- Authors: Leningrad fruit and vegetable experimental station
- Name synonyms: Fragaria ananassa Tsarskoselskaya
- Taste: pleasant, sweet and sour
- The size: average
- Weight: 50-70 gr
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: 7.36 t / ha
- Ripening terms: mid-late
- Appointment: universal
- Description of the bush: semi-spreading, well leafy
Tsarskoselskaya strawberry is a popular unpretentious variety that, with proper basic care, pleases gardeners with a high-quality and marketable crop. The variety also has the name Fragaria ananassa Tsarskoselskaya.
Description of the variety
Medium-sized bushes are semi-spreading, well leafy. They have matte large foliage of a dark green color.
Ripening terms
The variety has a medium late ripening period.
Growing regions
It is recommended to grow the crop on the territory of the Central Federal District of Russia due to its high resistance to frost and resistance to climate change.
Yield
On average, about 7.36 t / ha can be harvested from one plant bush. The yield is high. Many people note that strawberries give an increased yield for 2 years after planting.
Berries and their taste
Medium-sized fruits of a dark red color have a pronounced shine and a blunt-conical, sometimes ribbed shape. Their mass is about 50-70 g. The pulp is red, rather juicy and fleshy, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste and an extremely bright strawberry aroma. Fruit tasting score - 5 points. The universal purpose of berries allows you to use them fresh, as well as prepare various dishes from them.
Growing features
The variety is an excellent option for beginner gardeners, as it does not have to spend too much time and effort on caring for it. Bushes should be planted, observing a distance of 30-35 cm. Excessive planting density should not be allowed, as in this case, the yield of the crop will worsen.
Site selection and soil preparation
Moderately moist loamy fertile and neutral soil is suitable for planting, black soil would be a good option. For planting a variety, you should choose an illuminated and open place in which there are no sharp gusts of wind. There should be enough organic matter in the soil for the strawberries to feed on. If you cannot find black soil, you can choose loam.
It is also necessary to take into account which crops were in the soil before planting the strawberries. Best predecessors:
- garlic;
- spicy herbs;
- onion;
- marigold;
- petunia.
Pollination
The variety is self-pollinated, therefore it does not require planting pollinators next to it.
Top dressing
The fruits of Tsarskoye Selo are strong enough, but they need fertilizers with mineral-type preparations. It should be remembered to maintain a balance between mineral and organic fertilizers. They should be brought in every season.
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
Strawberries are not afraid of even the most severe frosts, so they feel great in any climatic conditions.
Diseases and pests
The variety has a high resistance to verticillium, wilting and gray rot, and is also extremely rarely affected by strawberry mites.
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
There is a large number of mustaches on Tsarskoye Selo, thanks to which good breeding rates can be achieved.
Review overview
Many experts believe that the variety is competitive and has great prospects. Judging by the reviews, experienced gardeners love it dearly for its huge and regular yield. It is also noted that the peduncles are conveniently located under the foliage, due to which the berries are well preserved, they firmly endure the rays of the scorching sun and rain.
Tsarskoye Selo is extremely rarely affected by any diseases, which allows gardeners to provide only basic care. In the presence of the necessary dressing and preventive measures, strawberries will delight for a long time with a marketable and tasty harvest. Jams, preserves and compotes are prepared from the fruits, and they are also consumed fresh.
