Strawberry Black Prince is still little known among domestic gardeners. But the varietal characteristic allows you to put it on par with promising species. Garden strawberry, black prince is excellent for growing in various regions of our country, including the northern ones.
Table of contents
Description of the variety
The Black Prince is the product of a decade of labor by Italian breeders. Thanks to the persistence of the researchers of the New fruitis company, it was possible to get a variety differing high frost resistance.
In terms of ripening culture refers to srednerannymi varieties. The first crop of berries ripens in the 20th of June. The plant bears fruit before the onset of autumn. Throughout the season, the berries retain their size, while the other early varieties shrink by the end of summer.
Strawberry bush impresses with its unusual appearance. The plant is large and from a distance it can be confused with potato tops.
The shape of the berries is cone-shaped with a slight truncation at the end. Their mass according to the description reaches 50 gr. Dark red berries covered with black strongly protruding grains are slightly prickly. In the dark, their color seems black from here and the corresponding name.
Sweet fruits have a juicy and dense flesh without voids. Due to the high degree of density, they can be stored for a long time - 2 weeks. Fruit do not deteriorate during transportation over long distances.
Black Prince - high-yielding variety. One bush per season gives an average kilogram of strawberries. With one cottage weave you can get about 200 kg of berries.The variety is good for breeding on an industrial scale.
This type of garden strawberry bears fruit in one place for 7 years, while the berry does not shred by the end of summer and yields increase every year.
Planting strawberries
Moreover, at this time of the year there is a sufficient amount of micronutrients in the soil, which are so necessary for growth and development.
Location selection
Before embarking on a landing, it is necessary to choose the right place, which must meet the following criteria:
- plenty of sunshine;
- protected from wind;
- deep occurrence of groundwater.
Last item very importantotherwise the roots will start to rot. For the same reason, you should not plant garden strawberries in the lowlands, as well as on the slopes, because the water will drain down and the plant will not receive enough moisture.
The soil
For a grade the heavy clayey lands where excess of moisture prevails do not approach. Strawberries prefer sandy drained soil with excellent air circulation. This may be black earth or forest soil.
Choosing a place, you need to prepare a bed. First thing her digging up, removing all weeds. The soil must be properly fertilized using organic matter.
Planting material
To avoid disappointment with planting material, it should be purchased in a specialty store or nursery. The distance between the holes should be more than 40 cm, as the plant grows quite quickly.
The pits are abundantly watered and only then are they placed in sockets. Spreading the roots, sapling bury in such a way that the growth bud (heart) remained on the surface of the earth. The soil around the plant is lightly rammed, irrigated and mulched.
Care
Every year it is necessary to engage in the removal of whiskers so that they do not take power from the main bush.
Top dressing is made twice per season. Once in the spring with the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers.The second time in the summer, when buds appear on the bushes, they are fed with fertilizer containing phosphorus. For the black prince do not use drugs containing chlorine. It is detrimental to the plant.
After planting the bushes, it is important to maintain the soil moisture, especially during the flowering period.
Strawberry reproduction
When breeding strawberries, the black prince uses the same methods as other species:
- mustache;
- bush division;
- seeds.
Mustache
The first method, invented by nature itself, is the most simple and low-cost. Choosing a mustache for breeding, take those that are located closer to the bush. On the appendix should be 5 - 6 leaves.
To the plant got accustomed quickly and surely, experienced gardeners recommend not to immediately separate the mustache. The socket must first be pressed to the ground and wait 36 - 40 days until it takes root and only then separate it from the parent bush.
An excellent time for seating is the end of August - the beginning of September.Before the start of frost sapling has time to get stronger and recharge nutrients.
Strawberry black prince gives a mustache only the first three years.
Division bush
When the plant ceases to give a mustache, the second method of reproduction, dividing the bush, becomes relevant. Choose bushes that have most small shoots.
The culture is dug out of the ground and with the help of a knife processed in potassium permanganate, it is neatly divided into parts. Sections are processed with crushed activated carbon and planted into the ground.
Seeds
The result may be far from waiting. Seedlings may not adopt the varietal characteristics of the parent bush.
Produce seeds from the largest and most ripe berries. A thin layer of fruit is cut off the pulp with seeds and dried. After drying, the bones should be separated by rubbing the flesh between the fingers. They are stored in hermetically sealed containers no more than 3 - 4 years.
For 3 - 4 months before planting, the seeds are placed in water and kept at a temperature of 3 -5 degrees. Before planting, the bones are thoroughly dried.
There is another faster way to prepare seeds. Bones for 15 minutes poured concentrated sulfuric acid solutionafter which they are thoroughly washed for half an hour in running water and dried.
Planted seeds in February in small containers. The soil consisting of sod, dry peat and river sand (2: 1: 1) is irrigated and seeds are sprinkled on its surface. Capacity covered with polyethylene. Sprouts should appear in 10 - 14 days, and after 2 weeks the seedlings dive.
Autumn processing beds
For plants to survive the winter well, they need to be prepared for it:
- remove mulch in order to avoid the development of fungal diseases;
- remove dry and yellowed leaves;
- clean the ridge about weeds;
- loosen the ground so that the roots are not visible;
- fertilize the soil (manure, humus or biohumus);
- a couple of times before the frost is good saturate the earth with water;
- trim the mustache;
- before the onset of cold weather cover culture with covering material.
Diseases and pests of culture
When growing strawberries black prince need carefully observe the leaves. Sometimes they can tell about the presence of a disease, the timely treatment of which will help save the plant and preserve the crop.
If the foliage is formed yellowness, the reasons may be as follows:
- non-infectious chlorosis;
- mosaic;
- magnesium or nitrogen deficiency.
If the foliage on the bush began dry out early, it may mean:
- root rot infection or fungal disease;
- damage to the root system by a bear or a mole.
Despite the resistance of the variety to various diseases, with improper care, the plant can become infected with gray rot, spotting, blight, powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Application
Like any other variety, strawberries, black prince can be used not only fresh, but also make various preparations from it: jam, jam, compote and even liquor.
In addition, the berries have been used in cosmetology. Due to the large bones of the fruit, you can make not only nourishing masks, but also peels.
Useful in plants are not only berries, but also leaves. The decoction helps to fight cough and eliminates sore throat during colds.
Strawberry Black Prince rightly deserves the attention of gardeners. With proper care, the plant will show itself from the best side and will bestow an excellent harvest of delicious berries.