Currently, ampelous varieties of large-fruited strawberries are rapidly gaining popularity, which give a tasty and very rich harvest. In addition, with proper care, such plants can become an unusual decoration for the garden and home. Still would! After all, the berry can be planted at home even in winter, and the flowers are of an extraordinary pink color.
What is ampelous strawberry?
The name of this species came from the German language, from which the word "ampel" is translated as a lamp. That is, initially, such plants were perceived as decorative elements that are grown in flower pots and pots and suspended from the ceiling like a light bulb.
Ampel strawberry has a number of features, thanks to which gardeners all over the world love it so much:
- The main difference from other varieties is that such garden strawberries bear fruit both on the peduncles and on the mustache;
- Most varieties of ampelous strawberries are remontant, therefore, the harvest can be obtained throughout the growing season;
- This group includes varieties intended for vertical cultivation, with which you can decorate your home and get a harvest of tasty and juicy berries. Even city dwellers can grow such a berry by placing it on a balcony or windowsill;
- Many varieties thrive in low light conditions.
Many gardeners call this type of garden strawberry curly, but this concept is very controversial. In order for the mustache of the plant to begin to twine around the supports, they must be tied.
The main difficulties that a gardener may face will be individual placement and frequent transplants:
- when growing seedlings, ampelous strawberries are planted in separate beds and not mixed with other species;
- every 2-3 years, the bush must be transplanted into fresh, fertile soil with a lot of fertilizers, otherwise the berries will begin to shrink and the plant will lose its basic properties.
Popular varieties
- Tuscany - this variety was bred relatively recently, but it is already very popular among gardeners around the world. Compact bushes, the height and width of which is 25-30 centimeters, release long shoots, 1 meter in size. The yield is very high, large, ruby cone-shaped, elongated fruits have an excellent taste and aroma. Such a plant will become a wonderful decoration anywhere, and the resulting fruits are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent;
- Homemade delicacy Is another decorative variety of ampelous strawberries that can be grown in pots or special pots. Powerful and dense foliage of dark green color favorably sets off small bright red cone-shaped berries. They have an excellent aroma and slightly sour taste;
- Queen Elizabeth 2 - the bush of this variety is very powerful and strong, the berries are large, their weight can reach 40 grams. The fruits have a regular conical shape, are painted in a deep red color, the skin is smooth and shiny. The pulp is dense and juicy, the taste is excellent. Fruiting can be repeated up to 2-3 times per season. Queen Elizabeth 2 needs to be replanted every 1.5 years;
- Cletter star - this variety is distinguished by excellent resistance to drought and frost, can winter without shelter. The bush is compact, forms a large number of whiskers. The peduncles are tall, but under the weight of the berries they bend down. The fruits are very juicy and tasty, they are large in size (one berry can weigh up to 60 grams). The skin of this strawberry is bright red, and the flesh is firm. The presence of a strong aroma is characteristic;
- Fresco - fruiting period stretches from June to September. On a small, compact bush, many inflorescences are formed, which bring a rich harvest. The berries are not large, their average weight is 20 grams. They have a pleasant sweet and sour taste and strong aroma, the flesh is firm and juicy. This variety tolerates temperature extremes and is immune to many diseases.
How to plant a berry?
Ampel strawberry is a rather unusual plant that is grown in pots or outdoors. Most often, various compositions are created from it that can decorate any room or garden. Regardless of where such strawberries will be grown, it is necessary to make a fertile soil mixture consisting of:
- 4 parts of sod land;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part coarse river sand.
To improve the fertility of the soil, it can be additionally fed with organic fertilizers before planting.
In order for the plant to adapt more quickly and take root in a new place, before carrying out the main work, the seedling is buried in the ground and removed to a warm, dark place.
Most often, ampelous strawberries are planted in the summer, during the period that lasts from mid-June to the end of August. There are several ways to place this interesting shrub.
The most common option is to grow strawberries in flowerpots or pots:
- For the plant to feel comfortable, the depth and diameter of the container should be 30 centimeters;
- Initially, a thin layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the pot, consisting of expanded clay, pebbles or broken brick, then soil is laid on top of it;
- The seedling is placed in a container, carefully dripped with earth and watered abundantly.
When using this method, the mustache will smoothly go down. They look especially beautiful during flowering or fruiting.
Growing ampelous strawberries in the open field allows you to come up with many ways to place them. Many gardeners tie antennae to a trellis or low fence. The main rule that should be taken into account with such a planting will be to maintain the distance between the bushes, it should be at least 30-35 centimeters.
The pyramid-shaped fit is also very popular. For this, three boxes are made with a depth of 30-40 centimeters, while the length and width of the first of them should be 1 meter, the second 60 centimeters, and the third 20 centimeters. The resulting containers are filled with soil and placed on top of each other, after which strawberries are planted in them.
In the first and second boxes, seedlings are placed in the corners. Only one strawberry bush can fit on the upper tier.
Regardless of the planting scheme, the final stage will be abundant watering of the plants.
Plant care
Ampel strawberry is considered an unpretentious plant, therefore, its cultivation will be within the power of both a novice gardener and a professional. However, this culture also has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when growing it. First of all, it should be noted that such plants do not tolerate heat and direct sunlight, therefore, on too hot days they need to be additionally shaded.
Water the plant twice a day, using a small amount of water. When growing berries, it is very important to maintain balance, the soil must be constantly moist, but moisture stagnation is not encouraged.
If strawberries grow in a flowerpot or pot, instead of watering, you can pour water into the pan and put the container there for 30 minutes. During this time, the soil has enough moisturizer and will take the right amount of water.
The plant is fed once a month, using a mixture consisting of minerals diluted in water, taken in equal proportions:
- superphosphate;
- potassium permanganate;
- boric acid;
- ammonium nitrate;
- copper;
- zinc.
If strawberries are grown at home, they must be pollinated on their own. There are several ways to accomplish these steps:
- The pollen is collected on a brush and transferred to a flower;
- Two flowers next to each other tilt towards each other;
- You can also use a fan that is directed at the plant.
Pruning
An important aspect in growing berries will be correct and timely pruning, with the help of which you can achieve the best yield:
- To increase the number of fruits, it is recommended to completely remove the first peduncles;
- Experienced gardeners recommend leaving no more than 5 whiskers on the plant, in which case it will bring more harvest;
- After receiving the first berries, you must cut off the lower leaves and flowering buds of the plant.
Preparing for winter at home
Even despite the fact that such strawberries have good frost resistance, they still need to be prepared for winter:
- The best way of wintering is to transfer bushes from open ground to a room, in this case, the risk that the plant will freeze will be minimized;
- If the strawberry remains to winter in the open field, then in this case the mustache is removed from the support and laid on the ground, after which it is covered with spruce branches, polyethylene, burlap or any other material.
Diseases and pests of remontant berries
Ampel strawberry is a favorite spot for various insects., most often you can find a strawberry mite or a nematode on it.
When a strawberry mite appears, the berries wither and shrink and wither. To get rid of the pest, the plant is treated three times with special preparations ("Nero", "Fufanon", "Actellik", etc.) with an interval of 7-10 days. If therapy does not help, it is necessary to cut off all the foliage from the bush and burn it.
With a nematode, the berries harden and the stems become thick and short. In this case, it is impossible to cure the plant; it is immediately dug up and burned.
Also, ampelous strawberries can pick up fungal diseases, which can only be eliminated by using various fugnicides. Prevention in this case is that the berry is treated with Brodsky liquid twice a year, in spring and autumn.
Ampel strawberry is a very interesting and unusual plant that can be grown both outdoors and at home. The main advantage of the subspecies will be abundant fruiting, which is due to the fact that the berries are formed both on the peduncles and on the mustache.