Dwarf Penelope

Interspecific hybrids have always attracted the attention of gardeners. They often have some kind of rare, special qualities. Such is the variety of the dwarf Penelope. It is characterized by fast growth, is not afraid of gray rot, since it has high peduncles. The berries are small, with a maximum weight of 20 g, but this is more than offset by their abundance and wonderful taste and aroma. The formation of berries takes up to one and a half months, they are always clean, since the flower stalks are tall.

To obtain a hybrid, Milanese strawberries and varieties of large-fruited strawberries were crossed. The originator of the variety is Tatyana Sergeevna Kantor, who received the variety in the 1970s.

Penelope is a strawberry-strawberry hybrid with an early ripening period. The bushes are high, the spreading is average. Peduncles are higher than leaves, bear many flowers, are strong, so ripe berries do not fall on the ground. The fruits are orange-red in color, resembling wild strawberries in appearance, but larger ones - 3-4 cm, up to 20 g. The taste is sweet, with a forest strawberry aroma. The yield of the hybrid is stable in various years. Shade-tolerant, winter-hardy, not afraid of gray rot, can be grown in partial shade.

This mid-early hybrid ripens in late June and bears fruit until mid-August.

Penelope is grown in the middle lane, in the northwest; it grows well in the Urals, in some regions of Siberia. The variety has excellent winter hardiness, so it can be cultivated almost everywhere, except for the northernmost regions.

Depending on the care, you can get up to 0.25 kg of berries from each bush. To get a good result, you need to water, fertilize and weed the bushes.

The taste of the hybrid fruit is sweet, tender, reminiscent of wild strawberries. They are very loved by children because of their exceptional taste.

Bushes usually bear fruit well for 4 years, then they need to be replaced. It is necessary to ensure that the bushes do not grow, capturing neighboring beds.

It grows well both in the sun and in partial shade. Not afraid of wetted areas, the main thing is that the water does not stand. Can be planted in near-trunk circles of apple trees or other trees. On the site selected for the grade, you need to dig up the ground with a bayonet, apply complex fertilizer, you can also add humus or rotted manure. Then plant, after dipping the roots in a mash made of clay and mullein. This will help the plants take root better. Some additionally put a little crushed green manure in the hole. Then pour over.

Penelope is perfectly pollinated without the presence of other varieties, since the fragrant flowers in large numbers attract pollinating insects.

In the first year, 10 g of ammonium nitrate is introduced for each m2, chicken droppings and mullein are also introduced. The soil should be well fertilized.

For good fruiting, in the second year, 20 g of nitrophoska is added per 1 m, or 15 g of nitroammophoska. After feeding, you need to shake off the fertilizer from the leaves, and water the aisles. Top dressing with rotted chicken manure or mullein is also effective. In the third year, the amount of fertilizers is increased - 30 g of nitrophoska and 20 g of nitroammophoska, respectively.

He is not afraid of almost any disease. Of the pests, it is damaged only by the weevil. This pest, as a rule, is not active every year, but if the bushes are not treated, it can thoroughly spoil the crop. In the budding stage, strawberries should be sprayed with an insecticide - Iskra-Bio, Engio, Admiral, or another preparation. If after the treatment it rains and rinses off the product, the treatment must be repeated.

It is easy to reproduce this variety of dugouts, since it forms a mustache in a huge amount. Taking small sockets, they are planted in a new place. The main thing is that the roots are intact.They dip it into a muddle made of clay and mullein, add a little fertilizer to the hole, maybe green - siderates. For example, lupine. The growing point should be at ground level, then the plant will develop well.

The owners of this hybrid note that Penelope has no industrial value, but is often cultivated in horticulture. It is especially loved by those who experiment with different varieties. Those who have had Penelope for a long time, grow it in a 2-3-year-old culture. It is noted that the largest harvest is in the first year. The bushes are very dense, clog the weeds and try to crawl to the adjacent beds. The bloom looks very decorative, it can be compared to cultivated flowers. The flower stalks are tall; during flowering, the caps of white flowers are incomparably beautiful.

The owners of the variety note that the variety is unprofitable for sale. The berries are small, uneven in shape. But there are a lot of berries, children adore them. The unique aroma is reminiscent of wild strawberries. You can just eat berries, make jam, freeze and so on.

Some owners of the variety use it for virgin planting in undeveloped areas. Penelope is put on the empty seat. The dwarf grows quickly, it clogs the weeds, and after a year you can harvest. Since the variety loves abundant watering, the owners of damp areas note that it grows well with them.