Strawberry Cardinal: description of the variety and features of growing the berry

Every year more and more new varieties of garden strawberries appear, striking in the taste of the fruit and yield indicators. Most often, “fashionable novelties” place high demands on growing conditions and agricultural technology. Summer residents who can only devote weekends to the garden want something more unpretentious and durable. One of these varieties is the Cardinal strawberry - a garden strawberry that has been pleasing lovers of berry crops with its early harvests for more than half a century.

History of the variety's creation

The strawberry variety Cardinal was bred by breeders from the USA in the second half of the last century. In those years, the popularity of the variety went through the roof, but over time, more productive varieties appeared with increased yields and large fruits.

Although the Cardinal strawberry is currently somewhat inferior compared to them, and is now rarely grown for industrial purposes, however, gardeners from many Russian regions, having planted this variety, no longer want to change it to others.

Strawberry Cardinal - photo

Reviews

The cardinal variety is old and, apparently, “walks” a lot around the country of mis-grading. I picked up my Cardinal at the nursery, but he doesn't fit the standard description. In terms of ripening time - average, in terms of pulp density - none. It is impossible to transport berries from the plot to your home, let alone commercial use for sale.

Strawberry Cardinal is a variety that has been proven over the years and is valued for its aromatic, tasty berries and decent yield. Advertising brochures are full of descriptions of new varieties with fruits up to 100 g and yields of one bulb per bush, but often the facts are very different from expectations, so many gardeners are in no hurry to part with varieties in which they are confident. It’s not for nothing that they say: “the best is the enemy of the good.”

Strawberry Cardinal: description of the variety and its characteristics

Cardinal strawberries are a remontant variety; these plants can be harvested twice per season. The first fruits are harvested in early June. And the berries ripen again on rosettes appearing on the tendrils; this happens from the last ten days of September to the first ten days of October.

The bushes of this strawberry are tall, with a large number of rosettes, the maximum plant size is up to 50 cm.

The foliage has an original shape, it resembles a boat, the upper leaf plates are a rich emerald color, and the back has a bluish tint. All leaves are covered with red scales.

On a note!

The Cardinal variety produces a large number of whiskers over the course of a season, on which large rosettes appear. Moreover, they can produce a harvest as early as September, more abundant than at the beginning of the season.

One of the positive features of this variety is the ability to ripen the crop even on unrooted rosettes, so this strawberry is often grown vertically using a trellis.

The bushes of this variety produce large fruits with juicy pulp. The weight of each Cardinal strawberry is about 55-60 g.

The sepals are attached to the base of the fruit very tightly until they are fully ripe. The shape of the berries is oval-conical, the surface of the fruit is dark red in color, with a large number of golden seeds. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness, the smell of ripe fruit is typically strawberry. The pulp is juicy, dense and crunchy, with small voids.

Photo of strawberries Cardinal

The berries are picked dry, so the harvested crop tolerates transportation well over long distances and can be stored in appropriate conditions for quite a long time.

The collected berries are versatile - they are consumed fresh, for making desserts, and also prepared for the winter. Cardinal strawberry jam is especially tasty and aromatic. You can also put the berries in the freezer.

Important!

If unrooted rosettes bear fruit, in the future they take root very poorly and are therefore not suitable for planting in garden beds.

In autumn, the bushes of this variety produce more harvests than in summer, and the fruits themselves are much larger.

However, if during the season gardeners cut off excess tendrils, then the plants direct all the nutrients to ripen the crop, so the size of the berries increases.

The obvious advantages of the Cardinal variety are high frost resistance and good heat tolerance.

Therefore, these strawberries can be grown with equal success both in the southern regions of Russia and in areas with a more severe climate, including the Urals and Siberia.

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.





Productivity of the strawberry variety Cardinal

This berry crop is capable of producing high yields even in the first season after planting (when seedlings are planted in April - May). At least 1.0 kg of fragrant, sweet fruits are usually collected from each Cardinal bush.

This productivity was high for decades after the creation of the Cardinal strawberry, but now a large number of varieties of this berry crop have been developed with higher yields.

The fruiting period of Cardinal strawberry bushes is 5 seasons

, then the plant productivity decreases sharply, the berries themselves become smaller. Therefore, it is recommended to renew strawberry plantations of the Cardinal variety once every 5 years.

Strawberry Cardinal - video

Landing Features

For successful landing, you need to choose a suitable location and decide on the timing. It is also important to purchase high-quality seedlings . Planting is carried out according to technology determined by agronomists.

Learn about spring strawberry care.

Selecting a location

Cardinal strawberries grow actively in a sunny area. The variety requires moisture-permeable and well-drained soil.

It is advisable to plant seedlings in a substrate with a pH level of 5.6–6.5.

Boarding time

Agronomists advise planting seedlings from mid-August to mid-September. These are the optimal times in the middle zone. You can plant seedlings in March, but weather conditions in early spring are not always favorable.

Important! On sandy soil, the yield of the variety will be lower, so avoid areas with a large amount of sand in the substrate.

Selection of seedlings

Seedlings for planting must be healthy and developed. They say about the quality of seedlings:

• branched root system;
• at least 3 sheets;
• absence of rot, plaque and dry parts.

Planting scheme

The technology for planting the Cardinal variety is as follows:

1. Dig holes up to 15 cm deep at a distance of 20 cm from each other. When planting in several rows, maintain a distance of 60 cm between rows.
2. Fill the holes with water.
3. Place the seedlings in the holes.
4. Fill the empty space in the holes with soil.
5. After planting, water the beds.

Advantages of the variety

The main advantages of the Cardinal strawberry variety include:

1. good taste of ripe berries and excellent presentation;
2. frost resistance of the strawberry variety Cardinal;
3. Strawberries begin to bear fruit in the year of planting;
4. high productivity - at least 0.9 kg of ripe products are harvested from each plant;
5. remontant strawberry Cardinal;
6. ripe products can be transported over long distances;
7. berries can be stored for a long time without losing their commercial qualities and good taste;
8. The variety is resistant to most diseases characteristic of other strawberry varieties.

Cardinal strawberries have few disadvantages:

• Difficulties arise with reproduction, since the rosettes formed on the tendrils immediately begin to bear fruit, and after fruiting such seedlings practically do not take root;
• Strawberry bushes have low resistance to powdery mildew.

Disease Control

Despite its high resistance, with insufficient care, the Cardinal strawberry variety can be affected by a fungal disease - anthracnose. Of the factors favoring the development of fungal microorganisms, the main one is excess moisture. In the initial stage, the disease manifests itself as gray spots covering the stem and leaves. Later they merge, and the shoots and berries dry out. At this stage the disease is incurable. If you detect it at the initial stage, you can save the plants by treating them with antifungal drugs. 16

Powdery mildew appears as a fluffy white coating covering all parts of the plant. Typically, this disease affects strawberry plantations growing in greenhouses where there is high humidity and temperature. The plant stops growing, the leaves begin to curl into tubes, and the fruits acquire an unpleasant taste.

Under the influence of unfavorable factors, strawberries can also be affected by other diseases, such as gray mold, various types of rot and spotting. Therefore, timely preventive treatment of strawberries is very important.

Choosing a site for planting Cardinal strawberries

Strawberry Cardinal prefers slightly acidic, loose, fertile soils, so the site should have loam or sandstone with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The place chosen for the strawberry plantation should be well lit by sunlight during the day and protected from strong drafts and gusts of cold wind.

There should be no stagnation of moisture in the soil, otherwise the plant may be damaged by powdery mildew or some other diseases. In lowlands or places where groundwater comes too close to the soil surface, it is better not to plant this berry plant. If there is no other place to plant strawberries, then you only need to prepare high beds and ensure good drainage.

The site for planting Cardinal strawberry seedlings should be prepared in advance - for spring planting, the site is prepared in the fall, for autumn transplanting - 30-45 days in advance.

If the soil on the site is sandy, then it is first “cultivated”, since such soil will not retain moisture. Therefore, humus and peat must be introduced into the sandstone in advance. Dolomite flour or limestone is added to highly acidified soil in the fall. Heavy soils are not suitable for planting strawberries, as moisture stagnates in them and oxygen supply is poor. But if you add humus and sand in advance (6 kg for each square), and lay out a layer of drainage in the planting holes, then you can plant Cardinal strawberries.

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Major diseases

Anthracnose is a fungal disease of strawberries.

Cardinal is a fairly strong plant that is resistant to various pathologies. But he develops some diseases. A list of common diseases is presented in the table.

How to plant Cardinal strawberries correctly

You can plant Cardinal strawberries in both spring and autumn.

When planting rosettes in April - May, it is recommended to do it in one line - the distance between the holes in the row is about 0.2 m, and between the rows - 0.65-0.7 m. With this planting, a larger number of tendrils are formed on the bushes during the first season .

When planting Cardinal strawberries in the fall, it is better to plant bushes in two rows on the beds. At the same time, in the rows the distance between the bushes should be about 0.2 m, the row spacing should be 0.7 m.

Planting strawberries

Diseases and pests

The main pests for Cardinal strawberry bushes and berries are:

• weevil;
• strawberry leaf beetle;
• strawberry mite;
• aphid;
• nematodes;
• slugs

To prevent the spread of these pests, it is necessary to carry out treatment in 2 stages - in spring and autumn.

Important! It is not recommended to use any chemicals and folk remedies for pest control during the flowering and fruiting period.

In addition to pests, if not properly cared for, the following types of pathologies can develop in strawberries of the Cardinal variety:

• powdery mildew;
• anthracnose;
• gray rot.

To prevent these diseases, the use of fungicides is recommended.

Further care for Cardinal strawberries

The main requirements for further care of planted Cardinal strawberries are compliance with the irrigation regime and regular feeding.

It is better to water the strawberry plantation early in the morning. In this case, the bushes do not dry out during the day, and the received moisture evaporates before evening. In this case, favorable conditions do not arise for the development of powdery mildew or gray rot.

The water should be warm enough - about 18-20 degrees Celsius.

Advice!

During the period of buds appearing and berries ripening, it is better to arrange drip irrigation in the beds, in which drops of water do not fall on the buds and fruits.

When mass ripening of berries begins, watering must be carried out after the ripe fruits are collected.

After watering, it is necessary to loosen the tree trunk circles while simultaneously removing weeds.

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Preventive actions

It is very important to promptly treat strawberries against parasites and infectious diseases. It is recommended to use fungicides.

Processing does not take much time. These drugs are effective, have a prolonged effect and are relatively safe. With their help you can save the harvest.

The following drugs are used for treatment:

To treat the plant, you can use the drug Envidor.

Spraying is carried out before flowering. Also, the procedure should be carried out 14 days before harvest.

If even minor signs of fungus are detected, treatment must be carried out immediately. Otherwise, the disease will destroy the plants.

After fruiting

1. After collecting the berries, you need to process the area again . Fungicides should also be used for this. They can be replaced with Bordeaux mixture or 1% copper sulfate solution.
2. The remains of diseased bushes and fruits must be burned.

After picking the berries, it is advisable to treat the area with a solution of copper sulfate.

Fertilizing strawberries of the Cardinal variety

The Cardinal strawberry variety needs to be fed from early spring to late autumn.

In the spring, fertilizers containing nitrogen (ammonium nitrate or urea) are applied under the bushes of this berry crop. Such fertilizing promotes active growth and development of roots. However, the dosage should be observed when applying such fertilizers, since excessive nitrogen content in the soil leads to the active growth of vegetative mass and tendrils with rosettes to the detriment of fruiting.

During the period of budding and formation of ovaries, a complex mineral fertilizer is added to the soil, which includes P, K and N, and the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer should be small.

After the harvest is harvested, organic matter is added to the Cardinal strawberry bushes, and in the fall, when preparing the bushes for winter, a layer of rotted compost at least 10 cm thick is added to the beds.

Growing and care

The first time after planting, strawberry rosettes should be shaded with non-woven covering material. Remontant strawberries need to be watered and fed more often than usual, since they remove more moisture and minerals from the soil. So, in the absence of rain, Cardinal is watered every other day, and the variety is fed with complex fertilizer (for example, Kemira Universal, Agricola, Master) 3 times per season:

• before the first spring wave blooms. In addition to mineral fertilizers, you can use organic matter with a high nitrogen content. For example, an aqueous solution of mullein (1:10) or chicken droppings (1:20). Nitrogen fertilizers will allow the plant to grow green mass faster;
• after the massive first harvest. You can use ash (0.5 liters per 1 m2);
• after the autumn harvest of the second wave.

For shading, you can plant dill between the rows of strawberries.

Quite labor-intensive components of caring for Cardinal strawberries are weed control and loosening. To facilitate these procedures, many gardeners practice lining the beds with black non-woven material with a density of 80 g/m2. In addition to suppressing weeds and retaining moisture in the soil, berries on agrofibre will always be clean and will not rot. Rosettes for propagation can be rooted in separate containers or new slits can be made in the material.

In the fall, the Cardinal needs to be given the opportunity to be exposed to frost so that the plant receives a signal to stop the growing season. Then the peduncles, lower leaves and excess tendrils with unrooted rosettes are cut off. In normal winters, strawberries overwinter well, but in case of a winter with little snow, it is better to cover them with spruce branches (after the onset of stable sub-zero temperatures) - it will retain the snow and protect the bushes from mice.

In the spring, the cover should be removed, the strawberries should be sprinkled with any copper-containing preparation and dusted with wood ash. You should also remove dry leaves, loosen the soil, and add new mulch.

Pest Control

Strawberries Cardinal can affect:

• Strawberry-raspberry weevil. A grayish beetle with a long proboscis feeds on young strawberry leaves and lays eggs in flower buds. 4-5 days before flowering, treat the bushes with Inta-Vir, Iskra and other insecticides.
• Sawfly. An insect with 4 wings about 1 cm long. The sawfly larva eats leaves from the underside. Overwinters in the pupal stage in the upper layer of soil. Deep loosening and treatment with Decis or Karate 6 days before flowering and after harvest will protect against the pest.
• Gray rot. The disease affects strawberries during prolonged rains and low temperatures. Sparse planting, removal of affected berries and treatment with Horus after harvest will help.
• Verticillium wilt. Diseased bushes should be burned, the ground should be treated with 4% iron sulfate, and crop rotation should be observed.
• White spotting. After flowering, treat the bushes with 1% Bordeaux mixture.
• Brown spot. The application of a complex of mineral fertilizers allows you to completely avoid this scourge.

For preventive treatment against diseases and pests, Bordeaux mixture, infusion of dandelion, garlic, onion, and dusting with ash are used.

Preparing for winter

After the second harvest is harvested, the Cardinal strawberry bushes begin to prepare for winter.

In the process of such preparation, the following activities are carried out:

• regular watering every 6-8 days (if there is no rain). If autumn is rainy, the amount of watering is reduced or stopped altogether;
• plants are fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium;
• preventive spraying of strawberry bushes against possible diseases and pests;
• pruning dry fruit-bearing rosettes and foliage;
• Plants should be checked for diseases;
• Place a layer of mulch at least 15 cm thick on the beds. You can use pine needles, straw or compost as mulching material.

Strawberry Cardinal: reviews from those who planted

Natalya, 53 years old, Stavropol Territory: Cardinal strawberries have been growing in my garden for 4 seasons. I planted it for the first time in the spring, and already in the fall I collected a good harvest of ripe strawberries from the rosettes. From each bush, subject to the irrigation regime and constant fertilizing, I get at least a kilogram of ripe produce. The collected berries are dense and sweet, I even make compotes from them. If you monitor the humidity of the beds, then these strawberries do not suffer from anything.

Valentina, 49 years old, Volgograd region: Last year in the fall, a neighbor gave me Cardinal strawberry seedlings and warned me that the variety is remontant and produces two harvests per season. The bushes overwintered well, not a single one froze. The first harvest was collected in early June. Over the summer, mustaches with large rosettes grew, most of which ripened another crop at the beginning of September, and the berries were larger. But there were too many tendrils, so next year I will remove some of the emerging rosettes so as not to deplete the bushes too much.

With proper care and compliance with all rules of agricultural technology, the Cardinal strawberry variety is not susceptible to disease, bears fruit consistently and produces high yields.

Therefore, such strawberries can be grown in most Russian regions.

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Rules for planting strawberries

There are no strict deadlines for planting strawberries in open ground. But it is recommended to do this either in March or in August-September. This is necessary so that the culture takes root and has time to adapt before the arrival of frost.

It is recommended to plant strawberries in March or September.

• If August seedlings are planted, they should have a superbly developed root system. They must have at least 3 formed leaves.
• The first fruits of August seedlings appear in early spring.

Soil requirements

The following options are ideal for it:

• slightly acidic;
• sandy loam;
• loamy;
• containing humus;
• containing nutrients.

It is advisable to use nutritious soil.

If for planting it is planned to use moist soil with nearby groundwater, then the beds must be high.

Strawberries planted on sandy soil have low yields. The fruits are quite small. This is due to a constant lack of moisture. Because of this, the plant feels depressed.

For this reason, the bed in which strawberries will be grown must be cultivated 30–60 days before planting.

Planting methods

The two-row method is considered more effective.

A detailed description is given in the plate.

Important nuances

• Strawberry beds should be located from south to north. Usually 2 rows of crop bushes are planted on them. The distance is classic.
• Some gardeners use compacted planting of strawberry bushes. This method allows you to get rid of seedling material in the spring that did not live up to expectations.

The location of the strawberry beds should be from south to north.