- Authors: Dutch firm Fresh Forward
- Name synonyms: Zumba, Fragaria ananassa
- Taste: sweet, with a hint of sourness, harmonious and pleasant
- The size: large
- Weight: 25-30 gr
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: 0.4-0.5 kg per bush
- Repairability: No
- Ripening terms: mid-early
- Appointment: universal
The versatile variety of garden strawberries Rumba, with proper care, will delight you with a rich and tasty harvest. Due to the preservation of the fruit, even during long-term transportation, the berries have become popular in commercial use.
Breeding history of the variety
The non-remontant fruit crop was developed through the efforts of Dutch scientists. Scientists from the Fresh Forward company were engaged in its development. The specialists managed to obtain a variety, the berries of which have high commercial qualities. Rumba strawberries are perfect for growing in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Description of the variety
A distinctive feature of the plant is that the leaves are ovoid. They are large and dark green in color.
The bushes are dense, powerful and tall. The green mass is dense, and the shoots are widely scattered. Due to these characteristics, for the comfortable development of this variety, a sufficient amount of free space must be provided between the rows. Antennae are formed in the center of the bushes.
Ripening terms
Strawberries are mid-early garden crops. The flowering period is late May - early June. Due to the lack of remontability, the bushes bear fruit once. In the southern regions, the harvest is harvested earlier than in other regions.
Yield
Rumba garden strawberry is a high-yielding variety. At home, from one bush, you can collect from 400 to 500 grams of berries. When growing strawberries under commercial conditions, the yield can be increased to one kilogram per bush. To do this, you need to accurately comply with all the conditions of agricultural technology.
Berries and their taste
Ripe berries acquire a rich cherry color. As they mature, they turn dark red. The weight of one berry reaches about 30 grams. The shape of the fruit can be either round-conical or regular conical. The pulp is firm, but juicy. Its color is bright scarlet. Large berries grow and ripen at the same time, covering almost the entire bush.
Tasters describe the taste of the fruit as sweet, balanced and pleasant. There is a slight sour taste. The aroma is intense. Strawberries smell like wild strawberries. The berries do not crunch when eaten.
Growing features
Rumba strawberries are medium-sized varieties. In the northern regions, it can be grown in greenhouses and greenhouses. On the territory of Russia, garden strawberries can be found in all regions of the country, including the north. The plant is not afraid of frost and easily tolerates long winters.
Site selection and soil preparation
The quality of the crop directly depends on the correctly selected area. An ideal location for growing strawberries is sunlit and protected from drafts and winds. The berry does not grow well in the shade. Lack of sunlight negatively affects the gastronomic qualities of the fruit. If there are tall bushes, trees or buildings near the planting site, it is better to choose another site.
And also strawberries prefers fertile soil rich in useful microelements. In the presence of groundwater, they should be located at least one meter to the ground surface. The earth should be not only nutritious, but also light.
Now that the landing site has been selected, you need to prepare it properly.
The first step is to remove all weeds.
A layer of earth 30 centimeters thick is dug up.
The soil is fed with humus. 6 kilograms of organic matter are used per square meter. And also experts advise using ash at the rate of 200 grams per square meter.
Preparatory work should be done about 2 months before planting strawberries.
Pollination
The garden strawberry Rumba has flowers of both sexes, thanks to which the plant is self-pollinated without the participation of additional pollinators. This feature allows you to get a rich harvest even with a single planting.
The buds are located on long and powerful peduncles. Up to 6 large berries can appear on one shoot. Peduncles grow at the same level with the green mass.
Top dressing
This variety places high demands on the fertilizers used. Nutrients are needed even if the bushes grow on fertile soil.
During the growing season, garden strawberries are fed three times.
The first time fertilizers are used with the arrival of spring, when the bushes are moving away from wintering. Experienced gardeners recommend opting for nitrogen-based formulations. This component activates the development of green mass, which is extremely important at the first stage of the development of fruit crops.
The next time fertilizers are applied to the soil after the ovaries have formed. Now potash and phosphorus compounds are used.
The third and last time the bushes are fed in the fall, as soon as the harvest is harvested. Additional nutrients are needed for the plant to survive the winter and not suffer from frost. Use organic compounds.
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.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
The appearance and taste of the berries significantly depend on how the plant will winter. Rumba is a winter-hardy variety.But you need to prepare for the upcoming frost immediately after the end of fruiting. Strawberries must be watered and fed with a composition containing nitrogen. In regions with severe and little snowy winters, plantations are covered with non-woven material or spruce branches.
Diseases and pests
Garden strawberry bushes need to be protected from infections and dangerous pests. Whiteflies, raspberry-strawberry weevils and spider mites pose a great danger to the Rumba strawberry variety. These insects are small but dangerous. They not only interfere with the growth of bushes, but can also cause the death of the plant.
The plant must be processed, but only during the appropriate period. Protective compounds are used before flowering or after picking berries. Suitable chemicals can be purchased at horticultural stores.
And it is also recommended to follow the traditional preventive measures inherent in all varieties.
The Rumba variety is inherently resistant to gray mold, powdery mildew and brown spot. To be sure of the health of the bushes, you need to carefully examine the garden strawberries for symptoms: gray bloom, brown spots, etc.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to pick ripe berries on time and take care of the site. With the arrival of spring, it is recommended to spray strawberries with "Azocene".
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
Experienced gardeners advise propagating this strawberry variety with a mustache. As soon as the side shoots appear, they must be rooted, pressed to the ground, and separated from the mother bush.
The second breeding option is division. This method helps to quickly grow the strawberry plantation. In this case, you need to choose strong and healthy plants that are divided into horns. When choosing a division, the survival rate is much lower compared to mustache breeding.