Strawberry "Darselect": description of the variety and cultivation agrotechnology

Strawberry "Darselect" is considered a commercial variety. Many gardeners are impressed by the excellent taste and large size of the fruit.Before planting such strawberries on your plot, you should study the description of the variety and the cultivation agrotechnology.

Strawberry "Darlelekt" is a mid-early variety of berries, which belongs to the crops that fruit during the short daylight hours. Many gardeners believe that this is a kind of garden strawberries. Created a variety in France to use it in various fields. He was in demand by private gardeners, as well as farmers. Strawberries hit the CIS countries at the end of the last century. When creating strawberries used two types - "Parker" and "Elsanta."

Berry bushes have a powerful structure, along with strong roots and a direct base. The foliage has moderate bulk, the leaves themselves are round and dark green. On their surface are deep streaks of light color. The edges of the foliage are jagged.

In the description of the variety is paid special attention to the berries, as they are considered a key part of the plant. Fruits of the "Darselect" variety are considered commercial, as they have a unique taste and aroma. It is worth paying attention to the main features of the berry.

• This is a large-fruited variety. The average weight of a berry is about 20-30 g, but gardeners often meet strawberries, the weight of which reaches 50 g. The weight and size of strawberries depends on the frequency of feeding.
• The shape of the strawberry can be modified throughout the season. There are fruits in the shape of an oval cone, in the shape of a heart, heart-shaped and rounded specimens. At the end of the harvest period, you can find a berry with strange shapes, the surface of which has scallops. Such changes are caused by lower temperatures, increased humidity or low-quality pollination.

• The color scheme has a red color with orange tint. When the fruits fully ripen, they become shiny.
• For the pulp is characterized by a light shade of red. The structure is characterized by density, elasticity and lack of wateriness. When eaten, the variety will not “crunch” like some strawberry varieties.
• After harvesting the crop does not lose its qualities. Garden strawberries showed themselves well when transported to other regions: it does not darken and does not flow.
• The taste of the berry is endowed with versatility and refinement. One strawberry contains a large amount of sugar, along with a small amount of sourness. Tasters rated a grade of 5 points out of five. The smell of "Darselect" is similar to forest species of strawberries.
• From one plant it turns out about 0.8 kg of strawberries. With enhanced care rate rises to 1.5 kg.

For “Darselekt” characteristic feature, which is the short interval between the flowering and ripening process. The whole period is 30 days. Flowering begins in mid-May, ripe fruits can already be collected at the end of the month. At this point, attention should be paid to the plant, since in some regions frosts are returning and the culture can suffer greatly. Cold weather can have a negative impact on the subsequent development of the bush.

The buds under the following fruits form the ovary during a short daylight hours, the duration of which does not exceed 12 hours. Usually this period begins in the last days of August. The full yield cycle is equal to two weeks, after which a decrease in activity is observed, and the fruiting process is completed. Fruit pickings are easy, as the stalk is easy to separate from the bush.

The advantages of the variety include the following qualities:

• early ripening berries;
• large fruits;
• juiciness of the pulp, along with its aroma and rich taste;
• Berry easily transports long distances.

Berry is characterized by such negative properties as:

• the need for frequent watering;
• additional insulation when returning frosts.

To annually strawberry "Darselekt" pleased good yields, you should explore the basics of planting and cultivation of berry crops.

Strawberries are propagated by tendrils, dividing the root system and with the help of seeds. In the “Darselect” variety there is a large number of antennae, which can be used to increase the number of bushes. Among the whiskers will need to choose the strongest. They should be located young outlet. They are used for pinning to the soil and watering. The plant will receive nutrients from the original bush through the antennae, due to this the strawberry starts to take root and grows. After a few large sheets appear on the new bush, the mustache is trimmed, and the plant itself can be transplanted to a new location and watered.

Due to the division, it is customary to propagate the remontant variety, which has no whiskers.

To obtain new plants, you will need to soak the seeds for several hours in the Epin solution, then place them in a container filled with river sand, soil and humus from the foliage. The depth of planting the grains should be 0.5 cm. Top of the future strawberries sprinkled with soil. The container is left in a warm place under the glass.

When young plants appear on the surface, the container can be put in a place where there is a sufficient level of illumination. After the formation of the first leaflet bushes can be transplanted. To ensure rapid growth, you should pinch the tip of the roots. When the plant has several leaves, a new transplant to a large container will be required. Young strawberries will be useful for hardening, which is produced by increasing the duration of their stay in cold conditions.

Strawberries should grow on flat ground or on a slope that “looks” to the south-west side. It is not allowed to grow berries on large slopes, as in such conditions the plant suffers from various diseases and cannot please a good harvest. You should also ensure that the area is not exposed to wind. This type of strawberry feels good in black soil, loam, sandy loam and in gray forest soils. On a light or humus-enriched land, the plant shows the highest yields. Since Darselect is prone to developing chlorosis, it should not be located on carbonate earth.

Groundwater level should not be located closer than 60–80 cm. Strawberries grow well after cereals, garlic, onions, marigolds, petunias and various spicy herbs. The optimal period for planting strawberries is early autumn. However, some gardeners plant plants in early spring. Seedlings should be placed at a distance of 40 cm from each other. Too thick arrangement will not allow strawberries to get the required number of nutrients and will lead to lower yields.

On the preparation of the site for planting strawberries should think in advance. If planting is planned in the spring, preparatory work should be done in the fall. When disembarking in the autumn season, events should be held in a few weeks. Preparation consists in adding a nutrient mixture to the soil. This will require the following components:

• about 7–10 kg of humus or 5 kg of manure;
• 0.1 kg of superphosphates;
• 0.05 kg of potassium salt.

If it is not possible to enrich the soil with these substances, you can add wood ash and humus directly to the hole.

When choosing seedlings, attention should be paid to the condition of the fibrous root. Buying a quality plant is considered a guarantee of good fertility. The minimum diameter of the root collar in the Darlelect variety must be 6 mm.

It is best to purchase seedlings with closed roots, as they will be able to quickly settle down and start the fruiting process early. The best option is plants from cassettes and containers. If it is not possible to plant a bush immediately in open ground, it is recommended to leave it in a cool room, where the temperature regime is from +10 to +12 degrees.

As described earlier, Darselekt is planted in spring and autumn. In the spring, the procedure should be carried out after the snow melts and the earth begins to heat up. In the fall, landing is from August 14 to September 14. Seedlings planted in autumn, will give their owner the harvest in the spring, and spring bushes can bear fruit only next year. The aisle should be 40 cm. Between the bushes also need to observe such a distance. The depth of the hole is determined by the dimensions of the roots along with a clod of earth.

When planting seedlings with open roots in the soil need to pinch the main root. The root system should be vertical. When planting, you need to carefully monitor the root neck, which should be flush with the ground.

If we ignore this rule, strawberries will not bear fruit in the first year. After planting, the bush must be watered, and the soil must be mulched with the help of humus.

If weather forecasters promise to return frosts, strawberries should be covered with foil or agrofibre. Immediately after the seedlings are moved into the open soil, the open sun should not be allowed to hit them.

Strawberry "Darselekt" well fructifies if it is provided with proper care. The plant needs regular watering, feeding, weeding and mulching.

This variety is considered moisture-loving, therefore, for normal ripening, it is necessary to constantly maintain the soil in a wet state. For this it is best to use drip irrigation. Before the ovary of flowers it is allowed to water with the help of “sprinkling”. The procedure should be repeated every other day.

After the ovary appears on the bush, watering is done several times a week. Experienced gardeners are advised to water strawberries in the morning or evening. If you neglect watering, the stem will be bad to separate from the berries and injure it.

Weeds have a negative effect on the formation of ovaries. In order not to deprive strawberries of nutritious macro- and microelements, one should carefully remove extraneous bushes and grass from the ground. If the weeds do not give in, you can use scissors and cut the plant at the root.

To loosen the area between the rows is necessary after heavy rains, weeding. To do this, you can use a chopper, which is driven into the soil to a depth of 10 cm. Loosening is done with a narrow hopper between the bushes; you should not drive it deeper than 4 cm so as not to damage the strawberry root system.

Feeding must be done in the first year, in the period of early spring and every autumn. In the spring it is allowed to use nitroammofosku (1 large spoon per 10 liters of water) or liquid cow manure. Good results are demonstrated by the use of potash fertilizers.

When the ovary forms on the bushes, you should use a solution of boric acid. In the fall, plants are watered with urea (30 g per 10 liters of water). Watering is carried out at the root. After each top-dressing, you need to water the bushes plentifully.

With the help of mulching, you can increase the yield of berries, as well as protect the root system from frost. Mulch helps in retaining moisture near the roots, so the soil does not dry out.

For mulching, you can use dry grass, sawdust, pine needles or straw.

At the end of summer or at the beginning of the autumn season, after the heat subsides and the soil cools, fruit buds begin to be laid for fruiting next year. Before winter, all the hardwood parts should be removed from the bushes and covered with dried leaves, hay or non-woven material with dry foliage.

Strawberries often undergo late blight. Symptoms of the disease are considered redness on the axial cylinder of the bush. The foliage gets gray, the shape turns into a cup. In the future, the disease will cause the fibrous roots to die out. To eliminate the disease of plants, one should dive plants to a new place of residence every 4 years. During this procedure, the root system is soaked in a solution of biologics.

Mealy dew is another enemy of strawberry Darlelect. With the defeat of this disease, the foliage begins to curl and becomes purple. Powdery plaque forms on the surface.

Fruits become ugly: a patina forms on them, tastes also change. To cure strawberries, you must use a spraying Bordeaux liquid with a concentration of 3%.

If you neglect the cleaning of weeds, strawberry can attack gray rot. Symptoms of the disease are in light brown spots and fluffy plaque on the fruit. And also strawberries suffer from attacks of wasps, aphids, spider and strawberry mites. To prevent the appearance of unwanted insects, it is necessary to periodically spray the plants with the help of "Topaz" or "Byletona". Spraying is done during the vegetative period.

Feedback of summer residents about strawberries "Darlelect" are only positive. Each gardener reports that the strawberry has attracted its large fruits, dense pulp and good taste. The berries are quite sweet, even if the bushes are located in the shade.

This strawberry variety is distributed between friends. Many people decided to plant a new variety on their plot only after they tried it from their friends or relatives.

Also, users praise the beautiful appearance of the berries, its keeping figures and the possibility of transportation. "Darlelekt" does not begin to flow during storage and retains its external and taste qualities. However, it requires special care in the Russian winter: shelter for the time of cold weather.

And also you can find reviews that report that strawberries of this variety produce early harvest, which allows you to enjoy tasty fruits in early June. All berries have the same shape and good presentation. For the same reason, Darselect is often used for commercial purposes.

Review of strawberry variety "Darselect" see the following video.