Strawberry Marshal

Gardeners, summer residents and farmers who cultivate strawberries on a professional basis on an industrial scale, celebrate the advantages of the universal Marshal strawberry variety. They see them in high commercial qualities, attractive appearance, good adaptation to Russian conditions and the possibility of year-round cultivation in greenhouses.

The Marshall variety (synonymous with the name Marshall) owes its appearance to the tireless work of the breeder from the USA Marshall Well. He was faced with a difficult task - to bring out a variety that can develop and bear fruit in unfavorable conditions. So, at the end of the 19th century, the scientist managed to obtain the required result and subsequently register the variety. Over the years, this strawberry has gained popularity not only on the American continent, but has also mastered almost all countries where it can be grown.

Marshal has a loose but massive bush with a strong structure and powerful rhizomes. The plant has thick, erect stems covered with large light green leaves with a corrugated leaf blade. The variety is characterized by thick peduncles, abundantly covered with white flowers during flowering. The extensive vegetative mass covers the berry well, protecting it from direct sunlight and birds. Peduncles bend to the ground as the fruit ripens.

The variety is guaranteed to give a high yield with good agricultural technology in the first year, but it needs regular planting updates. The plant easily adapts to new conditions, young plantings take root well. The marshal tolerates temperature jumps without any problems, has long-term fruiting, increased production and the development of a large number of outlets. This forces gardeners to resort to frequent weeding. The variety tolerates the dry period quite easily.

Marshal is classified as a mid-early variety, the fruiting period occurs in the first ten days of June, but under ideal conditions it pleases with a harvest for a long time.

The versatility of the variety allows its cultivation in any region, even in the zone of risky farming.

Marshal strawberries are high-yielding varieties and are capable of producing up to 1 kilogram of berries from a bush. In order for the yields to remain stable, the bushes must be planted annually in a new place, but at the same time they grow well in one place for up to 10-12 years.

The Marshal variety is distinguished by very large bright red wedge-shaped, sometimes comb-shaped berries, whose weight reaches 100 grams. Juicy light red flesh, sweet and sour taste, pleasant strawberry aroma. Marshal's surface seeds are light yellow in color. The ripe fruit has a shiny glossy skin. The variety is drought-resistant, but even with prolonged rains, it does not gain wateriness, keeping the fruits the same medium-dense and sweet. The berry, as a rule, is uniform in shape and size, has a high marketability, although it is characterized by poor transportability. Because of this, the variety is not very common on farms that send crops over long distances.

According to experts, the versatile, unpretentious Marshal does not have special requests in agricultural technology that take him beyond the traditional ones. Caring for him is no different from caring for other varieties, he responds perfectly to generally accepted techniques in planting, care, prevention and protection.

Clay soil, moist and without drainage, is best for this variety. The owner needs to find a plot with good illumination, south or southeast direction. When developing the land, preparing ridges for planting, it is necessary to raise them above ground level, arranging comprehensive heating not only of the green part of the plant, but also of the root system. For the site, advance processing will be required - the introduction of organic matter along with sand and wood ash from the fall. During digging, you need to try to remove as many roots as possible so that the site is clean - strawberries do not like being close to weeds. The preceding green manure is dug up.

The plant is self-pollinated, as it blooms profusely with bisexual flowers.

Despite the fact that the plant is capable of growing on depleted heavy soils, top dressing significantly increases its yield and health. In this capacity, it is customary to use nitrogen, potash, phosphorus, complex specialized fertilizers, as well as organic matter - humus, compost, bird droppings, mullein (infusion of cow dung). A good return is obtained by using nettle infusion - its richest composition of trace elements and other useful substances not only feeds strawberries, but also improves soil performance. Fertilizers are applied in early spring, before flowering and in autumn.

Marshal is distinguished by decent frost resistance, but in regions with a temperate climate, he needs to be covered. For the winter, the variety needs pruning - the bushes are removed almost at the root, leaving small stumps no more than three centimeters high. Subsequently, flower buds form on them, therefore, where winters are characterized by severe frosts, such hemp need additional protection with agrofibre, spunbond. In addition, the planting can be mulched.

The variety is not distinguished by its delicacy in its propensity to disease. The marshal may be affected by diseases traditional for this type of berry:

• gray rot, fusarium, powdery mildew;

• nematode, weevil, whitefly, strawberry mite.

For the treatment and prevention of fungal diseases, gardeners use fungicides - "Alirin", "Baktofit", "Fitosporin" and others. To combat the attacks of insect pests, insecticides are needed - "Aktara", "Decis", "Calypso", "Akarin" and others.

Marshal reproduces well by dividing the bush. In this way, he is seated in new places in early spring. During the summer, young plantings have time to build up a powerful root system, which ensures trouble-free wintering. In addition, the increased mustache extension and the no less abundant appearance of outlets throughout the season provides owners with new planting material. The sockets are seated as they form and take root. They get a good harvest next year.