- Authors: USA
- Name synonyms: Geneva
- Taste: sweet
- The size: large
- Weight: 25-30 gr
- Yield: 0.1-0.15 kg per bush
- Repairability: Yes
- Ripening terms: early
- Advantages: stable fruiting even in adverse weather conditions
- Appointment: universal
Strawberries are grown in almost any home garden. Gardeners prefer varieties with high yields, large berries and excellent taste. These varieties include the remontant strawberry variety Geneva.
Breeding history of the variety
The Geneva variety was developed by American breeders. This happened in the 80s of the XX century. And already 10 years after that, Geneva began to often meet in the beds of amateur gardeners from around the world.
Description of the variety
A distinctive feature of the variety is stable fruiting even under adverse weather conditions. Bushes 25-30 cm high, spreading, powerful. Leaves are light green, located on long petioles, with well-visible serrations along the edges. Peduncles bend slightly towards the ground. 6-7 whiskers are formed on the bush. The purpose of the variety is universal. The berries are good both fresh and canned. The presentation of the fruit is at a high level.
Ripening terms
Geneva belongs to the early ripening varieties. The harvest ripens in waves. The first berries appear in early summer. Until mid-June, the first stage of berry ripening ends. This is followed by a short period of rest of the plant. It lasts a little over 2 weeks, and re-flowering begins. The plant throws out a mustache. In the first decade of July, fruiting begins again.
If the mustache with rosettes released by the plant is rooted, then after the appearance of 7 leaves on them, flowering begins.
Berries can be harvested not only on mother bushes, but also on young plants.
The fruiting period of Geneva is extended and lasts until the first autumn cold weather.
Yield
The variety gives a good harvest. Berries on a bush usually range from 0.1 to 0.15 kg.
Berries and their taste
The berries are bright red, glossy, large, weighing an average of 25-30 g. They are truncated-conical, ribbed. The pointed tip sometimes remains light. The pulp is red, very juicy and dense. Very sweet berries with a pronounced strawberry aroma. Accreted berries are quite common.
Growing features
It is recommended to grow Geneva on agrofibre or in high beds. This will protect the berries from soil contamination during rain, and will also save low-lying berries from decay.
The plant requires abundant watering. But due to the superficial location of the roots, this must be done with caution. It is better to use a small amount of water, but water it often. If there is no rain, then water this strawberry every 2 days, as it does not tolerate a lack of moisture.
Loosening is carried out carefully so as not to touch the roots located close to the surface of the earth.
Site selection and soil preparation
For the beds, choose a sunny, sheltered from the wind, well-lit place. Peat and sod-podzolic soils are not suitable for Geneva.
The distance between the bushes should be large, about 40 cm.Row spacing - 70 cm.
Geneve strawberries can be planted under arches or in greenhouse conditions.
In one place, it can be grown for no more than 2-3 years in a row.
Pollination
Bees and bumblebees pollinate strawberry flowers. Additional pollination is not required.
Top dressing
You can feed Geneva several times throughout the year. Urea (urea) is introduced in early spring. In the fall, you can add humus or compost. It is also recommended to feed with complex mineral fertilizers after the completion of the first fruiting.
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 variety has medium frost resistance. If there is a threat of severe frosts, the bushes must be covered. This is especially true for regions with little snow in winter. Straw and spruce branches are used for shelter.
Diseases and pests
The Geneva strawberry is highly resistant to fungal diseases. Ramulariasis (white spot), brown spot, gray rot practically do not affect strawberries of this variety. Geneva shows high resistance to powdery mildew.
Strawberry mites can harm bushes. Therefore, it is recommended to plant tansy, mint, lavender next to the garden bed. This will serve as a preventive measure against tick damage to strawberries.
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
This variety of garden strawberries is grown either from seeds or by rooting a mustache.
The seeds are placed in a refrigerator, left there for about a month. Sowing time should be at the end of February.
Seeds are spread on the surface of the prepared moist soil, stuffed into low containers. It is convenient for this to use transparent trays from semi-finished meat products. Sprinkle the seeds on top with a thin layer of earth. After that, the container must be placed on a light windowsill. Until the emergence of shoots, the temperature is maintained within 22-25 degrees above zero.
Seedlings appear unevenly within 35-60 days after sowing. Therefore, after the appearance of the first shoots, it is necessary to provide the seedlings with artificial lighting.
The pick is carried out after the appearance of the second true leaf. A young plant needs drip irrigation. 10-14 days before planting strawberries in the ground, it is necessary to harden the seedlings.
When choosing a propagation method with a mustache, it is necessary to root them after the first wave of berry ripening.
Review overview
The gardeners who grow Geneva consider its appearance to be a successful work of breeders. It is not for nothing that it has been popular among gardeners for many years. Its qualities are noted, such as yield and large-fruited. This strawberry variety is distinguished among others for its excellent taste, pleasant aroma of berries, as well as the possibility of propagation by seeds.