Strawberry Alexandrina remontant beardless: reviews, photos, characteristics and description of the variety, yield, advantages and disadvantages

Description and characteristics of the variety

Many people call the Alexandrina strawberry variety small-fruited strawberry. It has been grown by many Russian gardeners for more than 25 years. The variety was created in the 90s at the Siberian Horticulture Research Institute named after. Lisavenko. However, it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation only in 2009. At the same time, strawberries began to be grown en masse in the West Siberian region.

• Strawberry Alexandrina is a remontant variety. It blooms repeatedly and produces berries throughout the season. Remontant strawberries, unlike garden varieties, already bear fruit from May 15-20 until late autumn and the first frost.
• Mid-late ripening period.
• The bushes grow up to 20 cm in height and do not form mustaches.
• The leaves are bright green with slightly jagged edges.
• The inflorescences are semi-spreading, consisting of approximately 6 flowers with small rounded white petals.
• Productivity is high. During the season, the variety bears fruit several times. With proper agricultural technology, 1 bush can produce approximately 0.5 kg, that is, 0.8-1.2 kg per 1 sq. m.
• Reproduction is possible only with the help of seeds.
• Resistant to temperature changes.
• Suitable for cultivation in many regions of Russia.

History of growing the variety

To avoid terminological confusion, it is worth making a reservation right away - the berry that is popularly called strawberry is actually garden strawberry. True strawberries, although aromatic and sweet, are much smaller in size and are rare. At least not in the limited space of summer cottages, where there is a battle for every piece of land. It differs from garden strawberries in the shape of the berries, aroma, color and texture of the leaves. Garden strawberries are presented on the plots in a wide variety of shapes and colors. The Alexandria strawberry variety has been known for more than half a century. It was introduced by the Park Seed Company in 1964.

Growing Alexandrina strawberries from seeds

The main stages of growing high-quality strawberry seedlings of the Alexandrina variety from seeds:

• soaking seed;
• stratification;
• sowing in the ground;
• watering and ventilating seedlings;
• picking;
• hardening;
• transplanting into the ground.

Sowing seeds

For those who want to plant Alexandrina strawberries, growing from seeds is the best way. This is a beardless variety, so classic propagation using rosettes does not work here.

Seedlings are usually planted at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. Take the seeds and soak them for a few days. Some gardeners recommend using snow or rain water for this, which is much softer than tap water. Spread the soaked seeds in an even layer onto a substrate consisting of:

• turf (2 parts);
• peat (1 part);
• sand (1 part).

Heat the prepared substrate in the oven to remove harmful microorganisms and insect eggs.

Seed stratification

After pouring the seeds onto the substrate, place the container in the refrigerator for several days for stratification. Then cover with glass, cling film or a transparent plastic bag, and place in a bright and warm place for germination.

Do not place seedlings in direct sunlight! This will prevent the seedlings from growing.

Caring for strawberry seedlings

To ensure that the seedlings feel good, promptly remove accumulating condensation from the covering glass and water the substrate with clean water at room temperature. Use a pipette or spray bottle to avoid overwatering. Don't forget that the seedlings need to be ventilated!

When several leaves (3-4 pieces) appear on the sprouts, pick up the seedlings. Since the bushes are still small, use a wooden toothpick or any other thin object.

Be careful - strawberry sprouts are very fragile at this moment and can be easily damaged!

During a dive, some bushes may die. After replanting, water the plants so as to prevent drying out or waterlogging. During this period, harden the seedlings - place them in lower temperatures, in drafts, and so on. This is done so that when transplanted into open ground, the pampered strawberries do not die.

Care for the seedlings correctly, and then by the time they are transplanted into the garden, your bushes will be strong and healthy.

Growing and care

Caring for Alexandria strawberries is standard and consists of watering, fertilizing, loosening and harvesting.

Watering

Newly planted bushes are watered daily for the first 7-10 days. In dry, hot weather, adult plants are watered every 3-4 days, preferably with water heated in the sun. A bucket of water is used for 10-12 plants. Too high humidity is undesirable. It is optimal to use a drip irrigation system.

Loosening, weed control

If there is no mulching material on the beds, the row spacing is systematically loosened and weeds are removed. These measures provide easy air access to the root system and retain moisture. During the fruiting period, loosening is suspended.

A good technological solution for growing strawberries is to plant them on black agrofibre. The material allows air and water to pass through, but does not allow weeds to develop and retains water in the soil.

The Alexandria strawberry variety does not produce mustaches. The gardener will not have to monitor their removal.

Feeding

The Alexandria variety can be fed with organic matter or purchased ready-made fertilizers. Cow or horse manure is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. Bird droppings can easily burn a plant. It is diluted 1:20.

Fertilizing is carried out before each new wave of fruiting. Effective fertilizers are Vostok EM1, Baikal EM1, BakSib R. Complex formulations Kemira and Kristalon have been developed especially for berry growers. Use them according to the instructions. Instead of mineral fertilizers, you can use organic matter: dilute 8 kg. rotted manure and 200-250 g of ash per 10 liters. water, mix the mixture thoroughly and add about a glass to each bush, after diluting it with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Fertilizing of remontant strawberries is necessary so that it regains its strength during the period of long fruiting.

Pest and disease control

Strawberry Alexandria is resistant to fungal diseases. If necessary, treat with fungicides after harvesting the berries. Treating the plant and soil around with 1-2% Bordeaux mixture will protect against many troubles.

Birds do a lot of damage to strawberries. To distract them from the plant, dummies are placed along the beds - large red balls. After pecking at the “tasteless” berries a couple of times, the birds leave the plantation alone. Gardeners practice stretching mesh fabric over their beds. You can leave several “flags” around the garden bed. Flapping in the breeze, they will scare away birds.

Preparing for winter

In autumn, carefully remove reddened old leaves. Sick bushes are uprooted.

The variety has good frost resistance. In areas with snowless winters, strawberries are covered with a thick layer of straw to protect against the onset of cold weather. As an option, you can install low arcs and stretch thick agrofibre. It is not advisable to use film to cover strawberries. It prevents the penetration of air, and on thaw days the bushes may disappear.

Reproduction

Propagation of the Alexandria strawberry variety is possible in two ways:

• Divide the overgrown adult plants into several seedlings. For division, use a sharp knife or pruning shears. If the roots are completely lignified and no young roots have been produced, then the bush is already very old. It is advisable to choose plants no older than 3-4 years for propagation.
• Most often, Alexandria strawberries are grown from seeds. You can cut off a layer of skin from a ripe fruit, dry it and grind it. As a result, seeds will remain on your hands. An easy way to separate the seeds is to stir the berries in a jar of water and wait until the pulp rises and the seeds settle. In a heated greenhouse, seeds can be sown at any time of the year after they have gone through the stratification procedure. To do this, the seeds, scattered on a wet cloth (napkin) and rolled into a tube, are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. At home, planting is done in February. Seedlings sown in containers are pruned when 2 large leaves appear. Before being planted in a permanent place, the bushes are taken out into the cold several times so that they can adapt more easily.

In the southern regions, it is advisable to sow seeds directly into the garden bed. Planting is carried out from March to May. When the bushes produce true leaves, the plantation is thinned out. Excess bushes can be planted in another place.

Garden strawberry "Alexandrina"

The variety was created at the Siberian Horticulture Research Institute named after. Lisavenko back in the 90s. In 2009, Alexandrina strawberries were included in the State Register with permission for the West Siberian region. The originator is the same research institute/

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Characteristics

Description

Strawberry "Alexandrina" forms tall, semi-spreading, densely leafy plants. The leaves are large, rich green in color, with clearly visible veins and a medium-wrinkled surface. Many leaves are bent along the central vein, and this is clearly visible. The teeth of the leaves are wide, slightly convex. The middle leaf has a rounded shape. The leaf petiole is medium-sized, slightly pubescent, the hairs are pressed to the petiole.

The inflorescences of “Alexandrina” are semi-spreading, with an average of 6.5 flowers per inflorescence. The flowers are medium-sized, untwisted, with white petals.

The berries are round in shape, without a neck. Fully ripe berries are dark red in color, overripe ones are cherry. The weight of the fruits of the first harvest is up to 20 grams, the second and third – up to 10 grams. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, good, the tasting score is above 4.0 points, but the register does not say how much higher. Berries contain:

• sugar – 7.4%;
• acids – 0.8%;
• vitamin C – 65 mg/%.

The berries are suitable for fresh consumption, freezing and cooking.

Planting and care

The strawberry variety “Alexandrina” is zoned for only one region of Russia – West Siberian. It is distinguished by relatively high frost resistance, but in other characteristics it is inferior to most modern varieties.

Since the plants are relatively tall and spreading, the strawberry planting pattern should be quite sparse. It would be reasonable to plant plants according to a pattern of 90...100 x 15...20 cm, and subsequently form a second row from the tendrils. In this case, there will be enough space for the plants, and the row spacing will allow you to work in the plantings with relative comfort.

The variety is medium late, and this is a big plus, because late flowering reduces the risk of crop loss due to frost. But there is nothing to reduce: according to the results of variety testing, it is already 0.8...1.2 kg/m2, which is quite modest. Of course, experienced gardeners will be able to get significantly more, but in general “Alexandrina” is not a record holder.

The variety is moderately resistant to drought and disease.

Advantages

• suitability for cultivation in regions with cold winters;
• resistance to freezing;
• tall peduncles;

Flaws

• modest yield;
• insufficiently high disease resistance;
• average drought resistance;
• good but not great taste.

In general, “Alexandrina” is a good variety for regions with cold climates, but that’s all. In the middle zone you can grow much more productive varieties and hybrids.

Reviews

There are no reviews at all about the Alexandrina strawberries.

Landing

Planting dates for Alexandria are standard for remontant varieties. It is best to plant in the spring, as soon as the seedlings sown in containers in February-March have grown. The location is chosen in partial shade; the variety does not like direct sunlight. However, you shouldn’t plant it completely in the shade; if there is a lack of light, the berries will not pick up enough sugar. It has been noticed that the aroma of strawberries grown in the sun is brighter than those from bushes that grew in the shade. The soil must be enriched with a bucket of humus mixed with a glass of ash (per 1 m2).

It is optimal to make a strawberry bed in two lines, leaving an interval of 25-30 cm between the bushes, 0.5 m between the tapes. The holes must be immediately shed with water to shrink the soil. It is advisable to carefully cut off the first burst of flower stalks so that the seedlings spend energy only on rooting.

If you plan to grow Alexandria on the balcony, you will need containers of at least 12 cm in diameter. Be sure to arrange a drainage layer of about 3-4 cm made of expanded clay. It is necessary to provide a tray to drain excess water. Flowering strawberries are pollinated by hand with a brush.

Cultivation time for Alexandria in one place: 3-4 years.

In many characteristics, Alexandria strawberries are similar to another popular variety - Baron Solemacher

Advantages and disadvantages

The Alexandra variety has many advantages:

• Fruits several times per season.
• Retains its shape when cooked.
• Great taste.
• Keeps well on the bush.
• Resistant to low temperatures.
• Is immune to diseases and pests.
• Beautiful bright leaves, due to which the crop is also used for decorative purposes.

Despite all the advantages, this variety also has disadvantages:

• It does not form a mustache, so the remontant Alexandrina strawberry can only be grown from seeds or by dividing the bush.
• Does not like dry soil.
• In rare cases, it may be susceptible to fungal diseases.

With a competent approach to growing and caring for strawberries, it is possible to avoid damage to the bushes by fungal disease. To do this, you need to adhere to the seedling planting scheme and provide the plants with optimal ventilation conditions.

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Procurement of seeds

In order to start seed cultivation, you need to obtain material. When purchasing, everything is simple - after becoming familiar with the characteristics of the variety and the features of caring for it, seeds that have a normal shelf life are purchased from a trusted seller.

The second way to obtain Alexandrina strawberry seeds is a few ripe berries that were given to you by neighbors or friends who are already successfully growing this plant.

How to prepare strawberry seeds

Three or four well-ripened berries at the end of the fruiting season, taken from a healthy young bush - that’s all you need to get your own seeds, which will be enough, if not for a “strawberry meadow,” then certainly for the first bed.

Advice. The largest and most productive seeds will be located starting from the middle of the berry to the base. They not only have a high germination potential, but also a guaranteed developed embryo located inside.

Reviews about strawberries Alexandrina

Among gardeners who grew Alexandrina strawberries, the reviews are very varied:

• “this is a very tasty and sweet strawberry that grew on my kitchen windowsill”;
• “I forgot to water it, and there was almost no harvest”;
• “strawberries with mustaches are easier to grow”;
• “the most fragrant and sweet variety I know”;
• “very convenient for those who don’t have a summer house but want strawberries.”

Advantages of Alexandrina strawberries

The main advantages in reviews are usually noted:

• sweetness and taste of berries;
• high productivity;
• ease of cultivation as a potted plant;
• long fruiting season (until frost).

Disadvantages of Alexandrina strawberries

Among the disadvantages, some indicate the following:

• small berry size;
• low yield;
• inconvenience of growing from seeds;
• high cost of seeds compared to other varieties.

Conflicting reviews about yield can easily be explained by non-compliance with the rules for caring for strawberries. Take care of your crops, and they will reward you handsomely!

Have you tried growing strawberries on a windowsill? Share your experience in the comments below.

Seed growing - advantages

Traditionally, many gardeners prefer vegetative methods of plant propagation. Yes, it is much easier to buy seedlings, cuttings or layering, plant them in prepared soil and wait for them to take root. But when purchasing seedlings of a particular plant, even in a gardening center or nursery, you can never be one hundred percent sure that it will grow into exactly the declared variety.

You can read more about sowing strawberries for seedlings in our article.

Important! You need to be a certified botanist or professional agrarian in order to determine its varietal compliance by the appearance of a seedling.

Of course, companies selling seeds also cannot be trusted absolutely, but there are usually fewer mistakes here. Therefore, if you bought a bag of Alexandrina strawberry seeds, especially from a large manufacturer and seed seller you can trust, these are the seeds that will grow from them. And then it’s easy to collect your own seeds and grow your favorite berry for as many years or decades as you want.

Seed growing has a number of serious advantages.

Prices for strawberry seeds Alexandrina

Features of caring for strawberries Alexandrina

Strawberries of the Alexandrina variety are unpretentious, but insufficient care provokes a decline in yield. To prevent this from happening, consider the following points:

• strawberry Alexandrina loves sunlight;
• the soil should be loose and fertile;
• the area where strawberries are planted should be well ventilated;
• feeding with nutrients is required, otherwise the berries will be small and sour;
• water the strawberries regularly, but not too much;
• be sure to regularly weed and loosen the soil;
• If symptoms of strawberry damage by a mite or weevil appear, be sure to treat it with special medicinal preparations.

Alpine strawberry "Alexandrina"

The seeds of this variety are sold everywhere, which is why it is popular. However, this is not the only reason - this is a remontant, arborescent and relatively large-fruited forest alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca var. alpina) and it is much better than local wild and most varieties of cultivated strawberries.

Characteristics

Description

Strawberry "Alexandrina" forms vineless plants up to 15 cm high. The leaves are medium in size, rich green in color. The flowers are medium in size, with white, untwisted petals.

The fruits of “Alexandrina” are relatively large, weighing 3...5 grams, and dark red when fully ripe. The pulp is medium density, light. The taste is very good, there is a pronounced strawberry aroma.

Planting and care

When growing Alexandrina strawberries from seeds, they should be sown in February or March. The seeds are not buried, but distributed over the surface of the soil and moistened with a spray bottle. After this, the container with the seeds is covered with glass or wrapped in a bag. Before emergence, the bag is removed daily to ventilate and moisten the soil.

Shoots appear 8...12 days after sowing. After the emergence of seedlings, the container is opened and immediately supplemented with illumination - on the first day around the clock, on the 2nd and 3rd - 18 hours a day, then - about 14 hours. It is necessary to maintain moderate soil moisture.

Plants should be planted in individual pots after two true leaves appear. Strawberries are transferred to a permanent place after the appearance of the fifth true leaf and after the threat of late frosts has passed. Before planting, strawberry seedlings must be hardened off.

The first flowers and berries appear already in the year of planting, but of course there are not many of them. The yield declared here and there - about 300 grams of berries per plant - is rather fantastic. In the second year it is realistic to get about 100, but this is a very good result.

Starting from the second year, strawberries bear fruit from June to September, and if the autumn is warm, then until October. In principle, this is characteristic of all varieties of alpine strawberries.

The variety is relatively winter-hardy: under snow or straw cover, “Alexandrina” tolerates winters near Moscow well.

Advantages

• repairability;
• relatively high yield;
• large berries;
• very good taste.

There is perhaps only one drawback - the lack of a mustache. This greatly limits the possibilities of vegetative propagation.

Reviews

There are relatively many reviews about Alexandrina strawberries, but the information content of the majority is close to zero:

• Moscow region: seed germination from “Aelita” is good, the berries are large, I liked the taste, the yield in the first year is modest;
• Moscow: very poor germination;
• Vladimir region: fairly large red berries, pleasant taste, bears fruit for a long time;
• Leningrad region: overwintered well under a shelter of sheets and non-woven material, grew early, bloomed.