Strawberry Sensation: characteristics, planting, propagation, care

This article provides a description of the strawberry variety Sensation. New varieties of strawberries appear at regular intervals. Manufacturers promise that you will get a large harvest, tasty berries, without spending much effort. One of the latest new products was revealed by Dutch breeders in 2021. This is a new variety of strawberry called "Sunsation". On the Russian market it is known as Sensation. However, the variety has not yet become widespread. It is sold only by a limited number of nurseries and is expensive.

Strawberry variety Sensation: reviews, description, cultivation, yield

In addition to time-tested varieties and hybrids of strawberries, many summer residents want to plant new varieties of this berry crop on their plots, which are distinguished by improved characteristics and resistance to weather changes and cold weather.

But before planting a new variety of strawberries, you need to familiarize yourself with its varietal characteristics, the nuances of planting and further care, the main advantages and disadvantages.

This article will talk about the completely new strawberry Sensation, which appeared on the international market in 2016, but has already become popular among gardeners from around the world, as it is considered a very promising and productive mid-season variety.

The content of the article:

1. History of the creation of the variety 2. Description of the strawberry variety Sensation, main characteristics 3. Productivity of the variety 4. Diseases and pests 5. Advantages and disadvantages of the variety 6. Planting rules 7. Further care of strawberries Sensation 7.1 Feeding strawberry bushes 7.2 Preparing the berry garden for winter 8 Reviews from those who grew the strawberry variety Sensation

Reproduction methods

Strawberries Sensation are grown by dividing the bush, tendrils, and seeds. Gardeners rarely use the latter option, since it takes a lot of time, and fruiting occurs later than with other methods.

Seeds

Loose soil is poured into the box, watered, and shallow grooves are made into which the seeds are sown. There is no need to cover them with soil, since germination occurs in the light. The box is covered with film or glass. When the seedlings germinate, they are picked, hardened, and planted on the site.

Dividing the bush

The viability of a strawberry bush is 3-4 years. Then fruiting decreases and the quality of the berries deteriorates. When the bush grows, it is dug up and divided into parts. The divisions should consist of a root system and several leaves.

Mustache

Each strawberry bush grows lashes, at the ends of which rosettes form. As they grow, they need to be watered, loosened, and weeded. When the young bushes grow up, they are dug up and planted in a permanent place.

History of the variety's creation

Breeders from the Netherlands were involved in breeding this variety of strawberries at the beginning of this century. At first, the name of this berry crop was given to Sunsation, adding together sun (sun) and sensation (sensation)

. However, it turned out that strawberries with that name already exist. As a result, the name had to be changed to Sonsation. Russian gardeners call this strawberry variety Sonsation, but another name has stuck - Sensation.

The variety was entered into the Dutch register in 2021, so it has not yet become widespread in European countries. But the originators say that Sensation strawberries can be grown in open ground and in greenhouses. In addition, this cultivated plant tolerates changes in weather conditions well, and as a result is suitable for cultivation in many Russian regions with a short summer period and changeable weather.

Photos of strawberries Sensation

Ripening dates and fruiting characteristics

The variety is classified as mid-season: the peak yield occurs in the middle of the “strawberry season”. In open ground, the berries reach technical ripeness starting around the first or second decade of June. The fruiting period is extended, lasting almost a whole month: the bushes simultaneously flower, lay new ovaries, fill and ripen the berries.

In terms of the number of flower stalks per bush, “Sensation” surpasses all mid-season strawberry varieties existing today.

The bushes are compact, quite powerful, densely leafy, spreading, developing very quickly, increasing the green mass. The leaves are large, wrinkled and ribbed, light green in color. Peduncles are formed in large numbers. They are long, but located at the level (or slightly below) of the leaves, which reliably cover and protect them from return (spring) frosts during the growth process, then lie down to the ground under the weight of the ripening berries. The flowers are bisexual with high quality pollen, that is, they self-pollinate well, ensuring stable productivity and excellent presentation (category I class) of the bulk of the fruit.

The productivity potential, according to preliminary estimates by experts, is 7.4-7.9 points (out of 9): up to 1.5-1.8 kg per bush with the appropriate level of agricultural technology

Strawberry Sensation: description of the variety, main characteristics

Strawberry Sensation is a non-repairing variety

, fruiting begins in mid-June and continues for a week and a half. The Sensation variety is a short-day plant.

The bushes of this strawberry are quite tall - up to 0.45-0.55 m in height, strong, erect, spreading - average, foliage is formed in sufficient quantities. The foliage is medium in size, slightly corrugated, rich emerald in color, with sharp teeth along the edges.

The plants are quite compact and do not take up much space. Mustaches are formed in an average amount

, usually leave the required number of rosettes for propagation, and the rest are removed in the process of weeding the beds from weeds.

The Sensation variety blooms at the end of May, and the bushes produce male and female flowers, with white petals and a yellow core. The pollen is of high quality, so the pollination of flowers is good. Peduncles are powerful, elongated, strong, growing to the level of foliage. But under the weight of the ripening berries, they most often lie down on the ground. Up to 5-7 ovaries can appear on each peduncle.

Ripe strawberries are round-conical, can be heart-shaped. The first fruits are the largest and can be comb-shaped. But basically all the ripening berries are the same size and weight, which is one of the advantages of the Sensation strawberry variety.

The skin is thin, strong, bright red in color with an orange or pinkish tint and a characteristic shine. The seeds are very small, yellow or red in color, slightly pressed into the skin. The pulp is compacted, delicate in consistency, juicy, light pink in color with a characteristic strawberry aroma.

The weight of ripe Sensation strawberries averages up to 30-35 g, and in some specimens it can reach 50 g.

On a note!

The taste of ripe strawberries of this variety is sweet, with a characteristic strawberry aroma. According to tasters, the taste qualities of the fruits of the Sensatsiya variety were rated 6 points on a 9-point scale.

The collected fruits are distinguished by their universal purpose - they can be eaten fresh, prepared desserts, made preserves, jams, compotes.

Good varieties of strawberries:
Strawberry Elvira Strawberry Alba Strawberry Asia
The harvested crop tolerates transportation well at any distance,

although the strawberry pulp of this variety is not too dense. In addition, under appropriate conditions, ripe strawberries can be stored for up to a week.

But over the past few years since the appearance of this variety of strawberries on the market, gardeners have noted that Sensation can be grown on personal farmsteads for further sale, and the harvested crop can be used to make preparations for the winter.

But the Sensatsiya strawberry may not be suitable for growing on an industrial scale - there is no such data yet, because the variety is still being tested in experimental plots.

Varietal features

Strawberry Sensation of mid-early fruiting period. The first fruits are large, the subsequent ones are slightly smaller. The variety is unpretentious, drought- and frost-resistant.

Bush size and leaf blade appearance

Strawberry bushes are tall, powerful, slightly spreading. The green mass grows quickly. The leaves are light green, slightly wrinkled, and serrated at the edges. The mustache grows in moderate amounts.

Flowering and pollination

Strawberry blossoms A sensation occurs in May. Peduncles formed in large numbers are located at the level of the leaves. The flowers are bisexual and contain a large amount of pollen. Pollination is done with the help of bees.

Ripening time and yield

The gardener can collect the first fruits in early June. Fruiting is extended, lasting for 20-25 days. The weight of Sensation berries varies between 25-30 grams, some specimens reach 50 grams.

With good care, a gardener can collect up to 1 kilogram of berries from a bush.

Fruit taste and transportation

The pulp of strawberries is soft, juicy, and sweet. Tasters gave the strawberries a rating of 5.4-5.9 points out of 9 possible. Consumers note the multifaceted taste and aroma of strawberries.

See also

Characteristics and description of Carmen variety strawberries, growing rules

Read

The fruits do not tolerate transportation very well, so it is better to plant strawberries for personal consumption or sell them near the place of cultivation.

Winter hardiness and drought resistance

The characteristics of the variety state that it is winter-hardy and drought-resistant. But if a cold winter with little snow is forecast, it is recommended to cover the bushes.

Despite drought resistance, in long-term dry and hot weather the plants require watering, since berries without moisture will not be juicy.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Tests have shown that the Sensatsiya variety is resistant to many crop diseases. But for prevention, the bushes need to be sprayed with antifungal drugs. Under unfavorable weather conditions, strawberries may be favored by thrips, against which insecticides are used.

Diseases and pests

The Sensation variety has good resistance to the main strawberry diseases characteristic of this berry crop, mainly rot.

But to late blight

The resistance of this strawberry is low, so it is necessary to prevent this disease and treat the strawberry plantation with special preparations.

Among strawberry pests, thrips can damage bushes, against which preventive spraying with appropriate insecticides should be carried out.

Photo of strawberry late blight

Photo of thrips on strawberries

History of the Honey variety

The first association with the name of this variety is honey (from the English “honey” - honey). But honey, despite all the sweetness of the variety, has nothing to do with it. Honeoye owes its name to the American city of Honeoye, where in 1979 it was obtained by crossing the Vibrant and Holiday varieties. “Parents” have very good characteristics and fully rewarded their offspring with them (especially with regard to productivity). And the discrepancies in the names of the new variety (Honey, Honeoye, Honoay) are associated only with the transcription of the word Honeoye, which is difficult for the Russian ear.

You can taste the Honey variety berries at the end of May

Description of the plant

The variety has a mid-early ripening period; berries in central Russia can be harvested from the end of May. Fruiting lasts about 2–3 weeks. During state tests of the variety, the weight of the berries of the first harvest was 20 g, and in subsequent harvests - from 16 g. What is typical is that by the end of the fruit harvest they become sweeter and more aromatic.

The dark red berries are blunt-conical in shape, often with a characteristic neck, and shiny. The pulp is red, dense, juicy, sweet and sour.

The neck at the base of the berry is a characteristic feature of the variety

The bush is powerful, erect, well leafy. The leaves are dark green. One bush produces about a dozen flowers. The average total weight of berries collected from a bush is about 300 g; with good care and favorable weather, you can collect 0.5 kg.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the main advantages of strawberries Sensation it should be noted:

1. The ripening period for strawberries is average, approximately in the middle - end of June;
2. wonderful taste of the collected fruits;
3. strawberry variety Sensation does not require special care;
4. This strawberry has high resistance to most diseases characteristic of this berry crop;
5. ease of harvesting.

No negative qualities have yet been identified in this variety of garden strawberries, but you need to remember that the Sensation strawberry has low resistance to late blight and thrips attack.

Ripening dates and fruiting characteristics

The variety is classified as mid-season: the peak yield occurs in the middle of the “strawberry season”. In open ground, the berries reach technical ripeness starting around the first or second decade of June. The fruiting period is extended, lasting almost a whole month: the bushes simultaneously flower, lay new ovaries, fill and ripen the berries.

The bushes are compact, quite powerful, densely leafy, spreading, developing very quickly, increasing the green mass. The leaves are large, wrinkled and ribbed, light green in color. Peduncles are formed in large numbers. They are long, but located at the level (or slightly below) of the leaves, which reliably cover and protect them from return (spring) frosts during the growth process, then lie down to the ground under the weight of the ripening berries. The flowers are bisexual with high quality pollen, that is, they self-pollinate well, ensuring stable productivity and excellent presentation (category I class) of the bulk of the fruit.

Strawberry Sensation: planting rules

Initially, planting material should be purchased from specialized nurseries, so as not to receive unknown seedlings instead of the required variety.

For strawberries of this variety, you need to choose an area that will be well illuminated by the sun's rays and be protected from strong gusts of wind. The groundwater level should be no closer to the soil surface than 1.5 meters, since this variety of strawberries does not like overly moist soils.

CORRECT PLANTING OF STRAWBERRY - video

The selected location should be cleared of plant debris and roots, dug up and loosened. If the soil is depleted, then compost or rotted manure is added to it before digging. If the site has heavy clay soils, then coarse river sand and peat should be added to them.

Advice!

Acidified soil should be improved in advance by adding lime or dolomite flour.

Planting holes for Sensation strawberries should be located at a distance of 0.4 m from each other so that in the future the strawberry bushes do not interfere with each other during the process of growth and fruiting. The diameter of such holes should be 0.2 cm, and the depth should be about 0.15 m. 5-8 liters of water are added to each of them.

The seedlings are placed in the holes vertically, strictly in the center, and the roots are straightened along the diameter of the hole. Then the holes are filled in, compacted and watered again.

A layer of mulch should be added around the bushes.

Features of growing the variety

Knowing what contributes to the growth of strawberries, you can get healthy bushes that will bear fruit every year.

Dates and location selection

Sensation loves light, so it is planted in an area in direct sunlight. Easily tolerates partial shade and grows adjacent to fruit trees. Most of the day the bushes are in direct sunlight, and the rest of the time in partial shade.

Planting material

Young sprouts intended for planting have a closed root system. The material is purchased in specialized stores or farms engaged in breeding various crops. Strawberry sprouts must be strong and healthy for planting.

Planting process

If you maintain a distance of 40 cm between the bushes, per 1 sq. m will make 4 crops. This approach allows you to obtain unthickened plantings. This allows the seedlings to receive enough light and good ventilation.

Before planting strawberries, the soil is carefully prepared. The place is dug up, weeds and roots left from other crops are removed.

The area is dug up to a depth of at least 40 cm.

After this, fertilizer is applied to the soil. Strawberries prefer peat, compost or manure. In the latter case, the manure must be rotted. A complex fertilizer without chlorine is also welcome.

Further care for the strawberry variety Sensation

The main agrotechnical measures that should be carried out in the process of caring for strawberries of this variety are the following procedures:

• compliance with the irrigation regime;
• loosening with simultaneous removal of weeds;
• fertilizing;
• mulching tree trunk circles;
• preventive treatments against diseases and “harmful” bugs.

The Sensation strawberry variety should be watered once every 2-3 days; at least 4-5 liters of warm water should be added to each bush. Many gardeners install drip irrigation, in this case there will be no need to worry that in the event of dry, hot weather without watering, the strawberries will become smaller and lose sugar.

If the weather is rainy, reduce the amount of watering, otherwise the strawberry plants will be affected by root rot.

After rains or watering, it is imperative to loosen the soil in order to break up the crust that forms on the soil surface, which prevents the penetration of oxygen and moisture to the roots.

Feeding strawberry bushes

For active fruiting of strawberries of this variety, it is necessary to regularly add organic matter and mineral fertilizers to the tree trunk circles.

After the snow melts, the strawberry beds are fertilized with fertilizer containing nitrogen. This element activates the growth of the vegetative mass of the plant.

During the period of flowering and fruit formation, strawberries require complex fertilizers, which include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and a number of other elements.

Preparing the berry garden for winter

There is no exact data on the degree of frost resistance of strawberries Sensation yet. Therefore, without shelter for the winter, this variety can be grown only in the southern Russian regions.

Useful article:
What needs to be done to prepare strawberries for winter
At the beginning of autumn, moisture-charging irrigation should be carried out, adding at least 10 liters of water to each bush. Then fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are applied to the beds.

Before the onset of cold weather, the beds with Sensation strawberries are mulched with a thick layer of peat or humus. The thickness of such a layer should be at least 10-12 cm. In colder regions, arches can be installed over the beds, onto which film coverings can be stretched with the onset of cold weather.

Preparing strawberries for winter - video

Planting and care

The originator positions the strawberry variety Sensation as cold-, drought- and heat-resistant, capable of producing good yields in substrates of varying quality and undemanding in care. Therefore, even inexperienced gardeners can cultivate it. Plants require mostly standard agricultural technology, but there are still some nuances.

Sensation strawberry bushes are quite compact. But they absolutely cannot stand crowded conditions in the garden. Therefore, when planting, leave at least 35-40 cm between them, maintaining row spacing of about 50 cm wide. No more than four bushes are planted per 1 m² in open ground.

When the garden is “crowded,” the risk of developing fungal and other diseases in strawberries rarely increases.

Abundant harvests of Sensation strawberries greatly deplete the plants. Therefore, they need increased doses of fertilizers. Feeding is applied four times per season:

• in the bud formation phase;
• after picking the first berries;
• 3-4 weeks after the end of fruiting;
• in mid-September, in preparation for winter.

Sensation bushes are fed exclusively with store-bought complex fertilizers designed specifically for strawberries. The originator notes the special sensitivity of plants to magnesium deficiency in the soil. If there is a shortage of it, the growth of green mass is very slow, and the yield decreases sharply.

Important! Magnesium deficiency can provoke an excess of potassium in the soil or its reduced acid-base balance.

To maintain the fertility of the substrate, it is necessary to distribute humus or rotted compost over the garden bed once every 2-3 years in the spring. 5-7 l/m² is enough.

When buying fertilizers for strawberries Sensation, you should definitely study the composition

Strawberries Sensation, if it’s warm outside and there’s no rain, water them once every 3-4 days. The norm for an adult plant is 2-3 liters of water. The preferred watering method is one in which drops of water do not fall on leaves, flowers and berries.

Strawberry Sensation has a very negative attitude towards weeds. Therefore, it is advisable to mulch the bed. Mulch not only prevents them from germinating, but also allows you to increase the intervals between waterings and loosen the soil less often. A hard crust does not form on its surface, this ensures oxygen access to the roots.

The most dangerous disease for Sensation strawberries is late blight. It is characterized by both forms of development - chronic and transient. In the first case, the plant can live for another year or two, but the flower stalks are deformed, the leaves curl and turn gray, very few berries ripen on them, they are almost tasteless. Such plants can still be saved by treating them with fungicides.

Transient late blight is much more dangerous. Plants affected by it wither and dry out within a few days. If you remove them from the soil, you can see rotted black-brown roots.

To prevent the disease at the beginning and end of the growing season, as well as in the summer, if damp, cool weather persists for a long time, Sensation strawberry bushes and the soil in the garden are sprayed with a solution of any copper-containing preparation.

Important! If there is less than a month left before the harvest, only fungicides of biological origin that are safe for health are chosen to treat the plantings.

Bushes affected by transient late blight are removed from the garden bed as quickly as possible, and the soil in this area is disinfected

Thrips are quite effectively repelled by any strong odors. Therefore, onions, garlic, and any herbs are planted in the bed with Sensation strawberries and between the rows. The pests themselves look like small black “sticks”. The areas of tissue affected by them change color to yellowish-beige and dry out. To combat thrips, use any universal insecticides (preferably of biological origin).

Thrips feed on plant sap and affect many garden crops.

Preparing for winter

Whether the Sensation strawberry needs shelter is determined based on the long-term weather forecast for the winter. Most gardeners, even living in temperate climates, prefer to play it safe.

Before covering the Sensation strawberries, the bed is cleared of plant and other debris, the layer of mulch is renewed, bringing its thickness to 6-8 cm, or the soil is covered with spruce branches. It is advisable to add humus to the base of the bushes in a small mound. Next, arcs are installed over the plantings and any air-permeable covering material is pulled over them in 2-3 layers.

Humus is a kind of “insulation” for strawberry roots

Strawberry Sensation: reviews from those who grew the variety

Olga, 45 years old, Rostov region: Last year I planted several Sensation strawberry seedlings on the plot. In our climate, this variety survived the winter period well without shelter. During the season, I fertilized the bushes several times, and as a result, I collected a sufficient amount of fruit from my garden bed, which was enough not only for food, but also for jam. This year I’m going to plant tendrils from bushes of the Sensatsiya variety to create a fairly large plantation of such tasty and productive strawberries.

Natalya, 50 years old, Volgograd region: A neighbor in a dacha cooperative gave me seedlings of this variety for planting. I planted a small bed, watered it, and applied fertilizer. The next year, Sensatsiya collected about a kilogram of ripe, delicious berries from each bush. I plan to plant this variety in the future.

The strawberry variety Sensatsiya is quite productive, with a good taste of ripe berries, fairly high immunity, and it can be grown in many Russian regions.

Therefore, many gardeners became interested in this strawberry, especially since the variety can be grown for further sale of ripe berries.

a brief description of

Advantages of the variety

• drought resistance;
• frost resistance;
• high productivity;
• high immunity to diseases, primarily to black root rot, powdery mildew, gray rot;
• resistance to return frosts;
• ease of reproduction;
• ability to bear fruit on heavy soils.

A distinctive feature of the variety in the frigo stage is a fibrous root system with many thin light roots

Disadvantages of the variety

• in cold summers the berries are hollow, without aroma, watery;
• problems with long-distance transportation;
• the berries are poorly separated from the fruit;
• susceptible to thrips damage.

Reviews about the new variety are contradictory. The quality of fruits strongly depends on soil and climatic conditions and agricultural technology.

Sensation berries are very similar in appearance to Sonata berries, the only thing is that the latter has slightly less dense fruits

Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted in greenhouses and hanging flowerpots all year round; it is best to plant them in open ground at the end of July. The Dutch variety is more suitable for a mild climate and light fertile soils with neutral Ph (5.5), but Sensation will also grow on loam. In the southern regions, you can choose both sunny places and partial shade. The soil must be enriched with magnesium. Sensation is particularly demanding about the presence of this element.

The bushes grow compactly, however, excessive thickening negatively affects the yield.

When planting, you need to make sure that the heart remains at ground level, otherwise the bush will rot.

Young seedlings need frequent watering in the first two weeks after planting