Strawberry Cardinal: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

It's hard to find someone who doesn't like strawberries. Therefore, each owner in his area grows this fragrant berry, familiar to everyone since childhood. Strawberries contain a whole range of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system, heart and blood vessels. There are a large number of strawberry varieties, but it is worth paying attention to one of them under the sonorous name Cardinal.

General information about the variety

Strawberry variety Cardinal was bred by American breeders.It has large oblong berries that can reach a mass of 80 grams. Its bushes are large, but not dense, have a characteristic feature of leaves. The leaves are dark green above and bluish below. Each leaf is folded in a "boat".

The first ripe fruits appear in early July. Berries that ripen later are much larger than the first ones. Sometimes one bush gives up to 1 kg of crop. The height of the bushes is up to 40-45 cm.

Good and bad sides

Like other varieties, this species has its pros and cons. The disadvantages of the Cardinal variety are much less than the advantages, but they still exist.

Pros include the following:

• Dense structure, thanks to which the berries are stored for a long time and tolerate transportation well.
• Pleasant sweet and sour taste.
• Gives a high yield.
• Fruits twice a season.
• Is a large-fruited variety.
• Resistant to many diseases, including gray mold.

The cons are:

• Propagation of the variety is slower than other types of strawberries, as the whiskers that bloom and bear fruit do not take root.
• Powdery mildew.

Rules for planting strawberries Cardinal

Strawberry Cardinal is a highly productive variety and requires certain conditions when planting. You should know what soil suits her, when to land and how to do it.

Soil Requirements

The soil for planting bushes should be slightly acidic with pH=5-6. Suitable sandy and loamy soil. It should contain nutrients and humus.

Important! You can not plant bushes in clay cold soil, the harvest will be minimal, if at all.

If you plant strawberries in sandy soil, the harvest will be with rather small berries. Since sand cannot retain moisture for a long time, the bushes will critically miss it.

Pick up time

It is best to plant strawberry bushes outdoors in early spring or between late August and mid-September. In this way, plants will be able to quickly adapt and take root firmly.

Planting process

Use two types of planting bushes in the soil:

1. Single row. The bushes are planted with a distance between the ribbons of 60-70 cm. And the plants in the row should be at a distance of about 120 cm. With this method of planting, a lot of mustaches with rosettes grow in the first year.
2. Double row. The space between the ribbons should be 70 cm. The line spacing should be 30 cm. Between the bushes in one row should be 30 cm. This type of planting is more suitable for the summer period.

Growers also sometimes use the compacted planting method in order to remove all plants spoiled by pests or disease in the spring.

How to care for strawberries

This variety of strawberries gives a good harvest. The main thing is to follow simple rules for caring for him. It should be remembered that the harvest depends on it.

How to water and feed properly

Watering is the most basic thing in caring for Cardinal strawberry bushes. It should be plentiful and everyday. It is important that the earth never dries up. Water for this should not be too cold, its minimum temperature is 18 degrees.

It is better to do this manipulation in the morning. While the bushes are not yet flowering, watering should be in the form of rain. Thus, dust is washed off the plants, and they develop more actively. When strawberries bloom and bear fruit, only the soil should be watered.

Feed three times a season using organic and mineral fertilizers. The first time in the spring, the second - during the formation of fruits and the third - in preparation for winter.

Loosening and weeding

In early May, weeding and loosening the soil should be done. You can also hill the bushes, this will provoke the growth of new root processes. At the end of May, you need to repeat weeding and loosening the soil around the plants.

Mulching

Mulching is an important procedure. Allows you to keep moisture in the soil for a longer time, creates a warming of the root system and inhibits the growth of weeds.The procedure is done twice a year. The first time in spring, when the first ovaries appear on the strawberry bushes. Second time in autumn, after harvest.

Any organic material can be used as mulch, such as straw, hay, pine needles, bark or sawdust, cardboard or black opaque film with small holes will also work.

Important! When using organic mulching materials, make sure they are completely dry, otherwise rotting can begin.

Diseases and pests

Strawberry Cardinal is quite resistant to various diseases and pests, but still it is susceptible to some diseases. Namely, a fungal infection called anthracnose. To avoid illness, you need to soak the bushes in a fungicide for 30 minutes before planting. Do not overmoisten the soil and feed the plants in time.

As mentioned above, the Cardinal variety is prone to frequent powdery mildew, so during weeding, you should inspect the bushes and regularly carry out preventive measures by spraying the plants with a fungicide, since powdery mildew is also a fungal disease.

Among the pests for strawberries, the nematode is a threat - this is a worm that damages the entire ground part of the bush.

Prevention is the seating of marigolds in the area. Their smell repels the parasite.

Strawberry propagation

The Cardinal is most often propagated by antennae. To do this, choose a mustache of the second order in the outlet. They are planted in separate pots or between rows, in April.

When the seedlings have a strong enough root, they are separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place. No more than two whiskers are taken from one bush, the rest are cut off, as they draw nutrients from the plant.

Possible option of reproduction and separation of bushes. To do this, a large plant is divided into several sprouts and seated. Also sometimes used and seating with the help of seeds. The top layer with seeds is cut from the berry and dried. Then separated from the pulp and sown in the ground. This method is more suitable for breeders than gardeners.

Collection and storage rules

Harvesting starts in June. During this period, strawberries need to be watered in the evening, after picking the berries. During the collection, flower stalks are cut off on the mother bushes and tendrils on all plants.

Pick the berries correctly along with the “hat” and part of the leg. Strawberries should be collected immediately in the container in which they will be stored. The container must be well ventilated. Spread the berries in a maximum of 3 layers. So the harvest will last longer without changing the structure.

You can’t wash the berries, otherwise the juice will drain from them and they will lose their taste. The crop can be stored in a cool place for up to 5-7 days. At the same time, all the characteristics of the berries are preserved.

From the description of this variety, it becomes clear that it is quite simple to grow it. It is unpretentious and frost-resistant. If you follow the instructions, then he will bring many juicy and fragrant berries as a reward for his work.

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