Strawberry Kent

The universal variety Kent has become widespread due to its unpretentiousness to weather conditions. Bushes delight with a rich harvest even in rainy and cloudy weather. The fragrant fruits are eaten in their natural form or used to prepare delicious and sweet treats.

A distinctive characteristic of Kent strawberries are powerful, voluminous erect bushes. The lush green mass consists of large leaves. Coloring - dark green. In the process of growth, the bushes form a small number of whiskers, which do not greatly thicken the planting, however, by the fall, the rosettes will be quite enough to increase the plantation.

This variety has an early ripening period. The ability to bear fruit several times during the growing season (remontability) is absent. The fruiting period is early summer.

Experienced gardeners note the high yield of the Kent garden strawberry. From one bush, per season, they collect from 700 to 800 grams of berries from the bush. The fruits tolerate long-term transportation without any problems. The marketability of the crop is high. The fruits become smaller with the age of the bushes, so you should consider in advance the renewal of the strawberry plantation.

Ripe berries turn dark red. The surface is glossy, shiny. Sizes can be both large and medium. It depends on climatic conditions and compliance with agricultural practices. The shape is round, conical. Weight is about 30-40 grams. The pulp is firm, but juicy. Color - light red. The first crop may have an unsightly appearance, while the taste will not suffer.

Tasters argue over the gastronomic qualities of the berries. Some experts gave this grade 4.6 points out of 5 possible, others are sure of the highest possible score. The taste is described as sweet and harmonious. The rich and appetizing aroma is highly appreciated.

Note: The fruits retain their shape when harvested and frozen.

The frost-resistant variety is planted in spring or autumn. On one site, the bushes bear fruit for 3-4 years, after which the plantation needs to be renewed. Kent strawberries can be grown in greenhouses. Recommended regions for this variety are Siberia, middle and central Russia. Garden strawberries are undemanding to the composition of the soil, but the maximum result can be achieved on forest soil or black soil. Plantation maintenance is easy.

If you plan to grow strawberries in depleted, clayey or wetland areas, the plant will bear fruit but will not reach its full potential. When planting in spring, work begins after the snow has completely melted and the soil has warmed up. In the southern regions of the country, planting is often carried out in the fall.

The Kent garden strawberry needs moderate but regular irrigation. Excessive moisture can cause fungal infections. In summer, plants are watered at the root, sprinkling is chosen in spring. In dry weather, irrigation is carried out every 2-3 days. The water temperature must be at room temperature. Warmed rainwater, standing for at least 24 hours, is great.

After irrigation of the plantation, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. To maintain an optimal moisture level, mulching is carried out.The ground is covered with peat, sawdust, straw or rotted coniferous needles. The layer thickness is 5-6 centimeters.

A flat and lighted area is great for growing strawberries. In the presence of groundwater, they should be at a depth of at least 70 centimeters.

The land is prepared in advance, about 10-12 days before disembarkation. It is cleaned of roots, plant debris and debris. The soil can be fed with compost or rotted manure, to which 100 grams of nitroammofoska is added (1-2 buckets per square meter of area).

The work is recommended to be carried out on a cloudy day or in the evening. The gap between the bushes is 40 centimeters. The root collar is left at ground level without deepening.

The Kent variety is capable of pollinating on its own. The bush forms many peduncles. In the first year, their number reaches 5-8 and then doubles. The buds are flush with the foliage.

Note: the fruits, under the weight of the berries, sink to the ground, which is why gardeners use special bedding or substrates to preserve the harvest.

Kent strawberries are fertilized using a standard scheme.

• The first time feeding is applied in the spring, using nitrogen compounds. The drug can be prepared independently: urea, bird droppings (1x20), mullein solution (1x10).
• With the onset of summer, they make a choice in favor of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (potassium sulfate, superphosphate).
• An excellent result is shown by the infusion of nettle. It is effective and safe for berries.

When planting, you can put a Glyocladin tablet on the bottom of the hole. It will help to cope with wilting.

Garden strawberry Kent has high frost resistance, but, despite this characteristic, it is advisable to prepare the plants for wintering. Old and dry foliage must be removed, and the bushes are treated with a protective solution against diseases and pests. The top layer of soil is dug up to get rid of the larvae of harmful insects.

Plantations are covered with non-woven material, foliage, straw or humus. Spruce branches are also used. After the snow melts, the mulch layer is removed so that the bushes warm up under the rays of the spring sun.

This strawberry variety boasts a high resistance to many infections and common diseases. Unfavorable weather conditions can cause gray mold damage to bushes. Preventive treatment is performed at the end of autumn or at the beginning of spring. Gardeners use Bordeaux liquid 1%.

The bushes are not afraid of powdery mildew and strawberry mites. If the plants are infected with verticillium, they must be dug up and burned. This is the only way to prevent further spread of the infection.

Kent garden strawberries can be propagated in the following ways.

• The simplest and most common option is to enlarge the plantation with a mustache. For this purpose, only well-developed mother bushes are chosen. Mustache rosettes should be large and developed. Experienced gardeners recommend first rooting plants in disposable containers dug into the ground. As soon as 5 to 6 full-fledged leaves appear on young bushes, they can be transplanted to open ground. New plants will start to actively bear fruit next year.
• The second way is to divide the bush. This method is less effective, but simple and easy. Only plants with a young root system are suitable for division. If the roots are stiff, there is no point in dividing them.
• The third option is seed reproduction. This method is used extremely rarely and only when there is no way to find young seedlings. To begin with, seeds are germinated in boxes, in a greenhouse or on a windowsill.