Diamond Strawberry: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care, propagation methods

Diamond Strawberry is an achievement of the California Institute of Horticulture. The variety is high-yielding, is popular among Russian gardeners. Berries are grown for sale or personal consumption. For a successful planting, plant care, you should familiarize yourself with all its features.

Main characteristics and description of the variety

Strawberry Diamant is a large-fruited crop, remontant group. The fruits grow cone-shaped, elongated in shape. They have a shiny skin, rich scarlet color. At the stage of technical maturity, the berries are orange.The weight of one fruit is 32 grams, depending on the growing conditions. The flesh is pinkish, accumulates a lot of sugar, but is not famous for juiciness. Due to such indicators, the crop can be transported over long distances. The variety is rarely used for processing due to low juiciness, light flesh.

Spreading bushes, with large leaves, up to 45 cm tall. Inflorescences are firmly attached to the pedicel. When the activation of the fruit ovaries starts, the mustache is formed.

Diamond strawberries are grown in the garden or in greenhouses. The variety also bears fruit abundantly in planter pots.

Advantages and disadvantages of Strawberry Diamant

Diamond Strawberry has many advantages, but there are also negative aspects.

Low maintenanceBerries ripen large High resistance to diseases, bugsGreat berry taste

Pros	Cons
Fruiting occurs 3-4 times during the growing season	A plentiful, high-quality harvest is present only the first 2-3 years
High yield	Variety needs light, moisture

The subtleties of growing a plant

The process of growing strawberries Diamant does not imply characteristic nuances. The variety is undemanding to the soil, it can also be planted in small plots. It is worth choosing illuminated, flat surfaces or hills, but not lowlands where water accumulates. Strawberries grow well on medium to light soil with an acidity level of 5-6 pH. The location of groundwater should be at least 70-80 cm above the surface. Legumes, cereals, greens are considered the best predecessors.

You should not place bushes in the place where tomatoes and potatoes used to grow.

Timing

It is preferable to plant Diamant strawberries in September or the end of May. When planted in autumn, the harvest will be plentiful for the next season. If you plant strawberries in the spring, they will bear fruit poorly, but will be rehabilitated in the second year.

Preparing the site

3 weeks before planting, fertilize the soil at the chosen place with rotted manure in the ratio of 10 liters per 1 square meter. If the soil in the area is heavy, add sand to it. The site is pre-plowed on a shovel bayonet, weeds are removed. You can disinfect the place with insecticides. 2-3 days before planting, make holes 15 cm deep. Lightly tamp the earth.

Preparation of planting material

Seedlings are inspected before planting for traces of diseases, shrunken fragments. Each specimen should have 3-4 leaves, branched roots. You can soak them in a solution of Epin or Matador that stimulates the growth of the root system for 30 minutes. Just before planting, water the sprouts with hot water.

The process of planting strawberries Diamant

Large-fruited strawberries should be planted according to the steps below:

• start landing in the early morning or evening, the sun should not shine;
• plant seedlings according to the standard pattern 6025 cm;
• place the seedlings carefully, spreading the rhizome so that the neck is above the ground.

After, water the beds, mulch with humus.

Specific care

Standard care for strawberries involves timely watering, loosening beds, treatment from pests and diseases. Do not neglect mulching, the procedure will prevent the evaporation of moisture in the heat, free the summer resident from unnecessary weeding.

Irrigation Rules

Irrigate strawberries depending on weather conditions. If the season turned out to be dry, 2 waterings per week are required.Determine the need for irrigation due to the dryness of the land. Water the bushes in the early morning or evening, water should not fall on the leaves. You should resort to irrigation with a watering can. The liquid should not be cold, about +20 degrees Celsius. When the berries appear, it is forbidden to pour water on them, as they may rot.

Feeding and fertilizer

Strawberry Diamond needs regular fertilization, especially she loves bird droppings or manure. More bushes are fed with tincture of freshly cut grass. Organics alternate with mineral compositions. Apply s altpeter or special combinations for berries. In small doses, wood ash is sprinkled under the beds.

Organics not only feeds strawberries, but also prevents the reproduction of beetles.

Disease and pest control

Large-fruited strawberries of the Diamond variety are rarely attacked by beetles and diseases. Sometimes it is affected by a leaf beetle, strawberry mite or nematode. They are able to attack purchased seedlings.

Next to the strawberry plantings you can place onions, marigolds, garlic. They repel harmful insects.

Among the most dangerous diseases are gray rot. More often it is observed on densely planted beds. Weeds also spread rot. They destroy it with fungicides, for example - "Strawberry Rescuer", "Switch". Usually one treatment is enough. Every week it is advisable to inspect the bushes for damage by beetles, diseases.

Features of reproduction

Diamond strawberries are propagated by seeds, dividing the bush or tendrils. The first method is not in demand because it is laborious and time consuming. Dividing the bush does not always give the desired result. The plant can grow different from the "parent", not bear fruit. It is optimal to propagate strawberries with tendrils.

During the first fruiting, choose the strongest, the development of bushes. Antennae are cut off from them, they are placed in grooves. Over time, sprouts will sprout, but leave only the first rosettes. They are watered, weed around the ground.

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