Strawberry "Zephyr": description of the variety and cultivation

Choosing the right strawberry variety is very important, because if the berry turns out to be tasteless or low-yielding, then the entire seasonal process of planting and caring for berry beds can be in vain. Variety "Zephyr" is often recommended for gardeners - the berry is quite tasty, caring for the crop is not too complicated, and the fruits ripen very early.

Strawberry "Zephyr" was bred in Denmark more than fifty years ago. Such garden strawberries ripen early enough - starting from the third week of June. Bushes grow large, and flower stalks tend upwards. A feature of this variety is that the berries never sag to the bottom. The leaves of the bush are relatively large and corrugated, painted in a saturated green color and covered with a light down. The length of the petioles ranges from 8 to 10 centimeters. About 20-25 snow-white flowers form on each shoot, forming an ovary.

The weight of one berry varies from 17 to 35 grams, and the maximum reaches 50 grams. The fruits look very attractive, standing out with a brilliant red hue. The shape of the strawberry is a blunt cone, often the surface is covered with ribs. The flesh is colored light pink, and white streaks are often present. The taste is very sweet, sour, and the smell is pleasant. They contain a large number of useful substances, for example, folic and salicylic acid, ascorbinka, magnesium, iron and potassium. Experts recommend adding strawberries to the daily menu for those who suffer from hypertension or have elevated blood sugar levels.

The advantages of the variety "Zephyr" include early ripening. And if strawberries are grown under polyethylene film, the first berries can be expected as early as the third week of May. In addition, the variety bears fruit for a long time. Usually, on one bush the gardener collects about a kilogram of ripe berriesthat is considered a very good indicator. The strawberries themselves not only have excellent taste characteristics and attractive appearance, but also have good keeping quality and ability to transport. As you might guess, this variety is successfully implemented on the market.

Seedlings take root pretty well, quickly yield a crop. For example, if you plant "Zephyr" in the spring, then you will be able to taste the first berries in the same year. The culture of this species is very well tolerated by low temperatures. If the snow cap had time to form, then “Zephyr” will survive even in winter the temperature of -35, and if there was no precipitation, then -16 degrees. Strawberry copes well with drought. Finally, the berry has innate immunity to most traditional diseases.

Typically, the landing is carried out either in April or in August, and the latter is more recommended, because the bush will have enough time to adapt and strengthen the root system. However, in the spring “Zephyr” will grow faster - in three months the bush will reach the required size, and in the summer it is quite possible to expect the first berries. The traditional scheme of landing 25x30 centimeters. The bed is arranged on a well-lit area with a flat surface.

It is important that there is some kind of protection from drafts nearby, as frequent winds will lead to a deterioration in the taste of strawberries. According to the crop rotation rules, carrot, beet, cabbage, and onions should be the predecessors of the crop. There are no special requirements for the condition of the soil, but gardeners recommend giving preference to loose soil, which allows air to pass through, with neutral acidity. It is also worth knowing that it is forbidden to grow on the same bed of "Zephyr" for more than four years in a row.

When planting takes place in the spring, the site is previously dug up with the use of organic fertilizers, and then watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil. The beds themselves must have a certain height so that the irrigation procedure does not lead to contamination of the fruit. The tracks next to them are advised to be sprinkled with sand capable of holding fluid.

When the berry is grown in a greenhouse, the processing of the plot begins even earlier - in twelve months. It is then that compost is introduced. Bushes are planted so that between them formed a gap, the length of which varies from 40 to 45 centimeters. Between the individual rows will have to withstand about 55 centimeters.

Disembarking takes place either early in the morning or in the evening after sunset. The depth of the pits, as a rule, reaches 25 centimeters. Pre-wells should be well watered with a liquid in which two tablespoons of wood ash are dissolved. If necessary, too long roots of the seedlings are shortened.

Care for "Zephyr" is quite traditional and includes irrigation, weeding and fertilization. Watering is carried out every seven days, and during the period of formation of buds and ovaries, even more often. Strawberries are not afraid of lack of moisture, so the bush is unlikely to die from drought, but the amount of the harvest will deteriorate significantly: the berries will not be so sweet and small in size. The most convenient method of irrigation is drip irrigation.

Top dressing of strawberries is invaluable, as this culture absorbs a huge amount of useful elements from the earth. If they do not independently restore their level, the soil will be exhausted, and the harvest will again begin to decrease quantitatively and qualitatively. Usually fertilizers are applied every two weeks. For this purpose, it is customary to use a solution of superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium salt, taken in the same proportions.

The beds themselves should always be well siphoned. For the entire vegetative season, this procedure is performed 6 to 8 times. In addition, each watering should be completed with weeding and mulching. In order for the bushes to grow qualitatively, and the strawberries regularly appear in proper condition, we must not forget about the removal of the whiskers and aged leaves. Extra shoots of shears are removed every ten days. Some experts advise also to cover the beds with a special agrotechnical fabric or black film.

It is worth adding a few words about growing a variety in a greenhouse. In this case It is important to ensure regular intake of fresh air. This procedure will prevent the development of fungi. In addition, it is important to control the level of humidity - immediately after planting it should reach approximately 85%, and at the beginning of flowering - 70%.

If the task is to shorten the ripening time, then you can additionally organize artificial light sources and use them for 8-10 hours every day. There is another unusual tip regarding care: they say that sprigs of fresh needles spread around the beds can make the flavor of the berries richer.

Crop begin to collect approximately the third week of the first summer month. It is customary to collect them either in the morning or late in the evening in plastic containers. In the refrigerator berries will be stored for four to five days.

Strawberry varieties "Zephyr" in itself copes well with disease, thanks to innate immunity.However, to ensure the healthy development of the root system of plants, it is possible to treat the beds with copper sulphate. To create a solution, two or three tablespoons are diluted in a bucket of distilled water. The main thing is not to do this when the strawberries are blooming or when the berries are already forming.

One of the few diseases that Zephyr still suffers from is gray mold. The disease spreads over the part of the plant that is located above the ground. It is easy to identify the problem - if the strawberries began to change color to brown, become soft, become covered with an unpleasant gray patina and white feathers, then this is definitely gray rot. Treatment is carried out with the help of specialized drugs, for example, "Fundazol" and "Euparena". Handle bushes need to start in early April, and then do it every week. As a rule, three to four treatments are enough.

Speaking of insects, it is impossible not to mention the strawberry mite. He attacks the strawberry leaves and deprives them of juices - as a result, this part of the plant begins to turn yellow, shrink and curl.

At the next stage, an oily superficial formation is observed, and after that the sheets dry completely. Usually strawberry mite activates its activity at high humidity.

Preventing pest attacks begins with the right preventative measures. In spring and autumn, all vegetative elements are removed near the bushes, then before planting, the sockets are dipped into karbofos. As a rule, 75 grams of the substance is diluted in a bucket of water, and during the procedure, the roots are turned up. In the spring, those bushes that have already suffered are sprayed with Arrivo, in the summer with Omaitom, and in the fall with Isofen. The recommended dose is 60 grams of the drug per bucket of water.

According to gardeners, the main advantage of the variety "Zephyr" is its early term of ripening - the first berries appear very soon. Berries are sweet, large, fragrant and neat, quite calmly transporting. Productivity at a grade average, but he extremely seldom falls ill. And also there is information that the first fruits appear large in size and of an ugly shape, some flattened, but then the shape is rounded, although the size is already decreasing.

In the next video you will find a review of the first fruiting strawberries "Zephyr".