Strawberry variety Kent: features of cultivation and care

The Kent strawberry variety was produced by Canadian breeders in 1970. The variety became available to Russian gardeners only in the 90s. In our country, the berry is popular for its resistance to changeable weather conditions and cold weather. The Kent variety has taken root in the Ural and Siberian beds. Now this species has outlived its usefulness, giving way to remontant varieties in terms of berry size and yield.

Berries

Garden strawberries of the Kent variety produce large, fleshy berries that weigh up to 30 grams. The shape of the fruits is round or heart-shaped, juicy red. A distinctive feature is a tubercle near the neck. Inside the flesh is light red, juicy, dense. They have a pronounced sweet taste. Kent strawberries have a dense structure, so they tolerate transportation and long-term storage well. Entrepreneurs love this view for this reason. It sells itself thanks to its attractive appearance, sweet taste and strawberry smell. These first spring berries are a joy to buy. The fruits can be frozen; they retain their shape well after defrosting. They make excellent jam and preserves.

Due to the weight of the fruits, the flower stalks cannot hold them high. Therefore, the berries often lie on the ground and may begin to rot. Gardeners recommend making devices to support bushes. The strawberry variety Kent produces large fruits only during the first year.

Description of the variety

Strawberry Kent belongs to the early non-repairing varieties.

The fruiting of Kent garden strawberries coincides with one of the most popular early varieties - the Honey strawberry

Bushes

Powerful upright Kent strawberry bushes look voluminous. The leaves are large, located on high petioles. The tendrils do not thicken the plantings much, but by autumn there will be enough new rosettes to add seedlings to one more bed.

Kent produces a lot of flower stalks. In the first year there are 5-8 of them, subsequently this number doubles (10-15). The flowers are at the level of the leaves. There are a lot of fruits; under the weight of the harvest, the flower stalks bend to the ground. Experienced gardeners use bedding for berries made of agrofibre, straw, and put up supports.

Berries

Beautiful, bright red, shiny fruits do not wrinkle during assembly and tolerate storage and transportation well. The first berries of the season may look unsightly in shape, but the variety always tastes good. Tasters argue about the rating, which varies between 4.6 -5 points. Kent is valued for its juiciness, sweetness and incomparable aroma. But it is not valued because the berries become very small from harvest to harvest. Starting from the third harvest, I just don’t feel like picking berries.

Kent strawberry fruits are universally used - good fresh, in jam and compotes, and retain their taste, shape and color when frozen.

A distinctive feature of Kent garden strawberries is the presence of a tubercle in the area of ​​the fruit neck

Productivity

Strawberries Kent bear fruit once per season. The berries of this variety ripen early - in early June. The collection continues until the beginning of July. One bush produces about 500 g of fruit. With age, the first fruits become small, so it is necessary to take care of planting a new plantation in advance.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

It is impossible to please the taste and aesthetic preferences of every person. Against this background, disputes arise around varieties and their characteristics. Pros and cons can be identified for each type of strawberry. Garden strawberries of the Kent variety are no exception.

Despite the fact that there are more advanced varieties, Kent strawberries have a number of characteristics that attract gardeners:

• Delicious fruits;
• Attractive appearance of berries;
• The berries are resistant to transportation and storage;
• The plant is not afraid of frost and tolerates winter well;
• Takes root on any soil;
• The variety is resistant to most diseases and pests;
• Grows well in the shade;
• Not afraid of moisture, without damaging the berries;
• It grows well even in Siberian conditions.
• The clearance is average, so the area does not become clogged.

Along with this, Kent also has disadvantages, which are the main argument for rejecting this variety:

• The berries are large only in the first year of cultivation, then they become very small.
• Externally, the fruits are not always uniform; they are irregular in shape.
• Thin peduncles lie on the ground, not allowing the berries to ripen equally on all sides.
• The variety is not remontant; it bears fruit only for 1-2 months.
• The yield is small.

Kent strawberries, unfortunately, are outdated and much inferior to modern varieties. Therefore, it is rarely planted. But Kent is very hardy and does not require careful care. Whereas from more advanced varieties you will not get a decent harvest without constant care and good soil. This strawberry is for those who cannot devote much time to their garden and live in harsh climatic conditions.

a brief description of

Advantages of the variety

There are also more promising varieties, but due to the totality of their advantages, the Kent strawberry is still popular among gardeners:

• excellent taste of fruits;
• fruits are transportable, dense;
• good alignment;
• excellent frost resistance;
• undemanding to soil composition;
• good immunity to almost all diseases of berry crops.

Disadvantages of the variety

• the fruits become very small;
• the shape of the berries is not always perfect;
• flower stalks bend to the ground.

When grown for home consumption, the main disadvantages include small fruit.

Landing

Strawberries Kent are planted as seedlings in early spring or autumn. Experienced gardeners recommend planting in the spring, as soon as the snow melts and the ground warms up. This way the sprouts adapt better to new conditions. They are replanted together with a clod of earth so as not to damage the roots. After planting, young plants require careful care:

1. Constant watering;
2. Removing the tendrils so that the plant can take root better and gain strength;
3. Feeding the soil with nutrients;
4. Protection from diseases and pests.

When choosing a place to plant Kent strawberries, you should avoid areas where potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers previously grew. It is better to prepare the soil in advance: disinfect it with lime and wood ash. Leave it for the winter. And in the spring, dig it up again and add humus. You should not plant Kent in lowlands and places that are poorly ventilated. But too open areas are also undesirable.

Planting process:

1. 3 days before planting the sprouts, stop watering.
2. Prepare the holes: put a little ash on the bottom.
3. Right before planting, the pot with the sprout is watered generously so as not to damage the roots.
4. It is important not to damage the roots and place them vertically down.
5. The root collar remains above the ground and cannot be sprinkled.

Kent strawberries should be planted at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other, as the bushes will grow. Otherwise, the plants will not have enough space to grow, water and nutrients. Accordingly, the harvest will be poor.

Harvest and storage

Clery strawberries are distinguished by the rapid ripening of fruits, so the entire harvest can be harvested within two weeks. Ripe berries are removed in portions as they ripen and immediately placed in the containers in which the strawberries will be transported.

The basic rules for collecting and storing berries are listed below:

• the crop is harvested early in the morning after the dew has dried;
• It is recommended to pick fruits only in dry weather - rain causes the berries to quickly become soggy and poorly stored;
• berries need to be picked, stored and transported together with the green stalk - this way they retain their freshness and original shape longer;
• The fruits are stored in the refrigerator - here they remain fresh for up to 6 days.

Important! When in contact with water, strawberries become limp and quickly deteriorate, so it is recommended to wash the berries only immediately before consumption.

Even a novice gardener can grow Clery strawberries - the plants do not require special care, and the agricultural techniques listed in this article will not take much time. In return, you can get a generous harvest of tasty and healthy berries that can be used for a variety of purposes.

I have two beds of CLERY, one in the sun, the other in partial shade. In the sun it ripened 1.06 in partial shade it will just start, the taste is good as always, the berry is large, a market variety.

ilativ https://forum.vinograd.info/showpost.php?p=289596&postcount=6

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate strawberries:

• mustache; • divide the bush; • seeds.

For propagation, the mustache that strawberries sprout during the period after flowering is often used. It is best to use the first tendrils that appear in the summer to renew the beds. They are the strongest. The mother bush must be strong and bear the highest quality fruits. 2 tendrils are left on the bush, the rest are cut off. These tendrils are distributed between the rows.

When the first rosettes appear and roots sprout, they are sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. But they don’t cut it off from the mother bush. You can separate the rosettes a week before transplanting. They are landing at a new place. When 4-5 leaves appear. This should be done in the summer at the end of July so that the sprouts can take root and get stronger. This way they will survive the winter better, and next summer they will bear their first fruits.

Fruit

The berry itself is large in size - much larger than the average strawberry. The weight of the first ripening fruit is about 40 grams per berry. Subsequently, the berry becomes smaller and weighs about 20 grams, but this is also a good result.

The skin is dense, dark red, wine color. The shape can be either round-cone or heart-shaped. From time to time, the berries of the first ripening become covered with specific growths - they do not affect the taste of the fruit in any way, but in appearance they do not look nearly as appetizing.

The variety is very popular among entrepreneurs. The fact is that strawberries usually sit extremely poorly and spoil instantly. This variety is stored for a relatively long time and tolerates transportation well. This means that it can be used to sell and result in very little loss.

Growing and care

Strawberries of the Kent variety are unpretentious. It does not require special care and takes root in almost any soil.

However, in acidic soils the plant will suffer. You should also not plant strawberries of this type on swampy soil and soils with excess lime. In any case, nutrients and fertilizers should be added to the soil. As a preventative measure, you need to disinfect the soil before planting.

For Russian conditions, this garden strawberry is a godsend. She is not afraid of the cold, like most other strawberry varieties. It can be planted under film and harvested earlier. Regarding the growing location, shady and sunny areas are equally suitable.

The process of caring for a plant consists of:

• Timely watering;
• Loosening the soil under the bushes;
• Trimming unnecessary tendrils;
• Fertilizer;
• Weed removal;
• Protection from diseases and pests.

Common types of Kent cigarettes

NANOTEK 2.0 – cigarettes with Taste+ filter:

• Nano White Kent Nano white – tar – 1 mg, nicotine – 0.1 mg.
• Nano Silver Kent Nano silver – tar – 4 mg, nicotine – 0.4 mg.
• Nano Blue Kent Nano Blue – tar – 6 mg, nicotine – 0.5 mg.

HD – “KING SIZE” cigarettes with a characteristic taste and an improved filter:

• White INFINA 1 Kent White - cigarettes with a mild taste: tar - 1 mg, nicotine - 0.3 mg.
• Silver NEO 4 Kent Silver – tar – 4 mg, nicotine – 0.3 mg.
• SPECTRA 6 Kent Spectra – tar – 6 mg, nicotine – 0.5 mg.
• Blue FUTURA 8 Kent Blue – tar – 7 mg, nicotine – 0.8 mg.
• Crystal Kent Crystal – tar – 4 mg, nicotine – 0.4 mg.
• Kent D-Series 6 – tar – 6 mg, nicotine – 0.6 mg.
• HDs BLUE – tar – 5 mg, nicotine – 0.6 mg.
• HDi BLUE – tar – 6 mg, nicotine – 0.5 mg.
• HD NAVY BLUE – tar – 7 mg, nicotine – 0.8 mg.

Watering

The strawberry variety Kent can grow in humid conditions. The abundance of water does not affect the taste of the berries. They turn out just as sweet. They ripen on time, as expected. There is no process of root rotting. Despite this, you should not overwater the beds. Berries can rot from water.

You need to water the plant with a watering can or using spray nozzles. Frequency 3 days. The water should be warm. Tap water won't work. This variety should be watered only at the root in summer. You can irrigate from above only in spring. Watering should be accompanied by loosening the soil.

The plant is drought resistant. Can easily tolerate dry periods. This does not affect the condition of the berries. But you shouldn’t forget about watering for a long time.

History of the Kent variety

In the 70s of the last century, in the Canadian city of Kentville, Nova Scotia, scientific breeders from the Canadian Research Station crossed the Raritan variety with a combination of the Tioga and Redgauntlet varieties. As a result, a strawberry variety was obtained, which received a preliminary name under the number K74-10.

After testing for several years on experimental plots of a research station, the variety was approved for testing on farm plots and on several industrial plantations.

Having successfully passed all the tests, the Kent strawberry variety was officially registered and zoned throughout Eastern Canada.

Important! Kent strawberries came to Russia already in the 90s and enjoy considerable popularity among connoisseurs and connoisseurs of this berry, although some believe that there are more promising varieties.

But it is generally accepted that, based on the totality of its characteristics, this variety is more than worthy for cultivation on personal plots, especially in the harsh conditions of the Urals and Siberia.

Strawberry care

To protect the beds from weeds and protect Kent from diseases and pests, a special material – mulch – is spread over the soil. It protects the soil from drying out and frost. More often they use pine needles, straw, sawdust or special breathable fabric. Do not use polyethylene.

The mulching process is done when the strawberries fade and the first berries appear. After harvesting, the mulch is removed. Loosen the soil around the bushes to allow oxygen to flow in and excess moisture to evaporate. Wintering will be better if the soil around is dry.

During periods when strawberries do not bloom and there are no berries, the plants need to be fertilized. Fertilizers made from natural ingredients are suitable for this: manure, nettle, compost, etc. Ready-made fertilizers from the store are also suitable.

In spring you need to add nitrogenous substances. In summer and autumn, fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus are required.

Like all other perennial plants, strawberries need to be prepared for winter. The process of preparing for wintering consists of the following activities:

• Feed the plants with organic fertilizers.
• Trim damaged and wilting leaves.
• Do mulching - cover the bushes

In regions with cold winters, strawberries need to be well covered. Agrofabric, pine needles, straw and other film materials are suitable for this. In the southern areas there is no need to cover Kent. It tolerates frosts down to -20 degrees.

How to care

Let's get acquainted with the main nuances of caring for Kent strawberries.

Watering

Plants need regular, but not excessive, watering. The procedure is especially important in dry summers. After moisturizing procedures, it is recommended to loosen the soil while simultaneously removing weeds.
Do not over-water the bushes, as this can lead to the spread of a fungal infection, as well as the loss of frost-resistant qualities by the strawberries.

It is advisable to water the bushes at the roots, but in spring, sprinkling irrigation is also recommended, as they improve the growth of green mass. But how to water Marshall strawberries, and what features of feeding this berry can be, is indicated here.

It is important that the water for irrigation is well heated: the optimal temperature is +15-20 degrees. You cannot water Kent with cold water, as this can lead to loss of yield and even to plant disease.

Shelter

This variety can be grown under a thin film cover, which is what many gardeners in our country do. Shelter allows you to harvest the harvest much earlier than with open cultivation, and even makes it possible to collect berries twice during the season.

Trimming

Strawberry Kent forms a mustache, like all other types of this berry.
It must be said that in this case the formation of uterine shoots is not so intense, but in any case they require pruning. It is recommended to carry out pruning in the autumn, at the same time removing old foliage. Leave two of the healthiest and strongest tendrils on each bush, and cut off the rest with pruning shears. But how the Moscow delicacy variety of strawberries is pruned and carried out, and how to do all the work with your own hands, is indicated here.

Wintering

In order for plants to survive the winter safely, they need preparation. To do this, you should cut off the old foliage soon after harvest, leaving on each bush the two strongest uterine tendrils. After trimming the foliage, treat the bushes with preparations against pests and diseases, and also thoroughly loosen the soil between the rows.
If there are severe frosts in your area in winter, it is recommended to cover the strawberries with a mulch layer of humus, fallen leaves, straw or hay. Keep in mind that after the spring snow melts, the mulch layer must be removed immediately, since the bushes may rot under the sun and shelter.

Prevention

Although the variety is resistant to many typical “strawberry” diseases, it can, however, be affected by the Colorado potato beetle, as well as gray mold. To avoid these misfortunes, it is recommended to carry out preventive spraying of strawberries with appropriate fungicides.

The plant is prone to verticillium disease. If you notice signs of this disease on strawberry leaves, the affected specimens must be immediately dug up and burned to prevent further spread of the disease.

Mulching

This procedure is recommended to be carried out after watering.
Use organic materials such as straw, dried grass, sawdust, compost, humus or rotted pine needles to create a mulch layer. The layer of organic mulch for strawberries should not exceed 6-8 cm. You can also mulch with Kent and black film: in this case, the bed is guaranteed to be free of weeds, and the weeding procedure can be excluded from the list.

Top dressing

Strawberry Kent needs additional nutrition according to the standard scheme. So, in the spring, the bushes are fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers (for example, ammonium nitrate), and in the summer and autumn with potassium-phosphorus compounds (superphosphate, potassium sulfate).

Among organic fertilizers, Kent responds gratefully to liquid chicken manure, manure and humus.

Protection from diseases and pests

A valuable feature is that Kent garden strawberries are not susceptible to diseases inherent in other strawberry varieties. At least the leaves don't get sick. But the roots may suffer. Therefore, over-wetting the soil and temperature fluctuations should be avoided. Most often, Kent suffers from gray mold and verticillium. But preventing them will help avoid problems.

To prevent gray rot, it is necessary to carry out preventive spraying with Bordeaux mixture. But this should be done before the flowers appear or after harvesting.

The second disease affects strawberry roots. As a result, the leaves become covered with brown spots. The berries do not grow and dry out. Gardeners who have been growing Kent strawberries for many years advise, for prevention, to put a tablet of gliocladin into the hole before planting. If the plant is already diseased, the damaged leaves are cut off and the remaining parts are sprayed with a fungicide. The best option to eradicate the disease is to burn all diseased plants by the roots.

An excellent way to keep pests out are barriers made of repellent plants: garlic, marigolds and others.

Even though the Kent variety is outdated, it has many advantages. Still popular among experienced gardeners. They love him for his unpretentiousness and ease of care. Kent can grow and bear fruit in almost all regions of Russia. These delicious garden strawberries are one of the first to appear on shelves in the spring. But without proper care and conditions, not a single variety will produce the required harvest. Therefore, the better the growing conditions, the better the harvest will be.

Reviews from gardeners

Many gardeners who grew this variety of strawberries were satisfied with it and did not want anything better. Others were in constant search of the best from the good.

Konstantin, 47 years old, Ryazan

I have been growing Kent strawberries for three years now. This is an old proven early variety of strawberry. The first berries can be obtained already in early June. Since they ripen over a long period of time, I harvest the last ones almost at the end of June. Strawberries are very tasty and aromatic. The inside is dense, so it stores and transports well. Forms enough tendrils to propagate for next year. It works best in an annual crop, since the berries already decrease in size the next year. Yes, it has a kind of mark on its first berries, some people don’t like it, but I think that this is the trademark of this variety. This does not affect the taste in any way.

Victoria, 36 years old, Yoshkar-Ola

We grow strawberries for sale. Among others, we tried the Canadian variety Kent. The berry has an attractive appearance, tastes good, is medium in size and ripens quite early. A definite advantage is its ease of care, but the yield is quite average. As a result, it was decided to abandon Kent in favor of more productive varieties.

Stanislav, 50 years old, Arzamas

I accidentally came across this variety at a sale and decided to try it on my site. I have been growing strawberries for quite a long time and I heard about it, and according to its characteristics it seems to be a good variety. And, indeed, it amazed me already in the first year of planting. Our summer was rainy and quite cold. Many other varieties of strawberries were infected with gray rot and all sorts of spots, and I almost never saw any berries from them. But Kent’s berries are large, beautiful and taste sweet and aromatic. There was practically no pain - I didn’t even expect such a result. True, the next year the berries were smaller, but the taste and aroma, as always, did not disappoint. A good variety and, most importantly, one of the most unpretentious.