Elsanta strawberries: planting and caring for plants
Elsanta strawberries are the most sought after varieties. It is a breeding species, of which Gorella and Holiday are related. With proper planting and care, the plant will not only have an attractive appearance, but also give the desired, tasty harvest.
Elsanta strawberry: plant description
Elsanta strawberries are the reference variety against which other species are compared.
Plant characteristic:
- Bushes are quite wide and strong. The stem is erect. The leaves are deep green, slightly covered with small villi.
- A distinctive feature of the variety is its thick peduncles. They are located at the same height as the leaves. Many buds appear on each of them. When loose, they are white with a rich yellow center. The diameter of the flowers is not the same.
- The berries are large, about 50 g each. The skin is bright red, glossy. The pulp is sweet with a slight sourness.
- Strawberries are suitable for raw consumption and for processing. It can be frozen, mashed, compotes and jam can be boiled.
- The seeds are yellow and very small.
- The plant has good resistance to most diseases. Bushes are not striking powdery mildew and root rot, as is often the case.
- Elsanthus can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouse conditions.
- It is developing well in various regions of the country, including the northern ones.
Compared to other varieties, Elsanta practically does not form tendrils. It is this feature that attracts gardeners.
Site preparation and landing pattern
It is recommended to plant Elsanta in autumn, but not later than September. It is forbidden to carry out the procedure on hot days. This weather can damage the root system.
If you plant the plant in spring, the berries will be much smaller.
The planting site should be dug up and carefully leveled. Then pour abundantly with clean water and leave in this state for a day. After 24 hours, loosen the soil again and make holes. Put a small amount of fertilizer in each of them. It can be both mineral mixtures and organic matter.
Strawberry planting scheme:
- placement in two strips (between the bushes about 25 cm, and between the rows from 40 to 45 cm);
- two-line ribbon fit (30 × 30).
It is necessary to deepen the seedlings no more than 8 cm. After planting, the soil under the bushes must be leveled and watered, then mulched. For this, peat, humus, small dry grass or compost.
Elsanta strawberry care
To get a high yield of strawberries, you need to provide the plants with good care.
Irrigation
The plant develops well with abundant watering. This is especially true for seedlings. It is recommended to irrigate young bushes daily for the first month. After a month, the number of waterings is reduced to one per week.
Particular attention should be paid to strawberries during the formation and ripening of berries. The bushes should be watered regularly at this time. The soil should not dry out, otherwise the fruits will be small or generally fall off.
They use rainwater or well-separated water. Do not use cold liquid. This can negatively affect the development of strawberries.
Fertilizing bushes
It is not necessary to feed the plants. If the mixture is not applied in the first year after planting, then the bushes will grow strong and have good immunity. The first procedure is recommended in the spring of the third year after planting. Used as top dressing organic or mineral mixtures. You can use special formulations that are specifically designed for strawberries.
Throughout the season, do not forget about loosening the soil. This will improve the supply and absorption of nutrients.
Preparing for winter
Since Elsanta strawberries do not tolerate frost well, the plants should be covered for the winter. But before that, the soil needs to be loosened, and the bushes need to be piled up. Then cover the soil thoroughly with mulch. Weeds and dry leaves should not be removed. This procedure should be postponed until spring.
You can cover Elsanth with agrofibre, straw, branches, leaves. To use the canvases, you must first install the arcs. Only stretch the fabric with a density of 60 g / m22... The procedure is carried out after the first frost. This will allow the plants to harden a little, making it easier to get through the winter.
Elsanta strawberry is the variety that is gaining popularity every year. If you follow simple rules, the plants will constantly delight you with a plentiful and very tasty harvest.