Growing ampelous strawberries on the balcony and caring for them

If you have been busy with gardening for several years, you may have heard of such strawberry varieties as Baron Solemacher and Alexandrina. It is thanks to their creation that the cultivation of ampelous strawberries and proper care for it can be carried out at home. By following the recommendations, you can enjoy fresh, aromatic berries grown in flower pots.

Description of the plant

For breeding in a room, an ampelous look is suitable. This variety with cascading shoots got its name from its ability to develop and produce crops in small hanging flower pots and pots, which are located like light bulbs under the ceiling (with German “ampel” - light bulb).

A feature of the plant is the antennae, which bear fruit together with the main shoots and are strewn with red fruits during the ripening period. This characteristic difference of the ampel variety during the growing season allows you to get a continuous harvest.

Shoots do not require rooting, they receive nutrients and trace elements from the mother sprout.

You can grow ampelous culture at any time of the year, planting it in flower pots, and feast on fresh berries in winter.

To acquire decorativeness by the plant, the antennae must be tied up, because they do not braid the planting capacity and support.

Conditions required for growing:

• a place with sufficient sunlight;
• lack of drafts;
• the presence of remontant varieties of strawberries that are less capricious and adapted for growing on the balcony and in the room;
• constant moistening of the soil and the upper part of the plant;
• equipping the tank with good drainage;
• the required amount of mineral dressings.

Variety selection

For planting, it is worth choosing the varieties "Baron Solemacher", "Alexandrina", "Tuscany", "Solar Princess", "Temptation" and others. These species are able to grow in any conditions, delighting the owner with a large harvest. Let's consider the most common types.

• "Tuscany"

This variety is a prize-winner and winner of world agricultural exhibitions. Its compact size has made Tuscany a favorite among gardeners who grow crops on their balconies. The top foliage is 25 cm high and the shoots are up to a meter long, so it is suitable for growing in hanging pots. This curly strawberry is famous for its juicy and sweet berries, as well as intense productivity.

• "Baron Solemacher"

This type of berry is suitable for growing on a loggia in the warm season. The main advantages of the variety:

1. winter hardiness;
2. crop stability until the first frost;
3. bisexual flowering;
4. neatly formed bush;
5. absence of antennae.

"Baron Solemacher" has another important quality that is necessary for plants grown and fruitful in the warm season - resistance to heat. If you forgot, or by coincidence, could not moisten the soil in time, the plant will not die, but you do not need to bring the situation to cracking of the surface layer. This hybrid is resistant to various diseases and pests, therefore it does not require constant treatment with chemicals. "Baron Solemacher" prefers mineral fertilizing, which saturates the soil with nutrients.

• "Alexandrina"

This strawberry variety has established itself as an unpretentious plant that tolerates small temperature drops. If you care for it correctly, then during the growing season you can harvest several yields of delicious berries.

The main condition for planting this species is proper care and the presence of a large amount of sunlight. Therefore, it is necessary to plant this type of plant in the spring-summer period, and it bears fruit until mid-autumn.

A distinctive feature of the culture is the decorativeness of the bushes. Rich bright greenery with small berries is suitable for decorating open balconies and loggias.

Growing from ready-made seedlings

For seedlings purchased at the store, you need to remove all the greens, then plant the roots in a prepared pot. It should match the size of the bush. On average, the volume of the container should be at least 2 liters, and the height should be 13–15 cm. All containers in which the seedlings will be planted should have good drainage (pebbles or expanded clay) to remove excess moisture, as well as drainage holes.

After the basic preparations, we pour in nutritious soil - you can buy and prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to take in equal parts:

• turf;
• humus;
• sand.

We mix all the ingredients until smooth and spill with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

The root system also needs care before planting.

• You need to gently shake the bush to remove excess soil.
• Trim off injured or too long root shoots.
• Treat the roots with Heteroauxin. To prepare the solution, dilute 2 tablets of the substance in 10 liters of warm water.
• Deepen into the ground by 2–3 cm, make sure that the roots do not protrude above the surface.

After the bushes are completely planted, you need to pour them with settled water at a temperature room.

Growing from seeds

Germination and further development of the plant depends on the choice of seeds. All producers indicate the shelf life of seeds - 5 years, but after 2–2.5 years they begin to lose their quality characteristics, and the germination of such material decreases. Earlier packaging dates should be chosen.

Seed germination begins with soil preparation. The recipe for preparing the mixture can be taken the same as for ready-made seedlings. But in the conditions of a city apartment, it can be difficult to independently prepare fertile soil for seedlings, here a soil mixture enriched with trace elements and nutrients comes to the rescue, which is sold in a store.

The technology for germinating seeds in almost all climbing varieties of berry crops is the same:

1. sowing dry or germinated seeds;
2. covering containers with glass or polyethylene;
3. moistening the soil by spraying.

But varieties such as Baron Solemacher and Alexandrina have some nuances.

• The seeds of "Alexandrina" are soaked in warm water for 20–25 minutes, then they are distributed on the surface of the prepared soil and placed in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. After the stage of stratification necessary to improve the quality of the seedlings, the seed pots should be covered with glass.
• "Baron Solemacher" provides for soaking the seeds for a couple of minutes before sowing in a special solution "Humate", which promotes rapid germination. The dried seeds are placed on the surface of a thoroughly moistened soil and covered with glass.

Further, the germination process follows the following scheme:

• it is necessary to remove condensate accumulated on the glass in time;
• air the sprouts that appear;
• maintain optimal soil and air moisture;
• dive sprouts after the appearance of 3 leaves.

Planting of mature bushes to a permanent place is carried out after 70-80 days. Further, the care for all varieties becomes the same.

Berry care

For seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature. During growth and flowering, it is 13-15 ° C, and during ripening should vary from 21 to 25 ° C.

The length of daylight hours for ampelous strawberries is 12-14 hours, therefore, during the cold period, the room should be equipped with additional light sources.

Watering should be carried out as the soil dries. In the summer period 1-2 times every 7 days, in winter, in a heated room, increase as needed. To increase humidity, you can use trays of water or carry out daily spraying.

Top dressing has its own nuances. It is a misconception that careful maintenance and a lot of fertilization will increase yields. On the contrary, the introduction of nutrients into the soil contributes to the growth of green mass, and the berries become smaller and lose their taste.

Timely maintenance and moderate soil fertilization are necessary for:

• improving growth;
• increased flowering and ovaries;
• increasing yields and improving taste;
• protection against viruses and infections.

A mixture rich in trace elements can be prepared on your own using the necessary ingredients, or you can buy a ready-made formula in which all proportions of the necessary nutrients are observed.

Let's sum up

It became possible to enjoy fresh strawberries in the cold season. Specially bred hybrid varieties "Baron Solemacher", "Alexandrina" and others are suitable for planting at home and growing berries on a balcony or windowsill. The curly greenery of the plant will decorate any interior.

The culture does not require special care. Some species are able to grow in partial shade and tolerate a little dryness of the soil. Resistance to pests and various diseases allows even beginners to start growing.