Description and characteristics of remontant strawberries Malga (Malga)

Strawberry Malga is an Italian variety bred in 2018. It is characterized by long fruiting, which lasts from the end of May until the first autumn frosts. The berries are large, sweet, with strawberry flavor. The yield, even with normal care, is more than one kilogram per plant.

History of breeding

Malga is a variety of origin, bred in Verona (Italy) in 2018. The author is a private breeder Franco Zenti. The work was carried out on the basis of the agricultural company Geoplant Vivai Srl. The variety is not included in the register of breeding achievements. The plant is very hardy, so it can be cultivated in most regions of Our Country (in open ground, under film cover, as well as on a balcony or loggia).

Description and characteristics of the strawberry variety Malga

Plant bushes of medium height, moderately sprawling, take up little space. The leaves are small in size, dark green in color, the surface is leathery, with mild wrinkles. The foliage of the bush is average – the light freely enters different parts of the plant. Strawberry Malga produces many flower stalks that rise well above the green part. A little mustache appears.

Characteristics of fruits, taste qualities

Malga strawberries are large in size, reach 35–45 g. The shape is classic – conical, the color is red, bright, with an attractive orange tint. The surface is glossy, shines in the sun. After ripening, it does not darken, retains its original appearance.

The pulp is moderately dense, juicy, there are no voids. The taste is pleasant, with pronounced sweetness and delicate sourness. There is a persistent aroma of wild strawberries. Malga berries are especially tasty fresh. They are also used in preparations – jams, jams, fruit drinks.

Ripening time, yield and keeping quality

Strawberry Malga belongs to remontant varieties. It bears fruit continuously from the end of May until the first frost, which is an absolute advantage compared to many other varieties. The first berries reach full ripeness within two weeks after flowering. The yield of Malga strawberries is high. Even with standard agricultural technology, at least 1 kg of berries can be removed from each bush.

Strawberry Malga is a high-yielding variety

The fruits are dense, so they keep their shape well. They can lie in the refrigerator for several days without losing taste and hardness. Good for long distance transportation.

Growing regions, frost resistance

Despite the fact that the Malga strawberry was bred in Italy, it is suitable for cultivation in most regions of Our Country, including the North-West, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. In cold regions, it is better to cultivate under a film shelter or in a greenhouse. The variety is frost-resistant, but the bushes should be covered for the winter. Good resistance to prolonged rains is noted – the roots and stems do not rot, fruiting is normal.

Disease and pest resistance

In the description of the Malga strawberry variety, it is indicated that the bushes are distinguished by good resistance to pests and diseases (verticillium wilt, gray rot). But it is not worth completely excluding the defeat of diseases. An invasion of pests is also possible – weevils, aphids, leaf beetles and others.

For prevention in April (before the formation of buds), it is recommended to carry out a single treatment of Malga strawberries with any fungicide:

• Bordeaux liquid;
• “Horus”;
• “Fitosporin”;
• “Teldur”;
• “Signum”.

Folk remedies effectively deal with insects, for example, an infusion of onion peel, garlic cloves, mustard powder, and a decoction of potato tops. For the prevention of row spacing sprinkled with wood ash, which also serves as a source of minerals.

But in the later stages, these measures are ineffective. You have to use chemical insecticides, for example:

• “Inta-Vir”;
• “Match”;
• “Aktara”;
• “Decis”;
• “Confidor” and others.

The processing of strawberry bushes Malga is carried out in cloudy weather or in the late evening, preferably in the absence of wind and rain.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Strawberry Malga bears fruit all season and gives not only beautiful, but also tasty berries. This variety has already begun to spread in Our Country and other countries, as it has some advantages.

Strawberry Malga gives tasty marketable berries

Pros:

• fruiting all summer and early autumn;
• the taste is pleasant, the aroma is pronounced;
• high yield;
• fruits do not bake in the sun;
• resistance to waterlogging;
• frost resistance;
• immunity to major diseases;
• whiskers are few, they do not affect the yield.

Cons:

• if the summer is cloudy, rainy, then acid is noticeable in the taste;
• immunity to anthracnose is weak;
• demanding for feeding;
• self-propagation of culture is ineffective.

Methods of reproduction

Strawberries Malga can be bred with a mustache and dividing the bush. The first method is inconvenient, since few shoots are formed. But on 1-2 bushes, you can remove a significant part of the peduncles, then there will be more mustaches. They are carefully plucked before fruiting begins. The bushes are transplanted into fertile, loose soil, next to the mother plant. Water periodically, making sure that the soil does not dry out. For the winter, they mulch with leaves, hay, sawdust.

It is advisable to divide adult three-year-old bushes, since with age the yield of Malga strawberries, like other varieties, decreases. You can start the procedure in May or September. To do this, they dig several bushes, put them in containers with warm water and separate the roots. If necessary, trim the tangled shoots with a knife. Planted in fertile soil, watered. In the case of autumn breeding for the winter, carefully mulch. This procedure is recommended to be repeated every 3 years.

Planting and care

Strawberries Malga must be purchased from trusted suppliers. Planting seedlings in pots (roots covered) can be planned from late spring to early autumn. When breeding with a mustache, it is better to plant them in July.

The place for cultivating strawberries Malga should be well lit, without a shadow. Lowlands where moisture accumulates are excluded. The beds are oriented from north to south for more uniform illumination. The soil should be slightly acidic (pH 5,5 to 6,0), loose and fertile (loam). If the soil is depleted, humus is introduced into it a month before planting. It will take 5 kg per 1 m2. If the earth is clayey, then sawdust or sand must be covered (500 g per 1 m²). For acidification, you can add 200 g of wood ash to the same area.

Malga strawberry bushes can be planted with a minimum interval

When placing, observe the distance:

• 20 cm – between holes;
• 60 cm – row spacing.

Malga strawberry bushes do not need to be buried, on the contrary, the root neck is watered a little so that the growth point is above the surface. In the first 15 days, daily watering is necessary. In this case, the soil will be compacted, and the neck may go underground.

To grow beautiful and healthy Malga strawberries, as shown in the photo and in the description of the variety, gardeners in their reviews recommend adhering to the following rules:

1. Watering with warm water 2 times a week, in a drought – three times.
2. During flowering, instead of traditional moistening, drip irrigation is used. You can pour water carefully, without falling on the flowers.
3. Strawberry Malga regular feeding: in mid-May, urea (15 g per 10 l per 1 m²) and mullein (dilute 10 times) or litter (20 times). During the formation of peduncles, feeding with mullein is repeated, and at the end of August, superphosphate is added (30 g per 10 l per 1 m²) and potassium sulfate (20 g per 10 l per 1 m²). You can add wood ash (100 g per 1 m²). Nitrogen at this time is categorically excluded.
4. After heavy rains, the soil should be mulched. At the same time, weeding is done.
5. Planting strawberries Malga is desirable to mulch with organic matter (peat, needles, leaves, sawdust). The mulch is changed every month. Instead, you can use the well-established method of growing black agrofibre on a sheet.

Preparation for winter

In all regions where strawberries are planted, Malga should be mulched, because the roots may freeze due to temperature changes. Because of this, the plant will not recover next spring. In early October, all dried leaves are removed. The bushes are covered with agrofiber or sprinkled with a large (10 cm) layer of straw or sawdust.

The sawdust will already have time to overheat, but you should not throw them away. The material is placed in a compost heap to obtain organic fertilizer.

The variety is suitable for fresh and canned consumption.

Conclusion

Strawberry Malga is suitable for growing in private and farms. This is a new variety that has only recently begun to penetrate into Our Country and other countries. Attractive stable, long fruiting, good immunity and resistance to adverse weather conditions. This allows you to grow Malga strawberries even in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

Reviews of gardeners about Malga strawberries