Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Cardinal, planting and care

It's hard to find a person who doesn't like strawberries. Therefore, every owner grows this aromatic berry on his plot, 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 varieties of strawberries, but it is worth paying attention to one of them under the sonorous name Cardinal.

General information about the variety

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

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

Positive and negative sides

Like other varieties, this type has its pros and cons. The Cardinal variety has significantly fewer disadvantages than advantages, but they still exist.

The advantages include the following:

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

The disadvantages are:

• The propagation of the variety is slower than that of other types of strawberries, since the tendrils that bloom and bear fruit do not take root.
• Powdery mildew lesions.

Rules for planting strawberries Cardinal

Strawberry Cardinal is a highly productive variety and requires certain conditions when planting. You should know what soil is suitable for it, when to plant and how exactly to do it.

Soil requirements

The soil for planting bushes should be slightly acidic with pH=5-6. Sandy and loamy soil is suitable. It must contain nutrients and humus.

Important! You cannot plant bushes in cold, clayey soil; the harvest will be minimal, if at all.

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

Boarding time

It is best to plant strawberry bushes in open ground in early spring or from late August to mid-September. This way the plants can adapt quickly and take root firmly.

Planting process

Two types of planting bushes in the soil are used:

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

Also, sometimes gardeners use a compacted planting method in order to remove all plants damaged by pests or disease in the spring.

How to care for strawberries

This strawberry variety produces a good harvest. The main thing is to follow simple rules for caring for it. It should be remembered that the harvest depends on this.

How to water and feed correctly

Watering is the most basic thing in caring for Cardinal strawberry bushes. It should be plentiful and daily. It is important that the soil never dries out. The water should not be too cold for this; its minimum temperature is 18 degrees.

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

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

Loosening and weeding

At the beginning of May, you should start weeding and loosening the soil. You can also hill up the bushes, this will provoke the growth of new root shoots. 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 retain moisture in the soil for a longer time, warms up the root system and inhibits the growth of weeds. The procedure is performed twice a year. The first time is in the spring, when the first ovaries appear on the strawberry bushes. The second time in the fall, after harvest.

Any organic material can be used as mulch, for example: straw, hay, pine needles, bark or sawdust; cardboard or black opaque film with small holes is also suitable.

Important! When using organic materials for mulching, you should make sure that they are completely dry, otherwise the process of rotting may begin.

Diseases and pests

Cardinal strawberries are quite resistant to various diseases and pests, but they are still susceptible to some diseases. Namely, a fungal infection called anthracnose. To avoid disease, you need to soak the bushes in fungicide for 30 minutes before planting. Do not over-moisten the soil and feed the plants on time.

As mentioned above, the Cardinal variety is susceptible 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 that pose a threat to strawberries, the nematode is a worm that damages the entire above-ground part of the bush.

Prevention is to plant marigolds around the area. Their smell repels the parasite.

Strawberry propagation

Cardinals are most often propagated by antennae. To do this, select a second-order mustache in the rosette. They are planted in separate pots or between rows in April.

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

The option of propagation and division of bushes is possible. To do this, a large plant is divided into several sprouts and planted. Planting using seeds is also sometimes used. The top layer with seeds is cut off from the berries and dried. Then they are separated from the pulp and sown in the ground. This method is more suitable for breeders than for gardeners.

Collection and storage rules

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

It is correct to pick the berries together with the “cap” and part of the stem. Strawberries should be collected immediately into the container in which they will be stored. The container must be well ventilated. Lay the berries in a maximum of 3 layers. This way the crop will last longer without changing its structure.

You cannot wash the berries, otherwise the juice will drain from them and they will lose their taste. The harvest 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 easy to grow. It is unpretentious and frost-resistant. If you follow the instructions, you will receive a lot of juicy and aromatic berries as a reward for your efforts.