Strawberry Black Prince: variety description and characteristics, planting, growing and care with photo

The Black Prince strawberry variety was bred by Italian breeders and is widely used among many gardeners. The variety has a number of distinctive qualities, is valued for its high yield and resistance to adverse external factors.

Description and characteristics of strawberries Black Prince

When planning the planting of the Black Prince variety, you should read the description of plants and fruits. By studying the characteristics of this variety, it will be possible to control the growth of bushes and track deviations from normal development.

Features of bushes

Large size bushes with dense foliage and developed root system. Plants form an average number of thickened whiskers, and every year the process of their formation is reduced. The leaves are dark green, glossy and slightly wrinkled. One of the main features of the bushes is their viability and high productivity - it is possible to obtain a good yield within 5-7 years.

The longer the bushes grow, the longer the fruiting.

Berries

Large cone-shaped berries differ from most varieties with dark red, almost black skin. Strawberry pulp is juicy, soft, with a sweet and sour taste, without internal voids.

Fruiting terms

Cherny Prince is included in the category of mid-early ripening varieties with a long fruiting period. The first berries ripen in the second half of June. Harvesting lasts throughout the summer period. In one season, each plant brings 0.8-1.2 kg of juicy berries. When growing Black Prince strawberries, it must be taken into account that the berry gives mustaches only during the first 2-3 years after planting.

Winter hardiness

Berries are able to undergo cooling down to -20 degrees. The yield of the variety does not decrease with return spring frosts and early winter. Strawberries tolerate drought worse than low ambient temperatures.

Pros and cons of the variety

The popularity of the Black Prince strawberry is due to many positive qualities. These include the following:

berries are suitable for transportation over long distances due to dense pulp;
the variety has a good presentation and is often grown for sale in commercial quantities;
under favorable conditions, ripe berries can be stored for a long time;
strawberries are resistant to common diseases and harmful insects.

The downside is the need for regular maintenance. Drought soil or lack of suitable environmental conditions can lead to reduced yields.

Features of landing technology

In order for plants to bring a stable harvest for a long time, several planting rules must be observed. In particular, it is necessary to choose a suitable place for sowing, till the soil in advance, take into account the timing of planting and determine the distance between plants for free development of roots.

Choosing a seat

For the Black Prince variety, light, loosened and well aerated soil is suitable. Sowing is best done in loam or gray soil in a constantly lit area.The acidity of the soil is of great importance. The best yields can be achieved when sown on slightly acidic or neutral soil.

Soil preparation

Treatment is carried out 3-4 weeks before planting the berries. Before sowing strawberries, green manure must be planted in the selected area. Pre-growing fertilizers will fill the soil with useful trace elements. Legumes and cereals, carrots and onions should serve as predecessors for the Black Prince variety.

A few days before sowing, humus is introduced into the soil in the amount of 5 kg per square of land. Before fertilizing, the soil is dug up, weeds and plant debris are removed.

Timing and landing pattern

A favorable period for planting strawberries is early autumn. In regions with a hot climate, planting work is carried out in late spring. The optimal planting pattern is 40 x 50 cm, since the bushes are characterized by abundant growth of deciduous mass.

Before planting, dug holes in the ground are moistened using 1 liter of water for each hole. Then the roots of the seedlings are placed in the recesses, leaving the green part on the surface. If the bushes are large, then they are planted at a distance of 400 cm in a row. Suitable row spacing is 0.6 m, which is enough for complex care.

Nuances of care

The key to getting a large harvest is regular and complete plant care. The Black Prince strawberry variety requires basic farming practices, including watering, fertilizing, bedding, and shelter during cold weather.

Water and loosening

Strawberry is considered a moisture-loving plant and requires abundant watering during the warm period. The frequency of soil moistening largely depends on weather conditions. At the beginning of the growing season, it is recommended to water the bushes at least once a week.In dry weather, the amount of watering is increased by 2-3 times. If strawberries are planted in a sandy type of soil that quickly passes liquid, then in summer the earth is moistened every other day. Each watering is accompanied by loosening to aerate the soil.

Fertilization

Root and foliar compositions are used as dressings for strawberries. In the early stages of cultivation, urea and ammonium nitrate are suitable for feeding, which are applied under the root or sprayed on the leaves. During the formation of buds, superphosphate is used in the amount of 30-40 g per square of land.

Mulching

The first mulching of strawberries Black Prince is performed in the spring, at the stage of ovary formation. Thanks to the procedure, flower stalks do not interact with the soil.

After harvesting or at the end of the summer period, the mulch is removed, and at the end of October it is returned to the beds in order to protect it from freezing.

Mulching uses a variety of materials including hay, straw, leaves, sawdust, rotted compost and bark. In winter, it is better to use mowed grass and needles. To make mulching as effective as possible, the selected material is laid out around the bushes and between them.

Preparing for winter

In regions with a predominantly warm climate, it is enough to cover the bushes with mulch as a preparation for winter. If the berries are grown in cooler conditions, it is necessary to use a specialized covering material. Under such a shelter, a high temperature is maintained, and due to airtightness, it is possible to prevent damping out.

Pest and disease control

Due to the high resistance to diseases and pests, it is possible to encounter ailments in rare cases in the absence of proper care. To protect plants and prevent yield reduction, it is necessary to spray with fungicidal and insecticidal preparations.Protective treatments can be carried out when signs of plant damage are detected and for preventive purposes.

Reproduction

The most effective is the propagation of strawberries in the second half of summer. A common method of reproduction is the development of growing shoots. There are small nodules on the mustache of strawberries, from which young bushes are later formed.

To increase the number of bushes with berries, the shoots are laid out on the edges of the garden, after which the rosettes begin to take root gradually. Immediately after this, you need to cut the ends of the shoots without separating them from the mother bush. In the future, it remains to provide the plants with standard care.

Cleaning, storage and use of strawberries

Ripe berries are harvested together with the stalk. For convenience and a more accurate cut, you can use garden shears. Preservation of the stalk favorably affects the duration of storage. During the collection, it is recommended to sort the berries and remove spoiled specimens.

Strawberry Black Prince has a universal purpose. Due to their high taste characteristics, the berries are suitable for fresh consumption, processing, making jam and jam. If you want to store strawberries, place the berries in a container or other container and leave in the refrigerator.