Secrets of growing Clery strawberries for a rich harvest
Clery strawberry is an early ripe variety with sweet, aromatic and large fruits, bred by Italian breeders. The variety is popular among gardeners due to its unpretentious care and ease of growing, high yield and resistance to common diseases and pests.
Clery strawberry: features and description of the variety
Characteristics and Description of Clery Strawberry:
- strong and vigorous shrubs, compact or spreading;
- leaves are large, with a "glossy" surface, dark green;
- stems are high, with a large number of antennae;
- the variety is distinguished by high fruit set;
- the flowers are snow-white, with bright centers;
- berry weight - up to 40-50 g, all fruits are about the same size;
- yield - up to 600-800 g from each bush;
- fruits of traditional conical shape;
- the pulp is sweet, firm, with a barely noticeable sourness.
The berries of the Clery variety have dense and elastic flesh, which ensures good preservation of the fruits during transportation and high indicators of their keeping quality.
Productivity and frost resistance
The Clery strawberry variety is intended for cultivation in the southern regions with a warm climate; in the northern regions the plant is planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It tolerates wet planting, retains a pleasant, sweet taste and does not become watery.
The maximum yield of the variety is observed in the first 3-4 years after planting, after which the fruiting decreases. Clery belongs to the early ripening varieties, the first ripe fruits can be harvested in mid or late May. Productivity - up to 700-800 g per bush.
Landing features
Planting and caring for Clery strawberries are not particularly difficult and demanding, which ensured its wide popularity among gardeners. When planting a plant, it is very important to choose and prepare high-quality, healthy seedlings correctly.
Planting dates for strawberries
The variety is planted both in early spring and autumn. You can start planting seedlings of Clery strawberries immediately after the snow cover melts - already in mid-late March. Also, bushes can be planted in autumn - from late August to early October.
Choosing the best place
Clery is a cultivar that “prefers” light, well-loosened soils with a high level of moisture. Too high areas with dense, clayey soil are not suitable for the culture.
Preparation of planting material
In order for Clery's strawberries to take root well and quickly take root in a permanent place of growth, the seedlings must be properly prepared.
For this, it is hardened:
- place the bushes for 2-3 days in a cool room;
- make sure that the temperature in it does not rise + 10 ° С;
- for extra protection, dip the roots of the plant in a clay mass.
Thanks to hardening, strawberries adapt faster after planting in open soil and will be more resistant to negative environmental factors.
Transplanting
Clery strawberries are best planted in cloudy weather, in the early morning or late evening:
- The crop is planted in moist soil, so water the soil well before planting.
- Keep a distance of at least 38-45 cm between the beds and between the bushes, as they will be strong and spreading.
- Place the top point of plant growth above the soil surface, gently spread the roots and sprinkle it with earth on top.
Then lightly compact the soil and water liberally. In the case of spring planting, the plants can be additionally covered with plastic wrap to protect them from possible frost.
Strawberry care
To ensure good fruiting of Clery strawberries and get a rich harvest of juicy and tasty berries, you need to provide the plant with proper care. It consists of standard procedures - systematic watering, fertilization and protection from diseases and pests.
Watering strawberries
Clery is a variety that does not tolerate dry weather well and withers quickly. He needs regular, abundant watering. Various types of irrigation are excellent for fruit crops - drip irrigation, using a hose or a watering can.
You need to water the plant at the root and carefully monitor so that moisture does not get on the leaves and berries. Irrigation water should not be too cold - the optimum temperature is + 15-20 ° C. After watering, removal is carried out weeds and mulching.
Top dressing Clery
The Clery strawberry variety is very demanding for regular feeding.
For this purpose, both mineral and organic fertilizers are used, which are applied according to the schedule.:
- Early spring, 10-14 days after planting - complex, universal fertilizers.
- Budding period - potassium sulfate 5 g and nitrophoska 40 g per bucket, 500 ml under the root of each bush.
- The flowering period is mullein with water, mixed in a ratio of 1: 8.
The last feeding of strawberry bushes is carried out at the end of August. To do this, add a glass of ash and 40 g of complex fertilizer for strawberries into a bucket of water. Pour at least 1 liter of top dressing under the root of each plant.
Strawberry breeding methods
Cleary strawberries can be propagated in various ways, but dividing the bush and rooting outlets are considered the most effective. In the first case, fragments of a strong and healthy three-year-old bush are used for planting, in the second - with antennae separated from the mother bush. Up to 20-30 antennae can be separated from one plant, which take root well and quickly.
Clery's Wintering
Before the onset of winter frosts, Clery's strawberries need to be properly prepared. Remove dried leaves and shoots, then loosen the soil well. This will improve the oxygen supply to the plant's root system. Cover the soil with fallen leaves, hay, or straw.
In the spring, after the snow layer melts, the mulch must be removed, otherwise the culture may overheat. These simple activities will help strawberries to easily endure frost and winter cold. One of the characteristics of the Clery variety is the ability to bear fruit all year round. Gardeners often transplant crops in pots for the winter and grow them on a windowsill.
Pruning strawberries
The Clery strawberry variety requires regular pruning of old, dried up and diseased shoots, otherwise the entire garden bed will be covered with rooted rosettes. Rare pruning will impair plant growth and yield.
The procedure for pruning strawberries is best done in August, before the young leaves begin to form.
Not only old shoots are cut off, but also large leaves - but they should be removed only after they are completely dry. Strawberry tendrils are shortened during active flowering or directly at harvest. Cut the petioles carefully, being careful not to hurt future flower stalks.
Clery is an early maturing strawberry with large, sweet berries. Ease of cultivation, unpretentious care, high resistance to diseases and pests have provided him with wide popularity among many gardeners and summer residents.