The Zimoyarka wheat variety was created through individual selection of plants obtained as a result of exposure to low temperatures during winter sowing of spring wheat of German origin. It has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements since 2007 and is recommended for cultivation in the forest-steppe zone, as well as suitable for steppe and meadow areas. Zimoyarka belongs to the mid-late maturing varieties with a vegetation period of 273-289 days and possesses high yield potential — from 5 to 9.4 tons per hectare. Plant height is 85-100 cm, thousand-grain weight — 42-45 g, protein content in grain reaches 14.6%.
A distinctive feature of the variety is the possibility of sowing at the end of the optimal autumn sowing period for winter crops, during winter thaws and early spring, making it the first in Ukraine suitable for such conditions. However, early autumn sowing may lead to excessive growth of seedlings and their freezing due to insufficient cold resistance, therefore for reliable seed production, spring sowing is recommended. The seeding rate is 5.5-6.0 million viable seeds per hectare, and for spring sowing, the rate should be slightly increased.
To achieve high yields, typical agronomic measures for winter and spring wheat are required: fertilization on poor soils in autumn or early spring on frozen soil, early spring top-dressings, as well as protection of plants from pests and diseases, especially after ear emergence, using fungicides such as Falcon or Foliar. The variety is highly resistant to lodging, shattering, root rot, septoria, fusarium, brown rust, and powdery mildew, scoring 8 points on these parameters. Optimal preceding crops for Zimoyarka are clean and cropped fields, annual grasses, and peas.
