Strawberry "Cardinal": features of the variety, reproduction and growing rules

Strawberry is considered the most popular berry, so it can be found in almost all cottages.Today, there are many varieties of strawberries, but the "Cardinal" deserves special attention. It is easy to grow, tolerates transportation and has a high yield.

Strawberry "Cardinal" is a small plant, which is formed by bushes up to 45 cm in height. From each such mini-bush for the season you can collect up to 1 kg of berries. The leaves of this variety are characterized by a dark green color with a slight glossy sheen, there are often many rosettes on the bush. A feature of the "Cardinal" is that its sockets, which have bloomed and bore fruit, are unsuitable for reproduction, since they practically cannot take root. Therefore, so that the strawberries do not waste energy and power on the growth of antennae, it is recommended to cut them.

Garden strawberries are frost resistant varieties, therefore ideal for planting in areas with harsh climatic conditions. If the beds are located on open ground, in winter the bushes should be covered with a thick layer of snow. Due to this, they will be able to withstand temperatures up to -35 ° C. In addition, the "Cardinal" is resistant to various diseases. Fruits the plant twice per season, with the late fruits have a large size and a sweeter taste. The first harvest, as a rule, begin to gather in June.

Berries of strawberries "Cardinal" have a conical or oval shape, apparently they have similarity with the spindle with a rounded end, which is bifurcated in many fruits. The flesh of the berries is dark red in color. Fruits have a dense structure, with the core often having small cavities. In terms of taste, the Cardinal is not inferior to wild strawberries, as it has a sweet-sour taste and a pleasant aroma. The surface of the fruit in most cases is covered with small golden kernels, the weight of the fruit can reach 80 g.

The main advantages of this variety include:

• good yield and the ability to pick berries several times a season;
• the plant begins to bear fruit from the first year after planting;
• strawberries are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and are suitable for growing even in Siberia;
• high resistance to diseases.

Before you land the "Cardinal", you need to choose the right land. Strawberries are preferably planted on slightly acidic, loamy or sandy soil. Planting works are usually carried out at the end of the summer or at the beginning of autumn; this allows the bushes to adapt to new conditions and to take root well. It is good if the garden plot is located on a flat and open area. Plants cannot be planted on the steep slopes: due to the constant flow of cold air, fruiting will begin later, the culture may get sick more often. Therefore, under the landing should be chosen protected from wind, waterlogging and a well-lit place.

Strawberries grow much better in areas where cabbage, beets and onions were previously grown. It is desirable to grow it on the same plot for no more than 4 years, this will prevent the culture from having such fungal diseases as white, gray rot and wilt. Landing is carried out in two ways:

• According to the first method, the bushes are placed in the form of ribbons in one row. At the same time, each bush in the row recedes by 20 cm. This option is most suitable for planting in spring and autumn, as it reduces the likelihood of antennae formation.
• In the second method, the bushes are planted in two rows. Most often this is done in the summer. Between the bushes is a distance of 20 cm, and between the rows - 60 cm.

Since in most cases, gardeners prefer to plant the "Cardinal" in the fall, the plant must be provided with all the necessary conditions so that it can quickly take root and take root before the onset of the first frost. In spring, strawberries should be thoroughly cleaned from dry foliage, loosen the top layer of soil, regularly destroy weeds and water moderately. In the summer it is necessary to fight parasites and pests. For this, the plant is treated with modern protective agents. In addition, in June and July fertilizing should be carried out, and in the fall minerals should be replaced by organic.

Regardless of the season, you should constantly carry out work on the care of the soil. Care includes:

• hilling;
• loosening;
• weeding;
• mulching.

The variety "Cardinal" breeds in three ways:

• seeds;
• antennae;
• division of the bush.

In this case, the antennae grown on the mother bush are considered the best planting material. They are usually planted in early April. Saplings are usually used in the fall, before they are planted on the bushes there should be at least three strong leaves, the developed root system should be well developed. In the first days after transplantation, saplings are preferably insulated with thick paper, and by the end of spring they will be able to produce the first fruits.

For breeding strawberries with rosettes, seedlings are either purchased or grown on their own plots. For planting you need to choose those shoots that are closest to the parent bush. It leaves no more than three outlets. Rosettes are seated as they appear on the shoot, their small roots gently deepen into moist soil. Some gardeners plant outlets in special nutrient pots, after which they are placed in the soil.

Unlike other strawberry varieties, Cardinal is highly resistant to various fungal diseases, but sometimes the plant can still be affected by anthracnose. If you do not pay attention to the disease in a timely manner, then as a result you can lose the entire crop. Its cause is considered to be improper or excessive watering, which provokes the active development of the fungus. The disease is manifested by large gray spots that cover both the stems and leaves. Anthracnose is dangerous, because the berries and sprigs of strawberries begin to dry out and die, so the plant should be sprayed with effective drugs for prevention.

Much less frequently, strawberries are affected by powdery mildew, which usually develops on stalks, fruits and leaves. When the disease is neglected, a fluffy white bloom forms on the bushes. Powdery mildew usually affects those bushes that were grown in greenhouses, as they were in conditions of high humidity. The diseased plant ceases to develop, its leaves curl up into small tubules. For preventive measures strawberries need to be treated with special means and to prevent excessive moisture on the site.

In addition, signs of rot caused by gray mold can appear on the Cardinal bushes. If you observe its occurrence, it is necessary to urgently apply measures to treat the plant, and next year the beds should be transferred to a new site. If you adhere to all the recommendations for the care of strawberries and provide them with protection, irrigation and minerals in time, then you can get a great harvest for the season.

Even an amateur gardener can grow strawberries "Cardinal", but since this variety is demanding to care, it will take a lot of effort to get a high yield. For those gardeners who are going to plant the plant for the first time, the following recommendations from experienced professionals will be useful:

• Shrubs should always be cleaned of excess antennae. If this is not done, then the strawberries will reduce the level of fruiting and give all their strength to the formation of tops, as a result, the berries will be small and dry.
• In order for the plant to grow comfortably, it must be watered regularly, and the earth around it should be weeded and loosened in a timely manner, preventing the top layer from drying out.
• Before planting, in about 2 months, the beds on the site should be cultivated. In the spring of sick and weakened bushes destroy.
• Watering strawberries is best in the morning, thanks to this, you can avoid rapid drying of the soil. For irrigation, it is desirable to use warm water, not below + 20 ° C. Before the appearance of the fruit, it is possible to water the bushes from the watering can, then apply exclusively radical irrigation.

• While feeding strawberries, it is important not to overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, their excessive use can provoke powdery mildew. It is best to give preference to organic.
• Choose for planting need strong and healthy seedlings, it is best if they are grown independently: the plant is much easier to endure acclimatization and take root faster.
• You can not place strawberry beds on the land, where tall plants are grown nearby. They will shade the bushes, and the fruits will turn sour.
• Plants need to be planted on fertile soil, which is located on a protected area from the wind and well lit by the sun. It is advisable to perform landing work in early spring or late autumn. In the hot summer strawberries take root poorly: a weak root system will not withstand the heat.

"Cardinal" received positive reviews thanks to the fleshy, tasty and fragrant berries. With proper care, strawberries collect more than a kilogram of berries per season from one bush, therefore, if the dacha is large and there are many strawberries, some of the fruits can be used to make homemade preparations, and some can be sold and earned money. In addition, gardeners noted not only the high yield of the plant, but also the excellent presentation of berries, which are well transported and stored.

In the next video you can see a variety of strawberries "Cardinal" closer.