- Authors: Germany
- Taste: sweet
- The size: large
- Weight: 40-100 gr
- Yield rate: high
- Repairability: No
- Ripening terms: late
- Description of the bush: tall, densely leafy
- Berry color: Red
- Winter hardiness: high, up to - 30 С
Strawberries of German selection Kamrad Winner managed to amaze amateur gardeners with the ability to produce very large fruits with excellent taste. Bushes do not require frequent replanting - they grow in 1 place for up to 8 years, they survive severe winters well.
Description of the variety
The non-remontant variety forms bushes up to 400 mm high, abundantly covered with dark green foliage. The resulting peduncles are high. The head of the bush is creeping. The flowers are white with a yellow center. Kamrad the Winner has a superficial root system that does not require significant deepening, whiskers are moderately formed.
Ripening terms
For the variety, late ripening dates are relevant. Fruiting begins no earlier than July, flowers appear on the bushes from May to June. It is a sort of short daylight hours.
Yield
The high intensity of fruiting occurs only by the second year. In the first season, no more than 1-2 peduncles can be expected. In the 2nd year, their number increases to 6. 2-2.5 kg of berries are harvested from the bush, from 1 m2 to 1500 g.
Berries and their taste
Kamrad the Winner gives large fruits weighing 40-100 g. The berries look attractive, have the correct shape, rich skin color. They are distinguished by a bright sweet taste, juiciness of the pulp, and a noticeable strawberry aroma. The fruits can be processed, frozen, eaten fresh.
The berries have a not very thick glossy skin. It does not tolerate transportation well, it is stored without freezing for a very short time. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the variety is not characterized by the presence of voids inside the fruit, and they also do not have a neck.
Growing features
One of the rare strawberry varieties for Russia, Kamrad Winner, when properly cultivated, ensures an excellent harvest. Plants are recommended to plant according to the scheme 30 by 60 cm with a tape method of placement, but not more than 4 bushes per 1 m2. The variety is sensitive to the amount of sunlight, it is recommended to avoid strong shading. The best time for planting is late summer, as well as early spring if the shoots are obtained from seedlings.
Site selection and soil preparation
Only soils with neutral acidity are suitable for planting, slightly acidic soils are acceptable. If necessary, dolomite flour is preliminarily introduced into the soil. Shaded planting areas can only be used in the south. For all climatic zones, the use of wind protection is mandatory; draft is contraindicated for plants. When digging, the fertility of the soil is increased by introducing a glass of wood ash and a bucket of manure or humus per 1 m2.
When preparing a place for growing the variety Kamrad Pobeditel, the soil is thoroughly loosened and weeds are removed. It is important that the plants have good air access to the roots.
The formation of ridges is carried out in the direction from north to south or from east to west, depending on the individual characteristics of the site. When grown with a summer planting, the bushes are first shaded, watered abundantly with water for 2 weeks. In this case, it is recommended to cut the lower leaves. The surface of the soil must be mulched to avoid fruit rotting.
Pollination
The cultivar requires cross-pollination. You will have to plant other types of garden strawberries nearby.
One of the important techniques in strawberry care is feeding. Regular fertilization guarantees a rich harvest. There are several different ways to feed strawberries, and each of them is designed for a specific period of plant development. During flowering, fruiting and after it, feeding should be different.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
Strawberry Kamrad Winner tolerates well even severe frosts. It can withstand a drop in air temperature down to -30 degrees. For winter, the variety is prepared in advance, replacing the mulch, and then forming a shelter from agrofibre on arcs, spruce branches.
Diseases and pests
It is known to be susceptible to rot damage, especially during prolonged rainy periods during fruiting. He needs the prevention of fungal diseases. In the spring, before flowering, the ridges are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. Throughout the growing season, treatment with a mixture of infusion of wood ash, onion husks and garlic is recommended. And also treatment with chemicals such as "Fitoverm" or "Fitosporin" will be useful.
Among insect pests, a tick is especially dangerous for this variety. To avoid its appearance, to destroy already detected parasites will help the drug "Actellik" or its analogues. And also large berries attract birds - you will have to take care to scare them away during ripening.
Strawberries are often subject to many dangerous diseases that can seriously undermine its condition. Among the most common are powdery mildew, gray mold, brown spot, anthracnose, and verticillosis. Before buying a variety, you need to inquire about its disease resistance.
Reproduction
The variety is propagated by seedlings, the seed method is practically not used. New shoots are obtained from mustache rosettes. Before flowering, they are cut off, leaving as planting material. After rooting, they are transferred to new ridges. It is important that each plant has a root collar with a diameter of at least 6 cm, a whole apical bud, 3-5 leaves.
Review overview
Kamrad Winner is a strawberry variety rarely found in Russia. This is largely due to the insufficient amount of imported planting material. As for the rest, the reviews are only enthusiastic. Large sweet berries turn out to be very tasty; during processing, this dignity is fully preserved. Many indicate that even slightly pinkish fruits are already suitable for human consumption.
Of the disadvantages of this variety, the owners note the poor keeping quality of the berries. Those hoping to use the variety commercially are disappointed. In addition, in terms of yield, Kamrad Pobeditel is still inferior to many varieties from the group of giants. This is due to the small number of peduncles forming.