Strawberries are one of the first to ripen in spring. An organism tormented by a lack of vitamins cannot resist even an unripe sour berry. But gradually we begin to be more demanding on the purchased products. I want to buy strawberries sweet, juicy, fragrant. It is desirable that the berries are large. It is very important that they do not rot. Strawberries "Asia" bred by Italian breeders meet these requirements.
Variety description
Asia strawberry bushes are tall. The leaves are large but few. The variety is very productive.
Asia strawberry has a weight of about 27 g. The description of the variety (photo) says that it has the shape of an elongated cone. The berry is bright, shiny.
Pulp of medium density, fragrant, juicy and sweet has a strawberry "Asia". The description of the variety indicates that a lot of berries are formed on the fruit bearing, they are large and sweet. Sugar content is rated as 7.3brix.
It belongs to mid-early varieties. In the south, Asia strawberries begin to ripen in mid-May, in the north - later. She bears fruit for a month.
"Asia" - strawberries that do not freeze in winter. But a little cover won't hurt her.
Yields
Strawberry "Asia" grows well in the continental climate. Reviews say that the berries of this variety are large, the yield is high. About 600 grams of sweet berries are harvested from one bush. Even without the use of advanced technologies, about 15 tons per hectare can be harvested from one hectare.
Reproduction
Asia Strawberry (photo) is propagated by seeds, rosettes and division of the rhizome.
Propagation by seeds is possible, but it is a very troublesome process. First you need to get the seeds to germinate. This can be done using the so-called Moscow method of growing seedlings. It consists in the fact that the seeds are placed on the edge of toilet paper, rolled up and placed in water so that it does not reach the seeds. Then cover the glass with a bag and wait for the seeds to germinate. Then seedlings are planted and waiting for several years of harvest.
This method is applicable if there is no other way to breed the desired variety. If we propagate strawberries at home, then you can get seedlings with antennae or dividing the bush. Antennae grow in most varieties. Strawberry "Asia" also has them. Description, reviews say that they themselves take root if there is the slightest opportunity to touch the ground. Sometimes you need to help her do it by pointing her in the right direction,and fluff the ground for better rooting. It must be borne in mind that in order to obtain high-quality seedlings and a good harvest in the future, you need to take only the first of the available outlets. The second and subsequent ones will be weaker. Therefore they are removed. The uterine bush can be a two-three-year-old plant.
Sockets can be attached with wooden hooks.
The rosette, which is well rooted, should be transplanted to a permanent place in August-September strawberries "Asia". Description of the variety, photos say that its roots should be at least five centimeters. They are pruned just before planting. The plant must have at least three leaves. It takes root 25 days. All this time, they make sure that the soil under the bushes does not dry out.
The new bush will bear fruit next year.
The area for growing strawberries should be well lit. Partial shading possible. But still, it should be covered for more than half a day. It is good if trees or bushes protect the site from cold winds and frosts. Then strawberries do not freeze in winter and early spring. Variety "Asia" can not be planted in hollows. In such areas, groundwater can occur at a depth of less than 70 cm. It is desirable that the soil there be loamy or sandy, fertilized. The pH level is within 5.5-6.5.
The disadvantage of being located near a plot of trees is that May beetles usually breed under them. They can "mow down" any area of strawberries, gnawing the roots of plants. On the other hand, inStrawberry shadow doesn't dry out that much. Alkaloid (blue) lupine will help get rid of beetle larvae. The larvae die eating their beans.
Slope of just 2 degrees to the southwest improves berry setting and formation. Bushes grow faster, fruits ripen earlier.
The best predecessor for strawberries "Asia" will be legumes or vegetables. Strawberries should not grow there for 4 years.
The plot is fertilized with organic matter (manure or compost) and mineral fertilizers. Dig up, removing weeds.
Young plants are planted so that the growth point (heart) is not covered with earth. The roots are leveled in the hole before planting.
Young bushes after planting are watered and mulched with humus or sawdust. They will protect the soil from drying out.
Plant pattern
The aisles are 70 to 80 cm wide, the distance between plants in a row is no more than 30 cm. The hole is dug about 20 cm deep.
The method of obtaining strawberry seedlings by dividing the bushes is not very well known. At the same time, a two-three-year-old bush is dug up, divided into several rhizomes. And plant them separately. This method makes it possible to get a crop in the current year.
How does the spring-planted strawberry (Asia variety) feel? Reviews indicate that this should be done as early as possible. If the spring is rainy, then you can get a small harvest that year. But there is always a danger that drought will destroy the plants completely.
Cultivation under cover
Increasingly, gardeners use various shelters to accelerate the development and ripening of strawberries. It maybe greenhouses or greenhouses. For shelter, a film or white agrofibre is used. They will help you taste the first strawberries a week or two earlier than usual.
Black agrofibre is used to cover the ground between strawberry bushes. To do this, mark the area on which strawberries will be planted, taking into account the size of the film. The soil is well loosened. During planting, the site is covered with a film, leaving the aisles free. The film is fixed by sprinkling its edges with earth. Cross-shaped holes are cut in it, into which young strawberry rosettes are planted. The corners of the slots are first turned outward, and after landing they are wrapped inward. The film will protect the berries from dirt, will not allow it to come into contact with the ground and rot in wet weather. Watering seedlings under the film should be less frequent. In addition, weeds will not grow through the film. Strawberries "Asia" will be protected from them all summer. Reviews say that ants, bears, slugs will not live on the site covered with agrofibre.
Strawberries, covered in this way, endure frost better.
Water first each bush separately. Then install irrigation. You can lay a drip irrigation system before planting seedlings, attach it to a water tap. Then the care of the site becomes very simple and easy.
But not all gardeners like this way of growing strawberries. First, it is labor intensive. Secondly, growing mustaches have nowhere to go to grow. Through the film they makethey cannot. But if you do not plan to use plants from this site for seedlings, then this method will facilitate your work at the stage of cutting the antennae. The rosettes will not grow and will be easier to lift off the film and remove.
Care
Strawberries love moisture and respond well to watering. If they are regular, then there will be no small berries.
"Asia" - strawberries are quite hardy. It doesn't require any special care. Reviews say that the seedlings of "Asia" take root worse than other varieties of Italian selection.
Like all "whiskered" strawberry varieties, "Asia" needs mustache trimming. They are removed completely or left one at a time for further reproduction.
During the season, the planting is weeded several times from germinating weeds, the soil is loosened. Bushes after harvesting spud so that the roots are not exposed.
In autumn, unwanted plants, mustaches and old leaves are carefully removed. Leave a couple of sheets.
Neighbours
Strawberries are not friends with all plants. Variety "Asia" feels good surrounded by spruces or pines. And the neighborhood with a birch does not benefit her. Onions, garlic, cucumbers, beans, sorrel, parsley have a positive effect on strawberries. From flowers, astilbe, jasmine, clematis, nasturtium, iris, grapes will be good neighbors.
Moustache fight
Usually, after harvesting, the area with strawberries is covered with a large number of mustaches, through which no less number of weeds break through. The owners, at best, mow the leaves high along with the weeds.
One of the important points of agricultural technology isuse of the site for planting until the first marketable harvest. As soon as it is collected, the territory is plowed up. Be sure to grow a new patch of young plants by this time, which will give the maximum yield for the next year. Having plowed up the old site, you simultaneously get rid of weeds, pests and diseases that have already settled on the site by this time. There is no need to use pesticides. So your products will be environmentally friendly.
Plow the next plot next year, and so on. After a few years, return to it, but there will no longer be strawberry pests.
Harvesting
"Asia" - strawberries that are well stored and transported. But still, it must be handled with care.
The crop is harvested every day or every two days in the morning, after the dew has dried. It is necessary to collect strawberries intended for transportation or sale immediately into the boxes in which they will be transported. You can’t shift it, much less pour it.
Strawberries as a business
Growing strawberries can be a profitable business. This culture outperforms all others.
Growing strawberries under film, you can get an early harvest and sell it at a higher price.
Usually, the number of seedlings exceeds the need for it. You can sell the excess, making a profit from it.
Strawberries are in constant demand, which is difficult to meet. Therefore, if the products are of high quality, competition in this business is not terrible.
Feeding
Strawberries are fertilized with wood ash, bringing it into the aisles after all the berries are ripe and harvested. "Asia" - strawberries that need nitrogen. It is applied in the form of liquid dressings with a 10% solution of mullein or chicken manure in the aisles.
In autumn, strawberries are fed with phosphorus and potash fertilizers so that they overwinter better.
Pests and diseases
"Asia" - strawberries that are not affected by root diseases: verticillium wilt and heart rot. Not resistant to powdery mildew and anthracosis.
In rainy weather, the berries are affected by gray rot. To prevent this from happening, the distance between the bushes should be sufficient for ventilation. The sun should illuminate the entire bush well. Excess plants are removed without regret. If this will affect the harvest, then only for the better.
Asia strawberry variety is affected by chlorosis. Photos and reviews of gardeners testify to this. The leaves turn yellow, may dry out and disappear. Sometimes the whole bush disappears. For prevention, water strawberries, fertilize with nitrogen (you can use ammonium nitrate). In addition to the prevention of chlorosis, the smell of ammonia repels the worst enemy of strawberries - Maybugs and their larvae.
