Strawberry "Albion": variety description, cultivation and care

Variety of strawberries "Albion" enjoys increased attention of farmers, it has a great taste and good yield. The plant possesses outstanding resistant qualities in relation to the effects of various pests. May produce 4 crops per year.

Strawberry "Albion" has been on the market for just over ten years, but it is already well known in gardening associations, as well as among owners of farmsteads. Strawberries from America demonstrate great taste, excellent repair quality, multiple blooms at the same time create an aesthetically attractive appearance.

"Albion" was created in sunny California and invented with the realities of this warm region. It turned out to be so promising that even in the open spaces of Russia from Sochi to Vladivostok strawberries (they are also called garden strawberries) are very popular. If the strawberry crop is properly maintained, “according to science”, then it can show excellent yields throughout the warm autumn-summer period. The first fruits appear in the second year after planting.

The description of the variety is as follows:

• Strawberry bushes are quite massive, they develop leaves that have a dark green color;
• flowers appear high above the ground, have a strong stalk, because it is easy to pick berries;
• large berries, not in contact with the ground, are less likely to "catch" the infection.

Distinguished variety of good resistance to pests. The yield from the strawberry bush is high, it can bear fruit all year round (in the greenhouse) with proper care.

If the culture grows in the open field, in the first half of May berries are formed, the plant continues to bear fruit until November, when the first frosts appear.

With such initial data, the variety is grown on an industrial scale. Already at the very beginning of the growing season, one bush is capable of bringing up to two kilograms of berries. The best harvests are collected in the second half of summer - in July-August. In Russia, this berry can ideally be grown in the Black Earth regions and in the Kuban, where a warm autumn lasts a long time. The weight of one fruit reaches 55 grams, the color of the berry is scarlet, the flesh has a dark pink color of a pleasant shade. Ripening, the fruit becomes saturated maroon color with a glossy shine. The shape of the berry is elongated, oval, the configuration may vary depending on what month the crop ripens.

Maturation begins at the top of the bush and gradually descends closer to the ground.

The variety "Albion" is very tasty (at least 4 points on the professional scale), has a high sugar content (if strawberries are properly cultivated), has a dense composition, which is very important during transportation and storage.

The average yield in open space is 0.4 kilograms per square meter (can be up to 0.9 kilograms). "Albion" has a solid potential, but the yield is directly proportional to:

• the degree of illumination;
• irrigation intensity;
• agrotechnical care.

On average, in Ukraine, in Belarus and Russia, harvests do not harvest more than 720 grams per square meter.

The benefits of working with strawberries "Albion":

• maximum yield;
• aesthetically pleasing look;
• good taste;
• excellent technological characteristics (storage, transportation);
• resistance to the effects of parasites.

The variety has high endurance, it can be grown even on a balcony or windowsill. "Albion" is afraid of low temperatures, which is easy to understand if its homeland is sunny state of California.

It is necessary to mention the disadvantages:

• some bushes die after harvest;
• "Albion" does not tolerate drought;
• able to be infected with brown or white spot.

PVC mulching with a wrap is most often used when growing strawberries in large farms. "Albion" is well opposed to heart rot and verticillary wilt. In the case of a lack of moisture, the crop yield is sharply reduced, the leaves of the bushes shrink and dry. Excessive amount of moisture provokes wateriness and freshness of the fetus.

From planting material ultimately depends on how good the crop will be. The plant often fructifies, therefore it inevitably loses its qualities and quickly “goes into circulation”. The quantity and quality of berries inevitably decreases, they become smaller. The change of plants must be carried out twice a year.

Seedlings, which are planted in early autumn, will develop only in March - April of next year. Sometimes (not so often) seedlings are planted in March. Breeding material for strawberries can be a mustache that is rooted. Albion saplings give a well-developed, fibrous root system; if the roots are too long, they are pruned, leaving no more than 12 cm. The plant must spend all its resources to strengthen itself in the soil.

One type of breeding strawberry "Albion" using seeds. To collect the necessary seeds, you should select the most "promising" ripe berries, grind them and put in a container with warm water. Seeds are sifted out from the pulp, soaked in a special solution that stimulates growth, and only then are they placed in a special substrate.

“Albion” is planted in the spring not so often, plants take root worse. It is best to plant strawberries in the second half of September, the root system in six months has time to get comfortable in the ground.

Culture needs a lot of light, the ground should warm up well. If the variety is cultivated on the soil where sand prevails, the sugar content of the berries will be noticeably less, the presence of a large amount of clay contributes to the fact that the strawberries grow not large enough. Ideal land for strawberries:

• loose;
• having weak acidity;
• well processed by fertilizers.

It is good to fertilize "Albion" with humus, which effectively contributes to the preservation of moisture and the accumulation of nutrients, increasing fertility.

Before planting, seedlings are kept in a cool room for at least ten days. Saplings of culture are distributed on small deepenings in in advance prepared soil.

When working with seedlings pay close attention to the state of the root system. The same can be said when buying young plants. When planting, seedlings are recommended to be stored in a cool dark place for about ten days, so as not to wither, the roots should be slightly shortened.

A quality bush should have a fibrous system, have a root neck of about 5.5 mm. When planting plants, the roots should be cut more than 11 cm, while the flower stalks should be removed. The idea is simple, the resource of the plant should go to the development of the roots.

During fruiting the soil is mulched with straw or sawdust, this is done immediately after planting. Strawberries are distinguished by the fact that they have a small amount of whiskers, so they easily take root. If there are extra branches, they must be cut. Peduncles are removed almost immediately, so that they do not distract useful juices.

When growing this crop, one should take into account that strawberries are best propagated by dividing the plant. This method is the most correct and simple.

From diseases strawberry "Albion" has a predisposition to infection:

• tick;
• chlorosis;
• light spot.

To combat these formidable pests, there are effective means, for example, Topaz.

As well as a classic universal remedy is a solution of copper sulfate. On one bucket of water enough to dissolve only 25 grams of the drug. The mite is especially poorly tolerated by spraying colloidal sulfur. Not so often, but still a culture is destroyed by rot, it happens in March when snow melts. It is best to use biofungicides to combat rot. To strengthen the resistant qualities use iodine solution (25 drops per bucket of water).

The preferred method of irrigation is drip. This technology provides a number of valuable advantages: it allows you to efficiently use water, while simultaneously providing the plant with more full moisture. The benefits of using drip irrigation are:

• can handle large plantations;
• water is consumed with the greatest return, getting to destination;
• there is an opportunity to do watering according to the schedule;
• there is a significant saving of water resources;
• it is possible to add beneficial ingredients to water that will stimulate growth.

The frequency of watering on average - every 6 days. Regarding the other care for strawberries "Albion" - it is quite simple. In winter, strawberry beds are covered with spruce branches, which is an additional protection from the cold. In March, you should seriously be puzzled by the question of fertilizing organic fertilizers. Then feeding is carried out with the scheduled frequency at least three times. Most popular fertilizers:

• nitrophoska;
• diammofosk;
• nitroammophoska;
• ammophos.

There are also special complex additives intended only for Albion strawberry. Benefit from various fertilizers:

• nitrophosphate can effectively increase the amount of phosphorus in the soil;
• diammofoska provides sulfur, nitrogen and other compounds;
• nitroammophoska also makes it possible to obtain an increased sulfur content;
• ammophos contains nitrogen and phosphorus and is suitable for any soil.

All of these components increase resistance to various diseases. Fertilizers that contain high levels of iron are especially useful, they must be used to strengthen the roots during the flowering period of the crop.

Strawberry maintenance work is necessary. It is recommended to use biofungicides, which will reliably protect the plant from various infections.

Very effective drug "Fitosporin", it provides an opportunity to protect the strawberries from the occurrence of fungal diseases. And also useful "Gliokladin." Albion's preventive treatments will start in March, which gives a chance to neutralize the larvae of those insects that have successfully “overwinter” and are ready to start feeding on roots and young leaves.

Another preventive treatment is required during the appearance of flowers: strawberries do not tolerate hard heat, if the temperature rises above +30 degrees, the yield rapidly drops.

Positive feedback from farmers on the strawberry "Albion" prevail in percentage terms. The culture is very sensitive to the number of fertilizers introduced. It is often said about the correct proportions when fertilizing. Superphosphates should use no more than 75 grams per square meter and three dozen grams of such components:

• potassium;
• saltpeter;
• humus.

Much attention is paid in discussions of the quality of seedlings, which depends on a good root system. Strawberries require some attention, but they are not as fastidious as other cultures.Efforts to obtain a good harvest should not spend so much.

How to cover for the winter strawberries "Albion", see the following video.