The strawberry is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family of small and short stems with a height between 9 to 21 cm and 0.4 to 1.5 m wide. Its fruit, also called strawberry, is red and has a sweet, sour and aromatic flavor. Its harvest is usually at the beginning of the spring (in the cold zones) and in the middle of the summer (in the warm zones). It can be consumed raw, in compotes, jams, juices, yogurt, ice creams, cakes, custards, etc.
There is a great variety of strawberries, the most cultivated at present are:
Camarosa: They are the most cultivated in Spain. Its fruit is red, firm and of good flavor.
Albion: Its fruit is intense red, large, conical and very delicious.
Window: They are similar to Camarosas.
Sweet Charlie: this strawberry is big, sweet and delicious.
Seagull: they have the best color, very good flavor and their size is medium.
Diamond: These strawberries are hard, green and red.
Strawberries have few calories and have a high content of nutrients that are beneficial for our body:
It is rich in fiber.
It contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B3 and B6, C (greater amount), E, K and folic acid, it also has vitamin P but in smaller quantities.
Contains carbohydrates, potassium, iron, magnesium, iodine, phosphorus, sodium and calcium.
Strawberries contain 90% water.
Properties and benefits
Strawberries are low in calories, also contains fiber, which helps us regulate the digestive processes and reduce the feeling of hunger.
They decrease the level of bad cholesterol in blood.
It contains antioxidant, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Because of their high content of folic acid they are ideal for pregnant women.
Help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Strengthens the immune system.
Improve mental health.
They help you lose weight.
It helps to improve the state of the skin.
Combat constipation.
Improve vision.
Improves mood.
Helps fight esophageal cancer
They are recommended for diabetic patients.
They help combat gout, rheumatism and arthritis.
The strawberry is a futa that illuminates the eyes and the palate. Their cultivation is very easy, they withstand high temperatures and can grow in hot and cold places:
Strawberries can be grown in pots and on the ground.
Before planting in the soil, it must be fumigated.
You can plant the seedlings or seedlings (they are in nurseries), they are sown directly in the soil with a separation of about 30 cm between the plants, we can also sow the seeds, although it is very expensive. For sowing in a pot, the procedure is almost the same, but it must have a good drainage system.
It is recommended to sow at the end of winter or spring.
They should receive sunlight so they can grow healthy and strong.
The fertilized soil (manure) is necessary as this helps us to increase production.
The plants must be watered correctly, the most recommended method is drip irrigation.
Periodically you should visit the harvest and eliminate the dried herbs. You should also eliminate the first flowers of the strawberry plants so that they grow stronger.
When they are red, the strawberries are ready to be picked. You can do it by always leaving the stem intact.
Recommendations:
So that the soil maintains humidity, it is recommended to cover the soil with straw, this helps us to prevent the development of weeds.
It is advisable to make covered with wire tunnels, this helps to accelerate the ripening of the strawberries.
Plagues and diseases
These plants are usually affected by:
Thrips (Frankliella occidentalis): Causes damage to flowers and fruits.
Red spider (Tetranychus urticae Koch): with the arrival of heat attacks the younger leaves. It is the most dangerous plague.
Gray rot (Botrytis cinerea / Sclerotinia fuckeliana): occurs when there is a lot of humidity and temperatures between 14 and 19 ° C. When it is very windy and when it rains, they disperse.
Oidio (Oidium fragariae): Creates white fluff on the leaves on both sides. It appears in high temperatures 21 to 26 ° C and in sunny weather. When it rains it stops in the attack.
Purple spot (Mycosphaerella fragariae): Creates small spots on the leaves. It spreads through ascospores and spores with mild temperatures and high humidity.
Fungi in the soil: They affect the plant from its root system or cortical zone of the neck, among these fungi are: Fusarium sp., Pytophtora sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp., Pythium sp., Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp. and Penicillium sp.
Bacteria (Xanthomas fragariae): It affects the leaves, causing oily spots that grow more as they come together. These batteries benefit from daytime temperatures of 20 ° C and high humidity.
In summary, strawberries are very delicious and bring many health benefits.