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Zemklunika Kupchikha is a new interspecific hybrid obtained by crossing strawberries with strawberries. From both cultures, he inherited the best characteristics, and even surpassed his parents in terms of productivity and taste, which in a couple of years managed to win the hearts of domestic gardeners. How to grow a unique berry, why it is interesting, what advantages and disadvantages it has – read about all this below.
The origin of earthenware Merchant
Experiments on crossing garden strawberries and wild strawberries have been carried out by breeders for a long time, but only in the 1980s their efforts were crowned with success. On the basis of the Bryansk Agrarian University, a hybrid with a unique dessert taste was obtained, which was called Zemklunika. To create it, two parental lines were crossed – large-fruited garden strawberries with European nutmeg strawberries.
The culture was introduced into the State Register of the Federation only in 2017 after many years of varietal testing. This is the first, and so far the only officially registered strawberry variety recommended for cultivation in all regions of the country.
Video “Overview of the Kupchikha strawberry variety”
From this video you will learn what is interesting about the land merchant Merchant and how to grow it.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Consider the varietal characteristics of the hybrid, as well as a description of bushes and berries.
Features of the plant
The bush is strong and dense, but at the same time compact. The shape is spherical, the height is about 30 cm. The mustache is not long, of a reddish hue, formed moderately. The leaves are rounded, slightly concave, serrated at the edges, smooth and shiny on the surface, pubescent below and on the petioles. There are many peduncles – up to 35 pcs. on the bush. During flowering, under a cascade of snow-white flowers, no greenery is visible. For this feature, the variety is called the Merchant.
Ripening time and yield
The hybrid has a medium early maturity. In the middle lane, the crop is harvested in early July, in the south – at the end of June. In general, fruiting begins a week later than the early varieties of garden strawberries.
The yield index of the variety was determined at the level of 12–13 t/ha. But gardeners’ reviews indicate that even the slightest improvement in agricultural technology leads to an increase in yield. From a young bush during the season it is possible to collect up to 300 g of berries, from an adult – up to 500 g. There are no lean years, since the pollination of bushes is 98–100%.
Commodity and taste qualities of berries
Merchant’s berries are elongated, flattened on both sides, bizarrely shaped, with a bifurcation and various processes at the ends. Skin color is dark red. The size varies: the largest berries are the first, they reach a mass of 17–20 g with a length of 5–6 cm, the latter are small, on average 3–4 g. For them, strawberries were awarded the highest tasting score – 5 points.
Harvesting, storage, transportability and application
The berries ripen unevenly, so the harvesting season stretches for 5-7 weeks. Collected in several doses every 1-2 days. Due to the dense skin and dry separation, the berry does not flow, it is well transported and stored for a long time. Even at room conditions, it can lie for 3-4 days, in the refrigerator – up to 7 days. The purpose of strawberries is universal. It is good fresh, as part of desserts, as a filling for baking. It is frozen, dried, used for preparations, as well as in winemaking.
Advantages and disadvantages of culture
The advantages of a hybrid gardeners include:
- excellent dessert taste;
- dense pulp, thanks to which the berry does not flow, is well stored and transported;
- abundant fruiting;
- quick collection due to the easy separation of the berry;
- ripening period, excluding damage to flowers and ovaries by return frosts;
- berries do not crumble from overripe;
- stable yield;
- high resistance to external factors: diseases, frost, heat, shading, pests.
It also has disadvantages:
- slight mustache formation, which is barely enough to renew the beds;
- variety of berries;
- an abundance of flower stalks, requiring crop rationing;
- in cold regions, the berry sometimes does not have time to ripen.
Agrotechnical recommendations
In one place, the Merchant can bear fruit for 5-6 years. For strawberries, this is a long time, so you need to properly plant the bed and provide it with proper care.
Determination of landing dates
Traditionally, planting of seedlings from the mustache of plants is carried out from the end of July to the beginning of September. You can root sockets at any time as they form, but it is better to plant them in a permanent place at the end of summer. Seedlings with a closed root system are recommended to be planted in spring or in the second half of summer. Frigo seedlings are planted in greenhouses in February.
Peduncles that appear during spring planting must be broken out, as early fruiting is detrimental to the development of the bush.
Author’s advice
Site selection, soil and planting material
It is customary to allocate sunny areas for strawberries, but it is acceptable for a merchant to grow in a small penumbra. The main thing is that this place is well ventilated. The soil before planting must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate, fertilize – humus 1-2 buckets plus 2 cups of ash / m².
The culture is propagated vegetatively – by rosettes and dividing the bush. Seeds are not used as it is a hybrid form. Select healthy seedlings with intact roots. Before planting, they are soaked in water with the addition of “Kornevin” (1 ml / 5 l of water). Seedlings with closed roots are transplanted by transshipment, without disturbing the roots.
Landing scheme and rules
On production areas, it is recommended that the Merchant’s wife be planted according to the 50×50 cm scheme with the placement of rows at a distance of 0,7–1 m. Gardeners can plant bushes in the two-row method using the 40×40 scheme.
When landing, you must adhere to the following rules:
- cover the roots so that all the petioles with leaves and the heart remain on the surface;
- water with a special groove around the bush so that water does not get on the heart;
- the ground around the seedlings should be covered with mulch.
Watering and feeding
You need to water the bed regularly, spending 1-2 liters of water per bush, so that the earth is always slightly moist. Before the start of pouring, the berries can be watered over the leaves, then under the root, so as not to provoke an outbreak of rot. In autumn, if there is no precipitation, pre-winter watering is recommended at the rate of 2-3 liters of water / bush.
The feeding scheme is standard: in spring – a nitrogen-mineral complex, during flowering – herbal infusion, a solution of boric acid and a little ash. In August, flower buds are laid. During this period, the bushes need to be treated with urea (50 g / 10 l). Before wintering, the beds are mulched with organic matter.
At the flowering stage, do not forget to remove some of the peduncles, leaving 10-15 of the strongest.
Shelter for the winter
The merchant’s winter hardiness is quite high – up to -24 ° C, therefore it is advisable to cover it only in those regions where the winter temperature reaches this mark. However, gardeners do not want to take risks and cover the bed before the snow falls. For shelter, use organic mulch with a layer of 15–20 cm or a dense agrofiber that allows air to pass through.
Common diseases and pests
The variety is not susceptible to fungal diseases, but for the prevention it would be useful to treat the beds in the spring with Fitosporin or any copper-containing fungicide. The most common pests of earthworms are the strawberry mite and the raspberry weevil. The treatment of the bushes with “Aktara” or “Inta-Vir” before flowering helps to prevent their appearance. The earth between the rows should be regularly loosened, destroying the habitats of insects.
Reviews of gardeners about the hybrid Merchant
“I am delighted with the Merchant! When the berries ripen, the fragrance spreads throughout the garden. I will plant this variety, as the children really liked it. ”
“The berry is sweet, but dense, but I would like it to be juicier. But it is ideal for drying, freezing and jam. In general, I am satisfied with the variety. “
Everyone who has already met the Merchant recommends her as the best variety for home cultivation. When planted in fertile soil, this earth strawberry will delight the whole family with a truly merchant crop for 4–5 years, fully justifying its name.