do not form. Upon completion of planting, you need to water the beds and leave the strawberries for about 1 week to take root.

Important! Geneva strawberry bushes need to be planted at a considerable distance from each other, as they grow in volume. If you spare space on the site, on the plantation, during extreme heat, gray rot will begin to develop due to poor ventilation.

Beardless varieties of remontant strawberries and their features

We recommend reading our other articles

• Currant varieties for Siberia
• The best varieties of pink tomatoes
• Sterilizing jars in the oven
• Mulard duck breed

Small-fruited remontant strawberry varieties do not form tendrils. Their main advantage is that they bear fruit almost continuously until the onset of frost.

"Rügen" - blooms very early and begins to bear fruit early. The berries are bright red, conical. The taste is very sweet, the aroma is very pronounced. This is a dessert variety.

Rügen, Ali Baba, Forest Tale

• "Ali Baba" has semi-spreading bushes up to 15 cm in height. The berries are conical, red with white flesh. Weighs 3-5 g. The aroma is reminiscent of wild berries. The variety is high-yielding. There is resistance to diseases and pests. Not afraid of cold winters.
• "Alexandri" not only has tasty fruits, but also a decorative appearance, so it is often used to decorate plots, balconies, and flower beds. Berries 7 g, very tasty, sweet, with a rich aroma. This variety is easy to care for and produces large yields.
• “Forest Fairy Tale” produces small, neat bushes with an abundance of flower stalks. Continuous flowering. Berries up to 5 g, red, conical, sweet and sour. The variety is productive.
• "Ruyana" is distinguished by compact bushes. Fruits in May. The berries are relatively large, juicy with a bright strawberry aroma. The variety is resistant to drought, frost, and disease.

Description of berries

The fruits of "Geneva" are not uniform in size and are prone to shredding during the growing season. The berries of the first wave of the harvest are large, weighing 50-60 g; late strawberries weigh half as much as early ones.

The shape of the berries is conical, the color is bright cherry. The pulp of the fruit is rich red, juicy, dense, but not crispy, sweet with a slight sourness.

A characteristic feature of “Geneva” is the magnificent aroma emitted by its berries, and this smell is so strong that in dry, hot weather it can be felt tens of meters from the strawberry plot.

After 2-3 years of cultivation, the yield decreases significantly

a brief description of

Many gardeners have gotten used to the Geneva variety and are in no hurry to part with it.

Advantages of the variety

• high productivity;
• very tasty fruits;
• persistent rich aroma;
• long fruiting period; immunity to disease;
• ease of care;
• easy reproduction.

Disadvantages of the variety

• decreased productivity in the third year; the berries become smaller towards the end of the season;
• poor resistance to low temperatures;
• does not tolerate prolonged absence of moisture.

To avoid these disadvantages, it is recommended to grow Geneva strawberries under cover, where it is easier to maintain an optimal level of humidity and protect the first flower stalks from return frosts.

In spring, planting in open ground is carried out in May to avoid freezing of young seedlings from return frosts. In autumn, the best time for planting is September. If you managed to root the mustache at the beginning of summer, then the optimal time for planting it in a permanent place is the end of July. The bushes will have time to develop and lay flower buds before frost.

The ideal site for growing Geneva strawberries is a sunny place where dill, carrots, parsley, garlic, dill, mustard, beans, and lentils were previously grown. It is not recommended to plant strawberries after nightshade and pumpkin plants or next to them, as there is a risk of contracting common infections.

The best soil will be light loam with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (optimally 5.2-5.5 pH). If the soil is acidified, add lime and dolomite flour (500 g/m2).

The earth is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel, well-rotted compost, humus (9 kg), and ash (200 g) are added per 1 m2. If necessary, the soil is disinfected with potassium permanganate or fungicides. You can apply mineral fertilizers: 1 tablespoon of double superphosphate and ½ teaspoon of any potash fertilizer without chlorine per linear meter of row.

The planting pattern may be different:

• ribbons (20 cm x 70 cm);
• carpet (30 cm x 30 cm).

When planting, it is necessary to ensure that the roots do not bend upward, the heart does not go deep, and remains at ground level. The bush is watered, the bed is compacted and mulched.

Features of agricultural technology

Since the young rosettes of “Geneva”, formed on the tendrils of the current season, begin to actively bear fruit already in the year of their appearance, the lateral shoots thrown out by the bushes are not cut off (like all non-remontant varieties), but on the contrary, they are evenly distributed on the ridges and help them take root .

In the case when strawberries of this variety are propagated by seeds, to obtain seedlings, the seed material is sown in a sandy-humus substrate no later than the beginning of February.

Attention! The seeds of “Geneva” germinate very “tightly”, and the sprouts hatch unevenly - the first of them appear 35-40 days after sowing, the last ones - on 58-60 days.

The first harvest of Geneva strawberries is the largest

In general, growing Geneva strawberries does not cause much trouble for gardeners. With proper implementation of standard agrotechnical procedures, plants of this variety can produce a decent harvest of tasty and incredibly fragrant berries.

Diseases and pests of Selva

The strawberry variety Selva is resistant to many diseases. Selva does not suffer from gray rot or spotting, so if the plant has enough of all the elements, the bushes will be green throughout the entire growing season. If any disease does appear, you can use fungicides such as Kuproksat, Topaz, Bayleton to combat it.

If pests have infested a plantation, they cannot be dealt with without strong insecticides

Pests can appear on the bush, but the bushes also have immunity to their attacks. They endure damage for a long time until the pest is destroyed. The ones to be most wary of are the strawberry mite, nematode, raspberry-strawberry weevil and nettle leaf weevil.

As soon as these pests are noticed on strawberries, you need to immediately start fighting them. Treatment is carried out at the initial stage using folk remedies. An infusion of garlic, wormwood, onion peel, treatment with a solution of whey and wood ash help a lot. But if pests have infested the plantation, they cannot be dealt with without strong insecticides. In this case, use: “Fitoverm”, “Apollo”, “Karbofos”, “Metaldehyde”.

Disease and pest control measures

Strawberries of the Geneva variety are characterized by resistance to most diseases. The only disease that occurs due to violations of agricultural practices is gray rot. This disease, unfortunately, cannot be cured. Insects that can harm the crop are nematodes and earthen mites.

Preventive actions:

• treatment with a 1% mixture of colloidal sulfur and Bordeaux mixture, taken in equal proportions;
• "Fitosporin".

Attention! Spraying is carried out exclusively on shoots. The soil under the bushes should not be sprayed.

Growing and care

Growing Geneva is easy, but you will have to make sure that the plant does not suffer from drought and is well covered for the winter.

Geneva needs regular watering from spring until late autumn, when the last berry falls into the basket. Breaks are made only during the rainy season. Between waterings, the soil crust should have time to dry out, so you can be sure that the plant will not get root rot. The root system of strawberries is superficial, the bulk of the roots are located at a depth of 12-15 cm, so in dry, hot weather, watering is required every 2-3 days.

The best way to water strawberry plantations is a drip irrigation system.

Loosening, weed control

Regular shallow loosening of the soil crust is carried out carefully so as not to touch the roots (no deeper than 3-4 cm). The crust is broken so that it does not interfere with air circulation and the flow of water to the roots.

The garden bed is promptly cleared of all weeds that carry infections, block access to the strawberries from the sun's rays, and take away nutrients from the cultivated plant.

Removing a mustache

One bush of Geneva garden strawberry produces 5-7 mustaches per season. When planting on agrofibre, it is better to remove them immediately so that they do not take away nutrients from the mother bush. If the mustache can be rooted immediately, then leave it, and in the fall it will produce a harvest.

The remontant variety Geneva is fed several times a season:

• in early spring, add 40 g of ammonium nitrate for each linear meter of planting; from organic matter, you can use mullein (1:10), bird droppings (1:20);
• during the period of ovary formation, the bushes are sprayed with nitrophoska (30 g per 10 liters of water), which contains the required amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus; the bushes will respond well to leaf treatment with any complex fertilizer (10-15 g per 10 liters of water) ;
• in August, watering is combined with fertilizing with wood ash (100 g per 10 liters), you can independently make a complex of urea, superphosphate, potassium salt (10, 15, 20 g, respectively, per m2 of planting)

Fans of organic farming successfully feed strawberries several times a season with a three-day infusion of nettles. To do this, fill 2/3 of the container with nettle tops (possibly with roots), fill with water and cover with a lid. Place in a warm place. After 3 days, fermentation will begin and a characteristic organic smell will appear. To prepare a working solution, nettle infusion is diluted 1:10. 1 liter of fertilizer is poured onto each bush.

Pest and disease control

Most berry infections are not capable of causing much harm to Geneva. If agricultural practices are violated, gray rot may affect strawberries. It is necessary to ensure that the plantings are not thickened or overgrown with weeds, and during periods of prolonged rain, provide the bed with drainage and place pieces of boards under the berries.

The causative agents of the main diseases of berry crops are spread by nematodes and mites. Spring spraying of plants with a 1% solution of sulfur and Bordeaux mixture or the biological preparation Fitosporin will help prevent their appearance. If we consider chemical preparations, then before flowering begins, preventive treatment with Actellik will help against mites and weevils, which is repeated after the end of fruiting. The drug Horus has proven itself to be effective against diseases in strawberries.

Among the biological preparations for strawberry and spider mites, the drug Fitoverm or its Ukrainian analogue, Aktofit, will help. This drug can be used on berries, consuming them within 2-3 days after treatment

Aftercare

In order for the berry crop to actively grow and fully develop, the gardener must:

• regularly inspect the strawberry beds;
• remove weeds;
• loosen the soil after watering and rains;
• carry out mulching.

In addition, watering is an integral care procedure. For the first 10 days after planting, it is necessary to moisten the soil daily. Then it will be enough to irrigate the strawberries once a week. If it is very hot outside, then the frequency of water procedures is increased to 1 time every 3-4 days.

In order for Geneva strawberries to be healthy and produce a good harvest, they need to be fed. Complex mineral preparations or organic fertilizers are suitable for this purpose. Often a solution of mullein or bird droppings is used for nutrition in proportions of 1:10 and 1:20, respectively.

Planting density should be controlled. The bushes should not touch, otherwise, in the absence of air exchange and sunlight, Geneva strawberries will develop gray rot.

Attention! Stagnation of liquid in the area leads to the death of the plant.

Preparing for winter

In winter, to prevent freezing, the vegetative part is cut off with pruning shears, and the strawberry beds are covered with straw. In regions with cold climates, they practice growing Geneva strawberries in greenhouses and greenhouses, which makes it possible to harvest a full harvest from the second wave of fruiting.