Strawberry Maxim

Strawberry Gigantella Maxi is popularly called Maxim. It has large and tasty berries. Ease of care and high yields attract the attention of many gardeners who grow strawberries on their plots.

Strawberry Maxim is a mid-late plant with the following characteristics.

• The diameter of a two-year-old bush reaches 60 cm, height - 50 cm. The plant has large light green leaves with a corrugated surface. The roots are powerful, corresponding in volume to the upper part of the bush.
• Reproduction is possible in a vegetative way due to the large number of thick whiskers.
• The bush is distinguished by large peduncles. On one plant there can be up to 30 of them, each of which produces up to 8 berries.

Flowering begins in May. The bush bears fruit from late June to early August. The first berries reach 105 g in mass and up to 9 cm in diameter. Closer to August, the weight decreases to 85 g.

The Maxim variety bears fruit very well. One bush yields from 1.8 to 3 kg of berries.

Over the summer, up to 30 fruits grow on one bush. They have a bright red color and an uneven shape with a grainy surface. Due to their dense pulp, the berries can withstand transportation and storage for up to 10 days.

Strawberry Maxim has a bright taste with hints of pineapple. The aroma is delicate, strawberry. Can be eaten fresh or deep-frozen.

The process of planting strawberries has some features that affect the condition of the bush and fruiting.

• Plants can be planted in beds where cereals or legumes and cereals previously grew. Poor predecessors are nightshades and crucifers.
• Re-planting strawberries in the garden is possible only after 5 years.
• The variety can grow on one soil for 8 years, while other species require replanting every 3-4 years.
• On the bushes, you must regularly break off the mustache. This helps to improve fruiting next summer.
• The correct climate regime will help keep the bushes strong.

The beds are located in a well-lit place, protected from drafts. In the northern regions, the bushes are sheltered from the wind. It is not recommended to plant strawberries in lowlands - they do not tolerate high humidity.

The soil should be loamy or sandy loam, non-acidic concentration. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Every year in the fall, fertilizer is applied to the beds: 10 liters of compost per 1 m2 of soil.

In the open field, flowers are pollinated by bees and wind. Timely detachment of the antennae allows the development of the leaf mass, in the axils of which there are fruit buds. It is on them that the yield depends on the next summer.

Before planting, the root system of the seedlings is dipped for 40-60 minutes in a mixture of water, soil and fertilizer that stimulates growth.

During the growing season, Maxim strawberries are fed several times per season.

• The first feeding takes place immediately after winter, as soon as the shelter was removed from the strawberries. Nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are introduced. They help the shrubs to build up a leaf mass and strengthen the roots.
• In the period when the buds appear, the plants are fed with potassium and calcium. This affects the fruiting and quality of the berries.
• Complex fertilizers are applied from the end of June to August. They contribute to the uniform ripening of the berries.
• After fruiting, the bushes are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
• Top dressing should be uniform and balanced, once a week. This will save the bush from diseases.

Proper preparation of plants for wintering will help to get a good harvest in summer. In August, fertilization with nitrogen substances stops and only phosphorus-potassium substances are used.

The variety thrives under a thick layer of snow. At a temperature of 0-5 ° C, the beds are closed with barriers made of branches or straw to prevent the wind from scattering the snow mass. This usually happens in November.

Strawberry Maxim is almost not susceptible to disease and is especially resistant to gray rot. For the elimination and prevention of diseases, a 3% solution of Bordeaux liquid is excellent.For pests, chemicals are most often used. But they do not help against slugs. And not every summer resident wants to sprinkle his crops with chemicals.

There are natural ways to get rid of pests.

• Straw or nutshells are laid around the bushes. It prevents slugs from crawling to plants, and also protects the soil from waterlogging.
• You can plant garlic between the rows. It drives away parasites well.
• You can grow plants on the site that attract beneficial insects: dill, fennel, etc.

For propagation of Maxim strawberries, 3 methods are used.

1. Root air sockets by pressing the layering to the ground. If the soil moisture level is sufficient, a viable young bush will form after 30 days.
2. Divide the mother plant: dig it out, divide it into horns, remove the old non-viable parts of the root, plant new bushes on the garden bed.
3. The seed method of reproduction exists, but it is not popular due to its troublesome and unpredictable nature.

It is impossible to propagate plants at the age of 1 year - they are not sufficiently strong. The seedlings will be weak and will not bear fruit.

The Maxim variety is excellent for both sale and home use. The bush does not require special care and can even hold out for several days without water. Timely prevention of diseases will allow you to grow a healthy and well-bearing bush.