Residents of northern regions and areas with a sharply continental climate do not always manage to grow their favorite varieties of strawberries, because... many of them are still sissies. But there is a way out: Polish breeders have developed the universal variety Dukat, which is highly unpretentious and bears fruit well in the middle zone.
History of the variety's creation
This strawberry variety was bred by Polish breeders from the Institute of Horticulture and Floriculture (Skierniewice, Poland) in the fourth quarter of the last century. The varieties Coral 100 and Gorella were taken as the basis for breeding.
Photo of strawberry Dukat
Despite the fact that this strawberry is successfully grown in many Russian regions, the Dukat variety has not yet been included in the State Register of the country. But it was still included in the register of berry crops approved for cultivation in Belarus.
Methods of propagation of culture
There are two ways to grow a crop: with the help of a mustache (a common option) and with seeds.
But the seed method is labor-intensive and is used by breeders to obtain new varieties.
To propagate strawberries with a mustache you need:
- select healthy mother plants 2-3 years old;
- the first 2-3 tendrils from the mother bush are used;
- the soil between the rows should be weed-free and loosened;
- lay layering between the rows, sprinkle with soil, remove the rest;
- In the fall, the cuttings will give roots; separate them from the mother bush and plant them in a permanent bed.
Main characteristics and description of the strawberry variety Dukat
The Dukat variety is a mid-season variety, fruiting is not remontant, solitary, and amicable. It is a plant of short daylight hours.
The bushes are medium in height, have good foliage, and are quite compact. The foliage is large, slightly wrinkled, dull, with slight pubescence, its color is dark emerald. The leaves are slightly convex. The bushes produce a large number of thick green tendrils. Peduncles are smaller than the foliage; each bush can have at least 9-11 of them. The inflorescences are quite spreading, each of them can bloom up to 10 untwisted flowers of the female and male type. The size of the blooming buds is medium, the color of the petals is white. The stamens are quite large with a large amount of pollen, so the fertilization rate of flowers is high.
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The ripening fruits of the Dukat strawberry have a blunt-conical or spherical shape without a neck. The color is dark red, the flesh is dense, very juicy and sweet, the cut is dark red in color. The first berries can weigh up to 30-35 g, subsequent ones - up to 15 g. There are few seeds, they are slightly pressed into the pulp, and have a golden-yellow color.
Photo of ripe Dukat strawberries
Good to know!
Dukat strawberry fruits contain up to 10.5% sugars, 1.5% acids, ascorbic acid - up to 33-36 mg%. According to the tasting assessment of specialists, it has 4.9 points out of 5.
The collected fruits are of the dessert type; they can be used for fresh consumption, canning and freezing for the winter. The harvest tolerates transportation well at different distances; in cool conditions it can be stored for 4-6 days without losing its taste and presentation.
The distinctive positive qualities of Dukat strawberries include high resistance to frost and drought, and is practically not subject to verticillium wilt and gray fruit rot. But the resistance of this variety to powdery mildew is relatively low.
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How to care for it to be large in size and sweet in taste
Watering
Since most of the root system of berry bushes is concentrated in the upper layers of the earth, the plants need timely moisture. In spring, moisturize once a week, and in summer, when the weather is dry outside, watering is carried out every 3 days. You may also be interested in information about the Vima Zanta variety.
During hot summers, it is worth using an additional watering method such as sprinkling. A hose is used for this. The water should only be warm. 1 liter is enough for one bush. But how to properly water the Polka variety, and what you should pay attention to when growing, is indicated here.
Feeding
Throughout the growing season, Dukat garden strawberries need feeding. In spring, it is necessary to apply 135 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 m2. Fruitful bushes are fed with complete mineral fertilizer.
Complex fertilizing, which contains microelements, has a positive effect on productivity. If they are deficient, growth and productivity are impaired. In addition, with the help of complex fertilizers it is possible to create decent protection against diseases. Humus can also be used as fertilizing. For 10 m2 there are 25 kg of product. Do not forget to apply phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers.
Strawberry feeding scheme.
The presented fertilizers must be applied during deep loosening of the soil or in early spring. Nitrogen compounds are recommended for use in the spring, before the first loosening of the soil. But if there is an excess of fertilizers, the growth and development of the plant will slow down or even stop. It will also be useful to learn about fertilizing the Florence variety and what chemical compositions should be used.
Pest and disease control
Strawberries of the Dukat variety can be affected by the following pests and diseases:
- Black rot. This disease can be recognized by the presence of wateriness in the berries, and over time they begin to rot and darken. There is no special treatment, but you can get rid of the pathology only if the affected bushes are completely eliminated.
- Powdery mildew. The peculiarity of the disease is that a white coating appears on the leaves. Moreover, over time, the white spots will only increase. To treat bushes, it is necessary to treat them with a solution of soda ash. To obtain it you need to take 50 g of the product and 10 liters of water.
- Nematode. This pest is dangerous because the leaves become dark, curved and covered with red spots. To disinfect the bushes, they must be subjected to heat treatment using warm water, the temperature of which does not exceed 45 degrees.
But what diseases the Eliane variety can have are described in great detail in this article.
Diseases and pests
Dukat strawberries are highly resistant to the following diseases:
- verticillium wilt;
- gray fruit rot.
However, this variety is characterized by low resistance to powdery mildew.
Therefore, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment of plants before flowering and during fruit set against this disease with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.
Photo of powdery mildew on strawberries
Agricultural technology for growing strawberries Dukat
This berry crop does not require special attention; it can grow even on poor soils, but with fertilizing and good care of Dukat strawberries, the yield of the variety increases significantly, and the taste of the fruit also improves.
Care and feeding of strawberries - video
Particular attention should be paid to the amount of watering, although Dukat strawberries are drought-resistant, but if there is a lack of moisture in the soil, the berries become dry. Excess water can lead to powdery mildew on the plant, so it is best to find a “golden mean” when the top layer of soil is constantly moist, but without stagnation of liquid.
Landing rules
In order for the bushes to grow healthy and bring the desired result, it is recommended to follow the rules of agricultural technology: choose a place for planting, comply with care requirements.
Deadlines
The timing of planting strawberries is of great importance. The development of strawberry bushes and fruiting depend on it. Important! The optimal temperature for good adaptation ranges from +15 to +25 degrees.
Autumn
In southern latitudes, the crop is planted in the fall. Recommended in September, from the beginning until the 20th. Two weeks before planting the bushes, the beds are prepared.
Spring
The basic rule for planting seedlings is when there is no chance of frost. Depending on the region, planting time ranges from the second half of April to mid-May. The beds for planting are prepared in advance, preferably in the fall.
Selecting a site and preparing beds for strawberries
The development of the plant and its yield, as well as the taste of the fruit, depend on the chosen planting location. The site must be on level ground. Slopes and low-lying areas negatively affect the condition of the plant. On the slope, the bushes will be left without protection in frosty times, because the snow melts here most quickly, and the strawberries will be left without natural cover. Cool air and moisture accumulate in low places. The berries will become smaller and rot will appear.
Wind exposure is also an important factor. Its level should be moderate. Intense drafts increase the likelihood of bushes becoming infected with fungal spores, freezing in the winter months and planting death.
It is important to follow the principles of crop rotation. It is recommended to plant strawberries after onions, carrots, legumes or parsley. You should not plant bushes next to raspberries, rosehips or hawthorns. Ideal neighbors are peas, corn, and beans.
Lighting promotes intensive plant development. The fruits will be large and sweet.
The beds must be prepared 5-6 months before planting. Remove remaining plant debris and weeds. Dig the ground to a depth of 25-30 centimeters, add 75 grams of superphosphate, 5 kilograms of humus, 320 grams of wood ash per 1 m2. Level the area with a rake.
Preparation of seedlings
Before planting in the holes, the roots of the seedlings must be dipped in a biostimulator solution (Kornevin 1 gram per liter of liquid) and left for 4-5 hours. Such strawberry bushes will become more resistant to frost and disease.
Stages of the planting process
Planting bushes involves the following steps:
- make holes 0.4 meters deep and 0.3 meters wide; deep holes will not allow the plant to fully develop;
- water the hole (in spring, if the ground is wet, watering is not required);
- put the bushes in holes so that the rhizomes are straightened;
- sprinkle with soil, the root collar should be flush with the soil;
- Lightly compact the soil;
- pour: a liter of liquid per hole;
- cover the ground with straw or dry grass.
When planting, the recommended distance is: between rows - 0.4 meters, between bushes - 0.5 meters.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety in comparison with others
Experts include the main advantages of the Dukat strawberry variety:
- good yield;
- friendly ripening of berries;
- excellent presentation and taste of ripe fruits;
- high resistance to cold and major diseases;
- the versatility of ripe berries.
The variety has practically no disadvantages. But it should be noted that this strawberry is weakly resistant to powdery mildew, against which the plants have to be treated several times a season.
Strawberry Dukat: reviews from those who planted the variety
On the Dukat strawberry forum, those gardeners who grew this variety leave their reviews, some of which are given below.
Nikolay, 53 years old, Cherkasy region:
“In our region, Dukat can be found in almost every garden, since this strawberry is highly resistant to frost, bears fruit well, the fruits have a beautiful appearance and good taste. It can also be grown for sale. The Dukat strawberry reproduces well by its tendrils, the peduncles grow to the level of the foliage and do not lie down under the weight of the ripening fruits.”
Lydia, 45 years old, Alushta:
“The berries of this variety have a very rich, beautiful burgundy color, and the fruits themselves are smooth, with dense pulp, and tolerate transportation well. The first collected berries of the Dukat variety are larger than those collected at the end of fruiting. The plants themselves practically do not get sick, but you need to choose the right watering regime so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil, otherwise the fruits can become sour, and if there is a lack of moisture, they become dry.”
Nikolay, 39 years old, Korkino:
“We planted Dukat strawberries last year to get early harvests of these berries. The yield in the first year was not very high. In winter, the plantation was not covered, as a result, some of the bushes froze. But the remaining plants fruited well this season and produced a lot of runners, so we replanted them and the Dukat strawberry plantation increased significantly. We hope that next year the yield of the Dukat variety will be at the level stated in the description.”
The Dukat strawberry variety is distinguished by good yield, resistance to cold and some diseases, the collected berries are distinguished by good taste and beautiful presentation. Therefore, this berry crop can be grown in most Russian regions.
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