All strawberry varieties can be divided into two classes: for own consumption and for industrial cultivation. The former are valued for their high taste characteristics, and the latter for their good shape and high keeping quality and transportability. Alba combines the qualities of both classes, but the taste reviews are mixed.
Origin of the variety
Alba was bred by employees of the Italian company "New Fruts", whose task was to create a high-yielding variety not only with high yields, transportability and keeping quality, but also good taste and presentation.
Alba or hybrid NF311 appeared in the seventies. The parental pair were varieties: albion and cal. 97.85-6. The variety took the best features from its parents: high yield, taste and quality of berries... The strawberry quickly became a leader in Italian industrial production.
Also, the variety is adapted for growing in Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian countries, where it is valued for its early fruiting and prospects.
Alba strawberry traits
Alba is cultivated both in the open field and in film tunnels, where the harvest ripens two weeks earlier. Strawberries ripen in open fields by mid-May... In both cases, the variety gives a good harvest, which is important for industrial production.
The berries, according to the description, have an elongated-conical shape, and their weight ranges from 25-30 grams... Red fruits are distinguished by dense pulp and a sweet taste with a slight acidity. It has a long fruiting period and the berry does not become smaller throughout the entire period.
The largest berry was grown in the city of Rolkestone (USA). It weighed over 230 grams, but did not taste good.
Alba bushes have a powerful structure, are low-leafed and can grow up to 35 cm. From one bush it is possible to collect about one kilogram of berries.
This variety is resistant to powdery mildew, verticellosis and fusarium wilt, but may suffer from brown and white spot. Alba is resistant to spring frost and summer drought.
The advantages of the variety include:
- early ripening;
- successful flowering period, which avoids recurrent frosts;
- fast formation of berries;
- not prone to crumbling fruits;
- the possibility of mechanized harvesting;
- high rates of transportability and keeping quality;
- marketable condition;
- good and stable yield;
- disease resistance and pests;
- good frost resistance.
The main disadvantages include the duration of the rest period, as well as exposure to anthracnose.
Alba belongs to drought-resistant varietiesso it needs watering once a week. Other varieties need to be watered every three or four days.
Agricultural technology of cultivation
Strawberries should be planted in open, lighted areas, protected from cold winds. It is better that cereals, garlic, onions or flowering plants - marigolds and petunias - were planted earlier on the site.
But after tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers and raspberries, plant albu undesirable... Such precursors increase the risk of late blight. A strawberry plantation planted after cucumbers and cabbage can be affected by the nematode.
Alba grows poorly at the site of planting of corn and sunflower, because they excessively deplete the soil.
Strawberry planting can be carried out in the spring and autumn. Alba, planted in the fall, will give its first harvest in the spring, and on the bushes of spring plantings, berries will appear only after a year. Summer planting of strawberries is also allowed, but the weather should not be too hot.
Mulching the soil, laying a substrate, or installing berry stands can help keep strawberries from disease and fruits from rotting.
Soil preparation
Strawberries grow well on sandy or loamy soils, enriched with a sufficient amount of organic matter.
Soil preparation for planting is carried out not less than two weeks in advance before the event and includes several stages:
- deep digging;
- removal of weeds and its roots;
- introduction of a starter set of fertilizers.
For each square meter, 10 liters of rotted manure or humus with the addition of complex fertilizers should be applied. The latter can be replaced with ash or superphosphate.
With a close location of groundwater or a tendency of the site to waterlogging, for planting strawberries recommend to form high ridges... This will help prevent root rot and wateriness in the berries.
Planting the alba on a flat area helps to maximize moisture retention during the dry season.
Planting rules for seedlings
String method planting strawberries is the most common. It is carried out in two lines, the interval between which should be at least 40 cm. The alba bushes are planted at a distance of 25 cm from each other, observing a certain technology.
- Prepare planting holes deep 20-25 cm.
- Add humus, ash and complex mineral fertilizers to each hole.
- Spill the wells with water.
- Saplings must be obtained from tendrils not older than one year.
- The roots of the planting material are placed in a growth stimulant solution and kept in a shaded place for six hours.
- Healthy seedlings are planted vertically so that the core is at ground level and the roots are completely covered with soil.
Every bush after planting you need to waterto compact the soil. Subsequent watering is carried out as needed. Do not overmoisten or overdry the plantings - this leads to the development of fungal and infectious diseases.
It is important to respect the landing dates. In spring, strawberries are planted in late April or early May. In summer - from mid-July, and in autumn - half a month before the expected frost.
Competent care
Alba care in the first year after planting is aimed at building a strong root system, therefore new antennae and peduncles need to be removed.
Care for older plantings depends on the season.
- After wintering... In early spring, the winter shelter is removed, damaged leaves are removed, and the soil is loosened. Mineral or organic fertilizers should be applied three times a month. The procedures are carried out before the first berries appear. From mid-spring, regular watering should be carried out, starting with small portions, but twice a day.
- Before flowering... During this period, the beds should be mulched to prevent the growth of weeds, ensure the cleanliness of the plantings and protect the berries from decay. Strawberries are watered with urea solution or ash infusion. If desired, spraying with solutions is carried out to stimulate productivity.
- During flowering... During this period, strawberries need potash, humus and ash. To increase the number of ovaries, it is necessary to spray with boric acid, a teaspoon of which is diluted in ten liters of water. Young tendrils at this time should be cut out so as not to lose part of the crop.
- A month later after the start of fruiting. They carry out preventive pruning of new tendrils, which makes it possible to extend the yield, prevent crumbling of berries, reduce the risks of morbidity, and also facilitate harvesting of fruits.
- Wintering... After the end of fruiting, all damaged parts of plants, weeds should be removed and the strawberries should be covered with special material or ephedra. This will ensure good winter survival and speed up the growing season.
To improve the taste characteristics of alba, it is recommended to apply fertilizers containing not only macro- but also microelements.
Experienced gardeners do not recommend grow alba in one place for more than three years. After this period, the amount of the crop decreases, and the berry loses its characteristics.
Therefore, you should take care of transplanting strawberries to a new place. But the former site can only be planted in four years.
Reproduction methods
For the reproduction of the alba, the method of dividing the bush, rooting antennae (rosettes) is used, less often they resort to the seed method.
Bush division method
It is carried out according to a certain scheme:
- procedure is carried out in spring, after establishing a stable above-zero temperature or after harvesting;
- select two or three year old healthy bushes with stable fruiting;
- the bushes are carefully removed from the ground without damaging the roots;
- the root system is divided in two or three parts sharpened sterile instrument. Each fragment should have a rosette with leaves;
- the places of the cuts are treated with a manganese solution.
Each fragment is planted in prepared planting holes.
Rooting antennae
Harvesting of planting material is carried out at the end of June, observing standard rules.
- Prepare a soil mixture by mixing equal parts of peat and garden soil. The mixture is fertilized with humus. You can also use ready-made strawberry soil.
- Antennae are planted in individual containers filled with a soil mixture and placed in a warm, well-lit room.
- It is necessary to ensure that the soil is constantly moistened.
- Plantings can be fertilized with mullein or yeast infusion.
- When three pairs of leaves have formed on the rosettes, remove the remaining antennae and transplant the plants to a permanent place.
When replanting, an earthen ball should be kept, which will prevent damage to the roots and speed up the rooting process in a new place.
Seed method
When growing alba from seeds, varietal characteristics may disappear.
Therefore, this method is rarely used and seeds should be purchased from nurseries. But you can try to get them yourself.
The procedure includes several stages:
- large ripe fruits are selected, from which the upper third is cut, kneaded and laid out in the sun;
- dried raw materials should be soaked in water and seeds should be selected;
- harvested seeds soak for 2-3 days in a weak solution of manganese or a growth stimulant;
- prepared seed material is sown in planting containers filled with special soil and placed in a warm, lighted place;
- after the appearance the first real leaf seedlings dive.
Planting young plants in open ground should be carried out in the spring, after having carried out hardening of bushes... The procedure consists in taking the strawberries out into the fresh air, gradually increasing the time for "walking".
Diseases and pests
Alba strawberries are immune to many fungal diseases, but are often affected anthracnose... The cause of the development of the disease is high humidity. Symptoms of the disease are manifested by small gray-burgundy spots on the leaf plates, which gradually increase in size. If nothing is done, the plantation may die.
As a prophylaxis of the disease, strawberry seedlings are treated in a solution of manganese or Bordeaux liquid.
When the first signs of an illness appear, strawberry plantings are treated with special preparations. With an advanced disease, you need to destroy all the bushes, and treat the soil with Bordeaux liquid.
Of the pests, strawberries are often attacked aphids and weevils, to combat which they resort to spraying with soapy water or special preparations.
The taste of strawberry alba has disappointed many summer residents. It does not have a strong sweetness and pronounced aroma. But the variety has gained popularity among farmers who grow berries for sale.
Good keeping quality and spectacular appearance endow alba with high purchasing power. Also, this strawberry is versatile in use, so it can often be found in personal gardens.