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The list of strawberry varieties for growing in summer cottages is so extensive that it is difficult for a novice gardener to choose “the best.” Garden strawberries ripen at different times. This is convenient for berry lovers:
- Early strawberries are the first to please with delicious fruits after the winter break.
- Middle and late help to create a berry mix with other crops.
- Remontantnaya pampers the whole season with delicious delicacies.
Garden strawberries "Kimberly" are early ripening varieties, therefore they are loved by many gardeners. The first berries can be picked earlier than other strawberry varieties.
The strawberry variety "Kimberley" was developed in the Netherlands. Two remarkable species were selected for crossing - Chandler and Gorella. Both are familiar to Russian gardeners and are successfully grown in plots. They are hardy and unpretentious, with large berries of excellent taste. Strawberries "Kimberly" surpassed their "parents" in many respects. The "Kimberly" variety is a garden strawberry, and it is called strawberry out of habit, out of ignorance, or for convenience. Strawberries "Kimberly", description of the variety, photos, reviews from gardeners - you will find all this in our article. The second known name of this variety is “Vima Kimberly”.
Description of a popular variety
Strawberry varieties are valued based on their main indicators - productivity, demanding growing conditions and resistance to adverse factors. The latter include climatic and soil characteristics, the impact of pathogens and pests. Which of these requirements of gardeners is fully satisfied by the Kimberly strawberry, the description of the variety of which will be discussed in this article?
First, it is necessary to note the excellent aroma and taste of the Kimberley variety berries. According to the expert scale for assessing these indicators, it is at a high level. The fruits are beautiful, slightly shiny, cone-shaped, well suited for any type of use. If part of the harvest is not eaten fresh, the variety can withstand harvesting and freezing well.
Large fruit and high yield are the main advantages of the Kimberly strawberry variety. If we add to this good transportability, then the advantages of the berry are almost described. It remains to list:
- early fruiting;
- the structure of the bush, preventing the berries from touching the ground;
- dense pulp (no voids);
- high-quality presentation;
- resistance to cold and fungal infections.
To make the description of the Kimberly variety strawberries complete, let’s add the disadvantages noted by lovers of the aromatic berry:
- subject to frequent attacks by pests;
- short fruiting period (from 2 to 3 weeks, no more);
- one-time fruiting;
- does not tolerate drought well.
Despite the presence of shortcomings, good competent care for planting strawberries of the “Kimberly” variety will bring up to 2 kg of delicious berries from one bush.
What nuances need to be taken into account in order to grow a decent harvest? Of course, this is proper planting and care.By paying attention to these points, you will be able to enjoy the results in the first year of growing the variety.
How to plant strawberries on the plot
You can plant Kimberly strawberries using the usual technology for strawberry bushes. This early variety is resistant to frost, so it is classified as hardy. However, if the bushes have to grow in unfavorable weather conditions, this will affect the size of the berries and the overall yield. But this characteristic is very important for gardeners who prefer to grow the “Kimberly” variety on their site.
Therefore, let's start with the selection of seedlings. The endurance of a plant directly depends on the quality of the seedlings. The rules by which bushes are chosen are better followed than ignored.
Do not buy seedlings from strangers or in random places. To be sure of the quality of the purchased seedlings, purchase them from a nursery, specialty store, or from a farmer who sells ripe berries.
How to choose good bushes?
Study their appearance. The leaves should be rich green, uniform in color, without spots, dry spots or damage. This will confirm that the seedling is not infected with a fungal infection, and you will not infect the rest of the strawberry plantings. Especially avoid buying Kimberley strawberry seedlings that have pale leaves and dark spots on the leaf blades.
These factors indicate the presence of a seedling disease.
Choose seedlings in containers and labeled with the name of the variety if you have to carry your purchase far away. Without containers, take seedlings with a good root system:
- root length at least 7 cm:
- there are no damage or dry roots;
- the entire root is moisturized and not overdried.
When planting is delayed, store Kimberly strawberry seedlings in water to protect the plant from death and to give it a chance to absorb moisture.
Prepare the area for the ridges in advance. Choose a sunny place, because Kimberly garden strawberries are very demanding on the amount of light. But it is very important that the ridges are protected from the wind. The Vima Kimberly variety should not be planted in a place where nightshade crops grew.
The requirements that Kimberley garden strawberries make for the soil can be called classic - good air permeability, fertility and a small presence of sand and peat. An analysis of its composition will tell you what measures need to be taken on your soil.
You can increase fertility and improve the soil structure for planting Kimberley strawberries using standard methods.
Before planting seedlings, remove plant debris and weeds from the selected area. Pre-disinfect the soil with disinfectants. You can buy them in garden stores, and it is very easy to prepare the composition for treatment according to the description on the package.
Proper planting of Kimberly garden strawberries includes several points:
- The distance between the bushes is kept large, at least 30 cm. This is done so that, with the help of mustaches, the strawberries densely fill the bed without thinning.
- The hole is made deep. After planting, the bush should be below ground level. What does it give? Firstly, moisture is retained well after watering, and secondly, strawberries, the variety of which reproduces with mustaches, will rise upward over time.
- Before planting the seedling, add half a glass of ash and humus (compost) to each hole. The roots are covered with earth, carefully ensuring that there are no layers of air. The growth point is located at ground level. If you bury it, the plant will rot. If it is high, Kimberley strawberries will not survive the cold season.
- Immediately water the bushes abundantly.
The first week after planting, seedlings of the “Kimberly” garden strawberry variety are watered daily.
Caring for fruitful berries
It is important for every summer resident to adhere to the basic requirements of agricultural technology when growing garden strawberries. The Kimberly variety requires more attention during the rooting period. If this is not done, then some of the seedlings may be lost.
Young bushes require daily watering for 10 days.
After the water is absorbed, the soil is loosened. This is done very carefully so as not to damage the roots.
As soon as the seedlings mature, watering is reduced, but weeding and loosening should not be forgotten.
This will protect the plantings from the spread of diseases and increase the yield of the variety.
Feeding garden strawberries "Kimberly" is carried out four times during the season:
- in early spring after the snow melts;
- before the bushes begin to flower;
- after flowering;
- after harvest in late summer.
The bushes of garden strawberries "Kimberly" are nourished with organic matter and mineral compounds.
If you use infusions of mullein and bird droppings, then do not forget to maintain the ratio of water and fertilizer.Organic compounds are very strong, so overdose is extremely undesirable. Of the mineral components, Kimberley strawberries need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. It is good to use ready-made fertilizers for strawberries from different manufacturers.
Mulching makes it easier for gardeners to grow good crops. Strawberries of the "Kimberly" variety cannot withstand dry soil and do not like weed neighbors. Therefore, mulching strawberry beds is very useful for the Kimberley variety. Dry grass or leaves, straw, and coniferous tree needles are suitable. Many summer residents use covering materials. The optimal time for covering the soil is when the Vima Kimberly garden strawberry is actively flowering.
Bushes are pruned annually in the fall.
But after picking the berries, experienced gardeners also prune the “Kimberly” variety. In this case, new shoots are actively growing.
Shelter for the winter. For it, spruce branches and non-woven materials are used (avoid black fabric).
Growing the Kimberly variety of garden strawberries is considered a rewarding endeavor among summer residents.
Tasty, large berries cover all the time and physical costs of care.
Reviews
Among gardeners there are only positive reviews about the Kimberly variety:
I really fell in love with this variety, planted a whole plantation, but in the fall there was an invasion of hares and all the strawberries were cut down to the roots, it’s a shame now I’m growing them again from scratch?
I really like Kimberly's strawberries. This summer (2017) there was a lot of water, it hurt much less than other varieties. There are not very many berries, because... I have only 10 bushes, but I decided to grow only this. Less is more. The berries are the same shape, large, dense, essentially gift-giving. I recommend.