The Tsaritsa variety was bred by Russian breeders specifically for regions with cold climatic conditions. For this, two species were selected with the required characteristics and large berry size. The crossing resulted in a variety with high resistance to frost, diseases and pests. Medium-sized fruits are distinguished by high palatability and an even, regular shape. Photos and descriptions of the Queen's strawberries are presented in the article below.
Description of the Tsaritsa variety
Strawberry Queen is a medium-sized bush with few leaves arranged on tall stalks. It blooms in late June and early July in large flowers with white petals. The buds are located on solid, low peduncles.
The berries are cone-shaped with a thickening towards the petiole. Strawberry pulp is dense, sweet juicy, glossy surface. The size of one fruit usually does not exceed 40 grams, but there are specimens reaching 60 grams in weight. Strawberry fruits contain many nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
The leaves are oval with a sharp end. Their surface is smooth, the structure is ribbed, pubescence is absent both from the outside and from the underside. The flower stalks of the Tsaritsa strawberry variety are low, so when flowering, the leaves cover all the buds.
The variety has good frost resistance readings in a snowy winter. If the plant gets -15 frost without insulation, the root system dies. Under a good layer of snow, the bushes can withstand cold temperatures up to -35 degrees. Also, the Tsaritsa strawberry variety is drought-resistant.
Berry characteristics
- The fruits are symmetrical.
- They are of the correct shape, bright red, juicy.
- The former are larger than the subsequent ones.
- The size of the berries varies from 40 to 60 g.
- They taste sweet and sour, not sugary.
- The surface of such fruits is shiny.
- Varietal shrub of medium size, not too sprawling.
- The foliage is slightly crumpled, its color is dim, the inflorescences are compact.
Important! Not afraid of autumn rot, active before the onset of cold weather.
Care rules
Strawberries require a lot of attention. But, despite its capriciousness, there is no vegetable garden or dacha where this plant is not grown. Having organized decent care for the plantings, timely watering and feeding, as a result, a high yield of tasty, healthy and juicy berries is obtained.
Soil and planting site
When choosing a planting site, it is necessary to take into account the quality of the soil. Strawberries will grow well on light, loose and slightly acidic soil. It is preliminarily recommended to check the territory for infestation with beetle larvae and other parasites. Also, before planting, you can dig up the area along with humus by adding complex fertilizers with nitrogen content. This process is recommended to be carried out 1 month before planting seedlings, so that the earth is infused.
The planting site should be in a well-lit area so that the plant receives enough sunlight and the fruits ripen evenly. It is also worth considering the fact that strawberries do not like stagnant water and waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, the place should be on a hill or slope so that rainwater does not accumulate on the site.
If the groundwater is high and the soil is clayey, then the bed is made on a mound. It is also recommended to add rice hulls or seed husks to the ground, this will serve as a good ripper for the earth cover. Photos of a properly made bed on a hill can be found in magazines and on the Internet.
Watering
The queen strawberry needs regular watering for good development, growth and fruiting. Gardeners recommend this process in the early morning or evening hours, when the sun is not very hot. After each watering, in order for the strawberry horse system to receive enough moisture, it is necessary to loosen the soil and remove weeds. At the same time, they do not approach the bush with tools so as not to damage it.
The variety is drought-resistant, but with a lack of moisture, the yield will be lost. If the bushes do not receive sufficient watering during flowering, all the buds will fall off. If necessary, you can mulch the soil between the bushes, which will retain more moisture for a long time. It also inhibits the growth of new weeds, prevents the earth from overheating from the sun and the fruits remain clean.
At the same time, constant overflow will lead to decay of the roots and the death of the entire plant. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil and weather conditions. In the hot season, watering is carried out often or as needed, and in the rainy season they are reduced or completely removed.
Top dressing
In order for the description of the queen strawberry variety to correspond to what grows in the garden, it is necessary to regularly fertilize under the bushes. In early spring, with the onset of stable warm weather, when the first leaves begin to appear on the plant, it is necessary to fertilize. For this, rotted humus is well suited, which is diluted with a large amount of water in a ratio of 1 to 10. In the autumn, this process can be repeated.
Preparing for winter
After all the fruits are collected, they begin to clean the bushes. All dry, spoiled or sick leaves are removed. You can also carry out a complete cut of the upper part of the plant, but this operation is carried out carefully so as not to damage the central part. By the fall, new young and healthy leaves will appear. All varieties tolerate pruning well.
History of appearance
The described berry is also called garden strawberry. It was created by crossing two strawberry varieties: Red Gontlent (bred in Scotland) and Venta (product of Lithuanian breeders). Distinctive characteristics of these types of strawberries are resistance to spot disease and attack by such pests as strawberry mites. In addition, the varieties easily endure the winter, have large fruits that are rich in various chemical elements necessary for humans.
Strawberry Queen
The head of the breeding work, as a result of which the Empress strawberry appeared, is Doctor of Science S.D. Aytzhanov. She has been conducting this activity since 1982, thanks to her, a fairly large number of species and subspecies of strawberries have appeared in Russia. To get the described variety, scientists had to study more than a hundred others, which belong to 8 types of culture. As a result, the most promising donors were identified (Red Gontlent and Venta: the first is the result of the work of Scottish breeders, and the second is Lithuanian), which led to the appearance of the Tsaritsa strawberry.
Additional Information! Scientists solved the problem of breeding a frost-resistant plant that would tolerate winter well and would not worsen its qualities and the biochemical composition of the fruit. In addition, it was necessary to grow a species that would be minimally susceptible to the influence of harmful microorganisms.
Tsaritsa strawberry propagation technology
The process of reproduction of the Tsaritsa strawberry variety is carried out in two ways: with the help of seeds and a mustache. Moreover, in the first case, it takes a lot of time for the bush to reach the required size for normal fruiting. Reproduction with a mustache is guaranteed to give a good harvest from planting in the second year. The seed method is rarely used, mainly when a new variety appears and there are not enough seedlings on the market.
The queen's mustache has a reddish tint and gives a good strong rosette. Their leaves are not large, closely green in color, raised toothed, on short petioles. If the seedlings are purchased, it is recommended to preview the root system of the bush and the presence of a healthy bud in the outlet. When propagating varieties from their own bushes, only the roots are generally checked.
Strawberry properties
Wild strawberries are a valuable dietary product and an excellent medicine. The healing properties of the plant have been known for a long time, and in the old Russian "medical books" we find a description of the dachshund: "Water from strawberry berries, according to reasoning in the morning and evening, is mixed with ordinary drinking and then any harmful wetness will be exterminated from the body from the body, and baked weakness and yellowness he will drive him away from the body, and he will open the winds of the breath, and the heart strengthens, and gives strength, and he will destroy the stone from the inside, and he will do good for the lepers ”.
Landing
Having prepared the place, and having purchased or dug up seedlings, you can start the planting process. To do this, it is necessary to dig depressions at a distance of 50 cm from each other. This distance will allow the bush to develop freely and receive enough sunlight. Water each hole. Before planting, the root system of the Queen's strawberry is shortened so that the total length does not exceed 8 cm. A mound is made at the bottom of the recess, and a seedling is placed on top.
The roots should lie freely in the holes, located on the sides of the mound. During the burying of the root system, it is necessary to ensure that the soil does not fall into the center of the outlet, as it can close the young bud.
The optimal time for planting seedlings is the spring month or late August and early September. During this period, the sun and air temperature do not create dry weather, and the young bush will easily take root in a new place.
Testimonials
Anna: “I plant for the first time. I thought for a long time which variety to choose. A friend came to the rescue, who advised the unpretentious "Tsarina". Having studied the features, I decided to grow it. I don’t regret it! Large, juicy, tasty berries have become a gift for all my efforts! The variety is excellent, I recommend it to everyone! "
Ekaterina: “I have been growing for the third year in a row. I like it very much, because it does not require increased care, is unpretentious, berries can be added to various dishes. "
Vyacheslav: “I am an experienced gardener. I grew a huge variety of berries, but most of all I like "Tsaritsa". It fits the northern region where I live, does not freeze. The berries are delicious, choose - you won't regret it. "
Strawberry queen is a combination of unsurpassed taste, attractive aroma and attractive appearance. Having studied the features, you can safely start growing it.
Diseases and pests
The Tsaritsa variety is bred by breeders that are resistant to pests or diseases. Basically, according to the reviews of gardeners and summer residents, it is so. But with improper care or weakening of the health of the plant, you can get diseases. Therefore, when pruning after fruiting, each strawberry bush is examined. If necessary, treatment with special preparations is carried out.
When the soil is swamped, the root system begins to rot, in this case the bush is completely removed from the ground, looked through, all damaged parts are removed and planted in a new prepared place.
If there is not enough nutrition in the soil, the bushes develop poorly. In this case, in addition to humus, it is recommended to add complex fertilizers to the soil along with watering.It should be remembered that an excess of nitrogen will lead to the development of foliage and will reduce the number of flowers and fruits.
One of the most dangerous pests for strawberries is the mite. The first signs of infection are withered leaves, small and irregularly shaped berries. To avoid the appearance of such a problem, it is recommended to treat all plantings of any kind with special preparations every year in the spring, when two new leaves appear. If a tick is found, treatment is carried out several times.
The description of the variety almost completely coincides with the result obtained in the garden. The yield is high, the fruits are sweet and tasty. Gardeners who live in cold regions have the opportunity to grow only varieties that are adapted to frost. Strawberry Queen fully lives up to its name. Good reviews about fruits and taste.
Harvest use
Because Tsaritsa strawberries are renowned for their hassle-free transport and storage well, they are often grown commercially. True, the not very high yield hinders the use of the variety in this direction. It is also not quite convenient for this that the crop ripens unevenly: fruiting can last up to a month, which, of course, is to some extent a plus.
The use of the crop is universal: they are good fresh, suitable for all kinds of harvesting. Jam, jams, jam are made from the Queen's berries. You can make marmalade and even use the excess harvest for juice. Berries can be frozen for winter consumption: of course, they become less sweet, but all the beneficial substances contained in strawberries, when frozen and then thawed, are preserved almost in full.
When the crop is no longer eaten, it is transferred to jam.
Region of natural growth
The queen was bred taking into account the harsh Russian climate, which is why this variety is not afraid of frosty winters and tolerates various temperature changes well. It can be grown both in the south and in the north.
Small bushes are not afraid of summer heat and drought. In winter, under the snow cover, they are able to withstand frosts down to -40 degrees. Without shelter, this mark is significantly reduced (to -20 degrees), so if winter is given out with little snow, it is better to cover it additionally.
Growing features
The queen is considered an unpretentious variety with good yields, but when growing such a plant, several nuances should be taken into account:
- In rainy and cloudy weather, the number of irrigations must be reduced in order to avoid stagnant moisture and decay of the root system;
- With high-quality fertilization of the ridges before planting, the first top dressing can be applied only in the third year of the plant's life;
- The berries ripen unevenly, so it is necessary to carefully examine all the bushes and collect only ripe fruits;
- Experienced gardeners recommend harvesting after the dew has melted;
- With the age of the bush, the berries begin to shrink, so the plantings are renewed every 4-5 years.
