Ampel strawberry

Breeders from all over the world come up with more and more new varieties and varieties of strawberries. Take, for example, the variety of the same remontant strawberries. They thundered among the horticultural world as soon as they appeared. Still, berries can be picked almost all year round! But the selection did not stop there, and ampelous curly strawberries were bred. It has many advantages in care and not only and belongs to the remontant varieties.

Ampel strawberry - what is it

ampel strawberry

There are many varieties of strawberries, which, in addition to a large number of long antennae, also form rosettes that bloom and bear fruit without touching the ground. These rosettes also form antennae and rosettes.

Interestingly, these strawberry varieties give antennae even when the first peduncles have not yet appeared.

Thanks to these facts, while the main plant begins to bear its first fruits, the daughter rosettes can begin to form the very first buds.

Experienced gardeners very often plant such strawberry varieties in flowerpots or pots for ampel crops. Strawberry shoots will then fall down beautifully, which will make this crop very decorative.

If you dig into the topic of word formation, then in German "ampel" in translation means "a vase that hangs." For this reason, it is more accurate to say that ampelous strawberries are still a way of growing, and not a separate type of strawberries.

This strawberry, as a rule, belongs to the remontant varieties. This allows you to make the strawberry fruiting period more extended in time: from spring to autumn. Throughout this time, a pots with such strawberries will be a wonderful decoration for your plot.

As a rule, this method of growing strawberries is actively used if there is not enough space for planting on the site. Alternatively, hanging strawberry planters look good on a balcony or terrace.

Many of those who grow ampel strawberries at home focus not on obtaining berries, but in order to obtain a decorative look.

The fact is that if an ampelous strawberry has too many long whiskers, then the load on the plant will be too high. And the strawberries will not be able to begin to bloom and bear fruit.

However, berries are not so important for everyone, for someone it is much more important to admire the beautiful lush greenery, which "pours out" from the flowerpot with a beautiful waterfall.

Growing ampelous strawberries

ampel strawberry

If for your purposes to get a fairly large amount of planting material, whether it is just for yourself or for commercial purposes, then it is convenient to use the seed propagation method. Growing strawberries by seed is quite convenient.

This will allow you to get a lot of strong young bushes. And if you sowed your seeds early, then there is a chance that you will get the harvest in the same year.

In addition, if you use the mustache propagation method for a long time, then there is a risk that your plants will accumulate various viral diseases.

As for the seeds, with them almost never such misfortunes can be transmitted.

It is important to know that you should not pick those seeds that are on hybrid strawberry bushes. It may so happen that the varietal characteristics of the mother plant may not be preserved.

In case you purchase strawberry seeds from a garden store, then remember that the germination period for such seeds is quite short. So you need to plant the purchased seeds in the same year. Since they may simply not go to the next one.

Seeds of ampelous strawberries are sown, as a rule, in January - maximum February.

It is very important to choose the correct composition of the planting soil. The soil for planting should not be heavy, it should be good for air to pass through. Do not dig seeds into the soil as they are very small.

Seeds can only germinate when lying on the top of the ground, in good light.

Typically, peat-based soil is used. It will not be superfluous if you add more coconut fiber there. Pour some river sand on top, which must be properly calcined before that.

For better germination, some gardeners do the following: they cover the soil with a not thick layer of snow, then spread seeds on top of the snow. This is necessary so that during the melting of the snow, the seeds seem to rush to the soil, while simultaneously moistening.

Lay glass or film on top of your crops and put it in a well-lit and rather warm room (temperature +24 degrees). Be sure to ventilate your crops every day, while cleaning your shelter for five to ten minutes.

Seedlings may appear after a week. But this is not always the case, sometimes you have to wait for sprouts for 15 - 20 days. After your seeds have hatched, your containers with plants need to be placed in a bright place.

In this case, the daylight hours should be at least twelve hours a day.

Do not forget about the daily airing of the seedlings. Glass or film can be completely removed at the moment the first two true leaves on your plants open.

Watering the seedlings should be moderate. It is best to use a syringe or pipette for this. If you overmoisten the soil, then there is a risk that the plants will get sick with a black leg.

After your seedlings are born, observe a temperature regime of about +18 degrees.

Seedlings, as a rule, need to dive a month after the seedlings have appeared. They need to be planted in separate small cups. By this time, the plants should have at least three true leaves, however, the bushes are still not large in size.

With the help of a pick, the plant will begin to grow more actively. This is necessary so that on the days of May you fearlessly plant your strawberry seedlings on the site.

Before your seedlings go outdoors, be sure to feed your plants more than once. Usually a complex of mineral fertilizers is used for these purposes.

Diluted manure is also suitable, to which you can add wood ash.

Provided that the seeds were planted for seedlings in winter, in January, then the first flowers and buds will most likely appear on the days of May.

How to plant ampelous strawberries correctly

As a rule, ampelous strawberries are planted in special containers. Therefore, you need to think in advance about the correct composition of the land in which your strawberries will be grown.

Most gardeners use humus, peat and leafy soil for this. The proportions are equal. You can also add river sand there, and a hydrogel will not be superfluous in this mixture. It is needed in order to absorb moisture during watering.

After that, the hydrogel swells, and then, if necessary, gives off excess water to the plant root system. Very often, in hot weather, in a container with plantings, the soil dries out too quickly. And in such cases, the hydrogel will be a good helper and emergency moisture provider for your strawberries.

Place drainage at the bottom of the container in which you plan to grow strawberries. The layer must be thick enough. Pebbles, expanded clay or lump charcoal can be used as drainage.

Organize planting so that one plant has from one and a half to three liters of nutrient mixture. Do not deepen your bushes, especially the middle part of the bushes. There is a growing point, and it should be located on the top of the earth.

Ampel strawberry - care

Ampel strawberries are not whimsical, but you still need to know something about leaving. An important role in this matter is the unusual form of growth of your strawberry bushes.

Therefore, in this regard, the following points must be taken into account:

1) Water the ampelous strawberry bushes carefully and evenly. Never allow the soil to dry out. Waterlogging of the soil is also guaranteed to adversely affect the condition of your plants.

A very good help in this case is to use a hydrogel during planting. It will not be superfluous to install a drip irrigation system, it is not too difficult to install. There are also special pots that have built-in humidity control.

2) Since ampelous varieties are mainly remontant, do not forget about fertilizing on a regular basis. This should be done throughout the growing season.

It is imperative to feed ampel strawberries, because for such a large number of antennae and rosettes, you need a lot of nutrients.

If you grow ampel strawberries indoors, it is better to use fertilizing in a complex based on minerals. In an open area, a variety of organic fertilizers are better suited.

If you are growing ampel strawberries in order to get berries, then be sure to make sure that there are not too many outlets and antennae. One mustache should have no more than two sockets.

This is the amount that the plant can provide with a normal amount of nutrition. Remove additional outlets as additional outlets appear. It is also not recommended to leave too many mustache, it would be optimal to leave no more than 5 first antennae.

But this is not some kind of strict rule, but only a recommendation, since a lot depends on your specific growing conditions and the selected variety.

Be sure to properly prepare your strawberries for the winter period. Here are some guidelines:

1) It will be best if you transfer your bushes in the autumn from pots, flowerpots and other containers to open ground. After that, you need to dig in the plants in the soil and lay mulch from leaf litter or straw.

If there is such an opportunity, then dig in the ampelous strawberry right along with the containers in which it grows.

2) If you are growing ampel strawberries in a southern climate, you can insulate your plants located on vertical structures with straw mats or with a dense white non-woven material.

This is necessary so that the plants do not get sunburn.

3) If you grow ampel strawberries in areas where the winters are quite snowy, then disassemble your structures and lay them on the ground. The snow cover will be sufficient for wintering.

4) Ampel varieties can also be safely carried right in containers, flowerpots and pots for wintering in the basement or cellar. In this case, the air temperature should be no more than -5 +3 degrees.

If a higher temperature regime is observed, then there is a risk that your plants will "catch" fungal diseases.

5) In springtime, strawberry bushes can be planted again in pots and containers. In this case, do not forget to remove leaves that have withered and dried up. Caring for ampelous strawberries is no different from caring for ordinary strawberries.

By planting ampelous strawberries in your summer cottage, on a balcony or loggia, you will receive not only a good harvest of sweet strawberries, but also beautiful ornamental plants that will also delight you and your loved ones with their elegant appearance.

And under the conditions of adherence to correct agricultural technology, ampelous strawberries will be with you for more than one year.