Features of the care and cultivation of Geneva strawberries

Strawberries (garden strawberries) of the Geneva variety are preferred to be grown due to the fact that crops from it can be harvested from the beginning of summer until late autumn. The variety belongs to the repair, fruiting in several waves throughout the season, but only with proper planting and quality care. Let us consider in more detail the characteristics of this berry and the rules for its growing.

Selection history

The variety Geneva was produced by American breeders in the 80s. past century. Since the 90s. He became famous among domestic gardeners. The authors of the variety managed to combine in it the best positive qualities of the strawberry.

Did you know? Strawberries are the only berries whose seeds are not placed inside, but outside. Each fruit has about 200 of them.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Before giving preference to the Geneva variety, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its main qualities, appearance, advantages and disadvantages.

  • Among the advantages of strawberries note:
  • high productivity;
  • tasty fruits;
  • long fruiting period;
  • resistance to diseases and harmful insects.

  • The disadvantages include:
  • decrease in fruiting after 3 years;
  • the tendency of the fruits to shrink during the vegetative period.

Bush description

Bushes are formed low, sprawling. The leaves are medium in size, light green in color. Peduncles grow long and lean toward the ground. When the berries ripen, they are located below the leaves. Mustache on the bush forms a small amount.

Fruit Description

At the first fruiting, the berries are large, weighing 50-60 g. In subsequent waves, they become smaller, about 2 times. They resemble cones in shape. Their surface is painted in bright cherry color. The pulp is red, characterized by density, juiciness, sweetness with a slight acidity, aroma.

Berries are suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for making jam, compotes, mashed potatoes, juice. They are able to tolerate transportation well without losing their taste and marketability.

Video: Geneva Strawberry Variety

Productivity

The first fruiting occurs in the 10th of June. The second is in July. Fruits will appear even under adverse weather conditions. Productivity of the variety is consistently high and regular.

Important! Since abundant harvests of Geneva strawberries are observed only in the first 2-3 years after planting, and then sharply reduced, it is not practical to keep it after this period.

Frost and drought resistance

The variety has low resistance to frosty temperatures and lack of moisture. He definitely needs shelter for the winter and regular watering.

Strawberries Geneva is recommended for outdoor cultivation only in regions with a warm climate. In those places where winters are cold, it is worth growing in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

How to choose the best seedlings when buying

Strawberries Geneva can be grown from seeds and mustaches. The seed method involves the acquisition or independent cultivation of seedlings. Seeds in this case are sown in containers with light soil in late February and early March.

When buying seedlings, they prefer one that has the following characteristics:

  • with healthy-looking saturated green leaves in an amount of at least 3 pieces;
  • with a horn with a thickness of at least 0.7–0.8 cm;
  • with roots 7-8 cm long.

You should refuse to purchase sluggish seedlings and those that have dots, wrinkles, damage on the leaves, and there are traces of rot and spots on the roots

The purchase should be made only in specialized stores or in certified certified horticultural societies and nurseries. The acquisition of healthy sprouts must be done immediately before planting. Recommended landing dates: end of August-September or the last 10 days of May.

Preparatory work before landing

The success of the development and fruiting of the plant depends on its proper planting - you should choose a good place for the beds, prepare it and observe the technology of placing seedlings in the ground.

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Preparation and site selection

For strawberries, you should choose a place with the following characteristics:

  • well lit;
  • open
  • protected from drafts;
  • with the occurrence of groundwater no closer than 80 cm to the soil surface.

When selecting a place, it is imperative to consider crop rotation rules. This will allow to achieve high productivity from strawberry bushes and protect them from the development of diseases and harmful insects. The best precursors for strawberries are legumes, parsley, dill, beets, carrots. The worst - potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberries, cabbage.

The best strawberry yields can be achieved when grown in fertilized loam or sandy loam with a neutral or slightly acidic pH

Site preparation consists in thoroughly cleaning it of plant residues and digging in the fall, as well as applying fertilizers: manure or peat (5–6 kg / 1 m²), potassium sulfate (20–30 g / 1 m²), superphosphate (40–50 g / 1 m²).

Seedling preparation

Seedlings before planting should also be prepared. Its root system is soaked in saline (10 liters of water, 3 tbsp. L. Salt, 1 tbsp. L. Copper sulfate) for 10 minutes. After the procedure, the roots are washed under running water.

Video: How to Plant Geneva Strawberry Seeds

Direct landing

Seedlings should be planted on a day when there is no sun. In pre-prepared shallow pits should be placed 1-2 sprouts. The root system must be straightened. It is important to ensure that the heart (growth point) is above the soil level.

Recommended strawberry planting pattern Geneva - 40 × 60 cm

Features of seasonal care

Strawberry care involves such regular procedures as watering, feeding, weeding, loosening, mulching, shelter for the winter.

Soil care

Regular watering is very important for strawberry bushes. In the first 2 weeks after transplanting, it must be watered daily. Moisture should be adjusted so that the soil is moistened 2-3 cm in depth.

When the seedlings adapt well to new conditions, you should switch to the regime of 1 watering in 3-4 days on hot, dry days and 1 watering in 7 days with normal rainfall.

Important! Humidification of strawberry beds should be carried out only with warm water. Cold watering provokes the development of fungal diseases and disturbances in the development of plants.

Humidification must be combined with cultivation and mulching. Loosen the soil shallow, so as not to touch the root system, the day after watering or precipitation. Loosening is needed to prevent the appearance of a dense crust on the soil surface, which prevents the normal flow of moisture and air to the root system.

They mulch the soil in order to maintain the necessary moisture level and restrain the growth of weeds. Peat, straw, needles, sawdust are used as mulch

Be sure to monitor the cleanliness of the beds. As necessary, they need to be cleaned of weeds, which are carriers of diseases and harmful insects, do not allow sunlight to break through to strawberry bushes and take away nutrients from plants. Weeds need to be uprooted.

We advise you to read about spring care for strawberries.

Top dressing

For the normal development of plants and abundant fruiting, they must be fed periodically. Strawberries respond well to both organic and mineral fertilizers.

Of the minerals, complex mixtures are suitable, for example, Kemira Lux, Mortar, Kristallin. From organics, mullein, bird droppings, herbal infusions are used.

Important! Fertilizing should only be done in well-moistened soil. Otherwise, a burn of the root system is possible.

Cold protection

In order for heat-loving plants to successfully survive the winter, they must be sheltered before winter. In the fall, before the onset of frost, all ground organs near the bushes are cut with pruners, the beds are covered with a thick layer of straw.

Preventive treatment for diseases and pests

Strawberries Geneva has a strong immunity, practically not affected by major diseases and harmful insects. The only disease that threatens her with errors in care is gray rot. To prevent it from entering the beds, you need to ensure that they are not thickened - they need to be thinned out in a timely manner. It is important not to fill the soil so that water does not stand on its surface, because excessive moisture more often leads to the development of gray rot.

The causative agents of this disease are also transmitted by a nematode and an earth tick. To prevent the appearance of harmful insects on the beds, it is necessary to spray plants in spring with a 1% solution of colloidal sulfur and Bordeaux liquid, as well as the Fitosporin preparation.

Read more about processing strawberries from pests and diseases.

Harvesting and storage of crops

You need to start harvesting Geneva berries a few days before they are fully ripened. Collection should be carried out in the morning, as soon as the dew dries, or in the evening. If the surface of the fruit when laying for storage is wet, then they will be less stored.

The berries are picked by hand, gently grabbing them with your fingers and leaving ponytails. Then they are stacked in a single layer in boxes of plastic or wood, covered with paper or cloth.

Fruit storage should be carried out in cold conditions - at a temperature of 0 ... + 2 ° C for 3-4 days. In indoor conditions, berries can lie only one day. Long-term storage is possible during freezing and storage in the freezer.

Did you know? One of America's restaurants serves a very expensive dessert. It costs 1.4 million dollars. The dish is made from strawberries, cream, mint, and decorated with a golden ring with a diamond .

Strawberries of the Geneva variety have a number of advantages, thanks to which it is well grown in summer cottages. Subject to the rules of planting and recommendations for care, it will delight with multiple crops per season for 2-3 years.

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