One of the popular “giant varieties” of garden strawberries is the Tsunaki variety. Its distinguishing feature is large fruits, a large bush, high productivity without the need for updating planting material to 5–7 years. This variety is called “grade-titanium” and “variety-centenarian.” The names fully justify themselves, so the variety deserves special attention. The features of the variety will be discussed in the article.

Description of Tsunaki Strawberry

The Tsunaki strawberry variety from Japan is popular and won the hearts of many gardeners. It differs in large fruits, with a characteristic aroma and taste of wild strawberries. If you first decided to plant Tsunaki, get acquainted with the nuances of its cultivation.

Bush

Bushes of the Tsunaki variety are powerful, tall (50 cm), voluminous (60–70 cm in diameter) and sprawling. Thick and large foliage of bright green color, medium wrinkles, dentate. The root system is well developed. The average mustache, but the mustache is thick and powerful. The flowers are white, strong, tall, the stalks firmly hold the berries, but under the weight of large fruits fall on the soil. Fruits are located under the leaves, which protects them from sunlight and birds.

Did you know? Strawberries are the only berries whose seeds are located outside the fruit.

Fetus

Tsunaki fruits are large, at the first ovary they are fan-shaped and reach a weight of 130 g, with further ovaries more rounded, weighing up to 80 g. Glossy red berries. Seeds of a bright yellow hue, small and superficial. The pulp has a high density and juiciness, with a pleasant strawberry smell and taste, red. The fruits are very sweet, there is a shade of nutmeg and caramel.

Variety Characteristics

The new Japanese strawberry variety, which has already taken root in the beds, has large fruits that have an incredible taste. It is characterized by high transportability. The Tsunaki variety can be confidently called the ideal variety with a consistently rich yield and the presence of large fruits.

Disease and pest resistance

Due to the fact that Tsunaki is originally from Japan, he has strong immunity, is resistant to diseases and pests, but is not affected by diseases more often than other plants on the site.

You will be interested to know the difference between strawberries and strawberries.

Drought and winter hardiness

Strawberries are protected by large, densely growing leaves and do not bake in the sun, and a powerful root system ensures high drought tolerance of plants. Tsunaki is winter-hardy, its wilted leaves will be enough to protect the root system from the cold, but it will not hurt to shelter the bushes in autumn, this will be true in the spring in cold areas. According to reviews, the Tsunaki variety is the most “tenacious” and feels comfortable in various regions.

Varieties bred in Japan, better than others take root in all climatic latitudes.

Timing of flowering and ripening

Tsunaki's flowering period begins in mid-May and ends in early July. During flowering, the plant especially needs care and top dressing, for better yield. Strawberries begin to ripen in mid-July and continue until the end of August. This weather period is favorable both for cold regions and for hot ones.

Productivity

The yield of the Tsunaki variety is very high, reaching 3 kg of berries from one bush. For gardeners, with sufficient care and attention, one of the achievable indicators will be 2 kg, but it all depends on the efforts made to grow and on weather conditions.

Learn how to grow strawberries in winter.

For such a large crop, you need to seriously and competently take care of the crop, you need to monitor the conditions of its growth, and also use a moderate amount of fertilizer.

Transportability

Due to the fact that Tsunaki fruits are dense and large in size, they are easy to transport. When transported, they do not flow or crumple, so this strawberry is suitable for cultivation for sale.

Application

The use of Tsunaki berries is universal.

They can be used:

• for freezing, because after thawing the berries retain an unsurpassed taste and aroma, as well as a universal shape;
• in fresh form;
• for the preparation of compotes, jam, jam, marmalade.

Did you know? The strawberry pulp is not its fruit, but a receptacle for true fruits - nuts on its surface, which we used to call seeds.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Japanese Tsunaki variety has advantages and disadvantages.

• pros
• bears fruit for at least 5 years;
• due to the abundant number of mustaches, the bushes easily multiply;
• planting can be done both in open ground and in closed (greenhouse, greenhouse);
• resistance to frost;
• resistance to drought;
• annual abundant harvest of large fruits;
• the berries are sweet;
• planting can be done in spring and autumn;
• the berries are hard, suitable for transportation.

• Minuses
• prone to disease;
• high probability of choosing the wrong place to land;
• with insufficient care, strawberries will die;
• if the temperature and humidity conditions are not observed, it will rot, and will soon die.

Agrotechnics of cultivation and care

In agricultural technology, the Tsunaki variety is standard. Basic care is required - loosening the soil, removing weeds, regular watering, fertilizing, treatment against diseases and pests.

Nuances of agricultural technology:

1. It is required to take into account the size of the plant when planting . Bushes must be planted at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other, if you plant the bushes closer, productivity will decrease.
2. One bush of Tsunaki variety takes up 2 times more space than other varieties . When landing it is necessary to take into account and calculate the area of ​​land. If you are interested in obtaining the largest number of fruits with 1 m² of area, you need to think about what is more profitable for you - to plant a certain number of plants of this variety or to plant another variety of strawberries, but 2 times more bushes.

Since this variety bears fruit for 5–7 years, planting material will not have to be updated frequently, but with intensive use, rejuvenation will be needed earlier. Large-fruited varieties with a high yield indicator quickly develop their resources, so 5-7 years is a long time. But for an amateur gardener, these figures are achievable. The main thing is to ensure timely rejuvenation of planting material so as not to be disappointed in the variety.

Read also about how to make a bed for strawberries.

Landing time

The large-fruited Tsunaki variety is planted both in spring and autumn. Autumn landing is the best time for the middle lane. Landing during this period is relevant from late August to mid-September. You can plant at the end of September, but taking into account the fact that the weather should be stable (not lower than +10 ... + 12 ° С). In the spring, planting is carried out after complete melting of snow.

Seat selection and landing

In order for strawberries to yield rich harvests, the following rules must be observed:

1. The plot should be flat. If there are holes, they need to be removed - in such hollows after rain excess water will accumulate.
2. The bed should be sufficiently lit.
3. The soil must be fertile, air- and water-permeable and loose.
4. The roots of the bushes should be up to 5 cm. High-quality seedlings are the key to a good harvest!
5. Before planting, fertilizers (peat, compost or humus) must be added to the wells.
6. The bushes must be placed at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other, between the rows the distance should be 40 cm.
7. Landing is carried out in cloudy weather.

To prepare the soil for planting, 3 buckets of humus per 1 m² are added to it. After that, it is necessary to dig up the site and level it. Then form shallow holes, add a little peat in them and pour over them.

Important! The best time to plant strawberries is early September. Landing in warm and not rainy weather, avoid heat.

At the bushes, straighten the roots, plant, sprinkle with a substrate and slightly compact. After the end of planting, bushes are abundantly watered, mulch the soil (cover) with peat or sawdust.

Watering frequency

It is required to start watering Tsunaki strawberries in the spring, after the soil has completely dried.

Important! Tsunaki is resistant to drought, but do not neglect this. Watering is necessary, based on weather conditions, it is necessary that the soil is always moist.

You need to moisten the bushes correctly and follow the tips:

• watering in the morning and evening;
• water the soil around the bushes, avoid getting water on the foliage and inflorescences;
• watering to produce warm water.

Strawberries need regular watering, as it has a superficial root system.

Fertilizer application

Tsunaki needs fertilizer. Enough to fertilize strawberry bushes three times a year - in spring (after complete melting of snow), in summer (before or during flowering) and in autumn (after harvesting).

Features at every stage:

1. After the winter period, the plant needs good nutrition. After the snow has completely melted and the earth has dried, it is necessary to cut off dry and old leaves on the bushes, and also loosen the soil around each bush.
2. In spring, it is necessary to dilute 1 tbsp. l ammonium sulfate, 2 tbsp. mullein of porridge-like consistency. Ready solution to pour each bush of 1 liter.
3. Before flowering (or during it), strawberries must again be fertilized, for this it will require 2 tbsp. l nitrophoski and 1 tsp. potassium sulfate. Pour each bush with a ready-made solution of 0.5 l.
4. After fruiting, add 10 tbsp. To 10 l of water. l nitrofoski and 1 tbsp. wood ash. Ready solution to pour each bush of 1 liter.

Fertilizer, as well as proper care, is necessary for the plant to form flower buds on the bushes, which will give a rich harvest next year.

Pest and Disease Control

Strawberry is a strong and quite powerful plant, but if proper care is not observed, it can be affected by the following diseases:

1. Late blight . The edges of the leaves are ash gray with brown stripes. Soon, all the foliage acquires a brown hue, dries and falls.
   

2. Gray rot . Brown spots appear on the fruit. They grow rapidly, the fruits begin to rot, and the pedicels dry out.
   

3. Powdery Mildew The leaves turn purple and curl, covered with a white coating, similar to a powder. Berries lose their beautiful shape and acquire an unpleasant taste.
   

4. Brown spotting . The leaves are affected by small, brown hues, dots, which then develop into large spots. Subsequently, they completely turn yellow and die off.
   

To protect the crop from the above diseases, it is necessary to treat each bush with a fungicide solution. Dilute 4 ml of fungicide to 10 liters of water, so it is necessary to process 2-3 times with a break of 10 days. It is recommended to spray not only bushes, but also to water the soil. In addition to diseases, pests are often found on strawberries, such as: aphids and ticks (arachnoid or strawberry). They suck juice from young leaves, thereby weakening the plant.

Learn how to treat strawberries from pests and diseases.

If you find pests, you must immediately begin to combat them. It is necessary to spray the bushes with a solution of Agrovertin (1 ml per 1 liter of water), Intavira (1 tablet per 10 liters of water) or treat them with onion infusion 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days (200 g of onion husks per 10 liters of water; insist 4-5 days, decant). Protecting Tsunaki strawberries from pests and diseases is one of the important stages of its cultivation. A plentiful harvest can be achieved only from a healthy and strong plant.

Winter preparations

If your region is characterized by warm winters, then the surface coating of the soil is enough to protect the strawberry bushes for this period. If on the contrary - winters are frosty, bushes will need to be covered. The most relevant way to preserve Tsunaki strawberries before winter is the branches of conifers.

One of the best options would be to cover the strawberry bushes with compost with needles! Newly planted bushes are recommended to be covered completely, the remaining bushes can be covered only around. For better air circulation under the branches, you can put brushwood or dry raspberry stalks. You can also use straw, tops or dry leaves, but they have drawbacks: mice can be planted in the straw, and dry leaves and tops are caked, holding the air inside the shelter, which can cause strawberries to rot.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Berries are considered ripened when they have completely turned red, retain their shape and have not yet had time to soften. Then you can start collecting Tsunaki. The collection should be regular: every other day, and if there are a lot of beds, or if the weather is hot, daily. It does not require leaving the crop unattended, because the crop bears fruit for a short time.

Important! Do not defrost berries in a microwave or under running water, as they will soften. The best option is to let them thaw in the refrigerator.

When collecting, you need to follow simple rules:

• cut the berries with the stalk, thanks to this the berries remain dry;
• sort berries immediately when harvesting, the bad ones in one container, the good ones in another;
• use flat containers or boxes (wooden, plastic or cardboard) with ventilation holes;
• Fill each layer with paper towels, this will help absorb excess moisture, which will prevent the berries from decaying.

To store Tsunaki strawberries, it is recommended:

• wash strawberries must be before direct consumption; wet fruits are much less stored. If it is necessary to keep the fruits clean, then after washing, dry them with paper towels;
• so that after freezing the strawberry does not turn into a lump, it is recommended to freeze each berry separately (on chopping boards), and then pour them into containers or plastic bags;
• You can make mashed strawberries and freeze in a suitable container.

Read also our e-magazine on strawberry cultivation. Tsunaki is the best strawberry variety, which is unpretentious in care and has a high survival rate. You will always delight your family with large fruits with a wonderful taste and aroma, observing the simple rules of care and planting. After all, proper care always guarantees a rich harvest.

Video: Tsunaki Strawberry