Strawberry Ruby Pendant

Strawberry is a perennial plant that has won the love of gardeners all over the world. This is not just a delicious berry, it is beautiful and very healthy. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, varietal diversity increases every year. So, the variety Ruby pendant was and remains one of the favorite among amateur gardeners.

The author is the All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Plants. I. V. Michurin. Scientists first announced the variety in 1980, later in 1988 it was registered.

External features of the bush: medium-sized, spreading, medium-sized leaves have a dark green color, flowers during flowering are located under the leaves, in the shape of the flowers they resemble an umbrella. Antennae on the bush forms an average number, so they must be removed periodically. The roots of the bush are powerful, hardy. Strawberries are not repairable, so they are more suitable for home use. The marketability of the Ruby pendant is high, since the pulp of the berries is dense and well tolerates transportation to other regions.

The variety belongs to the medium early, since the plant begins to bloom in early June, and the ripening of berries begins in early July. The berries ripen at the same time, are not injured when picked and remain dry.

After registration, the variety was approved for cultivation in the Central Black Earth, Central, Volgo-Vyatka and West Siberian, as well as in the East Siberian regions. Currently, the variety is widespread almost everywhere.

Despite the fact that the Ruby pendant is not considered a remontant, its yield is quite high. During the season, up to 1 kg of berries can be harvested from one bush.

At the beginning of fruiting, the fruits reach large sizes, their weight can reach 50 g, by the end the weight decreases slightly. If you take proper care of the plant, the berries will remain as large. They have a classic cone shape with a short neck.

The red pulp is juicy and dense, which makes the berry transportable. Due to the density of the pulp from strawberries of this variety, it is possible to harvest compotes and jam for the winter, since it does not lose its shape and does not boil over.

The skin also has a cherry-ruby hue, sometimes burgundy. The number of seeds on the berry is medium, and they are slightly depressed into the pulp. The strawberry tastes sweet and has a characteristic fragrant aroma.

Since the rosettes of this plant grow large, they should be planted at a distance of 45 cm from each other. In order for the rows to be evenly lit, they must be located from north to south.

Strawberries love spacious, sunny places, so you should not plant them in the shade of trees. Before planting, it is necessary to add compost or humus to the soil. One bucket of fertilizer is taken per 1 m2. This strawberry variety prefers a soil of neutral acidity. In order to achieve a neutral pH, peat, wood ash or dolomite flour can be added to the soil. Preference should be given to dolomite flour - it will enrich the soil with magnesium.

Pollination of strawberries occurs with the help of insects. White, slightly pinkish flowers attract butterflies and bees with their appearance.

The plant needs to be fed 3 times during the growing season. The first feeding is carried out in early spring, you can use any organic fertilizers. It can be both cow dung and bird droppings. It should be diluted in a ratio of 1: 20. You can purchase any mineral fertilizers where there is a high nitrogen content.

The second feeding is carried out during the flowering period, when there is an intensive formation of the ovary. During this period, they are fed with potassium nitrate. Take 1 teaspoon of fertilizer per bucket of water.

The third feeding takes place at the end of May, using organic fertilizers for this. For feeding, nettle infusion should be preferred. One plant consumes 0.5 liters of fertilizer. To make the infusion, you need to half fill a bucket or other container with nettle and fill it with water. Leave to infuse for 2 weeks. Then strain the infusion, dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 4. In addition, the root zone of the sockets several times during the summer must be sprinkled with wood ash. It will not only feed the plant, but also protect it from fungal diseases.

The variety is winter-hardy, as it normally tolerates 25-degree frosts, but you should not risk it, and it is better to cover the strawberries for the winter. You can use straw mulch, apply a layer of about 8 cm.

Strawberries are unpretentious and adapt well to climatic conditions. The variety is resistant to diseases, including powdery mildew, brown spot, white spot. For preventive purposes, it is sometimes worth treating the bushes with Bordeaux liquid or preparations that contain copper. This will help prevent not only diseases, but also get rid of pests.

There are three ways to propagate strawberries. One of them is reproduction by tendrils. For this, antennae with two or three rosettes are left on the bush, the rest are cut off. During the summer, the rosettes on the remaining tendrils will take root and be ready for further transplantation.

The second way is to divide the bush. The root system of this strawberry variety is well developed, so the seedlings take root very well.

The third way is seed propagation. This procedure is long, so the method is not common, and it should not be given special attention.

Gardeners' reviews indicate that the variety has proven itself well. Berries can be eaten both canned and fresh. Quite unpretentious in care.