Arbutus: growing and caring for a strawberry tree on the site

The strawberry tree is an exotic plant that not everyone is lucky to see, because this plant is very fastidious to temperature conditions and has a limited natural habitat. Very decorative and unusual, the strawberry tree in our latitudes will become a real decoration of the winter garden or home greenhouse. How to plant a strawberry tree and care for it, will be discussed further.

Strawberry tree: biological features and habitat

Arbutus, a strawberry tree or a strawberry is an evergreen plant from the heather family, which is a low-growing tree or a low shrub.

Strawberry usually reaches a height of 3-5 meters, which may take up to 50 years, but some species grow up to 12 meters. The trunk of arbutus is covered with smooth bark of orange, reddish or brown color, in some species (small strawberries) it changes annually, and the plant makes a rustling sound. The branches of the tree are curved, the leaves are dark green, wide, entire, up to 8 cm long. The plant blooms in May with white or yellowish flowers in the form of a jug, collected in panicles.

The fruits of strawberry - rounded drupe no more than 3 cm in diameter, covered with small growths. Inside the berries are powdery, sweet and sour pulp with a large number of small seeds. Fruits in appearance and smell resemble strawberries, they taste like an exotic fruit, have a characteristic bitterness due to the presence of tannin.

In the wild, the plant is found in America, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Western Europe, and Tirol, where it grows on high ground and rocky slopes, and in culture a strawberry tree can be seen on European streets and parks.

There are a total of 11 plant species.Usually in the general characteristic of the strawberry tree and the description in the scientific literature is meant large-fruited arbutus.

Where can I grow a strawberry tree in open ground conditions: the frost resistance of strawberries

The strawberry tree is a heat-loving plant with medium frost resistance.which in the summer feels good at an air temperature of 25-30 ° C, and in winter it does not tolerate temperatures below -12 ° C. Short-term frosts down to -15 ° C are permissible. At low temperatures, young shoots freeze in the plants, inflorescences and leaves of mature trees die.

Given these features of the strawberry tree, outdoor cultivation is recommended for regions of frost-resistant zones 8-10. Kiev, Minsk, the Baltic countries, northeastern Poland, Moscow, St. Petersburg - these are areas of the 5th zone of frost resistance. Therefore, in this lane The strawberry tree is recommended to be grown in winter gardens, greenhouses, on open terraces and at home in a pot culture. It is also possible that the plant winters indoors, and in the summer it is placed on the street.

Recommendations for choosing strawberry tree seedlings

Much more often on sale seeds come across, it is difficult to get saplings. But if you still succeed, get a seedling in a pot, with a closed root system. He may already be fruitful.

Choosing a place to plant: soil and lighting

For strawberry suitable any soil. It will grow equally well on loamy and fertile, acidic and alkaline, loose and dense soils, but it is preferable to choose an acidic soil. The plant is resistant to drought, likes well-lit areas.

Planting strawberry seedlings

The plants are moved to a permanent place when 6-8 full-fledged leaves appear, they are planted at a distance of three meters.

The strawberry root system is very fragile, it is necessary to carefully replant the sprouts so as not to damage the earth bed.

They should create conditions similar to natural ones, for example, to mulch with needles and stones. This will help retain moisture and the desired acidity of the soil.

Strawberry tree care tips

The room, which contains strawberries (winter garden, greenhouse or house), must be periodically aired.

Watering

Strawberry watering is done with soft, settled water., it should be regular, especially during the growing season and fruiting. Excessive watering can lead to rotting of the roots and dark spots on the leaves.

Top dressing

In spring or summer, the strawberry tree is fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.In the autumn and winter, this should be done only if the plant is in a warm room, and do not produce top dressing at a temperature below 12 degrees. During the growing season, strawberries are fed twice a month with compost or fertilizer intended for heather. For older plants, granulated potash or nitrogen fertilizers are more suitable, which are applied to the soil every 3-4 months. At the end of winter, manure can be added to the soil.

Crown trimming

Since strawberries grow very slowly, pruning is done when necessary. In order to form the crown in the spring, cut off the branches that interfere with the appearance of the tree. Sanitary pruning is also carried out (removal of dry and damaged branches).

Wintering

Since December, the number of waterings is recommended to reduce. In winter, the plant needs rest. In the room where it grows, it is desirable to maintain a temperature of 11-15 ° C. In the open field for the winter plants need to cover and protect from the wind.

Possible diseases and pests of strawberry

Diseases characteristic of strawberry - it is root rot, late blight, rust, anthracnose, which can be avoided if the plant is provided with the right conditions. In case of infection, appropriate preparations are used.

Strawberry tree may be attacked spider mite. This pest does not tolerate high humidity - spraying and abundant watering.

To combat it, a soap solution is sprayed onto the plants, and then the surface of the leaves is rubbed.

The benefits and use of strawberry tree berries

The fruits of the strawberry tree are consumed both fresh and processed. Berries make jam, jam, jellies, candied fruits.

On the basis of the fruit produce alcoholic beverages, such as the Portuguese brandy "medronho".

For long-term storage, the fruit can be dried or frozen. Dried berries in a sealed container at room temperature can be stored for 1-2 years.

In addition to berries, other parts of strawberry have also been found to have beneficial properties. In folk medicine, decoctions and tinctures from flowers are used to treat diseases of the throat and oral cavity, from leaves - for diseases of the digestive system, a decoction of the bark or roots is used for dermatological diseases, wounds and burns outwardly. Leaves, roots and flowers have antiseptic, astringent and diuretic effects.

Strawberry is a honey plant, honey is obtained from it with bitterness.

Ways of breeding strawberry

For a strawberry tree, reproduction methods such as seed and vegetative (grafting) are acceptable.

Seminal

For the cultivation of a strawberry tree from seeds, purchased seed material or seeds of fully ripened fruits collected in the autumn is used.

With this breeding method, the seeds must first undergo a 2-month process of stratification. To do this, they must be placed in a mixture of sand and peat in the ratio of 3: 7 or in decomposed pine needles and kept at a low but not negative temperature. Ready for sowing seeds have a cracked shell. Next, the seeds are soaked for a week in warm water. Sowing takes place to a depth of 1.5 cm in a container with well-drained soil from under a strawberry tree or soil mixture for palm trees, which is then placed in a shaded warm place.

The optimum temperature for keeping crops is 20 ° C, they need to be watered as the soil dries. Remember that a plant like a strawberry tree has very slow growth, and its shoots appear after a few months, so if nothing happens, do not worry beforehand.Stronger sprouts are recommended to be seated in separate pots and kept in the same conditions, well ventilated the room. You can save moisture using mulching, as well as the use of coniferous humus.

Cuttings

Bottom strawberry cuttings are harvested at the end of winter. For better rooting, they are treated with growth stimulants (Kornevin, Heteroauxin) and planted in a greenhouse. They take root for about 1.5 months, while in the greenhouse you need to maintain a high humidity of air and soil. Seedlings can be planted in a permanent place, when they form a green growth of up to 5 cm in height and 4-5 roots. Before planting, cuttings are recommended to be hardened in the open air for several days.

Semi-woody cuttings from the shoots of the current year (from young plants) are cut in the fall and planted under glass.

If you decide to start a delicate Southerner on your site under the name "strawberry tree", you will have to work on planting and leaving.But if you provide the necessary conditions for exotic arbutus, it will delight you with its decorative look and unusual fruits.