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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 make a berry mix with other crops.
- The remontant pampers the whole season with delicious delicacies.
Garden strawberries “Kimberley” refers to varieties of early ripening, therefore, loved by many gardeners. The first berries can be harvested earlier than other strawberry varieties.
The strawberry variety “Kimberley” was bred in the Netherlands. Two wonderful species were selected for crossing – “Chandler” (Chandler) and Gorella. Both are familiar to gardeners and are successfully grown on plots. They are hardy and unpretentious, with large berries of excellent taste. Strawberry “Kimberly” has surpassed its “parents” in many respects. The variety “Kimberley” is a garden strawberry, and it is called a strawberry out of habit, out of ignorance, or for convenience. Strawberry “Kimberley”, a description of the variety, photos, reviews of gardeners – you will find all this in our article. The second known name of this variety is “Wima Kimberly”.
Description of the popular variety
Strawberry varieties are valued according to the main indicators – productivity, exactingness in growing conditions and resistance to adverse factors. The latter include climatic and soil features, the impact of pathogens, pests. Which of these requirements of gardeners is fully satisfied by the Kimberley 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 Kimberley berries. According to the expert scale for evaluating these indicators, it is at a high level. The fruits are beautiful, with a slight sheen, cone-shaped, well suited for any kind of use. If part of the crop is not eaten fresh, then the variety perfectly withstands harvesting and freezing.
Large-fruited and high yield are the main advantages of the Kimberley 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 (voids are absent);
- quality trade dress;
- resistance to cold and fungal infections.
To make the description of the Kimberley strawberry variety complete, we add the disadvantages noted by lovers of fragrant berries:
- subject to frequent attack 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 Kimberley variety will bring up to 2 kg of delicious berries from one bush.
What nuances must be taken into account in order to grow a decent crop? Of course, this is the correct fit and care. By paying attention to these points, you can enjoy the results in the first year of growing a variety.
How to plant strawberries on the site
You can plant Kimberley 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 adverse 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 Kimberley variety on their site.
Therefore, let’s start with the selection of seedlings. The endurance of the plant directly depends on the quality of the seedlings. The rules by which bushes are chosen are better to follow than to neglect.
Do not buy seedlings from strangers and random places. To be sure of the quality of the purchased seedlings, purchase them from a nursery, a specialty store, or from a farmer who sells ripe berries.
How to choose good bushes?
Study their appearance. The leaves should be saturated green, uniform, without spots, dry places and damage. This will confirm that the seedling is not infected with a fungal infection, and you will not infect the rest of the strawberry planting. Especially avoid purchasing ‘Kimberley’ strawberry seedlings with pale leaves and dark dots on the leaf blades.
These factors indicate the presence of seedling disease.
Choose seedlings in containers and labeled with the name of the variety if you have a long way to carry the purchase. Without containers, take seedlings with a good root system:
- roots length not less than 7 cm:
- damage and dry roots are absent;
- the entire root is moistened and not overdried.
When planting is delayed, store ‘Kimberley’ strawberry seedlings in water to keep the plant from dying and allow it to absorb moisture.
Prepare the area for the ridge in advance. Choose a sunny place, because the Kimberley garden strawberry is very demanding on the amount of light. But it is very important that the ridges are protected from the wind. ‘Wima Kimberley’ should not be planted in a place where nightshade crops have grown.
The requirements that Kimberley garden strawberries make to the soil can be called classic – good breathability, fertility and a small presence of sand and peat. What activities need to be carried out on your soil, an analysis of its composition will tell.
It is possible to increase fertility and improve the structure of the soil for planting Kimberley strawberries in standard ways.
Before planting seedlings, remove plant debris and weeds from the selected area. Pre-disinfect the ground with disinfectants. You can buy them in garden stores, and it is very easy to prepare the composition for processing according to the description on the package.
Proper planting of garden strawberries “Kimberley” includes several points:
- The distance between the bushes is kept large, at least 30 cm. This is done so that with the help of a mustache, strawberries fill the garden tightly without thinning.
- The hole is made deep. After planting, the bush should be below ground level. What does it give. Firstly, moisture is well retained after watering, and secondly, strawberries, the variety of which breeds with a mustache, will rise up over time.
- Before planting a seedling, half a glass of ash and humus (compost) is added to each well. The roots are covered with earth, carefully monitored so that there are no layers of air. The growth point is located at ground level. If it is deepened, the plant will rot. If it is high, the Kimberley strawberries will not survive the cold season.
- Immediately abundantly water the bushes.
The first week after planting, seedlings of the Kimberley garden strawberry variety are watered daily.
Harvest berry care
For every summer resident, it is important to adhere to the basic requirements of agricultural technology when growing garden strawberries. ‘Kimberley’ requires more attention during the rooting period. If this is not done, then part of the seedlings can be lost.
Young bushes require daily watering for 10 days.
After soaking up water, loosen the soil. 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 plantings from the spread of diseases and increase the yield of the variety.
Feeding garden strawberries “Kimberley” is carried out four times a season:
- in early spring after the snow has melted;
- before the beginning of flowering bushes;
- after flowering;
- after harvest at the end of summer.
They feed the bushes of garden strawberries “Kimberley” 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 an overdose is highly undesirable. Of the mineral components, the Kimberley strawberry needs 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 a good crop. Strawberries of the “Kimberley” variety do not withstand drying out of the soil and do not like weed neighbors. Therefore, mulching strawberry beds is very useful for the Kimberley variety. Dry grass or leaves, straw, needles of coniferous trees are suitable. Many summer residents use covering materials. The optimal time for covering the soil is the active flowering of Wima Kimberley garden strawberries.
Pruning of bushes in the fall is carried out annually.
But after picking the berries, experienced gardeners also prune the Kimberley variety. In this case, new shoots are actively growing.
Shelter for the winter. For it, spruce branches, non-woven materials are used (avoid black linen).
Growing a variety of garden strawberries “Kimberley” is considered a grateful thing by summer residents.
Tasty, large berries cover all the time and physical costs of care.
Reviews
Among gardeners about the variety “Kimberley” only positive reviews:
