Strawberries "Elsanta": description of the variety, photos and reviews

Elsanta strawberries are recognized as a standard variety in many respects and for many years have remained the leader of the commercial berry market in Europe, where up to 40-50% of the area is allocated for its cultivation. The variety is very popular in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, both among professional gardeners and amateur summer residents.

Elsanta strawberries (pictured) have earned a reputation as one of the most productive varieties with excellent marketability and taste of the berries

Main characteristics

We present the most significant characteristics of the variety in the table:

Pests and diseases

This variety, as noted earlier, has a fairly good immune system. However, if not properly cared for, Elsanta can still suffer from the following parasites and diseases:

1. Powdery mildew. With this disease, the leaves of the plant begin to curl, acquire a purple color and become covered with a white coating. The berries lose their shape and their taste deteriorates. To combat powdery mildew, it is necessary to use a solution of copper sulfate.
2. Late blight. When strawberries are infected with this disease, the leaves and petioles begin to acquire a brown tint, and the edges of the leaves turn upward. The number of berries on the bushes decreases, the root system dies. Unfortunately, late blight is very difficult to cure. It’s easier to pull out a large bush and burn it.
3. Medvedka. This parasite damages the root system. As a result of the activity of the mole cricket, the bushes die. To combat this parasite, use a soap solution. It must be poured into the discovered parasite burrows. Also, calendula or marigolds are planted in the beds as repellents.
4. Slugs. This parasite is attracted to high humidity. Pests eat berries and young leaves of the plant. To combat slugs, the beds are covered with agrofibre, mulched or sprinkled with wood ash.

Origin

"Elsanta" was developed in Holland in 1975 by crossing the popular varieties "Gorella" and "Holiday". In 2007, the variety was officially included in the State Register of the Russian Federation by the originator of the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking (Krasnodar) as recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka, North Caucasus and West Siberian regions.

"Elsanta" demonstrates high productivity in open ground and is considered one of the best varieties for cultivation in cover crops (in greenhouses, hotbeds, film tunnels)

The zoning of the variety was carried out in the Kuban and Black Sea horticultural zones of the Krasnodar Territory, so it is well adapted to the climatic characteristics of the southern regions and shows excellent results there in open ground. According to the originator, “Elsanta” has high drought resistance and average winter hardiness. In the central and northern regions, it better reveals its potential in controlled conditions: when grown in greenhouses or film tunnels. On open plantations in regions with harsh snowless winters, plants should be covered with a layer of organic mulch or agro-fabric, as the root system may freeze.

Reproduction methods

Each gardener chooses the optimal and convenient way for him to plant strawberries. The following methods of reproduction exist:

• bush division;
• mustache;
• seed material.

Usami

When propagating by mustache, healthy, strong bushes are needed. To do this you need:

• select a powerful tendril on a bush, bend it to the ground and secure the rosette;
• cut off the remaining mustache;
• before planting, dig a rosette with a root ball of soil, cut off the tendril;
• plant in the prepared hole.

Dividing the bush

With this method, dig up a healthy, strong plant and divide it into several parts. Each part must have a full socket with 2-4 leaf plates. To facilitate division, place the bush in water.

Seeds

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

To get young bushes from seeds, you need:

• choose a healthy berry, cut off the skin thinly and dry.
• prepare containers with soil.
• 60-70 days before planting, spread the seeds on the ground, sprinkle with a layer of snow, and place in the cold for 10 days;
• put in a warm place, irrigate as the top layer dries;
• Plant seedlings with 3-4 leaf blades in a prepared place.

Features of fruiting

The variety belongs to the category of non-repairing (short daylight), mid-early or mid-ripening. The ripening of the first berries in different regions occurs in the 2-3rd decade of May or the beginning of June; intensive fruiting lasts about 3 weeks.

On fertile irrigated soil, Elsanta bushes can grow up to 40-45 cm in height

The bushes of this variety are medium-sized (on fertile soils with regular irrigation they are prone to intensive growth), densely foliated, and erect. The leaves are quite large, concave, pubescent, light green in color, shiny, with pronounced wrinkles and ribbing.

The middle lobe of the leaf is rounded, the teeth along the edges are wide and sharp. Shoot formation is good, the mustache is thick. Peduncles are located at the level of the leaves; The inflorescences are semi-spreading and consist of numerous white, bisexual flowers. The calyxes are medium in size, the sepals are simple, short, horizontal.

Commercial and consumer qualities of berries

The berries are very even in size, neither small nor huge (weighing 13-13.5 g), regular round-conical shape, without a neck. When ripe, they acquire a bright red color (the top of the first fruits often remains whitish or greenish) and a “varnish” shine.

The berries have an excellent dessert taste and are intended primarily for fresh consumption, but are also suitable for making jam and other winter preparations

Numerous yellowish seeds are slightly pressed. The pulp is juicy, dense, with a harmonious sweet and sour taste and rich strawberry aroma, color - from light pink to red. According to the originator, the tasting assessment of taste is 4.7 points (out of 5), the purpose is dessert. The berries contain:

Elsanta strawberries, according to reviews from gardeners and professional farmers, have very high commercial and taste qualities; in addition, they tolerate transportation well over long distances and can be stored for up to 3 days without special conditions.

Yield potential and recommendations for agricultural practices

According to the results of state tests, the average yield of the variety was 54.7-73.4 c/ha, the maximum – up to 150-200 c/ha. In many ways, the productivity of the variety depends on the soil and climatic conditions of the growing region and the intensity of agricultural technologies.

High yields of Elsanta are recognized as the standard for commercial varieties

The variety is quite unpretentious in care; many gardeners believe that if the soil is not too depleted, then it does not need any fertilizing. Plants react to excessive “feeding” by intensively forming whiskers and deteriorating the taste of the berries. Watering is most important for Elsanta, as it is moisture-loving and does not react well to heat above +30...+35 ℃. Experts recommend using drip irrigation systems when growing it, especially in regions with a dry, hot climate.

Due to the compactness of upright bushes, dense planting is possible. It is recommended to plant Elsanta strawberry seedlings according to the following scheme: 25-35 cm between plants and 70-90 cm between rows for single-line planting, 70-90 cm and 30-40 cm, respectively, for double-line planting.

Planting material of the Elsanta variety is offered by various foreign and domestic manufacturers

It remains to add that the Elsanta variety is resistant to gray fruit rot, brown and white leaf spots. However, the weaknesses of the variety include susceptibility to powdery mildew and root diseases (red root rot, verticillium, fusarium, anthracnose).

Care

The plant, despite the fact that it is able to bear fruit even under the scorching rays of the sun, is still not very happy with the drought. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure timely access to water for this crop. In the first month of planting, water the bushes daily. Further, after the plant has settled well in the new territory, reduce the number of waterings to one every 5-7 days. On average, about a bucket of water is needed per 1m2.

If it is very hot outside, then it is necessary to periodically spray the leaves of the plant.

It is very important to promptly remove weeds that appear near the crop. They inhibit the development of strawberries, drawing moisture and beneficial microelements from the soil. Remove weeds every 2-3 weeks, depending on their growth. Also, after cleaning the soil, it is worth loosening it. This will saturate the soil with oxygen.

The basic feeding of the plant is done twice:

1. At the end of fruiting (September), the bushes are fed with organic matter.
2. In the spring, after the snow has melted, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied. They are necessary to stimulate crop growth.

Reviews

Artem, 44 years old, Poltava

I have been interested in strawberries for a long time and constantly look through various European sources. For many years now, Elsanta has remained the main industrial variety, although this variety is not remontant. And breeders constantly use it to develop new varieties, and in most respects they are compared with Elsanta. Some seem to be superior in yield, others are more resistant to diseases, others have larger berries or a sweeter taste, but there is no one that beats it in all respects. This variety has been bearing fruit abundantly under black agrospan and under “drop” for more than 10 years.

Maria, 37 years old, Samara region.

Last fall, in October, several Elsanta seedlings were planted at the dacha. Everything took root and overwintered safely. The first harvest was small, but the berry taste and aroma turned out to be excellent, I liked it even more than our beloved Darselect.

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Elina, 52 years old, Republic of Bashkiria

This year the beginning of summer turned out to be rainy and in the first two Elsanta harvests the berries were unsweetened and grassy. Then the weather settled and the taste became good, but the harvest was already ending. It is interesting that at the beginning and towards the end of fruiting, and sometimes simultaneously on one bush, the berries were of different shapes: classic (heart), cube, and even several scallops grew.

Landing

1. Experienced summer residents recommend planting in the fall - late September or early October. In spring, the fruits are smaller. It is advisable to wait for rain, but if the weather is unlucky, then water the soil thoroughly.
2. It is better to plant in rows linearly or in two lines. In the future, this form of planting will simplify care and harvesting.
3. The distance between the rows should be about thirty centimeters, and between the bushes twenty-five. You cannot thicken the plants, otherwise the yield will sharply decrease.
4. Before planting, pour the prepared holes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and keep the bushes in the same solution.
5. The bushes are deepened to the point of growth, otherwise the bud will rot and the plant will die.

If you follow this recommendation, the fruits will appear the next year.

Description of the variety

The appearance of this variety is the result of the work of Dutch breeders who managed to cross Gorella and Holiday. The resulting berries quickly spread throughout Europe and became popular among gardeners in European countries and Russia.

Anyone wishing to plant Elsanta strawberries on their plot should pay attention to its description. The plant is distinguished by its mid-early ripening, while it has a fairly long fruiting time with an average yield level. Upright bushes are compact, decorated with green leaves of a concave shape. On them one can distinguish wrinkling and the presence of ribbing along the borders.

On slightly spreading bushes a small number of rosettes and tendrils are formed. The latter are of medium length and are characterized by increased thickness. Small white flowers form on the plant.

Elsanta fruits are large with a maximum weight of 45-50 g. The average weight of the berries is 30 g. They are distinguished by high taste, sweetness and aroma.

The cone-shaped berries have a bright red hue. Endowed with a shiny surface and dense structure. Inside the strawberries are red without voids. The stalk comes off perfectly. The seeds are very small in size and have a yellow tint.

What strawberries should you plant in your garden?

One of several possible strawberry varieties that will satisfy all the criteria is a native of Holland. Elsanta strawberries have been considered a standard and iconic crop for quite some time due to their productivity.

Garden strawberries of this variety do not require particularly careful care, and their fruits have excellent taste and are large in size.

Possible problems

What problems can you encounter when growing Elsanta:

• Strawberries are called a perennial crop, but they require frequent rejuvenation. The bushes of this strawberry variety will not produce large berries after 4–5 years of operation, no matter how hard you try.
• Watery berry taste. This problem can occur when strawberry bushes are watered too frequently or when planted in areas that receive shade during the day.
• The berries are too dense, do not develop and crunch on the teeth. These are the consequences of too dry air in hot summers and insufficient watering.
• “Elsanta” loses its taste with an excess of mineral fertilizers. All fertilizing is applied during digging when preparing the strawberry bed. During the growing season and fruiting there should be no fertilizers, otherwise, instead of benefiting the plant, you can get tasteless fruits without a hint of sweetness.

This variety is far from new and today it is grown by thousands of gardeners. The berry is perfect for industrial production.

Growing Elsanta is no more difficult than growing other good varieties - it is unpretentious and the return from working with this variety will bring not only benefits to the gardener, but also undoubted joy.

Photo: ru.freepik.com, pinterest.com