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The popularity of the Dukat variety has gained due to the early ripening of berries, high yields and excellent taste of fruits. Strawberries tend to quickly adapt to drastic climatic changes, bad weather conditions, and different soil composition. Strawberry Dukat grows in all garden plots, without requiring special care.
Characteristics of a variety
An overview of Dukat strawberries, a description of the variety, a photo, it is worth starting with finding out the origin of the culture. The birthplace of strawberries is Poland. Breeders managed to develop a frost-resistant variety that brings a large harvest and does not require special care.
Berries ripen early. In cold regions, the fruits ripen later, which justifies the Dukat strawberry as a mid-early variety. Usually harvesting falls on June-July.
The strawberry bush brings a large number of berries. Especially the yield increases with frequent watering. About 2 kg of strawberries are harvested from one bush. The Dukat strawberry is shaped like a cone with smooth walls and a blunt tip. The berries are very large. The weight of one fruit reaches 50 g.
Considering the description of Dukat strawberries, reviews, size, taste of berries, it is worth noting the juiciness of the pulp. The fruits are dense, covered with a glossy bright red skin. The flesh is pink-red with almost no visible white center. The peel is covered with an elastic film that protects the fruit from damage. The berries separate well from the stalk, which simplifies the harvesting process.
Dukat strawberry bushes grow sprawling, powerful, but low. There is a rapid growth of whiskers, which simplifies the process of reproduction. The leaves are large, bright green. The stem is thick. Flowers strawberry Dukat throws out bisexual. The location of the inflorescences is below the level of the leaves.
Strawberry variety Dukat tolerates any soil, but the culture grows better on light and medium light soil. Strawberry bushes tolerate winter well. The root system can withstand frost in the ground up to -8оC. However, it is not worth the risk with severe hypothermia. The winter shelter of the beds is guaranteed to protect the Dukat strawberry bushes from freezing.
Selecting a landing site
The strawberry variety adapts well to climatic conditions, which significantly expands the choice of planting site. Dukat will take root even in the northern Caucasus. A feature of the strawberry variety is an increase in yield due to a long stay in cool soil. The main thing is that the soil is moist.
When choosing a landing site for Dukat strawberries, it is better to pay attention to the composition of the soil. The variety is picky, but the hills are not held in high esteem. In the hills, the earth dries out quickly in hot summers, and the Dukat does not tolerate drought well. A small crop of berries will be obtained on a site with a predominance of sand or clay. The taste of the fruit will suffer if the culture grows on salt marshes, limestones or soil with high acidity. The Dukat strawberry variety grows poorly in a completely open area, blown by the winds.
Rules for autumn and spring planting
Continuing the review of Dukat strawberries, variety descriptions, photos, reviews, we will consider the rules for planting seedlings. You can do this in spring or autumn. The season does not play a special role.
Autumn
Strawberry seedlings of the Dukat variety begin to be planted from the end of August. It is advisable to finish planting by mid-September so that the plant has time to take root before the onset of frost. During the summer, the soil is depleted. It is necessary to start the autumn planting of Dukat strawberries with abundant fertilization of the site. 1 m2 contribute 1 kg of any organic matter. Suitable compost, rotted manure, humus.
The bed is dug up to a maximum depth of 30 cm. The root system of the Dukat strawberry spreads in the upper layers of the soil, and this will be enough for her. It is not recommended to turn the earth deeper, as infertile soil will rise up. A bed for the autumn planting of strawberries is prepared three weeks before the start of work.
Spring
Planting of strawberry seedlings of the Dukat variety in spring begins in the last days of April. It is advisable to finish the landing before mid-May, but it all depends on the climatic conditions of the region. The bed is fertilized with organic matter and dug up since autumn. In the spring, the site is weeded from weeds, the soil is loosened and slightly moistened before planting strawberry seedlings.
If in the spring the site is very wet, it often rains or the groundwater has not yet had time to go to the depth, then drainage grooves are dug along the perimeter of the beds.
The video shows the correct planting of strawberries:
The process of planting seedlings
Planting Dukat strawberries in the garden is usually carried out in rows. If there is free space, it is optimal to organize row spacing 70 cm wide. In the process of growth, Dukat strawberries will let out mustaches. On such aisles, it is easier to separate them, as well as to carry out weeding. If there are several beds, then a distance of about 20 cm is kept between them.
After breaking down the rows, a hole is dug for each strawberry seedling. Backfilling is done with loose soil to the level of the apical bud. It is important to ensure that there are no bare roots left.
Its development depends on the correct depth of immersion of a strawberry seedling. If the plant is planted too small, then the root system will quickly dry out under the scorching rays of the sun. Strong deepening threatens the death of the seedling, especially in a damp area. The root system of the Dukat strawberry will begin to intensively absorb moisture and rot.
After planting all strawberry seedlings and watering, the soil in the garden is covered with mulch from peat, sawdust or needles.
Culture care rules
Ducat is considered an unpretentious variety and will not cause a lot of worries to the gardener. The least hassle with watering strawberries in the fall. The beds are moistened once a week. In summer, Dukat strawberries are watered every three days. The intensity of watering depends on weather conditions. The plant responds well to sprinkling, but not during flowering. Watering is best done with warm water from a storage tank.
Top dressing is important for strawberries of the Dukat variety in the initial growing season. From organics, solutions of bird droppings or manure are well suited. If strawberries grow on poor soil, then organic matter alone is not enough. The soil is enriched with mineral complexes:
- Ammonium nitrate helps to give a quick start to growth. At 10 m2 beds scatter 135 g of granules. Nitrogen-containing fertilizer stimulates the active growth of foliage. At the beginning of summer, top dressing with saltpeter can no longer be done. All useful substances will go to the development of the mass. The bushes will fatten, and the berries will grow small or stop tying.
- With the beginning of fruiting, Dukat strawberries are fed with complex fertilizers. The plant needs nutrients during this period. Ignoring top dressing will lead to a decrease in yield. Additionally, mineral complexes enhance the immunity of strawberries, which protects against diseases.
Of the minerals, the culture perceives phosphorus-potassium fertilizers well. They are brought in in August after harvest.
In order not to get confused in the appointment of dressings, they learn one rule: a young plant is fertilized for the growth of green mass, and an adult – for the formation of berries.
Diseases and pests
Dukat has good immunity. If the cultivation technology is observed, strawberry diseases are practically not observed, but if visible lesions of the crop are detected, urgent measures must be taken.
The manifestation of black rot is observed on the berries. The fruits lose their sugar content. The pulp tastes sour, watery. The ripening of the berry is accompanied by its darkening with further decay.
There is only one way to fight. The affected bushes are removed, and the area is disinfected with copper oxychloride.
Powdery mildew appears on the leaves with a white coating. Spots may appear on leaf blades, as well as berries. Strawberries can be saved from an illness with a solution consisting of 10 liters of water and 50 g of soda. A solution of potassium permanganate or colloidal sulfur cures the disease well.
The nematode can be seen from the deformed foliage. Over time, the leaf plate darkens and becomes stained. As a healing agent, warm water heated to a temperature of 45оC. Strawberries are given a warm shower from a watering can. If necessary, do two procedures.
Reviews
About Dukat strawberries, the reviews of most gardeners are reduced in a positive way.