Strawberry Roxana: description of a remontant Italian variety with photographs and videos, as well as reviews from experienced gardeners

Description of the variety and photo

It is distinguished by powerful, compact bushes of medium height. Their stems are erect, abundantly covered with leaves. The inflorescences are at the level of the leaves. With a moderate number of tendrils, the plant boasts well-developed rosettes. At the first fruiting, no more than 1-2 flowers are formed on the inflorescence, this explains the impressive size of the berries.

Roxana is characterized by:

Juicy red or dark red berries with a pronounced shine.
Large fruits of almost the same size.
The weight of strawberries from the first harvest is from 80 to 100 g.
With subsequent fruiting, the number of berries on the bushes increases, but their weight decreases - up to 20-35 g.
Oblong shape with a tapered tip.
Expressive aroma.
Pleasant dessert taste.
Good pulp consistency.
Simultaneous ripening of berries.

After the first harvest they become slightly smaller in size. This variety is perfect for growing in the fall. At this point, the strawberries become deep red, despite the poor lighting and lower temperatures.

Interesting! Roxana is prone to deformation, especially in the first year of the growing season. The strawberry develops in the shape of a cone, and then bifurcates, forming lateral hollows and tubercles at the top. So it resembles a tulip bud. This transformation does not affect the taste in any way.

Collection and storage of garden strawberries

Before harvesting, stop watering the bushes abundantly. This is necessary so that the berries are not watery and can remain collected for more than 1-2 days. The fruits are removed with the stalk, with which they will be stored much longer than without it. Harvest in the morning, after the dew has subsided, or in the evening, when the sun's rays are no longer so scorching.

The peculiarity of Kama strawberries is that they have dense berries that do not crush during transportation. Therefore, it can be successfully transported and also stored for a long time. To do this, the berries are placed in boxes covered with paper. The fruits must be free of damage and dents. There is no need to wash them before storing them.

Note! Garden strawberries do not have the ability to ripen after picking the berries.

Kama strawberries have a unique strawberry aroma and taste, which is why both gardeners and gourmets love them. In addition, housewives dry it, freeze it, and make compotes, jams, and preserves from it. In addition, strawberries contain a large amount of useful substances that they can supply the body with throughout the year.

Characteristics of the berry

The bushes bear fruit 2-3 times per season - this is the main advantage of the variety. The taste is richer during the second and third harvest, when the berries become smaller in size.

Type – strawberry of short daylight hours.
Taste qualities – 4.6 points on a 5-point scale.
The average weight of one berry is 75-80 g.
Productivity indicators are 1.2 kg per bush.
Life cycle duration is 4 years.
The ripening period is mid-late.
Shelf life is high, suitable for transportation.
Frost resistance - can withstand temperatures down to -20 degrees.

The berries are consumed fresh or processed for long-term storage. Roxana is perfect for freezing for the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages of strawberries

The Italian variety of aromatic strawberries is loved by Russian gardeners for the piquant shape of the fruit, productivity and excellent transportability of ripe berries. The main advantages of the variety include:

Genetic resistance to powdery mildew.
Taste: balanced sweet and sour taste with a slight bitterness and a pronounced aroma.
Harmonious ripening of fruits.
Transportability and keeping quality of fruits.
Suitable for commercial cultivation.
Participant of the berry conveyor belt: when the early varieties stop bearing fruit, Roxana pleases the gardeners with the first harvest.

An amazing feature of the variety is the ability of ripe fruits to hang on the bushes for a week without losing the elasticity of the berries and deteriorating their taste.

The variety has practically no disadvantages. Negative characteristics include:

Requirement for watering and application of mineral fertilizers.
Does not tolerate temperatures above +35 C.
Average winter hardiness, requires additional shelter for the winter.

Note: The main disadvantage of the variety is considered to be the lodging of flower stalks to the ground during fruit ripening; the berries become vulnerable to fungal diseases. It is recommended to cover the bushes with mulch made from sawdust or straw or plant the plants on agrofabric.

Large berries ripen in the first harvest. In subsequent years, the berries become smaller, and it is recommended to replant the plantings.

Reproduction

All of Roxana’s strength goes into the formation of large fruits. Therefore, the number of antennae is moderate. When breeding this variety, the following features should be taken into account:

For the purpose of reproduction, you need to leave 2-3 outlets. If you leave more, then none of them will reach the required degree of development.
It is better to choose medium-sized seedlings. Then the berries are almost not deformed.
For propagation and planting, a 30x35 cm pattern is used.
You can increase productivity using a three-line or five-line scheme.
This variety is suitable for growing indoors and in open areas.

Only healthy rosettes without signs of pest or disease damage are suitable for propagation.

What can be made from fruits

Roxana strawberries are useful in a variety of forms. In addition to eating fresh berries, you can use them to make various juice drinks, milkshakes, decorate a cake with berries or add them to the filling. Strawberry jam or preserves are popular among housewives; various alcohols (liquor, liqueurs, tinctures, etc.) are also often made using strawberries.

The Roxana strawberry variety can and should be used in different ways.

Many gardeners and their work reports testify to the unpretentiousness of Roxana strawberries and ease of cultivation. Also, many confirm its abundant yield.

Landing

You can start it in April or October, but August is considered the optimal period for rooting seedlings. Strawberries do not need special conditions. The only thing it requires is a place on a hill and a sufficient amount of sunlight.

The soil for plants must be fertile. If planting is planned in the spring, then you need to wait until the snow finally melts and the ground warms up.

Planting is done as follows:

holes are marked;
a hole is dug;
the root system is located vertically in it;
The seedlings are sprinkled with earth on top and compacted a little;
moderately moisturize with warm water.

After planting, the beds with seedlings are systematically watered with settled warm water. If the top layer of soil has dried out, then it is time for irrigation.

How and when to plant

Planting Roxana strawberry bushes can occur both in spring and autumn. For better adaptation and rooting of seedlings, August remains the optimal time for planting. The variety does not have any special requirements for the growing location, but it is best to choose a hill that will be well illuminated by the sun's rays.

It is also worth paying attention to the soil, as it must be fertile. Spring planting should be done immediately after the snow has completely melted and the ground has warmed up.

But how treatment against diseases occurs in the spring, and what chemicals to use first, is described in this article.

The video shows one type of planting strawberries:

The root system must be positioned vertically in the hole. Then cover with earth, compact it slightly and moderately moisten it using warm water. The planting pattern for the Roxana variety is 30x35 cm. But this does not prevent the use of a three-line and five-line pattern. Thanks to them, it is possible to achieve high yields.

You can read reviews about the Kent variety here.

It is also worth learning more about the Elephant variety, and about the features of growing this variety: //gidfermer.com/sadovodstvo/yagody/klubnika-slonenok.html

Watering

The degree of strawberry yield depends on the correctness and timeliness of irrigation. This is especially true for the period after planting seedlings and the moment of flowering.

When watering, you must follow certain rules:

You need to water abundantly and regularly.
When irrigating, there should be at least 10 liters of water per 1 sq.m.
It is recommended to use the sprinkling method.
During flowering and ripening of berries, a different method of watering is used - directly at the root, so as not to damage the inflorescences and ripening fruits.
Water with settled water.
The optimal time for irrigation is morning or evening.

Watering is considered high-quality if the soil is saturated with moisture to a depth of 10 cm.

How to care

Caring for strawberry plantings of the Roxana variety is traditional: watering, loosening, removing weeds, applying fertilizers. It is necessary to pay attention to the procedure for preparing plants for the winter; strawberries need shelter during the cold season.

Trimming

Spring pruning is a sanitary treatment of strawberry beds after winter. Old leaves are removed from the plantings along with the pests that overwintered on them. The bushes receive more daylight, and a kind of ventilation of the root system occurs. Metabolic processes in the plant are accelerated and the growth rate increases. Using a rake or hoe, loosen the soil, and use pruning shears to trim off diseased, dried leaves and shoots.

Important! Do not trim healthy leaves and young plant buds.

After the “spring transformation” procedure, the berries are watered and fed. Subsequently, the berries will ripen faster, which will certainly please gardeners.

Preventive spraying

Strawberries must be sprayed before flowering. Plants need a protective barrier during this period; future fruits are being laid, and the plant is most vulnerable to diseases, as it devotes all its energy to the set of ovaries.

Folk remedies include potassium permanganate or an aqueous solution of brilliant green with iodine. Natural natural antiseptics are bactericidal preparations that have been tested for decades. When cultivating strawberries on an industrial scale, chemical treatments are used.

Spraying at temperatures below -18 C and above +30 C is not recommended; plant leaves may get burned.

Feeding

The application of mineral and organic fertilizers is an important stage in caring for Roxana strawberries. Fertilizers can be applied using a drip irrigation system, spray the leaves manually, or water at the root. In spring, plants are supported by the application of nitrogenous fertilizers. Proven recipe: 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water. The bushes are watered at the root; it is not advisable to get it on the leaves.

The next feeding is a water solution of bird droppings or infused cow pats. It is enough to dilute 1 kg of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. During the period of flowering and fruit set, berry bushes are fed with an aqueous solution of wood ash: 1 glass of ash per 10 liters of water.

After the last harvest, plants need fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. Always after applying fertilizers, it is recommended to loosen the soil and sprinkle the bushes with humus.

Watering

Roxana is picky about watering. This procedure must be carried out frequently, but do not allow the soil to become waterlogged and moisture to stagnate at the roots of the plants. Water for irrigation should be clean and warm, the optimal temperature is +20 C. Mulch retains moisture in the soil; if it is present in the beds, there is no need for frequent watering.

Moisturizing is done after harvesting, in the morning or evening. Excess moisture in the soil leads to rotting and disease of berries, and lack of moisture leads to reduced yield and reduced fruit size. Before watering, the gardener must assess the degree of soil moisture.

Loosening

Regular loosening will help improve oxygen access to the roots and activate metabolic processes between the soil and plants. In the rows, the soil is loosened to a depth of 10 cm, at the roots of plants, directly under the bush - to 3 cm.

The root system of strawberries is located close to the surface of the beds. After loosening, the bushes are hilled and sprinkled with humus.

Shelter

Roxana has average winter hardiness. The variety is able to withstand frosts of at least -20 C; it is recommended to cover strawberries for the winter using film covers or textile covering material. You can use spruce branches and straw. In regions with little snow in winter, the Italian strawberry variety may freeze.

Cover the berries after preliminary preparation of the berries for winter: loosening, removing weeds and fertilizing.

Care and feeding

In spring, berry bushes need attention. It is necessary to remove dried leaves and last year's flower stalks from the garden bed. After harvesting, they must be burned to prevent the development of diseases and parasites.

Attention! There is no need to be afraid that only one heart in the center with green leaves will remain on the bush. That's how it should be. The main thing is not to damage it. These are the beginnings of a future bush with buds.

In early March, for prevention, they are treated with biological products against diseases and parasites. To combat ticks and aphids, bushes are sprayed with insecticides. Next, treatment is carried out with Bordeaux mixture. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times a year. This helps protect plants from fungal diseases.

Nitrogen mixtures are used for feeding. They can be scattered dry or fed by watering. Then you will need 20 g of saltpeter per bucket of water. The beds are watered with this solution.

In order to retain moisture in the soil longer, strawberries must be hilled, while following certain rules:

try not to touch the roots located close to the surface;
combine loosening with hilling of the bush;
after hilling, the berry heart should not be covered with soil;
After loosening the soil, do not water the plants for 1-2 days.

Thanks to loosening the soil, less weeds grow in the garden bed. To completely get rid of weeds, the spaces between the rows are planted with mustard.

Growing rules

You can plant or replant Roxana strawberries either in the spring or in the fall. The preferred time for planting seedlings is mid-late August. Young bushes will grow without problems, easily adapt to new climatic conditions, and next summer they will produce a bountiful harvest of sweet and aromatic strawberries.

In spring, you can plant strawberries immediately after the snow melts and the ground warms up to a temperature of +15˚С +18˚С.

To plant Roxana strawberry seedlings, you should choose a sunny area. It is advisable for the growing beds to be slightly raised. The soil should be loose, fertile, with low acidity. Light shading is acceptable for growing this variety.

The soil for planting strawberries must be prepared in advance. Fertilizers should be added to the soil 2-3 weeks before planting. The berry plant grows well on soil fertilized with humus, humus, and complex mineral fertilizers.

Planting seedlings

Strawberries should be planted in warm weather, towards evening. If the weather is too hot, postpone the event for a couple of days, or take care of shading young bushes during the first 2-3 days after planting.

Planting strawberries "Roxana" is very simple:

In the prepared bed, make small holes 12-15 cm deep. The distance between the bushes should be 30 - 35 cm.
Place the seedling strictly vertically in the planting hole and carefully straighten all the roots.
Gently sprinkle the roots with soil and level the hole.
You only need to water the strawberries with warm water.

After planting, strawberry beds should be watered promptly with settled water as the top layer of soil dries.

Features of aftercare

Strawberry "Roxana", judging by the reviews of experienced gardeners, does not require close attention and special care. She needs to be provided with routine care, consisting of traditional activities:

Timely and correct watering;
Spring pruning;
Accurate loosening;
Weeding;
Proper feeding.

Prevention against diseases and pests

Despite the fact that the “Roxana” strawberry, according to the description of the variety, photos and reviews from gardeners, is highly resistant to many diseases and most insect pests, it is still worth carrying out timely treatment for prevention. The first spraying can be carried out in early spring, when the air warms up to at least +10˚С +15˚С.

Before processing plants, you should familiarize yourself with a few tips:

Among the large number of biological products, Fitosporin and Phytocid are especially popular. To combat insect pests (the most common are: aphids, thrips, strawberry mites), strawberries are treated with insecticides

Actellik and Actofit have proven themselves to be excellent. Particular care should be taken when spraying strawberries with Bordeaux mixture or other preparations that contain copper. They will protect strawberry bushes from many fungal diseases.

Important! Before spraying, do not forget to take precautions. Wear rubber gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator.

Possible reasons for the decrease in yield

It is very sad, after making every effort and providing proper care, you get only a few handfuls of berries instead of the promised bountiful harvests. There are several reasons for the sharp decrease in the yield of Roxana strawberries:

Thickened plantings;
Incorrect and untimely watering;
Overdose of fertilizers;
Ignoring such important rules of agricultural technology as weeding, loosening, pruning;
Untimely replanting and planting of old bushes.

Judging by the description of the strawberry variety “Roxana”, reviews and photos, only if you create suitable conditions and follow the rules of agricultural technology, you can count on getting a high yield.

Application area

Where can you use fresh strawberries? Diligent housewives will always find a use for them. In addition to eating fresh berries, aromatic strawberries are useful for:

Preparation of summer compotes, fruit drinks and jelly;
Preparation of dairy drinks: yoghurts, cocktails, ice cream, smoothies;
Winter preparations in the form of preserves and jams;
In the culinary field: for baking pies, cakes, desserts, preparing dumplings;
Drying;
Freezes in whole and crushed form;
Preparation of liqueurs, tinctures, liqueurs and other strong drinks at home.

As you can see, the scope of application of Roxana strawberries is quite wide. Few people will refuse hot tea with fresh berries on cold winter evenings.

A brief description of the industrial strawberry variety “Roxana” will be presented to you by the author of the video

Diseases and pests

In order for strawberry bushes to bear fruit well, they must be protected from the effects of diseases and parasites. Affected fruits and plants immediately change their appearance; by the nature of these changes one can determine what exactly was the cause:

Strawberry wilting - loss of leaf elasticity is associated with lack of moisture or deformation of the roots. The root system is most often damaged by moles or mole crickets when they make tunnels in the ground or gnaw off roots.
The bushes dry out - this is the result of a fungal infection. This is how spotting, gray rot or late blight affects. If only a few plants are damaged, they should be removed and burned. When the affected area is large, the beds are treated with fungicides.
Fruits rot - this is a consequence of high humidity or brown, black rot.
Plants turn yellow - the plant is deficient in magnesium and nitrogen.
The gnawed leaves remain after the strawberry leaf beetle and the cockchafer.
The leaves curl and fall off - this is a sign of parasitism on the strawberries by spider or strawberry mites that feed on the sap of the plant.

Diseases are not the only thing that pose a threat to crops. Sudden changes in weather conditions, rodents, insects and birds also pose a threat to strawberries. Birds love to eat the largest berries. Eating berries can also be observed after a slug invasion.

Gastropods are nocturnal, so it is better to fight them during the period of their greatest activity, and not during the day.

Sustainability and necessary agricultural practices

Manufacturers position the variety as unpretentious in care, capable of stable fruiting with standard agricultural practices. However, without fertilizing on poor soils, plants may tend to chlorosis. The originator claims resistance to diseases of the root system: verticillium wilt and heart rot, and tolerance to powdery mildew and angular spot (bacterial blight). However, experts and summer residents, in reviews of the Roxana strawberry, note the vulnerability of plants to anthracnose (black spot) during the hot, humid weather of May-June and draw attention to the stronger damage from spider mites compared to other varieties.

Experienced gardeners recommend carrying out preventive treatments with 1% Bordeaux mixture in early spring and after harvest.

The plant spends a lot of energy on setting and ripening a large number of fruits, as well as on active shoot formation. Therefore, for propagation, gardeners advise keeping several mother bushes, cutting off the flower stalks on each of them and leaving no more than three rosettes for seedlings. When planting, maintain a distance of 30-35 cm between seedlings to provide the bushes with sufficient nutrition area, uniform illumination and good ventilation. Since the flower stalks lie close to the ground under the weight of the berries, it is recommended to mulch the soil and provide drip watering to the plants.

Italian strawberry varieties are considered too “tender” for harsh winters in many Russian regions

Despite the declared winter hardiness of the variety, experienced gardeners believe that strawberry varieties of Italian origin freeze out in winters with little snow. Therefore, spruce branches, agrofibre or snow-retaining shields when grown in open ground in the continental climate of many regions of Russia (in particular, the central zone, the Moscow region), Belarus, the north-western and central regions of Ukraine are necessary for the guaranteed survival of the Roxana strawberry.

Reviews from gardeners

According to most summer residents, Roxana has a number of advantages:

produces large berries;
not demanding in care;
has a high yield, especially when grown in a greenhouse;
if the fruits are not collected on time, within 2-3 weeks they will not be overripe and will retain their presentation;
can easily coexist with other varieties of strawberries;
takes root even in clay soil.

Both experienced and novice gardeners can handle breeding Roxana. With proper care, strawberries become resistant even to diseases and pests.

Strawberry Roxana: reviews from those who grew

Victor, 53 years old, Moscow region I have been growing strawberries of this variety on my plot for the 4th season.
The berries are quite tasty, but nothing supernatural, but their size is really huge. True, this season they have become smaller, it’s probably time to move Roxana to a new place. Natalia, 45 years old, Lutsk I have been growing strawberries for many years, and over the years I have planted more than 25 different varieties. But for the third season already, I chose the Italian variety Roxana. I can say that I liked the large size and taste of the ripening fruits - at the beginning of ripening they are sour, but after a short time the amount of sugars in them increases. And during transportation, the berries do not flow or wrinkle, remaining juicy and tender.

Valentin, 38 years old, Volgograd region Roxana is a good mid-late Victoria variety with high yield. The berries have a fairly pleasant taste, do not wrinkle during transportation, are good in jams and jams, my wife also freezes them for the winter.

Strawberries of the Roxana variety have been grown in the gardens of Russian gardeners for more than 15 years.

, not only in open ground, but also in greenhouse conditions in regions with cold winters with little snow. This berry crop grows well and bears fruit in open and closed ground, is distinguished by good yield and excellent taste of ripe berries, for which it is valued by summer residents.