Strawberry Monterey

The Californian garden strawberry Monterey in everyday life is often called strawberries and is considered one of the best varieties grown by modern agronomists.

The authors of the hybrid culture are specialists from UC Davis, University of California, United States. The Monterey hybrid was launched in 2001-2002, but officially registered in 2009, which is secured by an American patent.

Monterey is considered an improved follower of the Albion variety, surpassing the famous "progenitor" in marketability and yield.

Information about the variety has not yet been entered into the domestic State Register, but since 2014 it has been included in the Belarusian register and is allowed for planting on the territory of the republic.

Growing regions

Strawberries of the described variety are common in areas with moderate or mild climatic conditions - in European countries, Belarus, the Russian Federation and in the Ukrainian regions.

Medium-sized culture with bright green glossy leaves. The bush grows powerful, with many of the same peduncles, in the amount of 7 to 14 pcs.

Monterey blooms from early May until frost. The variety is remontant; it is medium early in terms of ripening. The yield period begins at the end of May and lasts until the second month of autumn, depending on the weather, climate and agricultural technology used.

During hot and dry periods, strawberries can pick up color very quickly, without having time to accumulate the typical taste and not reaching the stated size. Intense flowering and bulk berries differ both on the bushes themselves and on young rosettes that have reached 2-3 months.

Repaired strawberries are harvested up to 4 times per season, 500-2000 g per bush. At the same time, the early berries harvested are exemplary large, and at the next harvest peak, in July, they accumulate sweetness and rich aroma. The fruiting period is 10 to 12 days. The berries are removed as they ripen, in stages, every 2-3 days.

Outside and inside deep red, upon reaching ripeness they become maroon, with a slight gloss. The seeds are often yellow, less often red, are almost on the surface (slightly immersed in the juicy pulp).

The shape of the berry is conical with a slightly pointed tip, slightly flattened. Fruits are symmetrical, sometimes double. The size is large, weight - up to 30-40 g.

The taste of dense pulp is harmonious, fresh and sweet with an unobtrusive sourness. The berries have a distinct aroma. Taste qualities are estimated at 3.4 points on a 5-point scale.

Obviously, for a full-fledged harvest, you must, first of all, plant the strawberries properly, and then properly care for the plantings.

When planting plants, it is important to leave a certain distance between them (35-40 cm in rows and 50-60 cm in rows), taking into account the spreading of the bushes. California strawberries do not respond well to shading. Thickening of the landings should not be allowed.

Also, the plant needs good lighting and does not tolerate stagnant moisture. The proximity of groundwater is not allowed closer than 1 meter from the ground level.

If you choose a place for planting with suitable conditions, it is not possible, for planting you need to make beds from 25-30 cm in height with a width of 70-80 cm.

For cultivation of the variety, it is preferable to choose cultivated sandy loam soils or loam saturated with nutrients and saturated with moisture. In principle, Californian strawberries can thrive in clay and sandstone soils with optimal irrigation. The soil reaction is suitable neutral or slightly acidic.

It is important to select a site for planting a crop of this variety even, without weeds. It is necessary to add up to 10 kg of humus to the soil with the addition of about 120 g of potassium salts and 80 g of superphosphate. Then dig up the area to a depth equal to the length of the shovel bayonet.

Preparatory preparation of the landing site is completed 1–1.5 months before landing.

Large white flowers, almost without barren flowers. They are bisexual with a good supply of pollen.

In the first year, it is advisable to feed the strawberry bushes with a liquid mullein, introduced into the pre-equipped grooves (1 bucket per 5 m2). Then the grooves are filled up and irrigated. Fertilizer should be applied in the first month of summer.

Before the ovary appears or before the flowering period, foliar feeding is carried out using the preparations "Master", "Growth-concentrate".

From the second year from the moment of planting, Monterey is fed three times per season:

• in the spring, when the leaves are actively growing, nitrophoska, nitroammophoska or a similar complex fertilizer (50-60 g / m2) is applied;
• in mid-June, using liquid organics;
• before the second crop wave, in the middle of summer, feeding the crop with 10 g of ammonium nitrate + the same amount of double superphosphate + 70 g of wood ash. Fertilizers are introduced per 1 m2.

Watering American strawberries is desirable through a drip system. With its help, the necessary feeding is also introduced.

The variety is winter-hardy, characterized by relative drought tolerance, frost resistance in early spring and late autumn. Bushes need to overwinter under spruce branches, spunbond, mulch of organic origin. In a cold spring, active fruiting is facilitated by the installation of arches over the plantings, onto which the film is stretched. You can also use agricultural canvas.

Average resistance to late blight and powdery mildew is noted. The variety rarely affects other diseases and most pests.

Mostly strawberries native to California are propagated by daughter rosettes. The grown seedlings take root easily and quickly.

With sufficient density, the pulp is distinguished by a delicate taste and fresh juiciness. Berries do not spoil during harvest. They are well preserved during long-term transportation and do not lose their natural shape during processing or freezing for future use. For its culinary purpose, the American Monterey variety is considered universal.

The yield is influenced by different parameters. On average, it turns out to be harvested from 0.5-1 kg from a bush in one harvest season, and the largest weight of the harvested berries is approximately 2 kg.

Monterey does not require more maintenance than other similar varieties, while it makes it possible to feast on fresh strawberries all summer.

According to experienced gardeners, the plant continues to bear fruit until late autumn (in some regions until mid-November).

Monterey is considered a profitable variety for commercial use. Increased fruiting is observed with regular irrigation, full dressing with natural organic matter and complexes of mineral fertilizers, prevention of diseases and pest attacks.