- Authors: Italian selection
- Taste: sweet with subtle sourness and bright cherry notes
- The size: very large
- Weight: 30 - 35 g
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: 1.5 - 2 kg per bush
- Ripening terms: early
- Appointment: universal
- Description of the bush: powerful, semi-spreading
- Berry color: deep red
Strawberry plantations in garden plots are almost a must. Madeleine variety is rich in vitamins, has an amazing aroma and original taste. At the same time, this variety does not require especially complex care.
Description of the variety
The variety was developed in the late 1990s by Italian breeders. Externally, the strawberry looks like this:
bushes differ in power, rather tall, type - semi-spreading;
foliage color - dark green, glossy gloss;
the roots of the bush are quite strong, so they take root well on different soils.
the peduncles are tall, above the foliage, but the fruits pull them down;
the size of the flower is medium to large, there is a lot of pollen;
whiskers are actively formed, there are almost no deformed fruits.
The variety has its own advantages that attract gardeners:
early ripening;
excellent yield, especially in greenhouse conditions;
visually, the berries are very beautiful;
fruit size is almost identical;
excellent survival rate and high frost resistance;
hot weather does not spoil the berries, drought is well tolerated;
immunity is strong, it grows well even on poor soil.
There are also disadvantages to consider:
it is necessary to carry out measures to prevent spotting;
does not tolerate excess moisture;
taste for an amateur - there is sourness;
not very well stored.
Ripening terms
This strawberry variety belongs to the early varieties, while the fruits ripen very amicably. The fruiting period is up to three weeks.
Yield
The variety is distinguished by a high yield, from one bush you can get at least one and a half kilograms of berries. In the south or in greenhouse conditions, yields can be even higher. Harvesting requires carefulness, it must be removed with the stem of the fruit, since the berry is easily damaged. Storage must be organized very carefully, since at normal temperature the removed berries are stored for no more than 24 hours.
Berries and their taste
The fruits of this variety are large in size, the weight varies from 35 g of the first berries to 20 g in subsequent waves. The shape is elongated like a cone. The pulp is quite dense, the consistency is pleasant, the juiciness and aroma are high. There are no voids, achenes are deepened, the color is bright red. Dessert qualities are high - sweetness is complemented by sourness and cherry aftertaste.
Growing features
To achieve a good harvest, it is necessary to organize competent care. A number of regular activities are required.
Moisturizing. The variety tolerates drought well, but a prolonged lack of watering will negatively affect the quality of berries. Moisturizing needs to be organized a couple of times a week using a drip system or under the root.
Loosening. It is very important to loosen the beds every 7 days to a depth of 4 cm, no more. At the same time, you need to get rid of weeds.
Pruning. Since the mustache is formed very actively, they must be removed in a timely manner, otherwise the bush will begin to lose strength. The mustache is removed by trimming, pulling them out is strictly prohibited.
Fertilizer. They begin to feed the plant in the second year. In the spring, manure, dung, and urea are suitable for these purposes. While the buds are forming, you need to add a potassium composition.And before wintering, complex feeding will be required.
Preparing for winter. Since the resistance of this variety is high, if the winters are up to minus 20 degrees, then the snow cover is sufficient. If the weather is more severe, you need to cover the bushes with needles, straw, spruce branches.
Site selection and soil preparation
The optimal time for planting is autumn or late summer, so strawberries take root better before the cold weather, and the fruits will be tied up next season. Choose a site that is well lit, otherwise the growth of fruits slows down. Strawberries are not particularly whimsical to the soil, but they grow best of all on loams and sandstones, clay soil is also not excluded. It is necessary to organize a drainage layer, exclude areas with high groundwater.
Landing Algorithm:
choose a tape scheme - for each tape there are 2 or 3 rows;
between bushes up to 30 cm, row spacing - up to half a meter;
the bushes are arranged in a checkerboard pattern;
do not deepen the heart, and do not bend the roots when planting.
Pollination
Since the plant has bisexual flowers, it is not necessary to organize additional pollinators. It is quite enough if the landing is carried out in a group manner.
One of the important techniques in strawberry care is feeding. Regular fertilization guarantees a rich harvest. There are several different ways to feed strawberries, and each of them is designed for a specific period of plant development. During flowering, fruiting and after it, feeding should be different.
Diseases and pests
This variety has good immunity to the main diseases that are dangerous for strawberries. Only spots are at risk; they can be prevented with the help of special spraying. Chemical treatments are carried out before flowering begins and after harvest. During the growing season, you can use a mustard solution, decoctions of yarrow and onion husks.
Strawberries are often subject to many dangerous diseases that can seriously undermine their condition. Among the most common are powdery mildew, gray mold, brown spot, anthracnose, and verticillosis. Before buying a variety, you need to inquire about its disease resistance.
Reproduction
In order for the yield to be at a high level, it is important to renew the berry beds every 3 years. The most inexpensive way from the point of view of time and effort is reproduction with the help of a mustache. The algorithm is as follows:
you need to pick up the most productive bushes, taking into account last year's harvest;
peduncles are removed, whiskers are placed over a container with a nutrient-type mixture;
it is enough to leave 2 sockets - the most powerful, and then pinch the mustache;
after the mustache takes root, several leaves will appear, you can cut it off;
after the seedling is planted in a pre-selected place.