Monterey Strawberry: Variety Description and Cultivation

Judging by the number of cultivated varieties, strawberries are the favorite of breeders around the world. Thanks to their work on the crossing of different species, a large-fruited remontant berry variety was obtained. Its origin, like the name itself, is American. Officially patented variety that hails from California is called “Monterey”.

The people of strawberry "Monterey" immediately recognized, since it is very fond of her taste and large fruiting. New culture does have a number of features and advantages over other varieties.

"Monterey" refers to the mid-early variety. Gardeners celebrated its high yield. Fruiting undulating. During the season, 3-4 standard crops are harvested, and this, in terms of weight, is about half a kilogram of berries from a bush.

However, this is not the limit; According to unconfirmed reports, some craftsmen managed to collect 2 kg of berries from one plant. This is quite possible because of the large fruiting varieties and with proper agronomic care. If the average weight of a berry is 40 g, and the inflorescences in a bush are about 20, then with proper care, these approximate 800 g may well increase by 2–2.5 times. It all fits together.

In terms of taste, the berries are mostly sweet, but a little sourness is present. The shape of the fetus is conical, the very tip is very pointed. The pulp is watery and with a strong aroma. The skin color is dark red. It should be noted that it is dense in the berry, which means that strawberries are suitable for transportation.

Of the features note a long bloom. It lasts from May to the first frost. Such resistance varieties affected its resistance to many diseases. With all but powdery mildew, the berry gets along. Externally, the variety can be recognized by powerful bushes, large leaves of medium waviness and large flowers with a large yellow core.

A more realistic picture of garden strawberries give reviews gardeners. Their opinion regarding the strawberry "Monterey", though ambiguous, but fully shows the future owners of the variety all the pros and cons that they will have to face.

1. Rich harvest for several years in a row. After the onset of fruiting in the second year, another two years, the yield is not reduced.
2. The possibility of reproduction in any of the existing ways: seeds, mustache, division.
3. Survival rate Healthy planting material is unpretentious and springs up on almost any type of soil, and even not in the most well-chosen places.
4. Frozen storage is acceptable. Berries absolutely do not lose their taste when frozen.
5. Good molding bushes. The plant does not give a lot of mustache and, as a result, does not grow much. In the care and harvesting of such quality becomes convenient. To all this, the lack of thickening does not allow the berries to rot in the period of prolonged rains.
6. Weather conditions do not affect the taste. For example, in a drought, the berries do not lose their juiciness. With an excess of moisture, they do not become watery and tasteless, the sweetness is preserved.

Without negative aspects in the cultivation of varieties "Monterey" has not done, but as practice shows, they are few and can be tolerated.

1. Thermophilic varieties. Despite the fact that the plant blooms until frost, the trouble of shelter for the winter with this variety can not be avoided. Spunbond or shelter mulch layer is required even in the southern regions.
2. Strawberries can reach ripeness without gaining full weight. This is observed in the dry season - the berries are red, and they are still small.
3. Demanding culture to open space. Although Monterey strawberries do not grow, it should be planted less frequently than is customary. The variety does not tolerate thickening - in such conditions, the plant dies.

The first thing that will require a delicate variety - this is the correct selection of places for future growth. You need to consider the following points:

• fertile soil (chernozem);
• plot with flat terrain;
• south side, not shaded by buildings.

After observing the three conditions, you can embark. Selected young bushes are planted according to the scheme: 40 to 50. The first value is the distance in centimeters between the bushes located in a row. The second digital value is the interrow distance.

The pits must be made to a depth at which the bushes are tightly pressed to the ground, usually 20 cm long. With such a planting depth, it is better to use a chopper by running a furrow through it.

Seedlings are placed in checkerboard pattern. In this scheme, the plant will be expanse and space around the entire circumference.

Next, you need to shed the bottom of the landing furrow. After absorbing moisture, strawberry bushes are planted. In order to avoid rotting, it is not recommended to cover the core of the plant with earth.

Autographic cultivation of seedlings of strawberries from seeds - not a bad way with a number of advantages:

• long preservation of seeds;
• low cost of planting material;
• the possibility of disinfection at the initial stage of growth.

Seeding time depends on your own preferences. If planting is planned in the summer, the seeds are sown during the end of the winter, which falls in February. If the plans do not allow a summer planting, you can start planting in the summer (in June), and plant the seedlings in the fall. Planting of the seeds themselves is carried out in suitable containers with soil.

During reproduction by seeds, one will have to face difficulties in their germination. Seeds germinate for a long time and therefore, in order to speed up the process, they will have to create an artificial winter, because it is after this stage that the plant awakens. There are two ways: soaking in melt water (3 days) or placing wet soil with seeds in a refrigerator for 3 days.

Mandatory procedures for such germination is the preparation of the soil. It should consist of land, river sand and peat. Not too much in this mixture will be ash and manure. The ratio is better to take this:

• 2 pieces of land;
• 2 shares of peat;
• 1 part of sand;
• 1 volume of ash and manure.

The soil itself is pre-disinfected. It is steamed, revitalized and allowed to stand for two weeks. Steaming is done in the oven for 3 hours (at 90 degrees). When disinfection use a solution of potassium permanganate (pinch to 3 liters of water). In the revival of using drugs (phytosporin, trichodermin).

The method is possible if the considered strawberry variety already grows on the site. Strawberry bushes themselves give a new planting material in the form of outlets with a mustache. They just need a little help. Step-by-step instruction in this is as follows:

• designate for themselves a productive bush;
• remove inflorescences;
• choose a shrub with a large mustache;
• wait for the formation of a new root on the outlet;
• separate the mustache;
• socket to land in a new place.

Perhaps the moments are simple, even for beginners gardeners. If you do everything in steps, the result will be achieved.

Further care for strawberries "Monterey" general. It consists in watering, feeding, loosening and protection from pests.

The only thing worth paying particular attention to fertilizing. It is required for repair grades more often. This is due to repeated yield of the crop.

Mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable as feedings. Proper and timely introduction contributes to the development of the root system and the production of sweet berries.

At the beginning of the growing season and flowering the plant requires nitrogen. Potassium and phosphorus are introduced to recuperate after fruiting. During the fruiting, top dressing is useless and therefore it is not worth making them.

Review of Monterey variety strawberries see below.