We grow strawberries "Mara de Bois" in the country

Strawberry is one of the berries that all gardeners love. The variety of varieties allows you to grow different berries in their taste and maturity.

In our article we will talk about strawberries "Mara de Bois", we will give a description of this variety with a photo, and we will share feedback from gardeners.

Features grade

Strawberry "Mara de Bois" (translated as "forest berry") is a variety of French selection that became known in 1991. This strawberry is popular in Europe and the USA, it is valued for its original taste. "Mara de Bois" is a remontant variety, that is, a neutral day light. Bush of this variety is low, up to 20 cm, neat.

It has a lot of light green leaves. They are clean, medium sized. Leaf stalks are bare. A little below the bush is a large number of short peduncles. The yield of strawberries "Mara de Bois" - above average. One berry weighs on average from 18 to 26 g. The fruits are tapered, shiny, light red in color.

In size and appearance, "Mara de Bois" resembles strawberries, and the taste and aroma of this variety is like that of strawberries. Fruits brings from the beginning of the summer to the first frost.

This variety is grown both horizontally and vertically. Balconies and gardens are sometimes decorated with pretty bushes, using them as an ornamental plant.

Landing technology

To grow this wonderful strawberry, you first need to choose a suitable place for growth and purchase quality seedlings.

How to choose seedlings

It is better to purchase strawberry seedlings from reliable suppliers who have been engaged in this business for years.

When choosing seedlings, pay attention:

• the plant should not have damaged, yellowed leaves;
• seedlings must have at least three green and shiny leaves;
• do not get sluggish bushes;
• roots must be moistened and have a length of at least 7 cm;
• a good plant should have a fibrous root system;
• seedlings should have a horn of no more than 0.7 cm;
• shriveled leaves - a sign of strawberry mite.

When and where to plant the berry

Strawberries are planted in April - May, and in the northern regions - in June. In advance, you should select a site and carry out preparatory work on it. The place should be sunny. This variety likes slightly acidified soils and well-fertilized, therefore, compost (1 bucket) and inorganic fertilizers (40 g) per 1 square meter are brought to a depth of about 30 cm. Next, you need to dig up the site. And after the soil has settled down (after about 3 weeks), you can begin planting strawberries.

Scheme of planting seedlings in open ground

The distance between the bushes must be observed about 30 cm and 40 cm between the rows. Many of the rows are used in order to divert the antennae there and get new plants.

If there are broken and damaged roots, then they must be removed by treating the cut with ash. Growth point must be at ground level.

After the plants are planted, the plot must be watered and mulched, using hay, straw, or sawdust.It is also desirable for the first time to cover the strawberries with a film so that the young plants start better.

How to care for the variety

Sort "Mara de Bois", according to gardeners, not easy to grow. And many fail to get a positive result. For successful cultivation requires proper care.

Watering, weeding and loosening the soil

Watering strawberries abundantly, as it suffers from drought. Watering is carried out around the perimeter or using drip irrigation. On the berries is not desirable to allow the ingress of water, as well as in the center of the outlet. Strawberries can easily be strangled by weeds, so we need to weed them periodically. The soil that is not rotting is loosened as often as possible so that the earth crust does not appear. Do this should not be deep, trying not to damage the roots.

Fertilization

Feeding strawberries should be started after she started and started to produce new leaves. For shrubs growing on the site for more than one year, use complex fertilizers, which must necessarily include nitrogen.

Next, 2 times a month, pour strawberry mullew infusion (1 l per bucket of water). You can also use a fertilizer that has a prolonged effect, such as Osmokot. About 8 granules must be buried in a circle, departing from the center of the plant 8-10 cm. During the formation of buds use fertilizer containing an equal amount of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

If the strawberry grows on sandy soil, then once a year they spray it with a solution of boric acid (weak). Strawberries growing on lime soil are sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and Tsitovir.

Strawberry mulching

For the maintenance of the beds in the order they are mulched, using needles, straw, sawdust. You can also plant strawberries on a specially designed film. Due to this, moisture is preserved in the soil, and weeds will not be able to grow.

Pest and disease treatment

Healthy seedlings that have been planted in suitable soil are resistant to powdery mildew. But other diseases, such as brown spot or gray rot, can easily damage plants. With the help of Bordeaux liquid or the drug "Kurzat" you can protect yourself from brown spot.

Spraying is carried out in early spring, before the appearance of new leaves. Properly watering strawberries, you can protect yourself from gray rot. When the plant blooms, use the drug "Roval". It does not accumulate in the fruit, so for a person does not bear danger. Pests that can threaten strawberries include mites, slugs, aphids, snails. Mulch will help protect the plant from some pests. Also, onions, calendula, garlic, marigolds planted next to each other are considered good protection. When aphids and mites appear, it is necessary to treat the strawberries using a soap solution or an infusion of onion peels.

Trimming whiskers and leaves

After fructification, the whiskers and leaves of the plant should be trimmed. Yellow, damaged and dry leaves are removed.

For further reproduction leave the antennae first in a row from the bush, and the rest are removed. If you multiply in this way the plant is not going, then you need to cut off all mustaches.

How to prepare strawberries for winter

The grade "Mara de Bois" is frost-resistant. But you can cover the bed for the winter with straw, dry leaves, corn stalks. Or use peat, compost as a heater.

Also available is lutrasil or spunbond, which are special covering materials.

The advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Benefits:

• bears fruit in the first year of growth;
• frost-resistant variety;
• fruits in greenhouses all year round;
• high taste qualities;
• relatively well kept chilled;
• resistant to powdery mildew.

The disadvantages of the variety:

• does not tolerate drought and high temperatures;
• a small number of whiskers, because of this, reproduction is slow;
• without nitrogen and mineral fertilizers, modest fruiting results;
• size and shape are not uniform;
• average transportability.

Gardeners reviews:

Victor, 35 years old: "The variety has high resistance to adverse conditions. A good berry size and color. The taste is exceptional. A very suitable variety for those who are looking for something new."

Alexandra, 42 years old: “I have never planted strawberries before. They advised the variety“ Mara de Bois. ”After buying the seedlings, I found information that didn’t always take root. But I took a chance and planted it in my garden.

Angelina, 38 years old: "It has long been growing this variety of strawberries in the greenhouse.I like the fact that fruits can be harvested all year round with minimal care. "