Strawberry Zephyr: a description of the variety, planting and care, photo

The benefits of strawberries are not in anyone's doubt. Breeders around the world continue to breed new varieties that meet the preferences of those who grow it, and those who eat it.

Great demand is enjoyed by early varieties with large and juicy berries that tolerate transportation and storage, for example, strawberry Zephyr, the description of which shows that it meets all these requirements.

Early strawberry varieties

The most popular are the early varieties of strawberries. They open the fruit and berry summer season and buy out the best.

To early varieties that yield the harvest by the end of May, include:

• The Alba variety is distinguished by bright red berries, which easily transfer transportation and storage.
• Strawberry Mariska stands out with a strong aroma and a touch of wild strawberry. Her burgundy berries are so sweet that they can not be compared to any other variety. It grows well in arid places.
• To the supernormal is the Strawberry Zephyr, the characteristic of which has the highest score among many amateur gardeners. This variety is resistant to diseases, gives large berries of bright red color weighing from 40 to 60 grams.

All early varieties (for example, Lakomka, Niada, Zephyr and others) are considered the most popular for commercial cultivation of strawberries due to high demand and price. To properly choose a variety and understand, for example, what a strawberry Zephyr, the description of the variety will be the first landmark.

Description of the variety Marshmallow

This breed was brought out by breeders from Denmark and made it resistant to diseases that yield high yields already in the first season.

Interesting berries have strawberry Zephyr. Description of the variety, photos give the following characteristics to the fruits: very large, sweet, often have the shape of a cock's comb, well tolerate transportation and storage.

The peculiarity of this variety is that the fruits of it ripen together, have a good marketable appearance and high yield.

The bush of this species is distinguished by powerful flower stalks, so the berries do not bend to the ground, as in other varieties. Strawberry Zephyr, the description of the variety indicates that it tolerates drought well, is not susceptible to disease, and does not lose marketability in long haulage.

All these properties are important when creating a "strawberry" business. If you grow this variety in the garden to eat, then it will not disappoint the gardeners, because this species is not expedient. The main thing is to choose the right place for a strawberry garden.

Selection of a place for a variety Marshmallow

Many planters know the strawberry Zephyr. Planting and caring for her begin with the definition of an optimally favorable place.

It should be a flat surface, completely protected from drafts and wind, with good lighting. Although this variety is not whimsical and grows on any land, it is still preferable to loam with an acid-base or neutral balance.

Strawberries prefer organic fertilizers, for example peat with humus on loamy soils. To prevent diseases of the root system, it is good to use a solution of copper sulfate at the rate of 2-3 st. Spoons for 10 liters of water.

Strawberry Zephyr (the description of the variety is especially emphasized) is well-fruitful for 3-4 years, after which it needs to pick up a new place for planting. Well, if before that there grew and fertilized garlic, carrots, beets or cabbage. After them, the land is most favorable for the growth of strawberries. After you have chosen a place, you can start landing.

Planting strawberries Marshmallow

The best time for planting seedlings of strawberries is the end of August - the middle of September. There are varieties that give the first harvest after planting in the spring, for example Strawberry Zephyr. Description of the variety, photos of early fruits are a good advertisement for farmers who want a quick result.

First of all, prepare the ground. To do this, prepare the wells and fill with a mixture of garden soil, horse manure or compost with 2 tbsp. Spoons of biohumus and 2 glasses of ash. The wells so fertilized will become the best "home" for the root system of strawberries.

Strawberry seedlings should have 2-3 strong leaves and be sold with closed roots, for example in a glass or a pot.

During planting, it is necessary to spread the roots along the bottom of the hole and make sure that when digging in, the ground does not cover the top. Correctly chosen depth of planting is a guarantee of a good harvest, so the optimal hole has a size of 25 x 25 x 25 cm. It is better to plant in cloudy weather or in the evening, and in order to protect tender shoots from sunlight, they can be covered with burdock leaves in the first days.

After planting, the ground around the seedlings should be well watered and mulched, for which it is loosened and covered with straw or film.

To obtain large berries, it is also necessary to observe the distance between the bush. It should be 50 cm. If there is not enough space on the site, you can plant seedlings in a staggered order, which will save space, but will give strawberries an opportunity to grow into large bushes. When planting strawberries in spring it is important to follow the rules of care for it.

Care for strawberries in spring

If the strawberry Lakomka, Zephyr and Niada (the description of each variety must be studied before planting) was planted in the autumn, then in spring it is necessary to empty the beds from the snow and pour them with warm water.

To quickly "wake up" plants, they can be covered with bottles of warm water, and cover the strawberry itself with a film. Water, heated by the sun for a day, will give its warmth at night.

When the heat is finally established, the film can be removed. It is worth cleaning the "strawberry" area and collect all the old leaves that are better to burn, because they can be harmful bacteria.

If the seedlings of strawberries are planted in the spring, then in the preparation of the soil includes digging with the laying of fertilizers and watering with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will fertilize the soil and protect against harmful bacteria.

Many gardeners make high beds, so that the berries do not touch the ground, which ensures their greater weight and size. Along this bed, it is useful to pour sand, which will not only retain moisture, but will not allow slugs and snails to tasty fruits.

Planted at the end of April - early May strawberries Marshmallow (the description of the variety is guaranteed) will bear fruit in the summer. For this it is loved by those who decided to create a "strawberry" business.

To increase the yield, it is recommended to spray a solution of boric acid at the time of flowering, based on 1 liter of water, 0.5 parts of a spoonful of the substance. This will help the plant to form a large number of ovaries.

Also, the yield is affected by proper summer care.

Caring for strawberries in summer

In order not to reduce the yield of strawberries, in the summer it is possible to feed the roots of slurry or nitrogen fertilizers with nitrate (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water). Do this enough once in 2 weeks.

In hot summer, you should not only water the root system well, but also sprinkle the leaves with infusions from the husks of onion, celandine or wormwood.

Soil loosening and weed clearing are carried out regularly, and the cut grass is left for mulching on site.

Berries in summer should be torn off early in the morning, before they warm up in the sun. This will preserve their presentation and taste.

During harvesting, you must remove the extra mustache, leaving only the first, second and third order tendrils. This will increase the yield of the variety.

It is important to care for strawberries in the autumn-winter period.

Caring for strawberries in autumn

After harvesting in August, it is recommended to mow strawberry bushes, leaving 5-6 cm above the surface, so as not to damage the "hearts" of the plant.

For the future harvest, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are introduced in autumn . At the end of September, it is necessary to "powder" the soil with ashes, add superphosphates and conduct abundant watering. The same watering should be done before the start of frost in late autumn.

After the last watering, it is recommended to cover the bushes with fallen leaves and lapnika, which will keep the strawberries from frosts and keep the snow on the bed.

Useful properties of strawberries

What kind of strawberry Zephyr, you can understand by learning its useful properties. Each berry contains the maximum amount of carotene and manganese, which reduce the risk of developing tumors and premature aging, increase immunity, and have a beneficial effect on brain activity.

Strawberry includes folic acid, malic acid and salicylic acid. Only 5 berries of strawberries contain as much vitamin C as a big orange. Also among its useful trace elements are iron, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Berry helps hypertensives reduce blood pressure, and diabetics lower blood sugar.

Therefore, strawberries remain the most popular berry sales in the whole world.