Features of growing strawberries Moscow delicacy

Description of the strawberry variety Moscow delicacy

Remontant strawberry Moscow delicacy is a medium-sized hybrid. The bushes grow up to 40 cm. They take up little space due to the fact that the leaves are located close to the main stem, and the remontant nature of the Moscow Delicacy variety does not imply active root formation.

Botanical description:

• leaves – green, wide with slight pubescence;
• the stems are dense, light green, with thin petioles;
• the root system reaches 7 cm, is developed in both directions, and is symmetrical;
• inflorescences of both sexes are located under the leaf blades;
• the berries have the shape of cones with a blunt end, the average weight of the fruit reaches 60 g;
• the surface of the berries is shiny, when ripe it becomes bright red with noticeable yellow-brown seeds.

The taste of the fruit is described as moderately sweet with sourness. According to the tasting scale, it has an estimated result of 4.7 points.

History of selection

The Moscow delicacy was bred by Dutch breeders as a daylight-neutral variety. This means that strawberries do not depend on the duration of sunlight and set buds regardless of the presence of sun. At the beginning of 1999, the variety was included in the State Register of Russia under the name “Strawberry Moscow Delicacy F1”.

Characteristics of the variety

The Moscow delicacy strawberry variety is classified as remontant. This means that the variety bears fruit from June to August.

Characteristic features of the hybrid:

• bushes are located compactly;
• the fruits are large;
• ripening terms: from early to middle;
• resistant to pests and infections;
• suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground;
• can grow in one place for 5 years.

Main advantages

The fact that the hybrid belongs to day-neutral varieties indicates its ability to produce fruit in any weather.

The frost resistance of the variety is assessed as average. This means that at air temperatures below -15 °C, strawberries need additional shelter. With proper insulation, the bushes tolerate frosts down to -25 °C.

The variety exhibits tolerance to irregular watering during the adaptation period. With active fruit set and fruiting, the bushes require systematic watering. In this case, the level of soil moisture should be monitored. If there is excessive accumulation of moisture, the root system of strawberries of the Moscow Delicacy variety stops growing. Violations of the irrigation scheme after the formation of ovaries lead to a deterioration in the taste characteristics of the berries.

Soils with acidity values ​​from 5 to 6.5 pH are suitable for the variety. Before planting, the soil is saturated with organic fertilizers. Strawberries of the Moscow Delicacy variety can grow on different soils, but prefer loam in flat areas.

Flowering period, ripening time, yield

Flowering begins at the end of May. With proper care, the fruits are harvested in the first half of June. The second wave of harvest occurs in the last month of summer. The yield indicators of the second stage are 60 - 70% of the total volume. From one bush you can collect up to 1.5 kg of berries per season.

The berries have good shelf life, so the variety is recommended for cultivation on an industrial scale. Afterwards, Moscow delicacy strawberries can be stored and transported without loss.

Application area

The berries are suitable for making classic strawberry jams. They are used to create desserts, drinks and fruit salads.

For long-term storage, blast freezing and making fruit ice are suitable. The variety is suitable for preparing one-component compotes and assorted compotes.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The advantage of the variety is its resistance to diseases. With regular and moderate watering, the root system is resistant to gray rot and is not attacked by parasitic insects.

The strawberry mite poses a danger to strawberries of the Moscow delicacy variety. This is a small insect that develops on the inside of the leaf blade from deposited larvae. Optimal conditions for the life of the pest are high air humidity and increased daytime temperatures. The fight against insects begins with preventive treatments of strawberries. Before flowering begins, it is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. After harvesting the fruits, it is necessary to remove the weeds, feed the soil, and loosen it to exclude the possibility of laying strawberry mite eggs, which can overwinter along with the left strawberry bushes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The undoubted advantages of the hybrid are the taste of the berries. The strawberry aroma and unique taste have made the Moscow Delicacy berries popular among gardeners. When planning plantings, both pros and cons are taken into account.

According to experts, the Moscow Delicacy strawberry variety does not have any critical weaknesses. If the growing rules are followed, it can produce a stable harvest.

Reproduction methods

Given the low level of adaptation, the variety is propagated by division or seeds. Seeds are sown for seedlings at the end of February - the first half of March. After the appearance of the 4th true leaf, picking is carried out. By the end of spring, the seedlings are ready for planting in a permanent place of growth.

Division means the removal of rosettes from the mother plant. The division procedure is carried out after harvesting.

How and when to plant

Due to the low ability to form antennae, reproduction is slightly difficult. The seed planting method is most often used. This, of course, is a more labor-intensive process, but the result is a strong, viable plant with a guaranteed set of characteristics inherent to the variety. In addition, this drawback often makes the gardener’s work easier, because the plantings do not thicken and do not require frequent intervention.

If you are not lucky enough to buy ready-made seedlings, you can grow “Moscow delicacy” from seeds, and the information provided will tell you how to do this.

The video shows the correct planting of strawberries:

Main stages of planting:

1. The soil mixture must be prepared in advance. Garden soil must be steamed or treated with high temperature. It is preferable to use universal primers.
2. Before planting, the soil must be moistened and the seeds soaked for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Sowing is carried out in neat rows, maintaining the distance between rows and individual shoots.
4. After planting, it is necessary to cover the container with film or glass and place it in a sufficiently lit, warm place.
5. It is necessary to spray the soil periodically to prevent it from drying out.
6. After emergence, it is advisable to carry out regular ventilation. The duration and frequency are gradually increased.
7. In heavily dense plantings, thinning is carried out.
8. When three permanent leaves appear on the plants, each sprout is picked and planted in a separate container.
9. An important condition: for replanting it is necessary to use an identical quality soil composition. That is why a self-prepared soil mixture should be prepared immediately for additional use.
10. Seedlings are planted in the spring after the threat of night frosts has passed. To do this, the seedling must already have five to six permanent leaves.
11. If you plan to plant in greenhouses or tunnels, the guideline will be the air temperature in the greenhouse and the expected harvest date.
12. The plant reaches maturity and is ready to bear fruit approximately in the fourth month after planting.

And here you can find out more information about what Corona strawberries look like and what description exists about this variety.

Subsequently, the seedlings are transplanted to a new place of growth using the transshipment method. On depleted soils, it is advisable to pre-feed the soil with mineral and organic fertilizers.

It should be noted that strawberries love a slightly acidic soil composition, so the dosage and need for a particular chemical element is determined individually.

Landing rules

For strawberries, choose sunny places, on the southern sides of the garden plot. At the same time, the possibility of planting in lowlands, where morning fog accumulates, is completely excluded.

The soil is prepared several weeks before the planned plantings. It is dug up, fertilized with organic matter and ammonia.

Landing algorithm:

1. Planting of seedlings is carried out when the soil warms up to +18 °C, since lower temperatures can lead to the death of the bush, but even then it is recommended to install arcs to cover the strawberries at night.
2. It is optimal to plant seedlings at a distance of 40 - 50 cm.
3. To facilitate further care, it is better to use a two-line planting method: in two rows, with a distance between rows of 18 - 25 cm, and between ribbons - 60 - 70 cm.
4. When planting, prepare shallow holes and add a small amount of wood ash. This helps the root system adapt faster. Seedlings are selected based on their appearance. The main sign of a healthy plant is the presence of a developed root.

Schemes with a minimum distance between bushes are suitable for planting the Moscow delicacy. This is due to the low ability to form whiskers and branches.

Harvest and storage

The Moscow delicacy ripens early, i.e. the first harvest is harvested already in the first ten days of June. For transportation and storage, the berries must be picked together with the stalk. Strawberries do not ripen, being picked green, the fruits must be picked when they are already ripe, otherwise they will be sour.

The variety can be stored for about three days in a cool, dry place or 5-6 days in the refrigerator. The Moscow delicacy is loved for its large fruits and versatility in use; in addition, the berry retains its shape when frozen. To get a harvest of really large fruits, you need to take into account all the nuances of care.

Aftercare

After planting, there comes a period when strawberries need careful care:

1. Watering. For irrigation during fruit formation, daily morning watering with warm water is practiced.
2. Feeding. Before flowering begins, strawberries are fertilized with nitrogen-containing mixtures. After harvesting the first harvest, strawberries need additional fertilization with a mixture containing potassium and phosphorus. After the second wave of harvest, the soil is fertilized with organic matter.
3. Loosening. The agrotechnical technique of loosening the soil is necessary after each heavy irrigation.
4. Mulching. The Moscow delicacy grows mainly on mulched soil. This method helps retain moisture or prevent the soil from overheating. It also protects against weeds and pests. Straw, sawdust or pine needles are suitable for mulching the variety.

Diseases and pests

Strawberries can be susceptible to disease or insect attack, so crop rotation and preventive measures are important. First of all, before planting, you need to disinfect the soil in the garden bed and planting material. It is also advisable to choose varieties zoned for a specific region.

To protect the crop from disease, starting in spring, gardeners carry out preventive spraying:

• urea (600 g), copper sulfate (50 g) are diluted in 10 liters of water, spraying will also serve as a top dressing;
• Bordeaux mixture prepared at a concentration of 3%;
• iodine solution 15 drops per 10 liters of water.

If the plant is still affected by a disease or pest, then you need to know how to deal with them:

1. Against fungal diseases such as rot or spotting, apply fungicides “Skor” or “Hom” according to the instructions. For cases of the disease during the fruiting period, biological preparations are used, such as “Baktofit”, “Gamair”.

2. Against most insects such as aphids, weevils and their larvae, moths, broad-spectrum drugs are effective, for example Agravertin.

3. Slugs They are usually collected by hand, and in order to prevent them from entering the area, eggshells or nut shells are poured between the rows and between the bushes.

4. From birds The landing is protected with nets that are pulled over the supports.