Strawberry saplings Cambridge Favorit

The famous variety of garden strawberry Cambridge was bred by English breeders by crossing Chilean and Black More strawberries. Cambridge was accepted for state tests back in 1978.

The main advantages of the variety: large-fruited, unpretentious to growing conditions and care, versatility. Strawberries grow well in open ground (in regions with a mild predictable climate), in greenhouses, in trays on the balcony.

Varie Features

Cambridge bushes are small, about 20 cm high, medium spreading, with a developed root system. Leaves – dark green, large, ribbed, inflorescences with many flowers.

Cambridge fruits: large (average weight 35 gr.), bright red, sweet, with a pronounced strawberry aroma. The first berries have the correct wide-conical shape, the subsequent ones become rounded.

Cambridge is distinguished by high keeping quality and transportability, the fruits do not crumple, do not flow. Therefore, the variety is excellent for cultivation for the purpose of selling on "fresh" markets. Strawberries do not lose their qualities when frozen, they make delicious jams, compotes, preserves.

Yield. Cambridge belongs to the varieties of medium ripening. The fruiting of the variety is uniform – by the end of the season, strawberries do not shrink and do not lose their taste. From one bush, 0.5-0.7 kg of berries are harvested per season. With proper agricultural practices and careful care – up to 1 kg.

Planting and care

The Cambridge strawberry variety does not need special care, however, like any other berry, it needs timely watering, loosening and top dressing. Then he will give a full-fledged harvest of sweet juicy berries.

Cambridge has an average frost resistance, so in regions with a sharply continental climate and late return frosts, it is recommended to organize a shelter.

Landing. Ideal time to land in Cambridge: end of August – beginning of September. By winter, seedlings take root and gain strength, and next year the variety gives the first harvest. It is important to take care of wintering plantings in a reliable shelter so that the plants survive the frost.

For planting strawberries, choose a sunny, draft-protected site, with light loamy or black earth soil. It is important that another variety of strawberries, as well as plants of the nightshade family and cabbage (less than 2-3 years ago) did not previously grow in the chosen place.

One month before planting Cambridge, the site is cleared of weeds. The soil is dug up, after adding humus and wood ash to it. Leveled with a rake.

A month later, on the prepared bed, I form holes 15 cm deep, leaving a distance of 40 cm between the bushes.

When planting strawberries in a trench, 2-3 rows of beds are formed, keeping a distance of 1 m between rows, and between seedlings in a row – 20-30 cm. The wells are pre-spill with warm water, you can add 1 tsp. azofoski.

Excess leaves are removed from the seedlings, leaving 2-3 strong ones, the central root is pinched to a length of 7-8 cm. Then the plant is placed in the hole so that its root neck is flush with the ground, and sprinkled with earth. The soil is slightly crushed so that there are no air cavities left. Planting is carefully watered with warm water (1 liter for each plant).

Tip: For planting strawberries, choose morning or evening hours when the sun is not active, cloudy weather is also suitable.

Irrigation. Cambridge strawberries tolerate heat and short drought. However, moisture deficiency negatively affects the quality of the – she starts to sour and shrink.  Therefore, it is important to organize timely watering.

In moderate weather, without severe drought and rain, strawberries are watered once a week. On hot days, the frequency of watering is increased up to 2-3 times in 7-10 days. In rainy weather – watering is reduced or stopped altogether. In autumn, the plants are watered once every seven days (in dry weather). When growing strawberries in a greenhouse, rainfall and drought do not affect the frequency of irrigation.

To save time and effort on "water procedures", as well as to avoid the occurrence of gray rot from water getting on the berries and leaves, you will be able to organize a drip irrigation system. Especially recommended for growing berries in greenhouses.

Loosening, weed and vine removal. After watering, the soil around the bushes is loosened to avoid the formation of a crust and ensure unhindered access of oxygen to the root system. Weeding of plantings is carried out as needed, but it is advisable to remove the mustache at Cambridge in a timely manner, otherwise the yield and size of the berries will decrease.

For reproduction on several plants, 1-2 mustaches with the strongest rosettes are left. Subsequently, rooted sockets are transplanted to a permanent place.

Feeding. Cambridge strawberries prefer organic fertilizers: solutions of mullein and chicken manure, humus, wood ash. Top dressing is carried out in early spring, when buds appear, and also at the end of the fruiting period. In the spring, for the active growth of green mass, nitrogen fertilizers are applied. During the flowering period and in the fall, potassium and phosphorus are added. After top dressing, the soil is thoroughly watered and loosened.

Preparing for winter. In order for the plantings to survive the winter well, they begin to prepare for wintering immediately after the end of fruiting. In August-September, strawberries are thinned out. Remove damaged weak leaves and mustaches, leaving up to 1/3 of the green mass. Bare roots are sprinkled with earth.

Before the first frosts, plantings are insulated with mulch: spruce branches, sawdust, fallen leaves. In regions with frosty winters, they are additionally covered with a film or agrofibre.

Preparations