Strawberry Gigantella: variety description and characteristics, planting, growing and care with photo

Garden strawberries develop well and bear fruit when choosing a variety adapted to climate conditions. Southern cultures are uncomfortable in mid-latitudes, moisture-loving plants do not take root well and die in arid regions. Although the Gigantella strawberry cannot be found in the State Registers of many countries of the former USSR, since it is not registered, summer residents and owners buy this particular variety in the markets. Garden strawberries created in Holland attract with large berries and high yields.

Description and characteristics of strawberries

Gigantella appeared in the 80s of the last century thanks to the work of Dutch breeders, quickly attracted the attention of European and American farmers, but later they stopped growing such strawberries on an industrial basis. Maxim is considered the closest relative of this variety and has similar but slightly improved characteristics.

Bushes

Adult strawberry has a diameter of about 60 cm, grows up to half a meter in height. The roots of garden strawberries are fibrous and strong, leaving behind other varieties in size. On powerful bushes that form a large number of mustaches, tall peduncles appear. The ovary is laid on them.

Strawberries with wide shiny leaves grow very quickly, the root system takes up a lot of space.

Berries and flowers

The largest first fruits weigh from 80 to 100 g, but the next strawberry grows in weight not exceeding 50 grams. Berries delight:

juicy pulp;
bright shade;
garden fragrance;
flavored with pineapple.

Maxim variety is characterized by long fruiting, strawberries are tied on large peduncles that keep the berries from contact with the ground.

Strawberry yield

The fruits of the variety in the middle latitudes do not ripen in the early stages, but in the first days of July. Subject to agricultural technology, using the correct irrigation system, about 2 kg of berries can be plucked from a bush, but usually gardeners harvest a less high yield. Strawberries are not remontant, they bear fruit only once in a season, but together.

Transportability

Dense garden strawberries do not crumple, do not lose their presentation after transportation over a long distance, without processing in the refrigerator are stored for up to a week, do not lose their pleasant taste when frozen.

Advantage and disadvantages of Gigantella

European farmers refused to cultivate a late-ripening variety because strawberries are not immune to diseases, attract pests, and require special agricultural techniques. But Gigantella has many advantages:

long and friendly fruiting;
stable and high yield;
attractive and large berries;
good transportability;
excellent commercial qualities.

The disadvantage of the Dutch variety is that strawberries do not tolerate winter in regions where there is severe frost, there is no snow.

Reproduction options

Having a few bushes of this garden strawberry, you can breed it on the site.

Seeds

Strawberries cannot be propagated using seed material, since small grains are pollinated, the varietal properties and characteristics of the plant are not preserved.

Usami

Both early and late-ripening strawberries form shoots on which rosettes of leaves form. They take root and grow. One Gigantella bush gives 10 mustaches, of which the strongest ones are left, and in order for them to develop, flower stalks are cut off. In July, the grown plants are transplanted to another place so that they get stronger before the onset of winter and acquire buds.

Three-year-old mustache Gigantella produces little, but forms a large number of horns, which are used to propagate the variety.

Dividing the bush

You can breed Gigantella on the site in another way. For this, strong plants with a heart at the age of 3 years are selected. Older strawberries develop stiff stems from which you should not expect a harvest.

Selected bushes should be divided into 3 or 4 parts with roots and planted in the garden at the end of July.

How to grow a variety

Gigantella has characteristics that must be considered before breeding. Strawberries give a good harvest if agricultural practices are observed, abundant watering, and proper feeding.

When and where to plant berries

The site for Gigantella is taken away in a place where there is a lot of sun, and the rays shine on the garden for at least 10 hours a day. A prerequisite for fruiting is good ventilation, water should not stagnate in the soil. Strawberries love loose soil, feel comfortable on loamy soils, normally bear fruit on sandy loamy lands. On acidic soils, the variety is grown only after liming and applying organic fertilizers.

Gigantella is planted in May, when the average temperature reaches 16 ° C, and frosts should no longer return, as well as in July and August.

The best predecessors for strawberries are:

green manure and mustard;
beans and parsley;
peas and garlic.

Agronomists advise growing berries after cereals. The best place for strawberry propagation is considered to be the area that was set aside last season for fallow.

Soil preparation

Before planting Gigantella, weeds, remnants of roots and stems are removed. The earth is dug up, leveled, fertilized with peat and humus. It is not recommended to apply nitrogen immediately.

Scheme of planting seedlings in open ground

Gigantella should be placed next to other large-fruited strawberries, since they have the same agricultural technology, pollination occurs better. 4 bushes are planted per square meter, given that strawberries grow very much. The roots are soaked in a growth stimulator and placed vertically in each hole, which is fertilized with manure or compost, ash is placed, covered with earth and watered.One plant needs at least 0.5 liters of water. The soil must be mulched with straw or sawdust so that moisture does not erode. Leave 50 to 70 cm between rows.

Further care of strawberries

Gigantella bushes grow quickly, like other varieties, they need top dressing, they love moisture.

Loosening

Strawberries planted in the open field must be weeded so that weeds do not drown them out. The variety does not tolerate heavy soil, after rains and watering, the soil needs to be loosened.

Mulching

Irrigate the bed enough once a week. To prevent moisture from evaporating, cover the soil under the bushes:

straw;
hay;
sawdust;
agrofibre.

Mulching allows you to water strawberries less often, because it retains moisture and prevents weeds from growing. Bushes are covered with the same material for the winter.

Fertilizers

Gigantella is fed several times a season, always in the spring, during flowering, when the ovary appears. For top dressing, organic matter and mineral complexes are used. In the second option, the dosage must be strictly observed, an excess of chemicals leads to the fact that the leaves burn out, the berries fall off. With a lack of fluorine, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients, a decent harvest is not worth waiting for.

Seedlings are advised to be fed only with mineral fertilizers, for adult bushes they are combined with organic matter - humus, bird droppings, compost, ash.

Moustache

Gigantella, like many other varieties of strawberries, after flowering forms shoots with rosettes of leaves, which begin to grow rapidly during the ripening of berries.Mustaches take nutrients from the mother bush, thicken the beds, as a result of which ventilation worsens, pathogens of rot and powdery mildew are activated.

Cut off the whiskers with secateurs or scissors, leave the strongest shoots for reproduction.

After fruiting

In order for strawberries to please the harvest, it is necessary to take care of the plants both in spring and autumn, and after finishing picking berries. In July, new leaves begin to grow near the bushes, horns form, buds are laid, on which flowers form. At this time, you need:

Trim mustache.
Drop the weeds.
Remove dried parts.
Spud bushes and aisles.

Ammophoska is applied under strawberries, fertilizer is applied to a depth of 50-60 mm. When top dressing, make sure that the roots remain in the ground.

Disease and pest control

Gigantella often suffers from gray rot. If a plaque appears on the fruits and leaves, the affected plants are dug up with the roots, and the entire bed is sprayed with Fitosporin. Strawberries are ill with chlorosis, feeding with compounds in which iron is present helps to cope with the problem. To prevent the activation of microorganisms that cause powdery mildew and rot, in the spring the beds are treated with Bordeaux liquid.

If the rules of agricultural technology are not followed, strawberries start up:

slugs;
Medvedka;
May beetle larvae.

Repels pests onion husks, garlic infusions. Parasites do not like the smell of calendula, parsley, marigolds. When aphids, wireworms, spider mites appear, the beds are treated with insecticides.