Contents
Strawberry Black Swan is a large-fruited variety of Dutch selection. Forms tall bushes with elongated leaves. Berries of a dark cherry color have a good presentation, therefore they are in demand among buyers.
History of breeding
Strawberries Black Swan (Black Swan) belong to the varieties of Dutch selection. The culture has good frost resistance, so it can be cultivated in all regions with a temperate climate.
Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Black Swan
Strawberry Black Swan leaves have a slight corrugation. Their surface is bright green, glossy. Leaf blades are medium in size. The shoots are tall, strong, able to withstand a large number of large ovaries. The height of the bushes does not exceed 50–60 cm.
Appearance and taste of berries
The name Black Swan suggests that the berries are very dark. Dark cherry color from a distance resembles black. Because of this, strawberries seem overripe.
The average weight of berries in the Black Swan variety is 30–50 g, the first ovaries can be much larger
Under favorable growing conditions, the mass of strawberries reaches 70–100 g. Compared with the closely related variety Black Prince, the Black Swan has slightly fewer berries.
The taste of berries resembles a strawberry-cherry cocktail. According to consumers received a well-deserved five points. The pulp is dark, rather dense, excessively juicy.
Berries have a round-conical shape. The surface is glossy, dark in ripe specimens. Strawberry and wild strawberry notes are mixed in the aroma. The smell is pleasant, persistent.
Flowering period, ripening period and yield
The black swan belongs to the varieties with late fruiting. The first flowers on the culture appear no earlier than May. Fruiting is extended, begins in mid-June and continues until the end of summer. In regions with a favorable climate, berries are harvested until September.
The yield is quite high. With proper planting and timely fertilization, about two kilograms can be collected from each specimen. Such an indicator for strawberries is considered good.
Frost resistance
Variety Black Swan is quite frost-resistant. The characteristics indicate that it is able to survive the winter with frosts down to minus 20 ° C. In regions with cold winters, it needs mulching and shelter. Can be grown in greenhouse conditions.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety Black Swan is resistant to the main diseases of strawberries: late blight, rot (gray, white), anthracnose, fusarium. The culture weakly resists black and root rot, powdery mildew. The black swan is moderately resistant to verticillium. Under adverse conditions and in the absence of preventive treatments, it can suffer from diseases and pests.
Of the insects, the Black Swan is dangerous for strawberries: strawberry mites, aphids, weevils, whiteflies, bronzes. The variety is highly resistant to the nematode.
Pros and cons of the variety
Before acquiring a crop for planting, you need to familiarize yourself with its advantages and disadvantages.
Due to the small appearance of whiskers, Black Swan strawberries are difficult to breed at home.
This variety has both positive and negative qualities (presented in the table).
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Dense berries with elastic pulp | Late fruiting period (for some gardeners this is a positive quality) |
| Pleasant taste | Prolonged drought tolerance |
| Unusual appearance | Small mustache formation (may become an obstacle when trying to breed a variety at home) |
| High yield | |
| Frost resistance | |
| Frost resistance down to -20°C | |
| Good transportability and keeping quality | |
| Increased resistance to major diseases and pests of the crop | |
| Unpretentiousness | |
| Versatility. Berries are used fresh, frozen. Strawberries are used to make jam, jam, jam, jelly, compote |
As a result of comparing the pros and cons, we can conclude that the Black Swan strawberry variety is very promising for growing in regions of Our Country with a temperate climate.
When grown commercially, the variety may not be very profitable, since only super-early berries have a high price. In the high season, the cost will be average.
Peculiarities of growing
For planting Black Swan strawberries, gardeners recommend choosing late autumn. If the climate is favorable for growing a variety, then some of the seedlings can be planted in the spring.
The soil for the culture should be loose, non-clay. When growing Black Swan strawberries, high air permeability of the soil is necessary.
Experts recommend chernozem, gray soil or light loam for planting. If the soil on the site is heavy, clayey, then during the preparatory measures, sand and peat are added to it. Additional fertilizers are added.
Another requirement is good illumination of the beds. The more sunlight, the higher the yield. The absence of ultraviolet radiation also affects the taste of berries. In the rainy period, they become watery, sour, ripen for a long time.
Strawberries Black Swan are recommended to be grown in areas protected from drafts and wind. If you do not provide shelter from air masses, then in winter some of the bushes may suffer. After all, the wind blows away not only the snow cover, but also mulching materials.
Site Preparation
Algorithm for conducting preparatory work:
- A few weeks before the planned planting date, it is necessary to start digging the soil.
- In the process of loosening, fertilizers are applied to the ground. You can use rotted manure, bird droppings, herbal infusions. During spring planting, nitrogen compounds are used.
- Be sure to control the acidity of the soil. For culture, a soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is required. To reduce acidity, dolomite flour is added to the ground. Manure, compost, peat are added to alkaline soil. You can increase acidity with the help of sulfates and nitrogen fertilizers. Often use ammonium sulphate or ordinary sulfur.
It depends on the correctness of planting work whether the bushes will be accepted and how quickly they will grow.
General Fitting Recommendations
They make a ridge 30 cm wide. The distance between adjacent rows should be at least 60–70 cm. A gap of 30–40 cm is maintained between the bushes. You can plant them in holes, they should be shallow. The earth is watered.
Each strawberry bush has its roots straightened before planting.
The seedlings are lowered into the hole. Fall asleep with soil, not covering the apical bud of the plant. It should be at ground level. When deepened, strawberries can rot, and with a strong elevation, they can freeze in the cold.
The earth around the plant is gently crushed with hands. Water the soil around the seedlings, preventing moisture from getting on the foliage.
Planting holes or furrows are mulched with improvised materials. For these purposes, peat, straw, shavings, mowed grass are used. Weed grass grows less under cover.
Mulch prevents the soil from drying out and reduces the amount of watering.
Watering
Young specimens of Black Swan strawberries need regular hydration. For 1 m² of area, 10 liters of settled warm water will be required. If the weather is warm, there is no scorching sun, then it is enough to moisten the plants once a week. In the heat, the number of waterings is increased up to 3-4 times. In autumn, the bushes are moistened once every four days.
Watered in the morning (before sunrise) or late in the evening.
Before the appearance of flowers and fruits, sprinkling is used
After the formation of ovaries on strawberries – only drip irrigation.
Excessive moisture of the tops and flowers can lead to the development of fungal diseases.
Feeding
Without the introduction of nutrients, it is difficult to grow Black Swan strawberries and get a decent harvest. Potassium and nitrogen are necessary for the formation of tops. They are brought in in the spring. Phosphorus affects fruit ripening, it is used in the summer.
Preparing for the winter period
The characteristics of the Black Swan strawberry indicate that the culture normally tolerates frosts down to minus 20 ° C. But due to the lack of snow cover or significant temperature fluctuations, the plant may suffer. Therefore, in late autumn, beds with strawberries must be mulched. The thickness of the layer depends on the climate in the region. The colder it is, the thicker it should be.
Treatment of diseases and pests
To protect strawberries from diseases, chemicals and folk remedies are used.
Effective in the fight against fusarium, rot and anthracnose: Fundazol and Bordeaux mixture. From late blight, Nitrafen, Oxyhom are used. From powdery mildew – a solution of iodine (1 mg per 1 bucket of liquid) or soda ash (50 g per 10 l).
If root rot is detected, strawberries are recommended to be dug up and burned. Treat the area with potassium permanganate, Bordeaux liquid. Strawberries planted in another bed.
Fufanon, Kemifos, Aktellik, Calypso, Karate are used from pests.
Conclusion
Strawberry Black Swan – a variety with unusual dark-colored berries. The culture is used for growing in regions with a temperate climate. The Black Swan variety is suitable for both private and commercial use. Berries differ in keeping quality and good transportability.
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