All about strawberries

The beginning and the middle of summer make us happy not only with stable hot days and the beginning of the holiday season, but also with the ripening of strawberries in our region. She falls in love at first sight, attracts with a bright shade and a heady aroma. A rich sweet strawberry flavor few will leave indifferent.

Fans of interesting scientific guesses like to ask their friends and household questions such as whether a tomato or a watermelon is a berry, fruit or vegetable. Similar riddles exist regarding strawberries, what is it - a fruit or a berry? However, a fair answer is truly unusual.

From the point of view of botany, strawberries are a nut, or rather a multipole, because what everyone used to call berries is false berries. The real fruits of the bushes are small seeds that look like dry nuts.

In botany, there is only the concept of "fruit", which by its characteristics may refer to berries or nuts. Since false berries cannot be considered fruits, the plant has seeds outside. Those plants whose seeds are located outside are called nuts.

The concept of "fruit" more narrow-minded. Fruits are called large enough juicy fruit. If its size decreases, there is one or many bones inside. However, based on the last criterion (seeds inside) strawberries cannot be called either a berry or a fruit, since its seeds are on the surface (outside) of a false berry.

Summarizing, we can say that strawberry is a complex nut, the fruits of which are dried achenes developing on a receptacle. What is commonly used in food, properly called false berry. However, this is true for botany; the combination of “strawberries”, which we will use in most of the article, is still more familiar in everyday life.

The name of the strawberry indicates the spherical shape of the fruit, since the club from the Old Russian is “ball”.

Often there is confusion between strawberries and garden strawberries, the second is considered a variety of strawberries, but smaller sizes. However, it is incorrect and more correct to call strawberries garden strawberries. The plant belongs to the family of Pink, and from Latin this name translates as "fragrant."

Berries ripen on compact low bushes. In the period of flowering they form fragrant flowers of pink and white. In the future, from the receptacle appear conical berries with yellow seeds on the surface.

Each berry has a stem, and is attached to the bush with a thin but durable "stalk". The weight of one berry is on average 22-25 g. However, this criterion largely depends on the characteristics of the plant variety, for example, the weight of hybrid analogues can reach 40-50 g.

Traditionally, the berries have a rich red, scarlet shade. In addition, today there are varieties of plants on which white and even light green fruits ripen. However, it is the berries of traditional red shades that bear the greatest benefit to the body. The darker and richer the color of strawberries, the higher the content of useful elements.

In the wild, the berry is found almost everywhere in Eurasia, America, it was also known to our Slavic ancestors.

Garden strawberries in the wild does not exist. Its cultivation began at the beginning of the XVIII century in Holland, from where the berry came to Europe. The appearance of their garden strawberries, or strawberries, is obliged to the Chilean strawberries and virgin berries from Virginia, the state of America. Being accidentally planted nearby in the French royal garden, they pollinated, and as a result of such cross-pollination a new hybrid was born. The latter became the “ancestor” of the existing strawberry varieties.

Today, the berry is grown almost throughout the globe (except for the Far North, Antarctica, deserts). The largest importers are Egypt, Morocco, Spain, Israel.In industrial volumes it is grown in the south of Russia, in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, in China and America.

The beneficial properties of strawberries, as well as the possible harm from its use, are due to the peculiarities of the chemical composition. Berries are rich in ascorbic acid, in this they even “overtake” citrus fruits. It is enough to eat only 100 g of the product (and these are 4-6 large berries) in order to cover 2/3 of the required daily dose of the body in the ascorbic.

It should be noted the presence of vitamins B, vitamins A, E, PP, K. The composition includes phosphorus, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium, magnesium. Sour taste due to the content of organic acids, are in the berry and dietary fiber with pectin. The saturation of the color of the berries - the merit of anthocyanins in the composition. And the juiciness of the fruit is due to the high content of structured water.

Fresh strawberries are dietary foods, because 100 grams contain only 42 kcal.

Such a rich vitamin and mineral composition makes the berries useful for strengthening the immune system, which helps to increase the body's resistance to the effects of viruses and negative environmental manifestations. The plant has an immunostimulating, anti-cold effect.

Due to the content of potassium and magnesium in the berries, they strengthen the heart. Vitamins E, C and PP improve the condition of blood vessels, increasing their elasticity. Iron provides an adequate level of oxygen in the blood, which is then distributed to organs and tissues. All this allows us to talk about the healing and firming properties of strawberries for the cardiovascular system.

They also help to reduce the concentration of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, normalize blood pressure. Vitamin K in the composition prevents the reduction of blood viscosity, helps to regulate its clotting. And cobalt, iron, molybdenum and vitamin B 12 are involved in blood formation processes.

Fluoride and calcium help strengthen bones and tooth enamel. It is important that calcium is combined in fruits with vitamin C, which is famous for improving the absorption of calcium. That is why the combination of milk and strawberries is so beneficial.

Due to the presence of vitamin E and anthocyanin, strawberries acquire a pronounced antioxidant effect. It is able to bind free radicals, demonstrates the ability to slow down the aging process of cells, has an antitumor effect.

The combination of vitamins E and A is necessary for the production of female sex hormones, a high content of vitamin B 9, or folic acid. The latter is especially important during pregnancy, as it is involved in the formation of the nervous system of the fetus, the laying of its internal organs, including the spinal cord and brain.

In addition to anthocyanin, providing a rich shade of berries, they contain carotenes. The latter have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, protect the organs of vision, allow you to maintain visual acuity.

Vitamins of group B are necessary to preserve youth and attractiveness of the skin. However, this is not their only merit, because the vitamins of this group are involved in metabolism, blood formation, strengthen the nervous system, improving the conductivity of nerve impulses.

The berries contain a large amount of organic acids, including salicylic acid. When used externally, it exhibits an antiseptic effect, and when administered orally it has antipyretic abilities.

Organic acids promote more correct and high-quality digestion of food. Fiber in berries serves the same purpose. It improves intestinal motility, along with pectin, allows to remove toxins, toxins and mucus from the intestines. Finally, a garden berry will help relieve constipation.

With antiseptic and antibacterial properties, as well as helping to strengthen local immunity, the berry is used in the treatment of angina, stomatitis, pharyngitis.

In addition to berries, the leaves of the plant are also used for medicinal purposes.Infusion based on them take as a means of increasing blood clotting. For this, 10-12 leaves are poured with a glass of hot water and insist 5-7 minutes under the lid. The composition is highly concentrated, it is enough to drink it in a tablespoon three times a day before meals.

Finally, strawberry leaves boiled in boiling water have a pronounced strengthening intestinal effect, so the fluid is effective in diarrhea.

Strawberry juice has found wide application in cosmetology, largely due to its whitening properties. It is used to whiten tooth enamel, fight against pigmentation and freckles, as the basis of masks for the face, neck and hands.

Harm can bring strawberries with its individual intolerance. Since strawberry is a rather allergenic product, it is not necessary to introduce it into the child's diet earlier than a year, and for children who are prone to allergies, familiarity with the berry should be postponed until 2 years.

Due to the presence of acids in strawberries, it can be harmful in case of increased acidity of the gastric juice. To abandon the tasting of fragrant berries should be in the acute period of gastritis, ulcers, diseases of the urinary tract, pancreas.

Be careful with early berry, which appears on the store shelves long before the growing season. In its composition a lot of nitrates and other "chemistry", accelerating the ripening of fruits. Such a strawberry will not be beneficial at best; at worst it will provoke an attack of allergy or even respiratory paralysis. In no case should not give such a product to children.

The most useful is considered to be the strawberry grown by hand. In extreme cases, preference should be given to that grown in your latitudes. Strawberries from China and America - a real proving ground for genetic engineers. By the way, there is a high probability of the presence of genetically modified products in unusual-looking berries (for example, a blue tint).

In the presence of stones and sand in the kidneys or bladder from the use of strawberries should be abandoned, because its components can cause the movement of stones, which is fraught with a deterioration of the patient. In addition, the berries have a diuretic and choleretic effect, which can also provoke the movement of large stones.

Today, there are many varieties of strawberries. Classification can be made depending on the time of fruiting (early, mid-season and late berry), resistance to drought or, on the contrary, cold weather (usually on this basis varieties are selected for regions with different climatic conditions - varieties for the south, middle zone, Siberia and the Urals) . You can subdivide the berries depending on their appearance (size, color), taste (sweeter or slightly sour taste).

Let us consider in more detail the most popular early ripe strawberry varieties.

• Alba. This kind of strawberry can often be found in stores, as it is well suited for growing on an industrial scale. Differs unpretentiousness in care, resistance to the majority of diseases typical for culture. The berries have a slightly elongated conical shape, rather large, rich red tone.

• "Oso Grand." Large, dense and very sweet berries rather crimson hue. Seeds are dark, almost do not stand out against the background of the surface of the berries. The variety is especially common in Spain, Florida.

• Rosanna. This variety from the Ukrainian breeders is characterized by the sweet and sour taste of berries, which have a rich red tint and a shape similar to the outlines of a drop.

Among the middle-ripening varieties such varieties have a special prominence.

• Webenil. Gardeners appreciate this variety for high yield. The berries are good not only for their own consumption, but also for sale - large, fragrant, spindle-shaped with excellent taste.

• Veger. Fruits to their liking resemble forest berry, but they are very large. The flesh is juicy, fleshy, aromatic. They have a rounded, slightly elongated shape.

• "Gift". The variety tolerates a short-term drought, quite unpretentious. Pleases with large fragrant fruits of a rounded shape of scarlet color.

The most favorite late-ripening varieties of gardeners are as follows.

• Prof. The bushes ripen incredibly sweet and fragrant berries of a beautiful scarlet hue. Such berries are most often used to decorate desserts and drinks. The variety is quite unpretentious, but most often suffers from ticks.

• "Great Britain". A variety that boasts a very large size of berries. Taste is also at altitude. However, it is not suitable for dry regions, since it reacts negatively even to a short-term deficit of moisture in the soil.

Among the repair varieties (i.e., capable of several fruiting per season) are the varieties "Queen Elizabeth" and "Hell."

Planting strawberries can be made in the fall and in the spring. In the first case, the work should be carried out in the period from mid-August to mid-September. Then next summer you can get a harvest. Spring disembarkation is done early, as soon as the air and soil temperature is sufficient. This summer there will be no harvest.

There is another landing option. If strawberries were grown in seedlings in a container, then it can be “moved” to the open ground from July to August. This should be done by transshipment, trying not to bare the roots and acting as carefully as possible.

Growing seedlings is a long-term process (it takes 2-3 years on average). Most gardeners prefer to purchase ready seedlings.

Garden strawberries like sunny and sheltered from the wind, soil rich in organic matter. It is well suited for the cultivation of black soil, loam or gray forest soil. Strawberries are involved in crop rotation, every 3-4 years you need to change the place of its "residence". Suitable precursors are marigolds, petunia, garlic and onions, cereals, basil, parsley and other spicy greens.

Typically, strawberries are planted in the fall, because during the spring planting the crop can be obtained only after a year. In addition, there is the likelihood of death of the bushes during the spring frosts. However, regardless of the landing time, it is necessary to prepare the site.

Soil preparation for spring planting is done in late autumn, for autumn - respectively, in early spring. Soil need to dig and fertilize. On 1 square. m will require 5 kg of manure or humus (to increase the amount by 2 times), 100 g of superphosphate and 50 mg of potassium salt.

If, for some reason, fertilizers have not been applied since autumn, then immediately before planting, 2-3 handfuls of humus should be put in each well (in this case, it cannot be replaced with manure - burn roots) and a handful of pure wood ash (obtained as a result of burning wood, without admixture of plastic and other "chemistry").

For planting in the spring using only powerful seedlings with a developed root system. There is no point in planting the sickly one; it cannot take root in the still harsh temperature conditions. Before planting, the bushes are hardened by placing in a cool (15-17 degrees) place for 3 days.

The wells should be deep enough.They must be completely upright rhizomes. The distance between the holes - 30 cm, the same between the rows.

For a more rapid engraftment of seedlings, the longest root is sometimes pinched. You can also tear off most of the leaves, leaving only 3-4 large plates. If you do not want to tear off most of the leaves, in any case, contact of the lower leaflets of the bush with the soil should be excluded. If this occurs, lower leaves should be removed.

You can plant seedlings in dry holes, and then, after sprinkling with earth, plenty of water. You can, on the contrary, pour water into the well, and then lower the seedling, sprinkle with earth and tamp. Landing is made on a dry cloudy day, in the morning or in the evening. For watering is used only warm water. If there is a risk of recurrent frosts, seedlings cover with foil.

At the beginning of the vegetative period, dry and old leaves should be cut off, the layer of last year’s mulch should be removed, and the aisle should be loosened. Since early May, the flowering of bushes begins, at this time the plant is fed with humus, potassium and wood ash.

During the formation of ovaries, a solution of boric acid is added to the soil (a teaspoonful of 1.2 liters of water). This will increase the number of ovaries. In general, an adult plant needs 3-4 supplements during the season. The latter is carried out after collecting the berries, at the end of the vegetative period, after trimming the leaves. To do this, use a solution of nitroammofoski (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water).

Experienced gardeners produce urea bushes in August (30 g per 10-liter bucket) to stimulate the formation of flower buds in the next season.

It is important to regularly weed the beds, preventing the formation of an earth crust, which prevents the penetration of moisture and oxygen to the roots.

In the interval between the formation of the ovaries and the ripening of berries, it is necessary to mulch the land under the bushes. This will help maintain the required level of moisture in the soil, its overheating, as well as prevent the contact of berries and soil, which causes a rapid rotting of the crop.

Pruning whiskers will help to increase yields, and to achieve tasty and large fruits - sufficient watering. Begin watering around the second half of April, pouring up to 10-12 liters of water per square meter. meter. In the spring before the summer heat is enough to produce watering 1 time in 7-10 days. In hot weather, it is necessary to increase the frequency of the procedure up to 3-4 times a week. From late summer to September, watering should be reduced to 2 times a week.

As already mentioned, every 3-4 years you need to transplant strawberries to a new place. You need to take only strong plants no older than 3 years, the rest are usually dug up and thrown away. For transplanting, choose a cloudy, but not a rainy day. The procedure can be performed in spring or at the end of August.

In general, the process is similar to the one that takes place when planting bushes - the requirements for soil preparation, wells and care remain the same. When transplanting, you need to pinch the fourth part of the longest root (you can have several). After the procedure, the plant needs plenty of watering and rest.

It is important to cut dry and yellowed, old leaves from the bushes. Be sure to use for this pruner, cutting off the shoots are not at the root, and leaving the "hemp" height of 8-10 cm. Pruning and mustache are. However, if you are planning to breed a mustache culture, you should leave the strongest side rosettes. There is no need to do this in all bushes, it is enough to choose some of the most powerful and well-fructifying.

Caring for berries in late autumn, when it is mulched with needles, ends. This will save the bushes from severe frosts.

Sweet fragrant berries are loved not only by people, but also by various insects, primarily ants, slugs, snails. Roots can damage nematodes, foliage - mites and leaf beetles, strawberry weevil. To prevent attacks of pests and a number of diseases, in most cases, proper preparation of the soil and shrubs for planting, adherence to the principles of agricultural technology allows. Deep digging of the soil, disinfection of the wells with a solution of potassium permanganate, refusal to plant weak or rotted bushes, timely weeding, loosening of the ground, compliance with irrigation rules, soil mulching are necessary.

Strawberries are widely used in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine. In the latter case, its immunostimulating, antibacterial properties, the ability to improve the cardiovascular and digestive systems, are especially valuable. Along with the berries, the juice and leaves of the plant are used.

Strawberries are used by many women as a skin care product. Its juice allows you to deal with hyperpigmentation, acne, greasy luster of the skin. Strawberry gruel masks tighten the skin and help prevent wrinkles.

In cooking, strawberries are used to make and decorate desserts, to preserve. In the latter case, it should be remembered that the most useful preserves, jams and juices are obtained under the condition of minimal heat treatment of the berries. There are even so-called “live” jams, when the berries are ground with sugar and sent to the refrigerator without cooking.

Another way to preserve the benefits of fresh berries is to freeze them. You can freeze as whole fruits, and pereterev them in mush.

Strawberry juice is tasty by itself or it can be added to cocktails, smoothies, compotes. It will help to color the dough for baking in a delicate pink shade and give it a strawberry flavor, juiciness. As a filling for pies, it is better to use gelled strawberry mass, for which pectin or gelatin is introduced into it and boiled with sugar. If you increase the amount of gelatin, you can get homemade marmalade.

It is a mistake to assume that strawberries are used only for making sweets. Its sweet and sour taste is perfect for various sauces for meat or fish. It is combined with chicken, seafood and cheeses, cilantro, arugula, salad greens. Dumplings with it have long become not only the national Ukrainian dish, but gained popularity all over the world.

Strawberries go well with dairy and dairy products, sweet and sour fruits and berries, sublimated or dried berries diversify the taste of cereals and salads. Traditionally, it is served to champagne and whipped cream. As a rule, such a “set” is more common at romantic dinners, which is quite logical - strawberries are a strong aphrodisiac.

Not every product boasts many interesting facts about itself. However, they literally accompany the strawberries, sometimes surprising by their uniqueness. We give the most interesting of them.

• In Belgium, there is a museum of strawberries, and not in a single copy.
• Gardeners in many countries are trying to grow record large berries. A citizen of America who has grown a berry weighing more than 200 grams succeeded in this, but her taste wanted to leave the best - was sour and watery. The Japanese experience turned out to be more successful. Here they managed to grow a fruit with a diameter of more than 30 cm, a width of 12 and a length of 8 cm. The taste of the fruit turned out to be juicy and pleasant.

• With a weak headache, instead of aspirin, you can eat some fresh strawberries. Substances included in its composition are similar in their action to aspirin.
• Despite the sweet taste, sugar in the composition of the berries is even less than in lemon.
• In the XVIII century, a variety of white strawberries was born, which was the result of crossing the usual red berries and pineapple. Today, there are also similar varieties, for example, Pinberry. The berries of this species have white color and red seeds, as well as a rich pineapple flavor.
• The most expensive dish of strawberries prepared in New Orleans in one of the restaurants. It will cost more than a million dollars, such a high price is explained by the following: strawberries are served decorated with cream and mint leaves, and also a ring with a huge diamond. This "delicacy" for lovers of romance and luxury.
• In Italy, in the town of Nemi, in the season of ripening strawberries, a holiday is organized in her honor. At this time, street festivities begin, and the main treat is strawberries in champagne, which is served to all guests of the holiday.

How to grow strawberries, see the next video.