Zemklunika variety Kupchikha - description, planting, care, reviews

If the weather is not good during the ripening of strawberries, the berry bushes will not receive enough sunlight. Berries picked from the garden in cool, damp weather will not delight you with a sweet taste and aroma - these watery and sour-tasting fruits are most often processed.

This cannot happen with strawberries of the Kupchikha variety for a very simple reason: Kupchikha is an interspecific hybrid of strawberries and strawberries, i.e. zemklunik. The plant has genetically inherited the best properties of its parents and even in cold summers surprises gardeners with sweet, aromatic berries.

Description of the variety

The Kupchikha strawberry variety was officially included in the state register in 2022 with a recommendation for cultivation in all regions of Russia; it belongs to the berry crops of early ripening (non-repairing). The assortment was developed in Russia (Bryansk) by Professor S.D. Aitjanova.

A neat compact bush of earthen grass has a spherical shape. The degree of foliage is average. Classic green in color, the concave sheets have a wrinkled, ribbed shape. The shiny glossy leaves themselves sit on long, heavily pubescent petioles.
At the end of May, the Kupchikha bush becomes covered with flower stalks. White flowers collected in brushes are located at the level of the leaf blades.
The Kupchikha bush produces only a few mustaches, which greatly simplifies the care of the garden bed. The mustache is of medium length and has a characteristic dark red color.
The berries in a state of full ripeness are evenly colored dark red; the pulp does not differ in color when cut.
During fruiting, 1 bush can contain up to 200 fruits simultaneously: the bush is literally strewn with cylindrical berries with a pronounced “neck” with an average weight of 3.5...5.5 g, although specimens 3-4 times larger are often found - up to 20 and even 25 g. The shape of the berry may vary somewhat depending on the climate of the region.
The taste rating of Kupchikha's berries is maximum 5.0 points out of 5 possible. Tasters recognized the taste as harmonious and balanced, and the nutmeg aroma as persistent. Chemical analysis of the pulp showed a content of 5.8% sugars, organic acids - up to 0.6%, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - 79 mg%. The berries are extremely tasty when fresh and retain their taste during all types of processing.
When grown in optimal conditions, the yield of the bush is 300...500 g, which in terms of industrial scale will allow you to get up to 135 c. strawberries per hectare. In the Central region, harvesting occurs in June - early July.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sweet taste with a spicy nutmeg aroma.
Winter hardiness.
Easy to care for.
Disease resistance.
High yield even in unfavorable weather conditions.
No shedding or rotting of fruits when harvested in a timely manner.
Good transportability due to dense pulp.
Universal application.
Decorative plants.

So far, no shortcomings have been identified in this hybrid.

a brief description of

Advantages of the variety

the variety does not require a pollinator - fruit set is up to 100%;
unpretentious earthworms can be grown using the carpet method: the berries become somewhat smaller, but the yield does not decrease;
the crop does not fall off when ripe;
in the heat, the berries do not spoil, but on the contrary, they dry out and turn into a delicacy (similar to the transformation of grapes into raisins);
the plant inherited from its wild ancestors high drought and frost resistance (up to −24 ℃);
Kupchikha dredge bushes practically do not suffer from fungal and bacterial diseases;
The dense berries tolerate transportation well, are very tasty and aromatic, suitable for fresh consumption and the preparation of various winter preparations.

Disadvantages of the variety

maximum yield is only in the 3rd year of bush growth.
the harvest depends on the light regime of the bed;
a large number of mustaches.

Duration of fruiting of Kupchikha bushes: 17-20 days.

How to plant

When choosing a planting scheme for "Merchant's Wife", it is important to remember that it grows strongly and quickly. It is better to leave the distance between the bushes at 0.4-0.5 m. The gap between the rows is 0.6 m.

The holes can also be made in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 0.4 m. As the bushes grow, they will close together very quickly. The planting will look like a continuous carpet.

Fill holes with a depth of 5 to 15 cm, depending on the size of the roots. Place the seedlings in them, straighten the roots and cover them with soil so that the heart remains above the ground. The seedlings from the cups are simply transferred into the holes. After this, the bushes are watered, and the soil under them is mulched with peat or humus.

Landing

An unpretentious hybrid of strawberries and wild strawberries is able to grow in almost any soil and in any conditions. But if we talk about the optimal mode and location, then it is best to choose well-lit areas where there is no stagnation of water. Kupchikha's cuttings can be planted in 2 terms: in autumn (August) or early spring (April).

The beds for planting are prepared in advance:

for autumn planting - at least 2 weeks in advance;
for spring - for winter.

The area should be cleared of weeds, dug up, and the roots of perennial weeds should be removed. Sprinkle fertilizer evenly onto the soil surface for one more dig. Depending on the circumstances, they are chosen either organic or mineral.

Application of fertilizers when preparing a bed for dredging, per 1 m2:

Organic	● 7-8 kg. (1 bucket) mature crumbly humus or compost; ● 0.5 l. wood ash
Mineral	● 50 g of potassium salts; ● 50 g urea; ● 40 g superphosphate

You can grow earthworms either in rows or using the “carpet” method.

When planting in the traditional way (in rows or in a checkerboard pattern), an interval of 30-40 cm is left between seedlings in a row, and the row spacing is up to 60 cm.
Planting Kupchikha dredge bushes in a checkerboard pattern every 40 cm leads to the closure of the rows - a “carpet” is formed that does not require loosening and practically does not require watering or weeding.

Helpful advice!

The most convenient way to plant and grow dredges is with a wide ribbon:

each tape has 3 rows of seedlings: 40 cm spacing in the row and between rows in the tape;
A wide (up to 1 m) row spacing is left between the tapes.

Garlic is considered the best precursor for growing strawberries - it disinfects the soil well. The season before planting berry bushes, it is also useful to sow the area with green manure.

Selection and purchase of seedlings

The new type of earthworm has not yet become widespread among gardeners, which dishonest sellers take advantage of. To purchase a real Merchant's Wife, you must contact directly the originator of the variety, that is, FGBNU VSTISP. It has a wide distribution network in Moscow and the Moscow region, where you can easily purchase high-quality and strong seedlings.

If seedlings are purchased elsewhere, it is important to check their appearance against their standard. There are main signs by which you can buy good strawberry seedlings:

seedlings have a developed root system;
roots and green part without damage or defects;
the bush has up to three whole healthy leaves;
The heart of the seedling is elastic and green.

Seedlings are grown in individual pots or in containers with an open root system. If you choose the second option for seedlings, they should be planted no later than the next day. Until planting, seedlings should be stored with roots submerged in water.

Growing and care

Growing strawberries of the Kupchikha variety using the carpet method is very convenient. Caring for such a bed comes down to watering during drought and harvesting. 1-2 years after laying a new bed, the dredge bushes form a continuous carpet, which

prevents weed growth;
protects the soil from weathering and the plant roots from overheating;
preserves the supply of soil moisture from intense evaporation;
protects berries and leaves from contact with the soil.

The berries are always clean - you can enjoy the fruits of the Merchant's Wife directly from the garden.

It is best to feed Kupchikha bushes in the form of complex water-soluble formulations such as Agricola or Master for berry growers . This method is especially relevant when growing using the carpet-tape method: in early spring (in April) and after harvesting (in August), watering is carried out with an aqueous solution of the drug. In cold rainy weather, processing the berries with Ionic PC Boost will help them gain flavor and sugar content.

Watering when planting Kupchikha strawberries is necessary only in the absence of precipitation during the periods of flowering, ovary formation and fruit ripening.

When grown using the carpet-ribbon method, the tendrils are not removed in the first year of planting - young bushes fill the empty spaces in the garden bed. Starting from the 2nd year, the whiskers are cut off as they appear, since their development consumes a significant part of the plant’s resources.

Resistance to fungal, bacterial diseases and damage by insect pests in the Kupchikha zemclunica is almost 100%. This is a huge advantage for gardeners - an environmentally friendly harvest can be obtained without the use of chemicals. In spring, leaf treatment with Horus, calcium and Plantofol is recommended.

The merchant's wife is perfectly adapted to the conditions of the Central region and the North-West - it tolerates 24 degrees below zero even without shelter. Under a layer of snow of 25-30 cm, plants can easily withstand prolonged frosts below 30 degrees. In addition, snow retention allows you to save moisture for a quick start to strawberries when the weather warms up.

Caring for the Merchant's Wife

Garden strawberries can be grown in one place for no more than 4 years. Over the years, bacteria and pests accumulate in the soil, the bushes wither, and the yield is greatly reduced. But before this period, the Merchant's wife will delight with a rich harvest, especially if she is given good care.

Watering and fertilizing

The merchant's wife tolerates heat well, but not drought. Ideally, the soil under the mulch should be constantly moist. In hot weather, it is advisable to water the leaves. Sprinkling is prohibited only during the period of filling and ripening of berries. At this stage, in order not to provoke an outbreak of gray rot, water at the root. Use 1–2 liters of water per bush. Water every time the soil under the bushes dries out. In late summer and autumn, when the rainy season begins, there is no need to water. Pre-winter charging watering is needed only in the absence of rain; its norm is 1.5 times more than usual.

A drip system will help solve the problem of regular watering

The frequency of fertilizing depends on the composition of the soil in your area. If the Merchant's wife grows well: the bushes are tall, dense, the leaves are large, dark green, then four feedings per season are enough:

In the spring, immediately after the soil thaws: 50 g of urea per 10 liters of water or 1-2 tbsp. l. ammonia per 10 liters. You can use complex fertilizers specially created for strawberries: Gummi-Omi, Fertika, BioHumus, etc.
In summer, during flowering: 50 g of nitroammophoska per 10 liters of water or infusion of nettles and weeds (diluted in a 1:5 ratio with water, plus a glass of ash in a bucket). Or repeat fertilizing with complex fertilizer.
After harvesting, repeat the previous feeding.
In early August, when flower buds are being laid for next year, spray or water the leaves with a urea solution (50 g per 10 l).

Any fruit and berry crop during the flowering period is responsive to fertilizing with boron. Dissolve 2 g of boric acid in 1 liter of water and spray the strawberries according to the flowers.

All of the above fertilizers can also be used as foliar fertilizers, that is, you don’t have to worry about them getting on the leaves. Consumption per bush - 0.5–1 liter. If your Merchant's Wife grows poorly, the leaves are small, the bushes are low, the petioles are thin, then feed with complex fertilizers every 10–14 days until the plants begin to delight you with their healthy appearance.

Video: about green fertilizer from weeds and green manures

Diseases and pests

Merchants' bushes can grow poorly not only due to nutritional deficiencies; diseases and pests are often the cause. Their most common signs are: spots on the leaves, edges curl, leaves dry out, ovaries crumble, berries are dry or rotting, plants lag behind healthy ones in development.

Table: the most common diseases and pests of strawberries and wild strawberries

Disease/pest	Description	Fighting methods
Brown spot	Brown spots of various shapes and sizes appear between the veins of the leaves.	All three diseases are fungal, so they are treated the same: For prevention in the spring, after the snow melts, before and after flowering and after harvesting, treat with phytosporin concentrate (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water), a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, whey (1 liter per 10 liters), iodine or brilliant green (40 drops per bucket of water). At the first symptoms, spray with any copper-containing fungicide: HOM (40 g per 10 l of water), copper sulfate (50 g per 10 l), 1% Bordeaux mixture, Skora solution (2 ml per 10 l). Repeat 1-2 more times at intervals of 10-14 days. Remove infected berries and leaves from the garden and burn.
White spot	The leaves are covered with round white spots with a red or purple border.
Gray rot	A gray fluffy coating appears on the berries, and the pulp underneath becomes watery and brown.
Strawberry-raspberry weevil	These beetles can be recognized by their long proboscis, called the rostrum. Pests come out of winter, feed on leaves, and mate. Females pierce the buds and lay an egg in each. They nibble the petiole at the base of the bud. The first buds, from which the largest berries could grow, suffer. The larvae eat away the contents, the buds dry out and fall off.	At the time of extension of flower stalks and after harvesting, treat with an insecticide: karbofos (60 g per 10 l of water), actara (2 g per 10 l), intavir (1 tablet per 10 l). In autumn, when daytime temperatures are below +10⁰C, loosen the soil between rows and under bushes to destroy wintering areas.
Strawberry mite	The pests are very small, invisible to the eye, so their presence can be determined by the condition of the strawberries: The young leaves coming out of the heart do not develop or unfold. They are highly corrugated, the edges are curled inward, and have a yellowish tint; berries are small and dry; the bushes freeze in winter. During the warm season, 4–6 generations of strawberry mites can grow.	In early spring, water the beds with hot water (55–60⁰C). In the spring or after harvesting in hot weather, cover the bed with film for 2 days so that air does not get under it. The temperature under the film will rise to 60–70⁰C, the mites will die, the strawberry leaves will burn, but new, healthy ones will grow from the hearts. From the moment it emerges from the snow until flowering, spray with acaricides at intervals of 10 days: actelik (2 ml per 2 liters of water), fufanon (10 ml per 10 liters), etc. Repeat the treatment after harvesting.

Photo gallery: diseases and pests dangerous to the Merchant's wife

Parts of the leaves turn brown and die, which means the strawberries are sick with brown spot

Round white spots with a bright border are a sign of white spotting

If the berries are covered with a fluffy coating, and underneath they turn brown and rot, the plant is affected by gray rot

The weevil feeds on young leaves after emerging from hibernation.

Buds with weevil larvae inside hang as if by a thread, dry out and fall off

All signs of mite damage: young leaves are curled, corrugated, have a yellow tint, the berries are small and dry. There is also white spotting on the bush

If most of the bushes are affected by diseases and pests, then after harvesting, mow the entire garden bed, leaving only the hearts. Burn the leaves, treat the strawberries with drugs against diseases and pests, and feed them. By autumn, new healthy bushes will grow.

Berry picking

The earthworms are harvested in several stages, every 1–2 days. Kupchikha has a dense berry, it does not leak, does not wrinkle, can be transported, stored in the refrigerator and even at room temperature for up to 5 days. The berries of this variety are very tasty fresh; they are pureed with sugar and eaten with cream, added to ice cream and decorated with baked goods. Excess harvest is frozen, dried, and prepared into preserves, compotes, and jams. The merchant's wife is also suitable for winemaking. It produces aromatic liqueurs and tinctures, liqueurs and cocktails.

Video: about the dangers and benefits of strawberries

Shelter for the winter

Whether it is necessary to cover the Merchant's Wife for the winter depends on the region where it is grown. The variety's winter hardiness is average, which means that the bushes may die in frosty and snowless winters. There is no need to worry about shelter if snow falls in your area before severe cold (below -20⁰C) arrives.

Spruce branches will serve as good protection against frost. Even in the summer, you can prepare lush branches of birch, maple, bird cherry, aspen, etc. Stems of dill, raspberries, shoots of fruit trees and shrubs obtained after pruning are suitable. Many people use agrofibre folded in several layers. The main thing is that the shelter allows air to pass through and does not rot in the garden. In the spring, immediately after the snow melts, everything unnecessary should be removed from the dredges, and the soil should be loosened and covered with fresh mulch.

The strawberries are covered with spruce branches for the winter - this will save the plant in severe frosts

Reproduction

A hybrid plant should not even be propagated by sowing seeds - it is difficult, troublesome and the result expected after 2 years is completely unpredictable. Traditional vegetative methods of obtaining seedlings give a guaranteed result already in the 2nd year of planting cuttings.

Air layering (mustache rooting)	After flowering, the dredge bush produces a sufficient number of tendrils for reproduction. No more than 5 first-order rosettes are left on the mother plant so as not to weaken the plant and to obtain strong seedlings. The air layering is pinned to the soil (or pressed with a weight) and only after the formation of the root system is it transplanted to a permanent place
Dividing the bush	If there is a lack of air layering, you can use an old bush: Dig up the bush and divide it into sections. Remove the woody part of the rhizome and old leaves. Plant seedlings in a permanent place

How to prepare seedlings for planting

If the seedlings are purchased in separate cups, they do not require additional preparation. You can only water it well to make it easier to get out of the container.

If planting material was purchased with bare roots, before planting, the seedlings can be soaked in any stimulant that improves survival and root formation. For example:

Potassium humate solution. Before planting, you need to dilute 100 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water. Cut off dried and damaged leaves from seedlings. Dip the roots into the solution and leave for 10-12 hours. This procedure will speed up survival and increase root formation by 30-50%.
Kornevin. This drug improves root formation and promotes rapid survival. It comes in powder form. One of the ways to prepare seedlings for planting is to powder the roots. This can be done in any way, using a sieve or brush. In some cases, you can dilute a tablespoon of the product in a liter of water and dip the roots in this solution for 12-15 hours.

Reviews

According to my taste, the clear leader is the Merchant's Wife. Very pleasant nutmeg aroma and sweet taste. Frozen berries and jam turn out amazing. I also dry part of the harvest and in the winter I treat my grandchildren to berry chips, it’s delicious, you won’t be able to pull it off by the ears.
“Kupchikha” responds well to feeding with ash or mineral fertilizers - potassium monophosphate. The berries become larger and the taste is more aromatic. I think that everything is fine in “Kupchikha”. I can only note 2 drawbacks: a very large number of whiskers (need to be constantly removed) and the white tips of the berries. If you wait for full ripening, the base will already become withered.
Not my taste. I prefer the standard strawberry scents, with Asia and Syria being my favorites. And ants really love this variety; you have to look at every berry from all sides, otherwise you’ll eat insects.

The rules of Kupchikha's agricultural technology are even simpler than those of traditional strawberry varieties. Particular attention should be paid to the variety by eternally busy city summer residents who only have short weekends to communicate with nature.

Strawberries of the Kupchikha variety will not only provide the gardener with delicious berries. The strawberry bushes that bloom at the end of May are unusually decorative and can become a real decoration of the garden.

Origin of the variety and its biological characteristics

Merchant's Wife was created by crossing pineapple strawberries with musk (real or garden) strawberries. This explains its scientific name - zemclunica. This variety was created by specialists from the Moscow Institute of Breeding and Nursery Growing and Bryansk Agrarian University.

The merchant's wife has no remontance. She received several positive aspects from her parental lines. From nutmeg she inherited the following features:

the height of the bushes reaches 40 cm;
a small number of mustaches;
one corymbose inflorescence has up to 12 flowers;
long berries with a neck;
good yield;
berry aroma;
a large amount of dry matter in the berries.

In addition, Kupchikha has winter hardiness, tolerates heat well, but has increased requirements for soil and humidity levels. One of the features is pollination by insects, which reduces yields in greenhouse conditions.

Productivity of the Kupchikha variety

This variety produces many flower stalks, which indicates greater productivity. One bush can have 4-6 peduncles. With proper care, you can collect 600 kg from 500 m2. The average yield of one bush is 0.5 kg. Under the weight of the fruit, its branches can lie on the soil, so it is important to mulch or build special supports in advance.

Table with characteristics of the variety

Let's look at the characteristics of the variety.

Varietal characteristics	Options
Form	Extended
Taste	Sweet
Color	Rich red
Berry size	Average berry weight 3.7–17.0 g
Productivity	250–400 g per bush
Ripening period	Mid-early
Multiplicity of seasonal fruiting	One
Winter hardiness	High, up to -25 °C under cover

Tasting score - 5.

Pests and their control

The merchant's wife suffers most from the strawberry-raspberry weevil and strawberry mite . The first pest is a small beetle with a proboscis.

It loves berry leaves and lays its larvae in flower buds. The larvae feed on the contents of the buds, which causes the flowers to dry out. To combat the strawberry-raspberry weevil, treating the plant with insecticides (Aktara, Karbofos, Intavir) is suitable. It is carried out during the formation of flower stalks and after harvesting.

The strawberry mite attacks young plants and destroys their foliage, preventing it from opening. The leaves curl and turn yellow. You can prevent ticks from crawling out of the soil by watering the bed in the spring with water at a temperature of 60 °C.

It also helps to get rid of it by covering the bushes with film for 2 days after harvesting. To radically destroy the pest, plants are treated with acaricides.

Diseases

The creators of the variety claim that the hybrid has strong immunity to infectious diseases . Practice shows that Kupchikha strawberries actually get sick less often than other varieties.

Here are the most common diseases of earthworms:

Gray rot . It appears as a fluffy coating on the berries. To prevent its appearance in early spring, plant bushes are treated with Fitosporin. The procedure is repeated after flowering and berry picking.
Symptoms of spotting (white or brown) and rot. The situation will be corrected by spraying the Merchant with copper-containing preparations (Bordeaux mixture, “HOM”).

The best place for "merchant's wife" strawberries

Strawberry "merchant's wife" bears fruit abundantly in sunny and semi-shaded areas, including under fruit trees with a spreading crown. The berries are not as tasty when planted in lowlands with a lot of moisture in the soil, so you should take care of drainage.

It is possible to grow strawberries on a windowsill or balcony only with careful care, placing the boxes in shaded areas.

Unwanted Precursors:

Solanaceae;
raspberries.

These plants are parasitized by pests that readily attack strawberries. Joint planting is often the reason that the hybrid does not bloom in the first year.

A good neighborhood - onions, marigolds, lettuce.

General view of the Kupchikha zemklunika

Bush

The plant is large, spherical in shape. The leaves are large and tall, 20-30 cm. The surface of the leaf is smooth, shiny, the pubescence is slight; shape - round, concave, characterized by wrinkles and ribbing. The leaf edges are serrated. The leaf petioles are strong and heavily pubescent.

The bush produces a small number of medium-length whiskers. The mustache is distinguished by a reddish tint.

Flowers

The flowering of the bush is very abundant. The flowers are large, snow-white with a bright yellow center. The peduncles are tall and thick, rising above the leaves. During the flowering period, all foliage may be hidden by flowers.

Berry

The berries of the Kupchikha variety are very unusual: they have an elongated, flattened shape with forked or even ruffled ends. The color of the berries is dark red. The berries have a bright dessert taste and rich strawberry aroma. Tasting ball of zemclunica berries 5.0 out of 5. The size greatly depends on the ripening time of the berries. The closer to the beginning of the fruiting period, the larger it is. So the first berries reach 6 cm in length, the subsequent ones up to 4 cm.

The pulp of the Kupchikha dredge berries is very dense; it does not wrinkle or get wet when properly stored and transported.

Zemklunika Kupchikha does not spoil on the bush; the berries dry out in the sun and become even sweeter. Thanks to this property, dredges can be dried not only in an electric dryer, but also in a natural way.

Productivity

Kupchikha belongs to the mid-early and mid-ripening varieties. With proper care, one bush can produce from 300 to 500 grams of berries per season. On average, this is about 1.35 kg per 1 sq.m of planting or 135 centners per hectare. The harvest period is very extended. The first berries in the middle zone ripen in early July. They are the largest. The last berries are much smaller and ripen by mid-August. In other regions, ripening times will be mixed.

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