Strawberry Charlotte

Charlotte strawberries are one of the most popular berry crops in the elite segment. The fruits are distinguished not only by their high tasting qualities, but also by their aesthetic appearance. Amazing taste, beautiful appearance, delicate strawberry aroma - all this makes the variety attractive for gardeners who prefer remontant types of strawberries.

This variety was bred in France in the mid-2000s, it belongs to remontant, neutral in relation to daylight hours. The taste of the berry is original, almost unique, different from other varieties. There are distinctive characteristics that set Charlotte apart from others:

• long term of fruit formation - until the first frost;

• juiciness, rich taste;

• spectacular regular shape of the berries;

• good frost resistance;

• excellent immunity.

It is optimal to use strawberries fresh and thermally processed. It is suitable for winter preparations - compotes, jams, marmalades, preserves. Strawberries can be frozen - they do not ferment when defrosting. At the same time, it is not worth transporting Charlotte, since she has a very short storage period. This is the best variety for growing on a plot without sales targets.

Externally, Charlotte looks like this:

• the bushes are not too tall, the density is average;

• foliage is large, the color is dark green;

• peduncles are formed above the foliage, but the weight of the fruit pulls them down;

• flowers are white, medium size;

• whiskers are not formed very actively, but this amount is enough for non-industrial breeding.

The advantages of the variety:

• ripens early and bears fruit for a long time;

• taste and aroma of fruits at the highest level;

• good immunity;

• good survival rate of plantings;

• non-capriciousness in terms of soil;

• resistance to low temperatures;

• good yield.

There are also disadvantages that should not be forgotten:

• it is undesirable to transport berries;

• short shelf life;

• does not tolerate dry weather.

As mentioned above, the berry ripens early, you can get the first harvest at the end of spring. Fruiting is stable, but after the first wave there is a short break - about 7 days. After the strawberries bloom again, and new fruits ripen. In the subsequent period of fruiting, interruptions do not happen anymore. Ripening is not quite uniform, usually ripe red berries are harvested. It is recommended to check the bushes daily so as not to miss the formation of new fruits.

The yield level of the variety is quite high, one bush brings about a kilogram of berries during the season. Fruit is harvested on dry days in the evening, wet strawberries should be dried, otherwise they will rot after picking. If you want to keep the crop longer, you should collect it without waiting a couple of days before ripening. However, the stalks must be preserved.

Be sure to work with gloves so that the berries are not accidentally damaged. And also it is optimal to use scissors for cutting. Berries are stored in containers made of plastic, wood or cardboard, cloth or paper is laid out at the bottom. The maximum number of layers in a container is 2.

The quality of Charlotte berries is very high; outwardly, they have a number of characteristic features:

• round shape, absolutely correct, aesthetic;

• the color is red, very bright;

• ripening is intense;

• berries are formed in bunches;

• the weight is not very large - about 25 grams;

• the skin is dense, very durable;

• berries shine with gloss;

• the surface is strewn with seeds;

• the pulp is of a delicate consistency, very juicy;

• the taste is sweet, has nutmeg notes;

• aroma of strawberry type;

• the first wave yields a harvest of large berries, the weight of each fruit can reach 35 grams, the second wave yields smaller berries;

• rainy weather can affect the taste of the variety, the uniqueness and nutmeg taste are lost, but the sweetness does not disappear.

Caring for strawberries of this variety is not too difficult, but a number of rules must be followed.

• Moisturizing. Immediately after planting, the bushes are watered abundantly for about 10 days so that the berries take root better. In the future, it is enough to water the berries just regularly so that dryness does not occur. It is enough to moisturize the berries once every 7 days, but if the summer is hot and dry, it is better to increase the frequency. Refuse watering with too cold water, it is better to use warm water. The water must first settle. Moisturizing is done in the evening or morning hours, when there is no bright sun rays.

• Loosening. Since the soil from above becomes hard after watering, the crust must be broken. Accordingly, after moistening, you need to loosen the soil. This is done the day after watering.

• Weed removal. It is imperative to weed the strawberry plantation in a timely manner so that the weeds do not drown out the bushes. Weeds prevent the berries from actively ripening, pulling nutrients over themselves. Weeding is done as needed - when the weeds appear. Mulching with straw, needles or other methods helps a lot.

• Top dressing. The procedure is necessary for this variety, long fruiting affects the quality of the soil, from which useful substances disappear. Nutritional supplements are applied in a timely manner. In the spring, after the snow melts, nitrogen fertilizers are used. The second feeding is carried out in the summer, until the berries are formed - formulations with phosphorus and potassium will be needed. The third organic feeding is carried out in the autumn, when fruiting has ended.

If the planting material is of high quality, then there is no problem in growing a good harvest. Planting is best done in spring or at the very end of summer, with the latter option being preferable. This makes it possible for the seedlings to take root until the cold weather, and bear fruit from the new season.

The selection of a site should take into account the following points:

• good lighting, high place;

• protection from drafts, wind;

• lack of groundwater close to the surface.

It is optimal if, before planting the berries, radishes, onions, garlic, carrots, legumes, and beans grew in this area. There are no special requirements for the soil; neutral, slightly acidic soils, black soil are suitable. The preparatory measures are as follows:

• weed removal;

• digging;

• feeding with manure, ash.

Optimal landing pattern:

• row spacing - at least 40 cm;

• between the bushes - at least 25 cm.

Small pits are formed, a seedling is placed there, water is injected, the roots must be straightened, the seedling must stand upright. The earth is compacted, moistened and mulched.

Since the Charlotte variety is not grown commercially, it is pollinated on its own. But in greenhouse conditions, it is worth helping the bushes with pollination by hand or with the help of special devices.

Despite the resistance of the variety to various diseases, there are ailments that can harm the Charlotte variety. First of all, it is brown spotting, it arises due to waterlogging, violation of the planting pattern in the direction of increasing density. If spots appear on the foliage, it is necessary to treat the bushes with "Fitosporin" - the main thing is that no fruits are formed during this period. Strawberry mites are also dangerous, because of which the leaves dry and curl. In this case, spraying with "Karbofos" is carried out. As a preventive measure, the bushes are periodically treated with potassium permanganate and tobacco dust.

The variety reproduces most often with a mustache, which is formed on healthy bushes. The plant is separated in August, the shoot takes root quite well. There is another way - dividing the bush, which requires a large two-year-old bush. It needs to be dug up, cut with a manganese-treated knife and planted.