Strawberry Festival Chamomile

The strawberry variety Festival chamomile, popular in the garden since its inception, remains so thanks to the recognition and love of gardeners. Winter hardiness and shade tolerance of this strawberry make it possible to harvest even in the northern regions. Unpretentiousness to disease, pests and drought makes the culture a suitable option for novice home garden owners.

Strawberry Festival chamomile was bred about 40 years ago by specialists from the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine under the guidance of breeders K. and V. Kopan. When crossing varietal lines Zarya and Redcoat were used.

This type of strawberry is often confused with the usual Festivalnaya strawberry, bred through the selection of the Abundant and Premier varieties. Festival chamomile is an independent variety that differs both in the original parental forms and in the result obtained.

Strawberry bushes are medium-sized, very strong and compact in size. They grow up to 20 cm in height with abundant foliage and semi-spreading stems. The leaves are large, dense green matte, appear bluish due to a light waxy coating.

The plant forms a large number of green whiskers with a slightly reddish tint. Peduncles are tall, of the same level with the foliage, sometimes slightly lower, very thick, on each bush 10-15, on one plant about 50 flowers. The variety is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures down to -25 degrees Celsius, which is rare for most types of strawberries. In case of more severe frosts, it needs shelter.

In different regions, ripening can occur in different ways - it depends on the climatic zone and weather conditions in a particular season. In warm summers, the first berries begin to turn red in the second half of June, in colder conditions - in early July. Ripening takes place in a very short time, the berries ripen in 3-4 waves.

In Russia, strawberry Festival chamomile is suitable for cultivation in the Central region, Eastern and Western Siberia, in the Urals, for Ukraine, the regions of Polesie and forest-steppe are preferred.

It is distinguished by high immunity to a number of diseases, unpretentiousness and drought resistance, it is an excellent option for southern regions and regions with a changeable climate.

Strawberry Festival chamomile is one of the undemanding plants to care for. But it must be borne in mind that the lack of moisture negatively affects the quantity and quality of the crop.

From one bush, about 500 g of fruits are harvested per season. From the beginning of fruiting to its end, it usually takes about 15 days.

The first berries weigh 35-45 g, then the fruits ripen about 20 g, the last harvest may weigh 10 g. In the first harvest, the fruits will be larger than those harvested 2 or 3 times. Large berries look like a wide cone, flattened on both sides, often with grooves. The color is deep red with a carrot shade, glossy on the surface.

The pulp is thick, aromatic, also red, sweet and sour, according to the quality of taste it received a very high rating: 4.3 points out of a possible 5.With a small sugar content of 6.5-7.1%, the scarlet pulp has a very high proportion of vitamin C - 67-78 mg per 100 g of berries. Strawberries keep their shape well, do not wrinkle during long-term transportation.

It is a hygrophilous variety. With regular watering and pruning of the whiskers, it gives the highest yields, increases the size and improves the taste of the berries. The plant responds positively to fertilizing, including organic ones. It is important to regularly loosen the soil around the bushes, so oxygen is delivered to the roots, and the weeds will not have time to take root. The rest of the variety is undemanding and belongs to the category "for the lazy".

Prefers fertile, slightly acidic soils, well-lit places, but you can choose an area where there is partial shade part of the day. The plot is chosen even or with a slight slope, the Festivalnaya chamomile variety likes to grow on a small hill.

Before planting, in 2-3 months, a section of soil is dug up, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied: humus, superphosphate, potassium sulfate.

It is recommended to plant in early spring after thawing of the soil, although planting is sometimes practiced in September, but the bushes should be covered for the winter for the first wintering.

It is a self-pollinated variety and can be grown in greenhouses and greenhouses. Flowers are collected in inflorescences, heterosexual flowers appear on one bush. Planting additional pollinators nearby is optional.

Festival chamomile does not have high requirements for feeding. In autumn, organic fertilizers are applied between the rows: slurry, compost, wood ash. Some gardeners grow this variety only organically.

Before flowering in the spring, you can add phosphorus and potash mineral dressings. If the plants were not fed in the fall for any reason, then in early spring complex mineral fertilizers are applied.

The variety is considered to be quite frost-hardy and winter-hardy, but when the thermometer scale drops below –25 degrees, additional shelter is required. Poorly tolerates frosts in the spring, it is necessary to cover the bushes from recurrent cold snap.

The variety is recommended to be planted in elevated places. Strawberries Festival chamomile loves abundant watering, but if moisture stagnates in the soil, the plant can get sick with gray spot, verticillosis. The most dangerous insect for the plant is the strawberry mite. Seasonal preventive fungicide treatments are required. The variety has a good degree of resistance to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.

Some gardeners believe that the Festivalnaya chamomile variety does not require the introduction of chemicals. Traditional methods of prevention are able to cope with all diseases. In autumn, it is recommended to mow the leaves, this reduces the risk of diseases and pests.

The culture is recommended to be renewed every 4 years, transferred to a new place, as the bushes grow, the berries become smaller, the soil becomes impoverished, and harmful substances and pathogenic bacteria accumulate in it.

The easiest way to reproduce is by rooting small bushes that appear at the tips of the whiskers. You can propagate the plant by dividing the bush and seeds.

Gardeners value the variety primarily for its unpretentiousness, and no one plans to change to new, more productive species. Festival chamomile does not require a huge area for cultivation, it can be placed compactly - and get a large harvest. Resistance to temperature extremes and lack of moisture is highly valued. Strawberries multiply easily and are resistant to a number of diseases. Many people like the pleasant taste and aroma of strawberries, as well as the non-capriciousness of this species.