Ampel strawberries - varieties, care and cultivation

You can grow berries not only in the classical way, but also in the hanging way. The result is a beautiful decorative composition. Ampelous strawberries have long hanging tendrils with rosettes that bloom and bear fruit. You can use cascading containers for mini-gardens on loggias, verandas or in the room itself.

Ampel strawberries - varieties

Among other plants, this strawberry stands out in that it blooms and bears fruit together with its tendrils. Breeders have developed remontant varieties that produce crops several times during one season. When grown at home, you can collect fruits even in winter. Garden hanging strawberries have a number of advantages:

has decorative value;
able to grow well in low light conditions;
it is not necessary to use fertilizing;
the berries are large (weight up to 30 g), fleshy and sweet;
can be grown on a trellis, which prevents rot;
high yield.

Ampel strawberry "Roman"

The presented hybrid has a unique ability - the ability to continuously bloom with pink flowers. Other characteristics of the variety include:

Fruiting does not depend on daylight hours and time of year. The description of the ampel strawberry variety indicates that the berries can be picked after 1.5-2 months. after planting the seedlings.
Compact bushes reach a height of 25-30 cm, and they produce many inflorescences and tendrils. The teardrop-shaped berries are large, they have a pleasant aroma and excellent taste.
In protected soil conditions, ampelous strawberries can bear fruit for up to 10 months. per year. The first harvest can be harvested a couple of months after planting.
The variety "Roman" can be used as an ornamental plant.

Ampel strawberry "Fragaria"

Many will be surprised that in fact this plant is not a strawberry, although the berries are very similar in appearance. It was brought from India and the countries of Southeast Asia. This is an ornamental perennial berry plant, which many grow as an ampel variety of strawberries. The bushes are small (height 10-15 cm) with dense dark green leaves and small flowers with five petals. The berries are edible, but they have no taste.

Ampelous strawberry "Tarpan"

A garden variety of remontant strawberry that bears fruit and blooms throughout the summer. It is worth noting the presence of large bright pink flowers and elongated peduncles. The description of the strawberry variety "Tarpan" states that it can be grown on balconies in flower pots and outside in garden beds. The berries are large and weigh approximately 30-35 g. They are very tasty and have a strong strawberry aroma.

Ampel strawberry "Laurent"

This is a Dutch hybrid of large-fruited strawberries, the distinctive features of which include the compactness of the bushes, slight arborization and early flowering. In addition, the growing period of this variety is very short. The description of the strawberry variety "Laurent" states that the conical berries have a medium-early ripening period. They are large, dense, juicy and sweet. Due to its compactness and early flowering, this species is ideal for growing indoors.

Ampel strawberry “Pineapple”

The description of this variety states that it is early ripening and without beards. The bush is small and semi-spreading. Many people are sure that they call strawberries “Pineapple” because of their similarity in taste to the tropical taste, but in fact this is not the case. From Latin, “pineapple” means a type of garden strawberry that has no analogues in the wild. Pineapple strawberries are called polymorphic, that is, many types of this crop are known. The white berries have soft, sweet-sour and aromatic pulp.

Ampel strawberry "Temptation"

Breeders in England developed this large-fruited and remontant variety, from which you can get dense, but at the same time juicy berries. They are very sweet and have a strong nutmeg aroma. The fruits can be collected both on the main bush and on the tendrils. Temptation strawberries can be harvested from May until frost. It can be grown in flowerpots and balcony boxes.

Features of the variety

Descriptions and reviews of garden strawberries “temptation F1” convince even less experienced gardeners to plant a few bushes to try. Remontant hanging varieties of strawberries attract not only summer residents. The “temptation” variety is also interesting for those who do not have a suburban area. A city dweller will provide himself with fragrant berries all year round if he plants “hanging, long-lasting” strawberries on his balcony or windowsill.

Advantages of hanging hybrids

Dutch "temptation" has the following advantages:

Year-round fruiting. Planted in a hanging pot, floor flowerpot or balcony box, remontant strawberries bear fruit all summer long. And in the fall, when the gardening season ends, the container with bushes is brought into the warmth. Indoors, the growing season continues, and until spring “temptation” blooms, the berries ripen with the same taste and aroma.
Off-season planting. Sowing seeds is not tied to a time limit - strawberries can be planted at any time of the year. They grow them at home in winter and take them out into the garden in summer.
Precocity. The bush gains color soon after planting. The first berries are harvested 40-45 days after the ovaries appear.
Abundance of harvest. Strawberries produce up to 20 flower stalks at a time. It sets fruit on its tendrils, forming a strawberry cascade.
Large fruit. Average weight – about 20 g, maximum – 25 g.
Taste. Temptation ampel strawberries are very aromatic, dense and juicy.
Easy to care for. Outdoor care is standard. In closed ground, a greenhouse or indoors, in addition to normal growing activities, intensive lighting is required.
Decorative. At any time of the year, falling shoots, studded with flowers or fruits, decorate the space. This is evidenced by photos in reviews from gardeners.

The description of Temptation strawberries provided by the variety's producers is confirmed by positive reviews. Therefore, ampelous culture is gaining popularity.

A general idea of growing climbing hybrids in the video:

Disadvantages of hanging varieties

The disadvantages of berry culture are explained by their “isolation” from the land:

The limited amount of soil in a pot or flowerpot requires updating every 2-3 years. Otherwise, the plant degrades: the berries become smaller, and there are fewer ovaries every year.
For the same reason, strawberries are watered more often. The soil dries out faster in a container.
Fertilizing all year round to maintain substrate fertility.
Supplementary lighting in winter, when daylight hours are reduced to a minimum.

Disadvantages are compensated by the pleasure of work and the result obtained. Strawberry fans who are not afraid of additional costs, judging by the reviews, do not regret planting Temptation strawberries.

How to plant ampelous strawberries?

To get a harvest in the summer, it is necessary to carry out timely seed sowing and this should be done in early February. There are some rules on how to plant ampel strawberries correctly:

It is best to use containers that allow light to pass through. The seeds are evenly distributed over the moistened substrate and covered with snow or a lid.
It will be useful to harden the seeds, for which they should be placed in the refrigerator for several days.
For successful seed germination, it is important that the temperature is 24°C, there is good air flow and there is acceptable lighting. If everything is done correctly, then within a week you can see sprouts.
When strawberry shoots appear, the cover must be removed. Watering should be superficial and diffuse. After this, the temperature drops to 6°C.
At the next stage, two-time feeding is carried out using a complex mixture or solution of nitroammophoska.
The seedlings are picked after a month, when they are transplanted into small pots.
When the bushes are already 2 months old, they are transplanted into containers for permanent cultivation. Drainage, for example, broken brick or expanded clay, is placed at the bottom of the containers. The container is filled with soil from the garden, purified sulfur or ash, or store-bought substrates are used.

Ampelous strawberries can be planted in several ways, which have their own characteristics.

Glade. Beautiful bushes look great on a green lawn. For an area measuring 2x2, it is necessary to have 30-40 rosettes, which are planted at intervals of 0.5 m. The soil should be the same as for cucumbers. Seedlings are planted in August.
Trellis. The height of the device should be approximately 1 m high. You need to plant 3 rosettes per meter. Planting can be done in spring and summer.
Barrel. The container should have a volume of 100-200 liters. It is recommended to collect weeds in it a year in advance, adding a means to quickly produce compost. After this, the fertilizer is sprinkled with black soil. The barrel should be filled so that the soil does not reach 10-15 cm to the edge. 7-8 seedlings can be placed in the container.
Hanging containers. The depth should be at least 30 cm. Polyethylene must be placed at the bottom and a hole must be made so that water does not stagnate.

Features of planting and care

The opportunity to sow Temptation strawberries in winter, when time permits, or in summer, after the peak of gardening work, attracts summer residents. After all, during the planting and harvesting stages, every day counts.

Sowing and growing seedlings

Sowing and growing Temptation seedlings is no different from conventional varieties. A bush with 3-5 leaves is planted in a container filled with loose, light nutritious soil. Contains:

vermicompost;
turf land;
perlite or vermiculite;
garden soil with a neutral reaction.

Watering, fertilizing, treatment against diseases

If the flowerpot or flowerpot is in the sun and the weather is truly summer, water the strawberries twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. On particularly dry, hot days, “temptation” is shaded or moved to partial shade. The soil is regularly loosened and weeds are removed.

Ampelous berry plants rarely get sick, since they do not come into contact with the ground and are located above the level of the beds. Therefore, they almost do not need pest control treatments. Before taking it out into the garden, preventive spraying will increase immunity to diseases after indoor conditions. And at the end of the season, repeated treatment will prevent accidental infections or pests from being introduced into the house or onto other plants.

How to care for ampelous strawberries?

To harvest a bountiful harvest several times a year, it is important to properly care for the plants. For this purpose, you need to know the following requirements:

It is important to observe the temperature regime, so for seedlings of ampelous strawberries before flowering, 10-15°C is enough. When the berries begin to ripen en masse, it is worth maintaining 22-25°C. In this case, the air humidity should be about 60%.
For ampelous strawberries, lighting conditions are important. During the period of flowering and fruit formation, the duration of daylight should be at least 14 hours. In cold times, it is recommended to take care of artificial lighting and heating.

Caring for ampelous strawberries in winter

When growing plants outside, it is important to take care of covering the bushes for the winter, especially if the temperature drops to -20°C and there is little snow. This is important to prevent the roots from freezing. Covering is necessary during regular frosts, but if the temperature rises, it is better to clean the bushes to prevent damping off. Large-fruited ampelous strawberries can be covered with pine spruce branches, hay, straw, dry leaves and agrofibre.

Garden ampel strawberries - soil

It is important to use soil that is enriched with mineral fertilizers, nitroammophos, saltpeter and cow manure. You should focus on the following proportion: for 10 kg of soil, fertilizers are required in the proportion of 15:20:1000 g. Before planting ampelous strawberries, the soil must be sifted so that it becomes “airy”. As a soil mixture, you can use peat and turf mixed in a 2:1 ratio with the addition of a small amount of sand. Another option is to use prepared soil for strawberries.

How to feed ampelous strawberries?

Since almost all varieties produce abundant fruiting, after it the bush is depleted, so it needs abundant and regular feeding. Growing ampel strawberries involves adding nitrogen and potassium to the soil. As for phosphorus, it only needs to be fed once - before planting. Feeding is carried out according to the following scheme:

In the third decade of December, urea is added to the soil. It is important to use a 1% or 2% formulation.
In the second half of June, it is necessary to water the bushes with liquid cow manure or chicken droppings.
Together with organic fertilizers, it is recommended to use mineral additives, for example, “Solution” or “Crystallin”.

Ampel strawberries - watering

It is important for this crop to receive regular watering. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is moist, which will promote the rapid growth of young foliage. There are several rules for watering:

To increase fruiting, after harvesting remontant strawberries, you should trim them and start watering the bushes with warm water.
It is recommended to irrigate the soil at sunset or in the morning to protect the plant from sunburn. After this, the soil must be loosened and mulched.
You cannot water the bush from above, so pour water under the root. If you neglect this rule and liquid gets into the center of the rosette, the plant may die.
The frequency of watering is determined by the condition of the soil; if it slightly sticks to your hands, then everything is fine, but if it crumbles, then irrigation is carried out.
During fruiting, strawberries should be watered once every five days. It is best to give preference to drip irrigation.