Strawberries are one of many people's weaknesses. Fragrant, ripe, juicy, so that one berry could be eaten - isn't that what everyone dreams of? Strawberry variety Gigantella, which is especially trembling among gardeners, fully corresponds to such not too modest consumer demands.
The average weight of one strawberry is about 100 grams, that is, there are about 10 berries per kilogram, the diameter of each of which is about 9 cm. Everyone wants to grow such a Gigantella in his garden!
Strawberry Gigantella: Description
The circumference of the spreading bushes in diameter is more than half a meter, the height is the same. The leaves of the plant are large, bright, somewhat corrugated. There are a lot of flower stalks on the bush (from 20 to 30 pieces), each with 6-8 flowers. Ripening periods are average - June 20–25, when grown under a film - 7–10 days earlier. Gigantella, strawberry, reviews of which are positive and contribute to the growth of its popularity, is a powerful selection variety characterized by high productivity and large berry size. Providing proper care, to which the plant is not particularly demanding, about 3 kg of large sweet berries can be obtained from one bush.
Qualitative characteristics of fragrant berries
Strawberry variety Gigantella is of Dutch origin; a significant weight of the fruit is optimally combined with juicy dense pulp, a light pineapple aroma, unmatched taste and good transportability. Outwardly, the berries are beautiful and large, with white specks on a bright scarlet background. Ripening berries are characterized by a white tip, which, when fully ripe, is painted in the color inherent in the fruit. At the first harvest, the weight of the strawberry is about 110 grams, then it is reduced to 40-60 grams. Berries calmly relate to freezing, not at all losing their taste.
Due to the considerable size of the bushes, it is recommended to plant 4 pieces per square meter; the landing site should be optimally lit by the sun, under the warm rays of which the berry feels very comfortable, although it is difficult to tolerate extreme heat.
Strawberry propagation Gigantella
Gigantella strawberry seedlings are obtained in several ways: from seeds, by separation of bushes and rooting of antennae - the most popular and time-consuming method.
To grow a Gigantella from seeds, you need to prepare the soil by mixing humus, sand and earth in a ratio of 5: 3: 3. This composition must first be heated in the oven at a temperature of 120 degrees, then pour into containers (plastic cups or landing containers), compact and pour water. Put the seeds in the grooves made, and put the containers in a cool place until they germinate. When the first shoots appear (after 20–25 days), young plants should be dived and transferred to a warm room (recommended temperature +24 degrees). There they need to be grown before the formation of leaves and stems. Giantella strawberries are planted when 6 leaves appear on the bushes, can be planted in open ground; this often happens in May. When transplanting, the best time for which is cloudy weather, the roots should be cut to a length of 6-7 cm.
Planted bushes immediately need to be carefully watered (0.5-0.6 liters of water for each bush), and after a couple of weeks to check how the seedlings have taken root. Dead ones should be removed, replacing them with new ones.
The soil before planting young plants needs to be dug up, leveled with a rake and fertilized. It is these favorable conditions that directly affect the time of their growth: in one place, Gigantella strawberries can successfully bear fruit for more than 8 years.
Watering strawberries
Watering is an important factor in the care of Gigantella strawberries, because its lack or absence can lead to smaller berries, reduced yield and a high susceptibility to plant diseases. Watering should begin in early April, after which three more should be done: in May, June and July. This will be enough to provide strawberry bushes with the required amount of moisture. Approximately 10–12 liters and 20–25 liters during a period of intensive strawberry growth, which can be determined by the beginning of its flowering, should be used per square meter of garden beds.
The formation of flowers in the Gigantella variety occurs early - in the first weeks of May, and ripening - in late May - early June; consequently, a plant needs only 2 weeks to turn a pretty flower into a beautiful ripe fruit, of the correct shape without any irregularities.
Giantella Feeding
Like any plant, Gigantella - strawberries, reviews of which only confirm its unpretentiousness, needs to be fed. In the first year after planting, the introduction of potash fertilizers (in equal portions in early spring) is recommended. Nitrogen dressing for a young plant is not used, because there is a risk of rot on the berries. Nitrogen also causes rapid leaf growth, which is undesirable when growing strawberries. In the second year of life, you can add ammonium nitrate, in the third two parts (in the spring and after the last harvest) the following nutrient complex is introduced: potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate.
Strawberry Gigantella: Care
Strawberry care should be started from the moment the first snow melts. Bushes should be treated with pesticides, after removing dry leaves; you can scatter onion peel in the garden - the first useful fertilizer and at the same time medicine. With the beginning of active growth, strawberry bushes should be fed with complex fertilizer and mulched, that is, under the base of the bushes and put straw, sawdust, and needles in the rows between the rows. This helps to preserve moisture in the soil, protects against many diseases and ensures the purity of the future crop.
Also near the bushes you can spray wood ash, which ensures the creation of a normal level of alkali in the soil. When the first flowers appear, Gigantella (strawberries, reviews of gardeners about which brought her fame all over the world) needs high-quality abundant watering. For this, the method of sprinkling and watering the roots from a watering can is used. After harvesting, the soil should be fertilized as much as possible before winter cold. Despite the resistance to cold, Gigantella should still be prepared for winter. The bushes need to be fed with manure, covered with foil, and sprinkled with tendrils on the ground.
Protective measures
To obtain a high yield, mustaches must be removed on the bush in a timely manner, because they take away most of the nutrients from the plant. From birds who are not averse to feasting on such a seductive delicacy, strawberries should be covered with a special plastic mesh.
At the end of fruiting, the leaves of the plant are cut; it is advisable to perform this operation until mid-August, in order to give time to grow new leaves before the frost. The bush is updated every 3-4 years. To do this, the mustache is planted in a new place, and the old bushes are brought out.
To prevent Gigantella diseases, it should be periodically treated with a solution of horse sorrel, which must be crushed and filled with a regular 10-liter bucket. This green mass needs to be poured with hot water and insisted for 2 days, then strain and process the bushes by spraying.
The positive characteristics of strawberries
Gigantella is a strawberry, the reviews of gardeners about which are only positive, and it has proven its worth thanks to qualities such as demand for the consumer, high yield, winter hardiness, and resistance to diseases.
Gigantella berries are used to make jams, compotes and preserves, but it is indisputable that it is better to use such fragrant beauty fresh, enjoying the process.