Strawberry "Lambada": variety description and agricultural technology
The most common berry grown on private land is the strawberry. On the territory of Russia, many varieties of garden strawberries are cultivated. Each type has specific characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Among the wide variety, it is worth dwelling in more detail on the Lambada strawberry variety.
Description
Bush
This variety belongs to the class of very early varieties, however, this characteristic may vary depending on the climate in the growing region. As a rule, the ripening period of berries falls in mid-May or late spring. Gardeners and summer residents fell in love with this variety for unpretentious care. To get a rich harvest, you do not need to care for the plant daily. Shrubs are characterized by high growth and sprawling.
One of the main differences between the species is that there are few leaves on the bush. Color - standard, saturated green. Peduncles differ in size and power. During the flowering period, the shrub is abundantly covered with buds. The appearance of the flowers is the same as that of most varieties of garden strawberries - white petals and a yellow core. It is worth noting that this variety was bred through the efforts of Italian breeders in 1982. On the territory of Russia, the species is grown both on open ground and in greenhouses or greenhouses.
Fruit
The berries of the Lambada variety are pleasantly surprised by their size.The average weight of one fruit is about 40 grams. The shape may vary, but as a rule, strawberries are round-conical. In the process of ripening, the berries are painted in a bright scarlet color. Juicy pulp has the same color. If you cut a ripe fruit, you will not see white veins. Due to the large size, picking berries is very convenient. Taste qualities are excellent - sweetness without signs of sourness.
Advantages and disadvantages
Professional agronomists and ordinary gardeners who grow fruit crops in summer cottages and private gardens, highlight such positive qualities of this variety as:
- berries ripen early;
- ripe strawberries are the same size;
- fruits are ideal for making jam, jam or tasty and healthy compote, and they are also recommended to be eaten fresh;
- berries are remarkably stored in the freezer, while maintaining taste and benefits;
- shrubs are able to tolerate frosts up to 30 degrees Celsius below zero, even without full shelter; due to this characteristic, it is possible to grow a crop within the boundaries of regions with a harsh climate, but in this case it is necessary to additionally protect the plants;
- variety "Lambada" has strong immunity, protecting it from various diseases;
- despite the fact that the yield indicator is not only called the highest, experts note stable fruiting;
- excellent gastronomic qualities;
- due to the formation of many antennae, it will not be difficult to propagate the plant;
- due to the large size of the berries, the fruit picking process is fast.
After designating the positive qualities, it is imperative to note the weaknesses of the variety. This view has the following several drawbacks.
- Berries do not tolerate transportation well. In the process of transportation, they lose their attractive presentation. And also they quickly become unusable if stored without a refrigerator.
- The formation of many whiskers acts as both an advantage and a disadvantage. They greatly complicate the process of caring for the plant. During the growing season, they should be constantly disposed of.
After analyzing the above information, it can be noted with confidence that the shortcomings in the variety are minor and the positive qualities completely cover them.
reproduction
There are two methods of plant propagation: using seeds and using antennae. Each of the options has characteristic features. Experienced gardeners say that planting strawberries should be regularly updated every 2-3 years. When choosing a breeding method, most tend to favor seed, with which you can get a strong, strong seed. However, breeding with antennae has its advantages.
seeds
This technique has certain difficulties. The first thing gardeners and summer residents face is that it takes a lot of time for seed to germinate. A long germination time complicates and delays the growing process. And it is also necessary to carry out stratification, otherwise the seeds may not germinate at all. The material for sowing is prepared for a month, for this the seeds are mixed with sand and put in the refrigerator.
Planting grains begins in winter, from the end of the second winter month to the beginning of February. Professionals advise not to deepen the seeds into the soil, just spread them on moist soil. For germination use boxes.They are covered with glass and left in a warm room, where the temperature is up to +25 degrees Celsius. As soon as the first shoots have become noticeable, the glass panels are slightly opened, they should not be completely removed.
The picking of seedlings occurs as soon as several true leaves (2-3 pieces) appear on the plant. When working, be careful not to damage the roots. Experts strongly recommend growing strawberry seedlings in special peat tablets. In this case, when transplanting a plant to a new place, the berry will not experience stress and will take root on the site without any problems. Shrubs are transplanted to a permanent place with the advent of spring.
Work is carried out only when the air and the earth warm up, and the night frosts recede. To save time and effort, you can purchase ready-made seed in garden stores, but in this case there is no certainty about its quality.
Breeding with antennae
During the growing season, tendril plants form in large numbers. As a rule, excess material is removed, since its number is several times greater than the required amount. Experts advise leaving uterine bushes used exclusively for reproduction. The formation of "children" reduces the yield, taking strength from the shrub. Sockets are able to take root on their own.
To help strawberries, you can cover the soil under them or transfer them to a separate nursery for the development of the root system. Planting tendrils occurs with the advent of autumn.
Landing features
A rich, stable and high-quality harvest depends on many processes. One of them is planting shrubs.During work, it is necessary to follow certain rules that affect the development of the plant and its further fruiting. Experienced gardeners say that this variety feels great in an openwork shade. Such conclusions were made by summer residents who have been cultivating this species for several years.
If you want to achieve maximum yield, you should choose a site flooded with sunlight. It is worth making sure that the landing site is protected from strong winds. Strawberry "Lambada" loves loamy soil with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. The main characteristic for the soil is fertility and saturation with useful elements. Shrubs will develop properly on breathable soils.
If the plant is planted in salty soil, its growth process will be significantly slowed down.
How to prepare seedlings?
If planting material is used that was grown independently, then it does not need careful preparation. Another thing is seedlings purchased at the market. To disinfect shrubs, they are treated with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Plants are dipped into the composition for 10 minutes, and then washed with water. During planting, you can not deepen the heart of the seedling, it must be placed above the soil.
Before planting, the soil around the roots is compressed to get rid of air pockets. The optimal distance between the bushes is about 40 centimeters. Plants can be watered only at the root. Strawberries love plenty of moisture. This is followed by mulching. The following organics are used: humus, peat, straw, fermented sawdust (fresh cannot be used).
Care rules
It is worth adhering to a few basic rules of care from experienced gardeners.
- It is necessary to regularly loosen the earth around the shrubs. Be careful not to damage the roots.
- Do not allow the top layers of the soil to dry out, and do not overmoisten the ground. During flowering, watering should be reduced, it is recommended to use warm water.
- Fertilize the soil several times in one season. When ripening, mineral compositions should not be used. The best solution is organic. Most often, litter, mullein, green grass and wood ash are brought in. Both root and foliar fertilization methods are used. Strawberries absorb some useful elements remarkably through foliage.
- Despite strong immunity and resistance to disease, preventive measures will not be superfluous. The most common rearing problems are slugs and birds.
- After harvesting, the leaves are removed, keeping the growing point. In order for shrubs to survive the winter, they are fed. It is recommended to carry out the treatment with 2% Bordeaux mixture.
Reviews of gardeners
Due to the popularity of the variety on the network, you can find many reviews of Russian and foreign summer residents. The majority of all responses are positive. Both beginners and specialists noted the qualities indicated in the “Pros” section. Gardeners noted the excellent taste and earlier ripening of berries as the main advantage.
There are also negative reviews. Due to the poor tolerance of transportation, it is better to refuse this variety for those who intend to grow strawberries for sale.
For information on how to properly care for strawberries in spring, summer and autumn, see the following video.