Strawberry Fleur

The Fleur strawberry variety was bred by Dutch breeders, their products are one of the most titled and popular in the world. Fleur was most widely spread in European and Scandinavian regions. She is loved for good taste, unpretentiousness and visual aesthetics.

Fleur belongs to non-renovated varieties, it was bred relatively recently, in 2004. Therefore, gardeners do not yet have an unequivocal opinion about many characteristics. Fleur's strawberries are most actively grown in Europe, and certain features of the variety have already made them incredibly popular. It grows well outdoors, in greenhouses, its taste is very delicate with a caramel aftertaste.

Berry bushes are characterized by the following features:

• multi-track plant;
• the bushes are powerful, the foliage is rich, while the bush itself is compact;
• the height is rarely more than 30 cm, but always above 20 cm;
• elongated leaves are bright green, serrate edges;
• peduncles are usually powerful, with large flowers;
• peduncles below the foliage, the stems are quite strong, but the berries fall on the ground under their weight;
• the whiskers are strong, the process is quite fast.

The variety has its own advantages:

• grows well in greenhouse conditions, outdoors;
• the bushes are neat, so they don't need too much space;
• original, harmonious taste, caramel undertone, rich aroma;
• berries are very aesthetic, ripen actively;
• multiply rapidly;
• good immunity to major strawberry diseases;
• wet weather does not spoil the taste;
• not too moody.

There are some downsides to keep in mind:

• does not tolerate heat, foliage immediately curls, berries deteriorate;
• if the sun is too little, the fruits will sour;
• drought harms this variety;
• the yield level decreases by the third season;
• not suitable for clay-type soil.

Ripening dates of the Fleur variety are ultra-early, early maturity at a high level. Experts believe that this is one of the earliest ripening berries in the world. After planting, after 4 weeks, you can collect the first fruits, after another couple of weeks - the whole harvest. Fruiting is so active that it is necessary to collect it every day. In fact, the berries are harvested from May, in the northern regions this may occur later - in June.

In many ways, the level of yield depends on care, growing conditions. On average, you can collect a pound from one bush. For early varieties, these are absolutely normal indicators, but if the agricultural technology is organized flawlessly, it will turn out to collect about 2-3 kg. The berries ripen massively, quickly, the size of the fruit is large and does not become smaller by the end of fruiting. Berries are consumed both fresh and canned. The variety is suitable for transportation, but it is best not to transport it too far.

Since the fruits of Fleur are large and heavy - about 35-40 g, they strongly pull the peduncles down. The berries gradually darken from red to burgundy, become aesthetic, very attractive. The glossy shine makes them even more interesting. The pulp remains light, dense and juicy in consistency. There are also empty dots.

The berries are longish in shape, have a conical shape, absolutely regular.The berries are one-dimensional, they are often chosen by lovers of the visual ideality of the fruit. Fleur's excellent taste is characterized by sweetness with a caramel flavor and a little acidity. The bouquet combines strawberry and fruity notes. Agrotechnical problems and climatic conditions can reduce the dessert quality of the variety.

If you practice greenhouse cultivation, planting can be done year-round. Landing outdoors requires taking into account climatic and weather conditions. This variety is rather incapable, but does not tolerate through winds, so it is so important to choose the right place. Strawberry bushes are neat, do not take up much space, can be planted in two rows. Despite the fact that the variety is not capricious, it is important not to ignore the berries. There are basic activities that need to be done in order to achieve a good harvest.

• Moisturizing. The variety loves moisture, the optimal type of irrigation is drip, rain. The event should not be held during hours when the sun is high and shining brightly. If you do not follow the watering conditions, the leaves will get burned. The first watering is done in the middle of spring, the last - in the fall before frost preparation. If Fleur grows in a greenhouse, it is sufficient to moisturize 2 times a week.
• Loosening, cleansing. Weeds should not be allowed to grow - they will immediately reduce the quality of the berries. The soil must be loosened, the formation of a crust must not be allowed.
• Pruning. Fleur's strawberry whiskers develop very actively and grow far. It is necessary to remove everything except the planting material. It is optimal to divide the bushes into fertile and uterine ones: the former for the harvest, the latter for reproduction.
• Top dressing. Industrial cultivation requires the use of ready-made feeding mixtures. They are universal and are introduced three times - in early spring, summer and autumn. Farmer gardeners often fertilize with organic compounds. But here it is important not to use too often and too much mullein and droppings. Wood ash, scattered between the bushes before wetting, works great.
• Shelter for the winter. The Fleur variety is frost-resistant, but requires shelter. This event is best organized using arcs, spunbond. Strawberries can die from frost, so cover them carefully. At the same time, the optimal formation of fruits occurs at low temperatures; in the heat, the ovary will be weak.

As mentioned above, you need a zone without drafts, sunny, preferably southern. As for the soil, it should not be clayey, the acidity level is below 6.5. Strawberries are planted in late spring or early June. Before planting, it is worth treating the seedlings with compounds that strengthen the roots and protect the foliage from pests. Fleur is planted with seeds taken from the fruit, they are dried, and cooled before planting. A more convenient way is to breed with a mustache.

If the soil is infertile, acidic, it must be enriched with dolomite flour, humus. This is done not during the planting period, but in a month or two. Heavy soil is diluted with sand. Fleur is planted in 1 or 2 ribbons, the spacing should not be less than 30 cm, the spacing should not be less than 40 cm.

Outdoor strawberries usually do not need additional pollination. In greenhouse conditions, this is done manually, with the help of bees or special pollinating aggregates.

Although the immunity of the variety is quite high, it must be properly taken care of. A couple of times a year, the bushes are treated with compositions with copper - in early spring and autumn, before frosts. Avoid planting near other varieties that are less resistant to disease, as the epidemic will lead to infection of this variety. Verticilliasis and spotting are especially dangerous.

Experienced gardeners often resort to seed propagation, but this method is too complicated, the risks of seed not taking root are high. Reproduction by dividing the bush is also considered ineffective. In these variants, varietal qualities may not be preserved, immunity will decrease.

Since the whiskers are actively formed, reproduction in this way is considered the simplest and most effective. The mustache is strong, the rosettes on them can be rooted in any order. This kind of planting material is quite high quality.