Among the berries grown in garden plots, more and more attention is paid to strawberries. Getting a good harvest of this berry is the desire of every gardener. But strawberries, like most berries, have different varieties. Some of them are early, others are middle or late. And the size of the berry also differs depending on the variety. Among the numerous varieties is the French Darselect strawberry, which is very popular among farmers in Europe.
Characteristic variety
Strawberry Darselect - mid-early variety. In a greenhouse or when covered, the culture begins to bear fruit by the end of May. If Darselect strawberries grow in open ground, then the harvest can be harvested as early as early June. In comparison, it can be noted that its fruits ripen 15 days earlier than Elsanta strawberries.
Strawberry bush is tall, with a moderate amount of dark green leaves. The plant has a strong root system. If allstrawberry varieties are divided into three groups, then by the number of mustache growth, it will be in the second group. Even with a dense placement of bushes in the garden, it gives a sufficient amount of mustache.
Strawberry Darselect: description of berries
Berries have an elongated conical shape with a blunt tip at the beginning of the season. By the end of fruiting, the shape of the berry can change from heart-shaped rounded to comb-shaped. This happens with an increase in humidity or with a decrease in temperature, since pollination is reduced during such natural phenomena. With natural maturation without abundant fertilizing, the weight of the berry is 15-25 g. If they are fertilized, the size of the fruit may increase, and the weight can reach 35 g.
Berries have a red-brick skin with a slight orange tint. The pulp is not watery, but dense. It has a light red color. The berry is famous for its sweet taste with a slight presence of sourness. It has a subtle strawberry aroma. After removal, the fruits do not lose color and retain their elasticity for a long time. The fruits are placed on a non-rigid stalk, which makes them much easier to pick.
Darselect (strawberry): cultivation
In order for the harvest of Darselect strawberries to be successful, high-quality seedlings are needed. It should have a fibrous root system with a root collar diameter of at least 6 mm. Flat areas are suitable for planting, as well as small slopes oriented to the southwest. It is not recommended to plant strawberries on steep slopes and in lowlands,as it gives a low and late harvest and is easily susceptible to disease. It is very good if the plot with strawberries is protected from the wind.
The most favorable soil for French strawberries is slightly loamy. The highest yield can be obtained on light soils or rich in humus.
Landing
The most favorable time for planting is early autumn, but it can still be planted in early spring. Seedlings are recommended to be planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other. With a denser planting, the Darselect strawberry will receive insufficient nutrition, which can lead to a decrease in yield. The most ideal planting is when no more than four bushes are planted per 1 m2.
Before you plant a plant, you need to prepare the site - clear it of weeds and feed the soil. As a top dressing, you can use humus, superphosphate and ammonium nitrate - 70 g, 30 g and 30 g, respectively. Before planting, seedlings are kept for about 7 days in a cool place. During planting, care must be taken not to deepen the root collar too much. It should be at ground level. Otherwise, there will be no harvest in the first year. The root system must be placed vertically, and if it is too long, then it is shortened to 10 cm. After planting, the seedlings are watered, and the earth is mulched with humus.
Care
After planting, strawberry seedlings need regular watering for some time. A sprinkler is ideal for this. On commercialplantations, the installation of drip irrigation is recommended. With careful watering, it easily tolerates sultry heat and drought in the central and southern regions of Russia and Ukraine. If cultivation is carried out in the southern regions, then mulching with a reflective film or using a UV mesh to create a shadow is relevant here. In addition, all the time the area with strawberries must be freed from weeds and diseased plants removed. Before winter, all strawberry leaves must be cut off, and strawberries should be covered with straw, dry leaves or non-woven fabric.
Reproduction
Propagation of strawberries can be done in various ways: using a mustache, dividing the root. For commercial cultivation, seedlings in containers are well suited, since before planting the seedling will already have a good root system, which will contribute to its better strengthening after planting.
Strawberry diseases and their control
The most common strawberry disease is late blight. The first sign of the appearance of this disease is the reddening of the axial cylinder of the plant. Strawberry leaves become greyish and take on a cupped shape. Next comes the death of the fibrous roots. In order to prevent this from happening, strawberries need to be transplanted to another place every 4 years. Before planting, the roots can be moistened with a solution of biological products. When damaged plants appear, they must be removed from the garden and destroyed.
Another disease that strawberries are susceptible to ispowdery mildew that affects the leaves of the plant. Diseased leaves curl, and their color gradually acquires a purple hue, powdery coating appears. The result of this disease is ugly fruits covered with bloom. There is a change in the taste of the berry. When this disease appears, it is necessary to spray the plant with a copper emulsion. If weeds are not harvested in time, gray rot may appear. Light brown spots and a fluffy coating appear on the berries.
Pests
There are many insects that destroy not only strawberry bushes, but also berries. These are strawberry mites, spider mites, aphids, wasps. Spraying with appropriate solutions will help prevent the appearance of these pests. Such prevention is recommended during the growing season. That is, spraying should be done before flowering or after full harvest.
Difficulties of Darselect character
Darselect strawberry variety is not recommended for planting on carbonate soils, as chlorosis is possible. When this disease appears, the plant is easily restored with timely feeding with mineral fertilizers.
The first year gives a small harvest due to insufficient development of the root system. Therefore, during this period it is recommended not to wait for single berries, but to cut off all the flowers. This will help the plant direct all its efforts to the rapid development of the root system, which will justify itself next year when the harvest is in full.
French Berry Virtues
Its main advantage is the sizeberries - strawberries Darselect large. It has excellent taste. It grows and bears fruit at high temperatures, even moderately tolerates heat up to 40 degrees. In one place, the plant bears fruit for 4 years, which cannot be said about many other strawberry varieties. After harvesting, new flower stalks begin to appear and a second crop appears, although in fact the Darselect strawberry variety is neutral. It is thanks to this unusual feature that the plant is extremely productive.
Does it have any disadvantages?
Strawberry Darselect is a moisture-loving plant (gardeners' reviews confirm this). Therefore, in arid regions, a good harvest is impossible without the installation of drip irrigation. If watering is poor, then, in addition to a poor harvest, the berry is hollow inside. In the process of tearing off, pulp may remain on the stalk. With a lack of trace elements in the soil, strawberries are prone to rebirth.
Strawberry at home on the table is a valuable dietary product and a source of vitamin C. Due to its performance, it has been widely used in the confectionery, cosmetology, alcoholic beverage and medical industries. Such a berry cannot leave anyone indifferent.
