The history of wild strawberries begins in ancient times, and cultivation of garden strawberries began to be dealt with only 300 years ago.
In the Middle Ages, wild strawberries were called a symbol of pleasure, and healers used its berries to treat diseases of the throat, kidneys and bruises. They began to plant it in the front gardens, but at the same time the berry itself did not change its properties, it remained tasty, fragrant, but small.
Everything changed in 1710 when the Chilean wild strawberry “Fragaria chiloensis” was brought to Europe. She was planted in the royal garden by Antoine Duchamp, a French botanist, near a variety of European wild strawberries. Both plants were inter-pollinated and a new variety was obtained, which was called pineapple strawberry.
Strawberry Varieties
Breeders around the world have tried to grow strawberry varieties that meet any requirements. So, there is a strawberry that gives 2 harvests a year, and there are varieties, for example, Clery strawberries, reviews of gardeners confirm this, which are stored for a long time and well tolerate transportation.
According to their characteristics, strawberry varieties are divided into the following categories:
1. Early grades. This variety of fragrant and sweet berries pleases fans with its appearance already in late May - early June. These include:
- “Alba” - large and sweet fruits that tolerate transportation well.
- “Clery” is a strawberry from Italy, which was bred in 1998. It has dark cherry berries that easily tolerate long distances.
- Variety "Octave" comes from Ukraine, its advantages are a very high yield, large berries with dark red and fragrant flesh.
- The American Honey variety is the most popular among strawberry lovers, as it has huge berries reaching 45 g in weight.
2. Mid-season varieties give fruit throughout June. These include the following.
- One of the giants of these varieties is "Mashenka", whose fruits reach 120 g of weight. This strawberry has a sweet and sour taste and aroma of strawberries. For what is loved by many gardeners.
- The homeland of the Symphony variety is Scotland. It has large and very tasty fruits that are practically not susceptible to diseases, for example, gray rot.
A wide variety of mid-season strawberry varieties allows you to make the best choice for an amateur gardener, taking into account the climatic location of the garden.
3. Late strawberry varieties ripen in early July and are more suitable for summer residents living in a climate where the heat comes later and the summer is short.
- The variety from England “Chelsea Senior Citizen” is popular, which will delight juicy and tasty fruits that are resistant to long-term storage and transportation.
- "Vicoda" is a "native" from Holland, which gives large and very juicy fruits of a dark red color. This variety is not “attacked” by white mold.
When choosing a variety for planting, first of all, you need to determine the criteria that it must have - ripening period, size of berries, yield, winter resistance, taste.
Strawberry Clery
Clery is a strawberry that is known and loved all over the world for its early ripening, taste, aroma and excellent ability to transport transportation over long distances.
The berries in this variety have the same size and shape, which gives them a good presentation. In Europe, a large number of farmers cultivate it because of the high productivity and preservation of the fruit. In supermarkets, on the shelves with fruit, it is most often precisely “Clery” (strawberry). The variety description consists of the following criteria:
- The color of the berries is very bright and attractive, carmine red with a “varnished” shine. The pulp is juicy and dense with a moderate aroma. The shape is conical with regular lines and a pointed tip. All fruits have a dense skin, which allows them to last longer than other varieties. The weight of an individual berry reaches 30 g, and some specimens grow up to 45 g.
- The legends surrounding the Clery strawberry are the yield of this variety. Perhaps the highest and stable simultaneous ripening of fruits among other varieties is up to 250-290 centners per hectare. This makes it the most frequently grown industrial species in Western countries.
- “Clery” (strawberry) begins to bloom in early May, much earlier than most early varieties.
- It has rather tall bushes, not too “rich” in leaves, but they are saturated and bright green.
- The Clery strawberry variety has the largest percentage of salable berries due to the large number of powerful peduncles.
- Fruits 4 years, after which the yield falls. Perfectly propagated by osoobrazovanie and from one uterine bush, up to 30 seedlings are obtained.
These are the main qualities that the Clery strawberry has, the reviews of those who grow it in their gardens confirm this.
The best time for landing
The Clery strawberry variety can be planted at any time of the year, but the results will be different:
- If planting is made in the spring, then this should be done in early April immediately into the open ground. Planting in May will slow down the growth of bushes, so it is necessary to observe the early planting dates.
- During the summer planting there will be more trouble, since the seedlings should be protected from the sun, water more and be sure to loosen the soil. It is better if it will be on a cloudy day, so that the sun does not singe delicate bushes.
- Most of all, the Clery strawberry seedlings love autumn, from late August to mid September, when the first frosts are not yet on the ground.
Regardless of the timing of planting, the chosen place and soil quality play an important role.
Choosing a place to land
The main requirements of strawberries to choose a place for planting are a flat surface and the south-western side of the site, protected from the wind. Harvest dies if the air temperature drops below +10 degrees, and strawberries do not like stagnation of water and drafts.
Since strawberry yield falls after 3-4 years, each time a new place should be selected for planting, taking into account these requirements.
Planting strawberries
Planting strawberry seedlings is the fulfillment of mandatory rules that ensure fast and healthy growth of bushes and a plentiful harvest.
- Treatment of the root system in a special strengthening solution - dissolve 1 tsp in 10 l of water. copper sulfate and 3 tbsp. l salt. This will strengthen the roots and protect against diseases.
- Soil preparation consists in the addition of organic fertilizers, and before planting it should be dug up, poured and loosened.
- The distance between the bushes during planting should be at least 15-20 cm. Most often, gardeners use a two-row planting, at which the distance between the ridges is 70 cm.
- The hole should not be deep, and the roots should be straightened before landing.
Landing does not take much time if preliminary work has been carried out.
Strawberry Care
The Clery variety is a strawberry that does not require special care and certain knowledge, which is why it is ideal for beginner gardeners.
The main care for strawberries is watering it as the soil dries and loosening. It is better to do this in the early morning, and before flowering, use a watering can, watering from which has a good effect on the leaves of the plant. When the bushes begin to bloom, water needs to be poured onto the soil, avoiding getting on the leaves at the rate of 10-20 liters per 1 m 2 . It is recommended to irrigate once a week, but it all depends on the climate.
It is also important to monitor the weeds and destroy them in time.
Growing Strawberries at Home
The technology of growing strawberries allows you to do this even in apartments and collect up to 25 kg of the crop from the bush. It only takes a couple of hours a day and good lighting, and the crop can be harvested several times a year.
To grow strawberries in an apartment you will need boxes or pots and seeds or seedlings of strawberries. Basic requirements: heat, light and the absence of excessive moisture.
Reviews about Strawberry Clery
According to amateur gardeners, the Clery strawberry is an unpretentious and very tasty variety that does not require much effort when growing.
"Clery" takes root on almost all types of soil, gives a plentiful harvest and is well preserved. These characteristics are enough to make this variety in all garden areas of the country.