Description of wild strawberry Kimberly, features of cultivation

Kimberly variety with its merits attracts both farmers and summer residents. The berries are dense, well transported, large, with an expressive taste and strawberry flavor. But such qualities are not manifested in all regions and not with any care. This Dutch variety has its own requirements for heat, soil moisture and soil fertility.

The origin of wild strawberries Kimberly

The full name of the variety is Wima Kimberly, in the State Register it is listed as strawberries, not strawberries. By its origin, Kimberly is a hybrid, since it is obtained by pollinating two different varieties: Gorella and Chandler. An undoubted advantage for many gardeners is the Dutch origin.

Video: Kimberly Strawberry Presentation

An application for variety testing and registration in Russia was submitted in 2008. And only after 5 years the variety was officially recognized and entered into the State Register as zoned for the Central and Central Black Earth regions. Today, Kimberly is an international brand. Strawberries spread throughout Europe, brought to the United States, and are well known in Russia and the CIS.

Variety Characteristics

Kimberly bush is powerful, but not dense, large leaves are held on strong and tall petioles. Thanks to this structure, the plant is well ventilated, sunlit and little susceptible to disease. However, in cold and damp summers, signs of brown and white spotting may appear on the leaves.

Kimberly bushes are sparse, but tall and powerful

The leaves are concave, with sharp large denticles, painted in light green, even dull, color. The mustache is thick, grows in a small amount. According to the State Register, the variety is medium early, although many sellers call it early. This causes confusion. Gardeners dispute Kimberly's early maturity, saying that its berries ripen later than the Elsinore remanufacturing variety and almost simultaneously with the usual (not early) strawberries: Honey, Syria, etc.

The timing of flowering and ripening depends on the growing region and the weather. Even in the same locality in different years, Kimberly can sing either in June or in July, that is, with a difference of a month. As gardeners say: Kimberly tastes good in good weather. This variety is very fond of the sun, with a lack of heat the bushes recover for a long time after winter, bloom late, the berries slowly stain, lack sugars.

Kimberly needs a lot of warm sunny days for active growth and abundant flowering

I always question everything that I read on the Internet, even on official sources. But this time, having studied the reviews on the forums and watching a video about Kimberly, I agree with the information from the State Register. Grow this variety only in the regions for which it is zoned. Meanwhile, it has already been brought to the Urals and Siberia. The bushes are characterized by high frost resistance, indeed, they tolerate even the Siberian winter. But then disappointments begin: in spring and summer, when there is a lack of heat, the bushes do not grow, there are few berries, in the section they are white, the top of the fruit does not stain, the taste is sour. And all because, Kimberly finds its bright taste only in full ripeness. Gardeners of the south are also disappointed, on the contrary, they have an excess of heat, so the seedlings do not take root well, again they grow slowly, and the berries are baked in the sun and become soft.

In Siberia and the Urals, Kimberly does not ripen every year, the tip of the berry and the flesh inside remain white

When grown in regions for which the variety is zoned, Kimberly berries grow large: average weight - 20 g, some specimens - 40-50 g. All are aligned, there are no trifles, they have a conical shape, without a neck, very much like a volumetric heart. The ripening period is extended. There aren’t many red berries on the bush at once. If collected on time, strawberries will be large, not crushed until the end of the collection. Their flesh is dense, achenes are depressed, the surface is orange-red, glossy. Tasting score - five points out of five. The fruits are characterized by a high sugar content - 10%, but not sugary, there is a pleasant sourness. Some flavor of Kimberly is called caramel.

Kimberly is a berry that needs to be fully ripened, only after that it acquires its caramel flavor and strawberry flavor

In the description from the State Register, good drought and heat resistance of the variety are mentioned. However, in this matter I’m ready to take the side of gardeners who say that Kimberly loves good watering. In the heat without water, the leaves droop, which is understandable: to maintain a vigorous bush, pouring large and juicy berries you need moisture, otherwise you will have to collect raisins, not strawberries. Also, the owners of this variety speak of his love for soil fertility, he responds to top dressing with enhanced bush growth and higher productivity.

Advantages and disadvantages of strawberries Kimberly (table)

Place for Kimberly on the site, especially landing

I know from my own experience how important it is to choose the right place for wild strawberries. Last spring, planted bushes in Asia and Elsinore. I chose for them the sunniest place, sheltered from the wind, that is, from the south side of the house. And in the spring I cursed myself for such a decision. Snow fell near the house very early, in the afternoon there were puddles, at night the strawberries were chained with ice. Some bushes died, from the rest only hearts remained alive. Other varieties were planted in the middle of the plot, the snow left them when the severe frosts had already stopped, they looked like there was no winter - they were green.

Video: choosing and preparing a place for wild strawberries

Plant Kimberly in a sunny spot, but not where snow begins to melt early. Lowlands are not suitable due to stagnation of melt and rain water in them, and it is also undesirable to plant on hillocks. In elevated areas, the topsoil quickly thaws and dries, and there is still not enough solar energy to warm up to the depth of the roots. As a result, for several days the leaves evaporate moisture, and the roots still can not get it. Strawberry bushes can simply dry.

Plant strawberries in a sunny and level area, a slight slope to the south is allowed

Planting dates depend on the quality of the seedlings and the weather in your area. So, strawberries bought with a closed root system, or a mustache with a lump of land taken from their own beds, can be planted throughout the warm season: from early spring to autumn, but no later than a month before frost on the soil. If you bought seedlings with an open root system, then in hot spring or summer days they will be very difficult to root. Failures await in cold rainy weather - the roots rot, not having time to take root in a new place.

Unfortunately, in most cases, strawberries are planted during the period when we find it for sale, and the weather at this time can be very diverse: from frost to heat. To increase the survival rate and stimulate the active growth of seedlings, follow the rules:

• Prepare the bed in advance, taking into account the planting scheme of 50x50 cm. For each square meter, bring in a bucket of humus and 0.5 l of wood ash. You can buy a special fertilizer for wild strawberries, for example, Gumi-Omi, and make it in each hole.
  

  The soil for strawberries should be loose and fertile

• If you bought seedlings in early spring, there are still strong return frosts, then build a greenhouse from arches above the garden. Covering materials will save not only from cold weather, but also from heavy rains, if you stretch the film over agrofibre. In the heat on the arcs you can fix the shading visor made of agrofibre.
  

  Put over the arc bed, using different covering materials, you can protect the seedlings from cold, rain, heat
• Before planting, lower the open root system into the water for several hours. It is better to use melt or rain, add a root stimulant to it: honey, aloe juice, Epin, Kornevin, Energen, etc. Seedlings in pots or containers on the eve of planting should be well poured with clean water.
  

  Keep seedlings with an open root system before planting in water

• To plant, make holes in the size of the roots, fill them with settled and heated in the sun water. Plant strawberries, leaving a growth bud (heart) on the surface. Transplant seedlings from pots by transshipment, that is, with a lump of earth, without disturbing the roots.
  

  Planting diagram of strawberries: the growth point should be above the ground, and all roots under it

• Mulch the earth, provide shading for the first 2-3 days.
  

  Under the mulch, the earth will not overheat and dry out

Immediately after planting, to make strawberries easier to survive stress, you can spray the aboveground part with "vitamins" for plants: Epin, Energen, Novosil, etc.

Spring strawberry care, watering and top dressing

In the spring, immediately after the snow melts, remove all shelters from the strawberry beds. The next spring work will be pruning stained and dried leaves. Simultaneously with this measure, open the ground and apply nitrogen fertilizer. It will help the bushes recover faster and not get sick with chlorosis. In total, at least three top dressings will be required for the season:

1. In the early spring, at the first loosening, add infusion of mullein (1:10), bird droppings (1:20), a solution of horse extract (50 g per 10 l of water), urea (30 g per 10 l), ammonium nitrate (30 g per 10 k) or any other fertilizer containing mostly nitrogen. Spend 0.5 liters of liquid fertilizer per bush.
2. In the period of the extension of the buds, wood ash is well suited - 1-2 tbsp. l under a bush or purchased complex mixture with microelements (Fertika, Blank sheet, etc.). Nitrogen in this top dressing should be less than potassium and phosphorus.
3. In the autumn, at the end of the growing season, make grooves along the rows of strawberries 15 cm deep and sprinkle on them evenly for each running meter 1 tbsp. l superphosphate and any potassium salt without chlorine. Water and level.

To increase productivity, foliar dressings are also made: by color with a solution of boric acid (1 g of crystals per 10 liters of water) and in August, when flower buds of the next year are laid - carbamide (15 g per 10 liters of water).

Video: the simplest feeding scheme for strawberries and strawberries

As for irrigation, the most hassle-free solution is to lay a drip irrigation system. If this is not possible, water, focusing on the condition of the soil. Under Kimberly, she should be constantly wet to a depth of 30 cm. In rainy summers, watering will not be needed, and in the heat you will have to water 2-3 liters every other day under the bush.

The drip irrigation system will save you from hard physical labor - watering each bush from a watering can or bucket

Pest and Disease Control

An important measure in the cultivation of wild strawberries is protection against pests and diseases. No need to wait for signs of infection. It is better to carry out preventive spraying than to lose in the crop, and with a strong infection, the bushes can die entirely. Strawberries have several pests: nematodes, ticks, aphids, weevils. All of them begin to eat actively during the period of growth of young leaves and extension of peduncles. To get rid of insects, use a broad-spectrum systemic insecticide, for example, Karbofos (60 g per 10 l of water) or Actara (2-3 g of powder per 10 l). These drugs will make strawberries poisonous for pests for 1-2 weeks. Then repeat the treatment.

The results of the most dangerous crop pest - strawberry mite, it settles at the point of growth, young leaves grow slowly, deform, dry out

In the same way, spray strawberries from all fungal diseases. Use systemic fungicides for this: HOM, Skor, Bordeaux mixture, Ridomil, etc. Perform the first treatment on young leaves, capturing the ground under the bushes. After 10-14 days, repeat. Change drugs every year so that fungi and insects do not develop immunity against them.

Shelter for the winter

If the place for strawberries is chosen correctly, in the growing region in the winter there is a lot of snow, then Kimberly does not need to be covered. In conditions of snowy and harsh winters, shelter from spruce branches, burlap, agrofibre, straw or other air-permeable material will save from freezing. From above, you can sketch the tree branches remaining after pruning. They will perform the function of snow retention.

Video: wild strawberries after winter

Purpose of the crop

Kimberly berry is dense, keeps its shape well. Harvest easily tolerates transportation, can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The main purpose of this variety is table, that is, fresh consumption. Excesses can be frozen, processed into jams, jams, compotes, homemade marmalade. Berries have a pleasant strawberry aroma, which intensifies when dried. Dry not the largest berries of the last harvest to use in winter for the preparation of fragrant vitamin tea.

Kimberly is a table variety made for fresh consumption

Gardeners reviews

Here’s my kind of Kimberly, the bush is medium, wide, when planting I do the distance between the bushes, 50-60 cm, the yield is average, the leaf is light green, I haven’t observed five-fingered leaves, mainly four, three-fingered, in the conditions of Chelyabinsk the maturation is average in the 20s June, taste 4+, strawberry aftertaste.

alenyshkaaa

//forum.prihoz.ru/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6986&start=30

Last season I really liked this variety. Productivity, taste, size of berries. It is struck by spotting of course, well, okay. I noticed such a feature that at the same time there are not many red berries on the bush. If in time to collect large ripe berries, the variety does not grow smaller until the very end of the harvest, and on the last peduncles the berries will be the same size as at the beginning of the harvest.

Question

//forum.prihoz.ru/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6986

In this grade I like everything. The taste is excellent - a peculiar and unique, refined aroma. The size of the berry is large to medium, there are practically no trifles. The appearance is wonderful. The berry is brilliant, as if bulk, glows. Productivity is high. The bushes are powerful, the leaves are light green, the peduncles are strong, but they bend under the weight of the berries. The ability to form is average. The early variety, when compared with Honeoye, begins to bear fruit a week later. Winter hardiness is high.

Mila

//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=4350

We also tried this variety last year. The seedlings were just super !!! The most memorable of all, an almost white root system, very powerful, just like a washcloth. I noticed such a feature light root corresponds to light foliage. The leaves are light green glossy. A very beautiful form of berries. In the form of hearts. But most importantly, I think the berry is heavy. Not dense, but heavy. The same volume, if you take Honeoye and Wima Kimberly, then Kimberley has an average weight of 25% more. This is very good quality when sold by weight (after all, many sell in volume - in buckets).

Elena VA

//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=4350

Wima Kimberly is a very tasty and beautiful strawberry, but provided that the weather conditions meet its requirements. The variety tolerates frosty and snowy winters, but in spring and summer it needs many warm days. Care itself is a classic, since top dressing, watering, and protection from diseases and pests are needed by all strawberry varieties and hybrids.