FARMS: Knows the properties of strawberries and how to grow them in the urban garden.
Hello friends from steemchurch, farms. In this opportunity of the weekly theme, I present an exotic fruit that has high properties and also you can consume it in different ways
Strawberries
Strawberries and strawberries grow in the strawberry, a plant that belongs to the Rosaceae family and the Fragaria genus. This family includes more than 2,000 species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world. The main European fruits, besides the rose bush, belong to this great family. Strawberries and strawberries are one of the most appreciated fruits and evoke the beginning of spring.
Nutritional value of strawberries or strawberries
The strawberries contain 35 kcalories per 100 grams.
Of every 100 grams of strawberries, 90 grams are water, 7 g are carbohydrates, more than 2 g are fiber, 0.7 g of vegetable protein and 0.5 g of fat.
The strawberry is rich in vitamin C and also have other vitamins such as E, B3, B6, B2, B1, B9 and A (beta carotene). They are also a good source of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, iodine and zinc.
Properties for health
These fruits are attributed various properties, especially for its abundance of vitamin C, present in greater quantity than citrus. A healthy adult person needs 60 milligrams a day of vitamin C and 100 grams of strawberries or strawberries satisfy all of the recommendations.
This nutrient has a proven antioxidant action, as well as anthocyanins and vitamin E present in strawberries and strawberries. Antioxidants block the damaging effect of so-called "free radicals".
Respiration in the presence of oxygen is essential in the cellular life of our organism, but as a consequence of it, some molecules, free radicals, are produced, which cause negative health effects throughout life. alter the DNA (genes), proteins and lipids or fats ("oxidation"). In our body there are cells that are renewed continuously (skin, intestine ..) and others that do not (liver cells ...).
Over the years, free radicals increase the risk of genetic alterations occurring on the former, favoring the development of cancer or, reduce the functionality of the latter, which is characteristic of the aging process. There are certain situations that increase the production of free radicals, including: intense physical exercise, environmental pollution, smoking, infections, stress situations, high-fat diets and overexposure to solar radiation.
The relationship between antioxidants and cardiovascular diseases is today a well-supported statement. It is known that it is the modification of the so-called "bad cholesterol" (LDL-c), which plays a fundamental role both in the initiation and in the development of atherosclerosis (disease consisting of a thickening and abnormal hardness of the internal covers of blood vessels, due to a deposit of fatty material and cells, which prevents or hinders the passage of blood).
High content of Vitamins
Vitamin C also has the ability to promote the absorption of iron from food, which improves or prevents iron deficiency anemia and improves resistance to infections. There are certain life situations in which the organic needs of vitamin C are increased, such as: pregnancy, lactation, smoking, use of certain medications, stress and decreased defenses, intense sports practice, cancer, AIDS and chronic inflammatory diseases. In these cases, the consumption of strawberries and strawberries or other fruits rich in vitamin C is especially indicated.
Due to its abundance of folic acid or folate, essential vitamin in the processes of cell division and multiplication that take place in the first months of pregnancy, its consumption is suitable or interesting for pregnant women to prevent spina bifida, alteration in the development of the nervous system (neural tube) of the fetus.
High content of Minerals
Due to its high content of potassium and low sodium, are highly recommended for those suffering from high blood pressure or heart and blood vessel diseases. However, its consumption should be taken into account by people suffering from renal failure and who require special diets controlled in this mineral. However, to those who take diuretics that eliminate potassium and to people with bulimia; Due to episodes of self-induced vomiting that cause large losses of this mineral, it is convenient for them to consume these fruits.
Varieties of strawberries that can be grown
The first thing we have to know before we start to grow strawberries at home are the different varieties to choose the ones that can best be adapted to our consumption needs.
1-Strawberries of perpetual harvest. They are the most popular because they give strawberries continuously for about 5 years. They give great amount of strawberries to the year so much in the outside in temperate climates like inside house in pots in colder zones.
2-Strawberries of early harvest. They give many strawberries at the beginning and in the middle of summer, depending on when they are planted (the summer crops will bear fruit about 2 months after having planted them). They are the best if what we are looking for are some strawberries with which to make homemade jams for the whole year.
3-Strawberries Day-neutral. These are very similar to the perpetual strawberries but they give less strawberries per year. This is the best variety if we are few at home and we only want to always eat fresh strawberries.
Alpine strawberries. They are a smaller strawberries but with a lot of flavor.
How to grow strawberries at home in pots
The best time to plant them is spring, so now we are in a good time to start growing strawberries at home.
Although there are special pots for strawberries, we can plant them in any large pot (about 40-50 cm in diameter) that has good drainage and good soil. The drainage can be achieved by placing in the bottom of the pot pieces of some clay pot that has been broken or a layer of pebbles or small pebbles. Strawberries are best given in slightly acid soils and it is advisable to use a soil with a pH between 5.3 and 6.5 and it is advisable to add a handful of compost once a month. Both land and compost can be purchased even in hypermarkets.
If we are going to plant them on a balcony, an original solution is to plant them in a raffia bag like those sold in supermarkets hanging on the wall.
-Fill the soil with only 3/4 of the pot and we will water it well until we see that the water comes out below.
-With the help of a garden shovel we will make a few mounds about 3 centimeters high, well separated between them.
-To transplant the bushes that we have brought from the nursery, it is best to cut out the plastic container in which they usually come with scissors and carefully shake the soil until the roots are visible.
Before passing them to our growing pot, we have to wet the roots of the plants for one hour putting them in water as if they were a bunch of flowers.
-With well-hydrated roots we place the strawberry plants on the mounds of soil placing the roots on the sides of the pile.
-Once the seedlings are placed, fill with more soil until reaching the "trunk" of the plant. You have to leave the ground flush, without burying the top because that is where the stems sprout from which the strawberries end up coming out.
-And we water again, preferably with a watering can so that the water does not fall in a pressure jet that would leave us underwater in the ground.
Cultivating strawberries is very easy and will allow us to enjoy much tastier fruits than we can buy in any establishment.