If a gardener is looking for strawberries of medium early ripening, zoned for cultivation in agroclimatic conditions of the middle lane, then it is worth paying attention to the fruit of the works of French breeders. Harvest strawberries "Darselect" short daylight has long gained wide popularity among summer residents and farmers.
Material Content:
Description, features and productivity of the variety
The productive variety of garden strawberries, which was obtained by specialists of a breeding company in France, has earned worldwide recognition and has been cultivated for several decades in risky farming zones. Darselect is represented by tall bushes consisting of erect shoots covered with dark green leafy plates. The root system of plants is powerful. The formation of secondary.
According to the description of the variety, elongated, glossy, cone-shaped fruits with an average weight of 20 g are noted during fruiting. Red-brownish berries have a strong aroma and bright strawberry flavor. Due to the dense structure of the pink pulp, they tolerate transportation well. With proper agricultural technology, the average yield of Darselect strawberries varies between 700 and 900 g per bush.
On a note! Among the advantages of the variety, frost resistance is also important: plantings withstand a temperature drop to a mark on the thermometer of -20 ° C.
Practical Growing Tips
Experienced gardeners and farmers cultivating the Darselect strawberry variety give the following recommendations to help novice farmers:
- Since this variety is short daylight, the planting of seedlings should be carried out in well-lit areas.
- When planting, one should take into account the branched powerful root system and keep the interval between copies at 35 cm.
- To maintain a high yield, it is recommended to renew the beds every 4 years.
- In order for the berries to pour properly, it is necessary for the plantings to properly organize drip irrigation.
- Feeding should not be ignored, since the variety needs a fertile soil composition.
Do not forget that all cultivated plants, including Darcellect strawberries, need constant care.
Outdoor landing
For plants, plots on hills are selected so that the depth of groundwater is at least 60 cm.
Despite the fact that the place should be well lit, bright direct rays should not fall on the bushes. The variety does not like the open sun.
Garden strawberries of this variety prefer fertile soils with a loose structure. To ensure full growth of the culture, it is recommended to prepare the soil in advance, making humus or compost (7 kg per sq. M.) When digging.
The best time for planting strawberries "Darselect" is considered spring or early autumn, depending on the region of cultivation. If the cold weather comes quite early, then preference should be given to spring field work.
Landing technology is quite simple:
- On each square meter 4 holes are dug with an interval of 35 - 40 cm.
- If the soil was not enriched with nutrients, then superphosphate and some sand are poured into the recesses to ensure looseness.
- Strawberry seedlings with spread roots fall into the planting pits.
- Plants are sprinkled with the extracted soil so that the root collar is flush with the soil. Otherwise, the process of decay or drying may begin, depending on whether the growth point is deepened or located on top.
- Then the trunk circles are compacted, watered and mulched.
On a note! Compaction of the soil will allow you to get rid of possible air holes around the roots, which may cause the plant to dry. And mulching should be carried out after the surface layer of the earth is slightly dry.
How to care for Darcellect strawberries
To garden strawberry "Darselect" annually pleased the gardener with a high yield, you should correctly approach the issue of comprehensive care for it.
Among the main events that should be held regularly are:
- Watering. The variety is hygrophilous, so it develops well only with sufficient moisture. It can grow excellently even in hot conditions of the Crimea, but only in the case of organization of drip irrigation. Do not forget that an overabundance, leading to stagnation of water, can also lead to the death of plantings.
- Soil treatment. To maintain good aeration, beds should be systematically loosened, while removing weedy vegetation that takes nutrients from cultivated plants. To reduce the time for weeding and loosening, it is recommended to mulch trunks circles with organic materials (peat, sawdust), which will help maintain fertility.
- Top dressing. If the soil is fertile and has been previously enriched with nutrient complexes, then planting should be fed only from the second year of growth. For the entire season 4 feeds are carried out, of which 3 are root, and 1 is foliar. In liquid form, nitrogen is introduced into the near-stem circle in spring, and phosphorus and potassium during fruiting and at the end of summer. The foliar method of applying fertilizers consists in spraying the shoots with a solution of 2 g of boric acid, the same amount of ammonium molybdenum acid, 2 g of potassium permanganate per 10 l of water.
In addition to basic agricultural activities, proper preparation for winter and integrated plant protection are of great importance, which will be described in detail in the following sections.
Winter preparations
Since the variety is quite frost-resistant, this strawberry does not require particularly labor-intensive shelter.
It is enough to cut the foliage before the onset of cold weather and cover the plantings with fallen garden leaves or some other non-woven material.
Since this is a variety of short daylight hours, it is not worth cultivating it in too harsh weather conditions. If the bushes do not die, culture will not be able to realize its potential.
Breeding methods
The simplest method of reproduction is the division of the bush. The largest bushes with a developed rhizome are selected. They are extracted and divided into parts. Each split must have roots and several outlets. Perform the procedure before landing in the open ground, in spring or autumn, depending on climatic conditions.
Mustache breeding is considered to be an equally productive breeding method when the most powerful specimens are selected, in which 2 to 3 developed mustaches are left. The latter are pinned into the groove and lightly sprinkled with soil. When new outlets begin to form, the young plant should be separated from the mother and planted in another place.
Protection against diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to late blight, but can often be affected by powdery mildew and gray rot, especially in conditions of excessive humidity. In order to prevent the intensive development of fungal diseases, it is necessary to timely treat the plantings with copper-containing preparations.
Among the harmful insects, aphids and spider mites stand out. They are usually observed during drought. The most effective means of protection is an insecticide, which is selected depending on the phase of development of strawberries and the permissibility of use on this particular berry according to the list of allowed drugs.
Important! Remember that even the highest quality drugs have a certain period of toxicity. So that no harmful substances remain in the berries, do not spray the plantings during their filling.
What problems can be encountered
Among the difficulties of cultivation, specialists stand out:
- Poor quality and quantity of fruits in the first year of fruiting due to underdevelopment of the root system, which in this variety must be very branched. Therefore, it is recommended after planting to pick off inflorescences before flowering.
- The variety often suffers from chlorosis due to a lack of iron. Therefore, foliar top dressing should be systematically carried out.
Strawberry "Darselect" is a highly productive and promising variety of French selection, which is easy to grow not only on industrial fields, but also on a personal plot.
