- Authors: A. V. Petrov, Moscow Experimental Station
- Taste: sweet and sour
- The size: large
- Weight: average weight 12-13 g
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: 10.4 t / ha
- Ripening terms: mid-late
- Appointment: fresh consumption, processing (juice, jam, jam, etc.)
- Description of the bush: medium height, densely leafy, compact
- Berry color: Dark red
Among the varietal strawberries, Komsomolskaya Pravda stands out not only for its high yield, for which it is appreciated by the owners of private household plots and large horticultural farms. Balanced taste properties of the berry, ease of cultivation, unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil - these are just a small part of its advantages.
Breeding history of the variety
The Komsomolskaya Pravda strawberry was bred at the Moscow Experimental Station by the breeder A.V. Petrov. Crossing was carried out between the varieties Chudo Ketena and Roshchinskaya.
Description of the variety
Strawberries of this variety lend themselves well to transportation and have an attractive presentation. Plants have compact, densely leafy bushes of medium size and height. The color of the socket is green. It is covered with shiny leaves of the correct round or oval shape.
Large peduncles with a characteristic white shade of petals and a center are formed on the bush. After the first season, they are shallow. This does not affect fruiting.
Komsomolskaya Pravda is distinguished by a well-developed root system, and it is characterized by the formation of several branches on one bush at once. This must be taken into account when thinning plantings, subsequent division. The variety gives a sufficient number of stepchildren for breeding.
Ripening terms
Komsomolskaya Pravda is characterized by early-middle ripening periods. It bears fruit in the 3rd decade of June, the peak of fruiting is in July.
Growing regions
Komsomolskaya Pravda is well adapted to the climate of the central regions of Russia, the Volga region. Cultivation in southern Siberia is possible with proper care. There is an experience of successful cultivation of the variety in the North Caucasus. Winter hardiness is not too high, therefore, the variety is poorly adapted to severe cold weather.
Yield
The fruiting intensity of this strawberry variety is high; when harvested up to 10.4 t / ha, it is suitable for use on farms. At the summer cottage, at least 500 g of berries per season can be obtained from a bush. From 1 m2 of plantings, it is possible to get up to 1500 g of the crop.
Berries and their taste
Komsomolskaya Pravda berries are used to make jams and preserves, and to prepare juices. It is also suitable for fresh use, freezing. The berries have a pronounced ribbing, the main form is blunt-conical. They are quite large, with a deep dark red color. The average weight of the fetus varies between 12-13 g, from the second collection it increases 2-3 times.
The variety does not differ with a pronounced aroma, the taste properties are due to the balance of the content of acids, there are 0.98% of them, and sugars (5.78%). The pulp is also brightly colored, dense. The skin keeps it well from possible deformation.
Growing features
The variety can be cultivated outdoors, as well as in greenhouses and hotbeds. In the daytime, it is recommended to provide access to sunlight and fresh air. The optimal irrigation regime is achieved by drip irrigation of the soil. Planting bushes is possible in spring and autumn, for fruiting next year it is better to use the July transfer of new plants to the ground.
Site selection and soil preparation
The Komsomol member is not too picky about the choice of the landing site. She feels great on peat bogs, alumina and black soil. The only thing worth paying attention to is the uniform height of the site. In lowlands and on hilly terrain, one cannot count on abundant fruiting. Swampy soils for this variety are also not suitable.
Preparation for planting consists in carefully removing weeds. In addition, to protect against infections, it is recommended to disinfect the soil with an aqueous solution of ammonia. Severely acidified or limestone-rich areas are preliminarily brought back to normal. The plant must be protected from drafts, it is also worth taking care of the organization of the shelter.
Planting is recommended in abundantly moistened wells according to the 40 × 60 cm scheme. The roots must be straightened, the soil is tamped. During the rooting period, the bushes require daily watering in the morning. When planted according to the 35 × 35 cm scheme, the yield increases, but the strawberries require more careful care.
Pollination
A Komsomol member is a strawberry with unisexual flowers, not self-fertile. For pollination, the Mysovka variety is planted nearby, but other varieties with early flowering are also suitable.
Top dressing
Komsomolskaya Pravda responds well to feeding, especially when grown in poor soils. She is shown early organic fertilization; in the spring, rotted manure or mullein infusion at a concentration of 1: 10 is introduced under the bushes. To enhance flowering and fruiting, it is recommended to fertilize with potassium compounds or mineral complexes on the leaves.
At the end of the berry picking season, the strawberry beds are fertilized again. For a more active laying of peduncles, mineral complexes are used.
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.
Diseases and pests
Strawberry Komsomolskaya Pravda does not have high immunity against fungal diseases. The variety is vulnerable to gray mold, powdery mildew, and needs careful maintenance. Since the berries ripen rather late, the risks of their damage not only by diseases, but also by pests - strawberry mites, increase. Preventive insecticidal treatments and soil mulching help to reduce the likelihood of infection.
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
Komsomolskaya Pravda strawberries are cultivated in several ways. Seed is used mainly by breeders, it requires serious labor costs. Most often, to obtain new seedlings, they use the division of the bush in the autumn, at the end of fruiting, as well as pinching. To do this, leave 2-3 strong whiskers on the plant, wait for their rooting, the formation of a rosette, then they are separated from the parent plant, transplanted.
Review overview
According to those who are already successfully growing Komsomolskaya strawberries on their site, it is quite difficult for her to find a replacement. The annual abundant fruiting allows you to almost completely cover the need for fresh berries and raw materials for canning. The stability of the size of the fruits is noted - they do not shrink, as well as the ease of forming their own plots on the new planting material, only due to side shoots.
The owners of such plants include the abundant formation of whiskers to the disadvantages of the variety. The garden bed overgrows almost completely during the season. In addition, exclusively female flowers are formed on the bushes, you have to select suitable "neighbors" to get the harvest.