Cardinal strawberry is a new variety developed by American breeders. The berries are highly productive, juicy and sweet in taste. The fruits tolerate transportation well even over very long distances; the berries can be harvested for the winter. Variety Cardinal is the best option for growing in gardens.
Description of the variety of strawberry cardinal
Let's start with a description. Cardinal's bushes are not quite thick, but high, they reach 40 - 45 cm, each can be harvested up to 1 kilogram of the crop. Dark green glossy leaves grow on the bushes, a huge number of rosettes are formed on them. The peculiarity of this variety lies in the fact that those rosettes that bloomed and bore fruit are not used for reproduction, since they do not take root. It is better to cut the antennae so that the mother plant does not waste energy.
Cardinal is a frost-resistant variety and can be grown in regions with harsh climates. In addition, the plants are resistant to many diseases that affect garden plants. If strawberries grow in open ground, it is desirable that the bushes be covered with a thick snow layer in winter, in such conditions the bushes of the berries will not freeze even 35-degree frost.
Cardinal is a remontant variety, which means that the berries appear twice throughout the season. As a rule, late fruits are larger than early ones. The first fruiting period occurs in early June.
Berries
The berries of the Cardinal variety have an oval-conical shape, in their appearance they resemble a spindle with a rounded tip, in some berries it is forked. The flesh of the fruit is quite firm and dark red. The core is not completely filled, cavities are possible. The berries have a sweet and sour taste, reminiscent of the taste of strawberries. The surface of the strawberry is covered with small grains colored golden.
The mass of one berry can be 80 grams.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety has a number of advantages. The most typical positive factors are:
- high yield, the plant can bear fruit several times in one season;
- fruits appear already in the first year after planting;
- the plant tolerates frost well, in connection with that, it can be grown in Siberia and cold regions;
- bushes tolerate heat well and belong to drought-resistant varieties;
- Cardinal resists well against diseases that affect garden plants.
There are few disadvantages of this type of strawberry. The main disadvantage is that the plant is quite whimsical; if approached incorrectly, it can wither.
Reproduction
Reproduction is carried out in different ways. The most popular are three options:
- reproduction by antennae;
- dividing the bush;
- seeds.
Pre-landing is in April. The best planting material is antennae that have grown from the mother bush.
Seedlings are planted in August, by the time of planting they should have at least three full-fledged leaves and a well-developed root system. In the spring, the first fruits will appear on them. The first days the bushes need to be insulated with sheets of paper.
Landing rules
Strawberries prefer loamy, sandy loam, slightly acidic soil. Planting should be started in late summer or early September. This approach will allow the bushes to firmly root and adapt to new conditions before the first frost appears.
There are two landing options:
- bushes are planted in one row in the form of ribbons, a distance of 60 cm is maintained between them, 20 cm should be left between the bushes, this method is ideal for spring or autumn planting, in this case you can get a lot of mustache;
- planting bushes in 2 rows, this method is very effective, it is best suited for summer planting, the bushes are placed with ribbons in two rows, between the ribbons they make 60 cm, and between the bushes - 20 cm.
The landing site should be well lit. Strawberries grow well in places where beets, onions, cabbage of any kind used to grow. Bushes should be protected from wind and drafts. The plant is periodically fed. The berry requires organic fertilizers. A mixture of peat and humus is best. As a preventive measure, it is advisable to spray with copper sulfate.
Strawberry Cardinal requires regular watering. In hot weather, it is advisable to use the sprinkling method. During flowering and the appearance of fruits, watering is carried out at the root. If the plant does not have enough moisture, it will bear fruit poorly.
Diseases and pests
The variety is quite resistant to diseases, and yet, the plant can infect anthracnose, a disease caused by fungal microorganisms. If strawberries are struck by this disease, you can lose the crop.
The cause of the development of the disease is improper watering. Fungi begin to develop actively at high humidity. The disease is defined by round, gray patches that cover the leaves and stems. As development progresses, all the individual spots begin to merge into one continuous spot.
Anthracnose leads to the fact that the twigs and berries begin to dry out. A neglected form of the disease cannot be cured. The disease should be treated initially. An effective tool in this case is spraying with the following agents, such as Antracol and Quadris.
Sometimes powdery mildew affects the plant. It develops on leaves, fruits, and stems. As a result, a white fluffy bloom appears on the surface. This disease is not typical for strawberries; it usually affects those bushes that grow in the greenhouse. The cause of the disease is high humidity combined with high temperatures. The affected plant stops growing, the leaves begin to curl up into tubes. To combat the disease, Quadris and Fundazol are used.
TStrawberries can also develop gray mold, all types of mottling and rot.
Cardinal is one of the best strawberries. The plant can be grown even in cold climates. Before you start growing the Cardinal variety, you need to familiarize yourself with how to grow a plant. Proper care will allow you to get a rich harvest.