Elsanta strawberry: variety description and characteristics, reproduction, cultivation and care

The Elsanta strawberry variety has proven itself well in gardeners' beds and in industrial cultivation. The plant is unpretentious in care, does not require abundant fertilizing. But an important point remains the requirement for watering, since the bushes are sensitive to heat and drought. The advantage is the excellent taste of berries, their density, fleshiness, which ensures long-term storage, resistance to transportation.

Description and characteristics of the variety Victoria Elsanta

When choosing a variety for cultivation, attention is paid to varietal indicators: yield, fruit characteristics, disease resistance.

Variety features

Strawberries have a number of varietal characteristics:

• medium maturity plant;
• excellent taste;
• forms a small number of whiskers, respectively, and rosettes;
• bushes are medium in size, not sprawling;
• bush forms up to 5 peduncles;
• hygrophilous variety.

Berries

Berries have an extended conical shape with a specific sheen. They are called "varnished". The color of the fruit is bright red, the spout is distinguished by a lighter shade. They are characterized by medium size, weighing 45 g. There are large berries. The flesh is reddish and pink in color, relatively bright, sweetish with a pleasant hint of sourness.

Berries are used fresh, for thermal processing, freezing. The stalks separate easily. The fruits have a dense structure, perfectly tolerate transportation over long distances, retain their original appearance for 3-5 days.

Productivity

The yield is quite high, up to 1.6 kg per bush. Fruiting begins in the middle terms, continues for a rather long period of time.

Sustainability

The plant is immune to white and brown spots, gray rot, but has no protection against powdery mildew. Also affected by root rot. It is characterized by poor frost resistance, therefore, it requires coverage for the winter season.

History of Breeding

Obtained in Holland at the end of the 20th century, this variety quickly gained popularity. Strawberries have become a selection product when crossing Holiday and Gorella. Whatever new species appear, this plant has been and will be a favorite among gardeners.

Region of natural growth

Grows well in film tunnels, open beds.Cultivated in the forest-steppe, Central Russia, Polissya. Gives increased yields with the tunnel method of cultivation. It is worth considering that the variety does not have frost resistance, respectively, sheltering for the winter is important. But it also tolerates drought quite poorly. In Crimea, in southern Ukraine, Russia is advised to use drip irrigation to keep it from drying out.

In the industrial direction, in addition to the indicated regions, strawberries are cultivated in the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia.

Plant Virtues

Gardeners identify the following positive aspects of the plant:

• large fruits with characteristic taste;
• increased yield;
• fruits endure transportation;
• bushes do not require abundant fertilizing;
• the variety is not afraid of a number of fungal diseases, verticillium.

Strawberry Disadvantages

In addition to the positive aspects, when choosing a variety for planting, it is important to pay attention to the negative points:

• weak frost resistance, which does not allow the cultivation of strawberries in regions with severe weather conditions, at temperatures below -14 ^{oC dies without shelter;}
• requires regular watering;
• not resistant to root rot, powdery mildew.

Features of agricultural technology

Care and cultivation require compliance with certain rules of agricultural technology. To obtain the result, the beds must be updated every 4 years.

Selection and site preparation

The site is chosen flat, sunny or with weak shading, protected from the northern winds. Before planting young bushes, the ground must be prepared:

• plow;
• fertilize: manure or compost, calcium chloride, superphosphate;
• break breasts;
• fill well, hold for at least a day;
• to loosen the earth and dig holes.

Step-by-step instructions for boarding

Strawberries are recommended to be planted in autumn, produced no earlier than September. When planted in spring, the bushes produce small fruits.

Disembarkation features:

1. Produced in wet weather or in the evening.
2. It is recommended to plant in a two-lane way. The distance between the bushes is 0.4 m, between the rows is 0.25 m. The depth of the planting holes is 8 cm.
3. Pour water into the hole, lay the seedling.
4. Sprinkle with soil, thoroughly tamp the ground.
5. Mulch planting with peat, needles, humus, compost, straw.

Loosening the soil

Loosening the soil and removing weeds are important steps in strawberry care. Produced once a week. It is necessary to ensure the ventilation of the beds, the prevention of fungal diseases.

Water and fertilize

For 10 days after planting young bushes, not abundant, but frequent watering is important. Further watering is carried out less often, but more abundantly. The roots will deepen, which will make the plant resistant. Then the strawberries will be ready for winter. In springtime, moisturizing is again considered a key requirement for care. When fruiting, a large amount of water is not required so that the berries do not become watery. It is enough to maintain the required water balance. On hot days, irrigate the bushes.

A feature of this variety is the fact that the bushes can be hardened. If they are not fed additionally and not fed with mineral fertilizers, then in one season strawberries can acquire endurance and stamina.

This will allow in the future to reap the harvest without much labor and money. Standard spring and autumn top dressing is enough to get a good harvest. Organic matter is added in autumn. In the spring, when the snow melts, apply urea and nitrogenous fertilizers under the bushes. Complex fertilizers are recommended to be applied in the 3rd year of fruiting, when the plant is already depleted.

Mulching

An important requirement in the care process is the mulching of bushes. This is necessary to maintain moisture, especially in hot, dry weather. Also, this procedure is a prevention of the development of fungal diseases, and the berries remain clean, not in contact with the ground.

Mulching is done immediately after planting young seedlings. On adult beds, it must be done already during the flowering period so that the flower stalks do not come into contact with the ground. For mulching, it is recommended to use needles, straw, dry grass, sawdust, peat, humus.

Pruning and wintering

There are two opinions about leaf pruning. Some believe that the foliage serves as a cover for the buds in winter. Others claim that the pruning done stimulates the bush for future yields. In any case, when pruning, it is important to cut off only the leaf plates and whiskers, leaving the stems. Before the onset of frost, cover the bushes. Shelter is done after the initial frost to harden the plant. With good shelter and snow cover, the plant is able to endure frosts down to -30 ^oС.

Preparing strawberries for winter

Any plant requires preparation for winter. Also, be aware that these strawberries are not hardy.

Required:

• clear bushes from diseased (if any) and injured leaves;
• treat from various harmful insects;
• loosen the soil, but not deep, so as not to injure the root system, otherwise it will not recover before the first frost;
• mulch with peat, sawdust, dry grass, needles or foliage.
• cover the strawberries using natural material so that the plant does not rot.

Methods of reproduction

Each gardener chooses the best and most convenient way to plant strawberries. There are the following breeding methods:

• cluster division;
• mustache;
• seed material.

Usami

When breeding with a mustache, he althy strong bushes are needed. For this you need:

• choose a powerful mustache on the bush, bend it to the ground and fix the outlet;
• cut off the rest of the mustache;
• before planting, dig a socket with a root ball of soil, cut off the mustache;
• plant in prepared hole.

Dividing the bush

With this method, a he althy strong plant is dug up, divided into several parts. Each part should have a full rosette with 2-4 sheet plates. To facilitate division, place the bush in water.

Seeds

Since the variety is hybrid, seed propagation is rarely used. With this method, there is little chance of maintaining maternal performance.

To get young bushes from seeds, you need:

• choose a he althy berry, cut the skin thin and dry.
• prepare containers with soil.
• 60-70 days before planting, spread the seeds on the ground, sprinkle with a layer of snow, place for 10 days in the cold;
• put in heat, irrigate as the top layer dries;
• plant seedlings with 3-4 leaf plates in a prepared place.

Diseases and pests

The roots are considered the most sensitive part. They are susceptible to rot and fungus. You usually can't get rid of them. The way out is the destruction of the bush.

An important measure is prevention:

• timely cleaning of old foliage;
• sick bushes to dig up and destroy;
• disinfect the soil under diseased bushes;
• it is necessary to mulch and weed the soil in a timely manner;
• every 4 years the beds change;
• before winter, treat the soil with a solution of copper emulsion or Bordeaux liquid.

Collection and storage

Berry picking for sale, long-term storage and transportation is made unripe. They are placed in special containers and placed in the cold. The shelf life of berries at room conditions is 3 days, and in the refrigerator, the harvest will remain fresh for 5 days.

Growing this unpretentious berry with excellent taste is not difficult. The main point in cultivation is the protection of the plant from frost and the obligatory timely watering. By following these simple rules, you will be able to please yourself and your loved ones with a he althy berry.

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