Content
The Geraniaceae family has dozens of species and varieties. Among them, geranium Max Fry stands out. This is a universal crop used in landscaping city parks and gardens. This variety is a perennial. Undemanding in care, it is a permanent representative of Russian gardens.
History of origin
Max Fry appeared in Europe. He was bred at Hans Frei Nursery. The plant is a representative of blood-red geraniums. The variety became popular a few years after its creation. From Germany, the culture came to America, Asia and Russia.
Description of garden geranium Max Fry
Geranium is a dwarf perennial with a powerful root system and dense foliage. In one season, a whole generation of leaves is formed. The stems are covered with soft fibers. The bush has forked branching and reaches a height of 25 cm. In autumn, the foliage turns yellow, sometimes turning red along with the stems.
The culture tolerates prolonged heat well
The leaves are divided into several lobes, which in turn are also subdivided. They are located on petioles. The back side is covered with whitish pile. The bracts are brown and egg-shaped.The buds are kept separately, sometimes collected in a group of 2-3 pieces.
The petals are long and larger than the sepals. The recesses are clearly visible from the outside. The ovary contains an equal number of stigmas and lobes.
Flowering begins in early summer and lasts until September. The fruiting period affects July, August and early autumn. Reproduction occurs by seed method. In autumn, the seeds fall into the ground and give rise to sprouts that quickly adapt to the place of growth. In the second year, geranium begins to form buds.
Geranium has a spherical shape. Designers really appreciate this feature. With abundant flowering, Max Fry has a compact crown. The stems reach sizes slightly longer than the leaves. From the outside, geranium looks smooth and neat, which in itself is rare.
Changing the foliage to yellow-orange allows the plant to be included in different compositions. The perennial looks spectacular in spring, summer and autumn. During the flowering period, the buds cover the green mass. They are pink or purple in color. Max Fry is considered a noble plant. It can be found in different countries.
In Russia, the Max Fry variety is widespread in Moscow and the Moscow region
The flower consists of five petals. The total diameter reaches about 3.5 cm. Semi-double geranium is pleasant to the touch. When opened, the bud lasts from 10 to 15 days. After flowering is completed, Max Fry directs his forces to the formation of fruits. They are very similar to a crane's beak.
Advantages and disadvantages
Geranium Max Fry has decorative value for landscape designers. With its help it is easy to create a lush composition.
Geranium has excellent immunity, it is not afraid of fungal diseases, viruses, rot
Pros:
- long flowering;
- a large number of buds;
- compactness;
- winter hardiness;
- drought resistance;
- change of color in autumn.
Minuses:
- Grows best in neutral soil.
Planting geranium Max Fry
Like other members of the family, geranium loves to be in the sun. However, in hot summers the influence of sunlight must be excluded. The soil is chosen with a neutral reaction. There should be no drafts on the site.
Between adjacent plantings a distance equal to the height of the Max Fry bush is maintained. There is no need to make a large indentation - geranium is not characterized by active growth. Loamy and sandy loam soils will be a good solution for planting.
The most magnificent flowers appear in fertile soil
Advice! Planting is carried out in mid-spring, when the weather outside is stable.
Geranium care Max Fry
The process of caring for Max Fry is no different from maintaining other types of geraniums. The crop is grown in different regions of the Russian Federation, as it adapts to climatic conditions. However, there are certain recommendations on how to care for the plant:
- Watering. Geranium loves moderate moisture. Immediately after planting, the bush is moistened abundantly, then only irrigated. In the absence of precipitation, water is poured at the root. Use liquid at room temperature. Since Max Fry is drought tolerant, frequent watering is not necessary.
- Trimming. The variety has a neat crown and rarely requires shaping. Sanitary pruning is carried out annually. Remove diseased parts and dried buds.In October, the trunk is cut to a third of its length so that the geranium has more strength for the winter.
- Feeding. Max Fry treats fertilizers well, especially if he lives in poor soil. Botanists point out the need to add mineral complexes. Organic additives are not used at all; geranium does not tolerate them.
- Preparing for winter. Max Fry is experiencing winter calmly. The originator claims frost resistance down to -35 degrees. In the Moscow region, shelter is not required; in Siberia and the Urals they mulch and cover with agrofibre.
Geranium Max Fry is recommended to be immediately placed in a permanent place. It does not require regular transplants. But if such a need arises, the procedure is carried out in the spring. The new substrate should be light and nutritious.
Blood red geranium in landscape design
Reproduction methods
Under natural conditions, Max Fry produces fruits that spread seeds. With such reproduction, geranium has strong immunity. They try to sow seeds in the spring in order to get healthy shoots by June. Flowering in this case will occur next summer.
Most gardeners practice vegetative propagation - dividing the bush. An adult geranium with strong roots is removed from the ground and cut. The daughter plant must have buds. Work is carried out in the fall or spring.
Conclusion
Geranium Max Fry is a bright representative of the family. It is grown in Norway, Russia, Finland, Germany and other European countries. Some specimens take root well in the East. The culture is undemanding to soil and watering, and therefore is a treasure for most gardeners.
Reviews of geranium Max Fry
