Strawberries are the most popular berry adored by both adults and children, which is why they can be found in almost any garden area. But before planting this culture, many summer residents face the difficult choice of a particular variety. In order to save space in the garden and get as much harvest as possible, you should pay attention to Elsanta strawberries. In this article we will talk about the description of this Victoria variety.
Description of the variety of victoria elsanta
Elsanta strawberries were bred in Holland in 1981 by crossing Gorella and Holiday.
Since the breeding of this variety, it has become a kind of yield standard and to this day is the main indicator of quality.
The bushes of the plant grow to medium size, have a weak spreading. An interesting feature is that very few mustaches and rosettes are formed on them.
Elsanta strawberries are small, on average, one of them weighs 45-50 grams, they are broadly conical or round in shape. Outside, such fruits are bright red and glossy, and inside are scarlet and very juicy. The taste of such a strawberry is sweet, with a slight sourness. One of the main advantages of such berries will be their density, due to which they are stored much longer than other varieties, and their transportation does not bring much trouble.
Fruiting of Elsanta occurs in medium terms and lasts long enough, so that up to 1.5 kilograms of berries can be harvested from one bush. The resulting crop can be used for fresh consumption, freezing and preparation of various kinds of preparations.
Subject to all the rules for planting the plant, the first berries can be harvested the next season.
To obtain a high-quality harvest, the planting must be renewed once every 3-4 years.
This variety does not tolerate cold and drought well. Without shelter, such a plant will die if the temperature drops below -14 degrees.
Region of natural growth
Considering that Elsanta was bred in Europe, then a temperate or hot climate will become favorable conditions for its cultivation.
This variety will be able to take root in the best way in the southern or central region of Russia, where the plant will not be exposed to cold temperatures.
However, it is worth remembering that quite severe frosts may come in central Russia, from which strawberries must be hidden and protected.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Variety advantages:
- relatively large berries with excellent taste;
- high yield, thanks to which Elsanta is very popular;
- fruits tolerate transportation well;
- the shelf life of such strawberries at room temperature is 3 days, and if you put the berries in the refrigerator, they will retain their freshness for 5 days;
- the shrub does not need frequent feeding;
- the plant is not afraid of viral diseases, fungal spot and verticillium.
Disadvantages:
- poor frost resistance, which does not allow Elsantha to grow in areas with a harsh climate;
- dependence on regular and abundant watering;
- predisposition to ailments such as root rot and powdery mildew.
Planting and leaving
In order for Elsanta to give a good harvest, it is necessary to follow all the rules for planting plants. This strawberry variety is recommended to be planted in autumn, in the second half of September. When planting in spring, there is a risk of getting smaller fruits.
It is also necessary to prepare the beds, for this the earth is carefully dug up, weeded, break up lumps and watered abundantly with water.
After a day, you can start forming holes and planting plants. Experienced gardeners recommend placing strawberries in such a way that the distance between the rows is 40 centimeters, and between the holes in one row is 25 centimeters.
The following fertilizers are applied to 1 square meter of soil:
- 3 kilograms of rotted manure or compost;
- 10 grams of potassium chloride;
- 30 grams of superphosphate.
It is best to plant strawberries in cloudy, rainy weather.
The planting process itself is quite simple, and everyone can cope with it. First, the earth is thoroughly loosened, after which they dig holes 8-10 centimeters deep and put bushes there. After the end of the work, the strawberries are watered and mulched with peat, compost or humus.
Strawberry care
The variety does not tolerate drought well, therefore the main rule when growing these berries will be sufficient and timely watering. In the first month after planting, the procedure is repeated daily, after which the number of waterings is gradually reduced to 1 time per week. On hot and dry days, Elsanthu is watered once every 4-5 days. It should be borne in mind that 8-10 liters of water are introduced per 1 square meter of planting.
The bushes should be additionally sheltered from the scorching sun and sprayed with foliage in too hot waters.
Another very important procedure there will be timely loosening and removal of weeds, which is carried out once every two weeks.
Experienced gardeners do not recommend fertilizing this strawberry variety, except for 3 years of life, when the plant is depleted and without additional support, the quantity and quality of the crop can change for the worse.
- At the end of September, at the end of the second fruiting, the bushes are fed with organic and complex mineral fertilizers;
- In the spring, as soon as it snows and the weather is stable, urea or other nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied under the strawberries.
Using mineral fertilizers, it is best to water the aisles to avoid damage to the plant foliage.
Preparing strawberries for winter
Considering that Elsant "does not tolerate the cold, it must be prepared for the onset of winter, for this several types of work are carried out:
- Pruning leaves;
- Removal of diseased plant parts;
- Treatment of bushes from various kinds of pests;
- Loosening the soil, while it is better to leave the weeds in place, because their removal can damage the strawberry root system, which may not have time to recover before the first frost;
- Then they carry out abundant water-charging watering and mulch the plant with peat, needles, dry grass or leaves;
- The last step will be to directly cover the strawberries.
There are two opinions regarding pruning Elsanta:
- One group of gardeners think it's best not to interfere with natural processes or remove leaves before winter comes. This is because they can provide additional shelter for the kidneys;
- the second opinion is that pruning the leaves stimulates the plant well and yields higher next year.
In order not to harm the plant during pruning, it is worth remembering that only the leaves and antennae of the strawberry are to be removed directly, while the stems should remain intact.
They cover the bushes after the first frosts have passed. This is necessary in order for them to harden and better survive the winter frost. Spruce branches, straw, dry foliage or special covering material can be used as covering material. Experienced gardeners recommend giving preference to natural materials, because air flows through them, preventing strawberries from rotting and rotting.
Reproduction methods
Given that the Elsanta strawberry is a hybrid variety, seed propagation is very rarely used, because in this case there is little likelihood of retaining the characteristics of the mother plant.
The process of growing seedlings from seeds is as follows:
- Initially, the seeds are washed and dried thoroughly;
- 2-3 months before planting seedlings in open ground, the seeds are laid out in containers, covered with a thin layer of earth and carefully moistened;
- Further care will consist in regular and timely watering.
Mustache propagation is only suitable for strong and healthy plants. On each such bush, the most powerful mustache is chosen and bent with a rosette to the ground, the rest of the mustache must be removed. It is necessary to care for such a shoot like a seedling. Plants can be split up a week before transplanting.
In the fall, an adult three-year-old plant is dug out of the ground and divided into several parts, each of which must have a healthy shoot with three leaves.
It is prohibited to prune and handle the roots in any way.
Features of fruiting
The variety brings a huge amount of harvest, which is famous not only for its taste and appearance, but also for its high density. Also, this plant has several more features:
- The first strawberries of this variety can be tasted already at the beginning of June, and if you take proper care of the shrub, it can delight you with delicious berries for 3-4 weeks;
- To maintain the density of the berries, you need to maintain the correct watering regime, that is, during fruiting, the ground under the bush is moistened only after it dries out a little;
- Another feature is that with a lack of sunlight, the tips of the berries do not ripen and remain white.
This variety can be grown both in the open field and in a greenhouse, but many gardeners claim that the plant bears fruit best under cover.
Diseases and pests
The most sensitive part of the plant is the roots, which are susceptible to rot or fungus, which are often impossible to get rid of, and the only way out is to completely remove the shrub.
The following types of work act as preventive measures:
- timely removal of old leaves;
- digging up and burning affected plants;
- moving plantings to a new location every 3-4 years;
- regular weeding and mulching;
- in the fall, during the preparation of the plant for winter, the soil around it is spilled with a solution of Brodsky liquid or copper emulsion.
The ground part of plants rarely suffers various kinds of diseases.
Elsanta strawberries are a kind of standard for this berry culture. The resulting pods have a lot of advantages, and plant care does not require much effort.