- Authors: Holland
- Taste: dessert
- The size: medium-large
- Weight: 20-35 gr
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: up to 1 kg per bush
- Repairability: No
- Ripening terms: late
- Advantages: well kept
- Appointment: universal
If we talk about promising new products that are becoming more and more popular, then one cannot fail to mention such a strawberry variety as Magnus. These berries retain their excellent presentation for a long time, while they have an excellent taste.
Breeding history of the variety
The variety was bred in Holland in 2017. Domestic gardeners were able to get acquainted with strawberries only in 2019. Magnus immediately received positive reviews. The variety has great prospects in the segment of late-ripening strawberry species.
Description of the variety
The described strawberry variety is non-refurbished. He conquered gardeners not only with his productivity, but also with excellent taste. Magnus copes well with any weather conditions, it is resistant to severe winters and various kinds of diseases, while it does not impose special requirements on the soil.
Bushes are formed large, spreading. One of their distinguishing features is a large root system. The height of each plant reaches 350 mm. Magnus diameter - up to 500 mm. Gardeners have noticed that a large number of mustaches are formed on the bushes. The foliage always has a light green tone, it is large and tough.
As for the peduncles, they are thick, unlike many other varieties of strawberries. Peduncles are located at the same level as the leaves. When the berries ripen, they lie on the ground, which is why it is so important to lay straw or sawdust under the bush. In the first year, no more than 2 peduncles with many flowers are formed on each bush. In subsequent years, their number tripled.
Ripening terms
This is a late ripening variety. But the specific harvest period depends on the climate in which the plant grows. In the south of our country, you can harvest earlier. In the north, the berries ripen only at the end of July, in the south - two weeks earlier.
Growing regions
Gardeners share their experience and say that this variety grows well both in the Caucasus and the Urals, and even closer to the northern regions.
Yield
The variety demonstrates remarkable productivity throughout the entire growing period of strawberries in one place. Sometimes up to 1 kilogram of fruit can be collected from one bush. But in order to achieve results, you need to follow the rules of agricultural technology.
Berries and their taste
The variety should be noted for the beauty of its berries. They grow large, beautiful, always with an amazing presentation, which is why strawberries are often grown commercially.
The skin, when fully ripe, has an attractive glossy sheen. The color is scarlet, saturated, with an orange tint. Even if the fruits are transported over long distances, they will not lose their color. If you put the berry in your mouth, it immediately becomes clear that the pulp is of medium density, rather juicy, with an exquisite aroma. There are no voids inside the fruit when compared with other varieties.
The berries are always sweet, there is sourness in their taste, but it is very light and unobtrusive. Pronounced aroma, strawberry, dessert taste. However, so far the gardeners have not given a clear tasting mark, since the strawberries of the described variety are not grown as actively as the older varieties.
The fruits are versatile, which means they can be eaten fresh, made jams, frozen or used for compotes. On average, one berry can reach 25 grams.Magnus' giant fruits are rarely formed, but there have been cases when the berries weighed 35 grams. Berries do not shrink over time, stable fruiting is maintained.
Growing features
Magnus can withstand bad weather, but constant rain and lack of light will definitely affect the taste of the berry, while the bushes themselves will not be affected. Plants can withstand high humidity and cold, and they do not care about prolonged drought. But if you do not hide the fruits from the scorching sun, the harvest may simply bake.
Strawberries respond positively to fertilizers and can be grown in greenhouses and tunnels. However, open ground remains the preferred planting site for this variety.
Site selection and soil preparation
It is best to choose a sunny, draft-free location. Any berry grows faster in such an area. Groundwater must be deep. If there is a place with a slope to the south, then it is this place that should be used for planting strawberries. Almost any soil is suitable, but the acidity should be neutral - pH 5-5.4. Before planting, the soil must be weeded.
Pollination
Pollination is not required.
Top dressing
Before planting, it is better to dig up the soil and fertilize it. Such feeding will allow the bushes to take root faster. Organic is the best option for Magnus. Most often, rotted manure or ash diluted with water is used. The quantity is 0.5 liters per 1 square meter. During the period of ovary formation, potash fertilizers can be used.
One of the important techniques in strawberry care is feeding. Regular fertilization guarantees a rich harvest. There are several different ways to feed strawberries, and each of them is designed for a specific period of plant development. During flowering, fruiting and after it, feeding should be different.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
The frost resistance of the variety is high, therefore, frosts are not particularly terrible for him. In the northern regions, the novelty is still poorly tested, so it is better to cover young seedlings with spruce branches or mulch after pruning. In the second and third year, you should not cover the plants. The bushes can withstand temperatures of -20 degrees without problems.
Diseases and pests
Magnus has an amazing immunity to the pests and diseases that are common in strawberries. That is why one preventive treatment at the beginning of spring is enough. Any available fungicide can be used. However, it should be borne in mind that the culture is very vulnerable to the weevil and flower thrips.
Strawberries are often subject to many dangerous diseases that can seriously undermine their condition. Among the most common are powdery mildew, gray mold, brown spot, anthracnose, and verticillosis. Before buying a variety, you need to inquire about its disease resistance.
Reproduction
The variety is propagated in three possible ways:
- seeds;
- mustache;
- division.
Each gardener chooses the most convenient option for himself.
The seeds can be found in specialized stores, and it is recommended to grow the mustache yourself or purchase it from the nursery. If it is decided to propagate strawberries by dividing the bushes, then it is worth taking only the largest options that have been growing in the ground for many years. The width of the root collar in such specimens should be at least 6 cm.