Description of strawberry variety "Elan": planting, photos, reviews

Basic parameters of berry crops

According to the description, the plant is tall, characterized by a tall bush with powerful shoots.

The main feature of the variety is that one bush has long tendrils, which are the basis for the formation of a large number of rosettes with peduncles, which allows for constant harvesting.

The plant is capable of forming large berries, the weight of which can reach thirty-five grams . The maximum yield is 2 kg per bush, and in open ground - 1.25 - 1.5 kg.

The fruits are dense and have a conical shape. The juicy pulp is red in color and endowed with a pleasant strawberry taste and unique aroma. It differs by 30-50% from other varieties in its increased content of vitamin C.

The plant is capable of forming large berries, the weight of which can reach thirty-five grams

Harvest and storage

This is undoubtedly the most enjoyable period in the entire growing process and the logical conclusion of the gardener’s efforts. The first ripened strawberries are especially pleasing - long-awaited, large and very sweet. Strawberries should be picked regularly, ideally daily.

You should not delay picking fruits so that there are no overripe berries on the bushes, which can easily become infected with gray mold and not only spoil themselves, but also become a source of infection for other, healthy fruits. The Florian hybrid has rather dense berries, but they still need to be collected in a shallow container with smooth walls. One container for collecting berries should contain no more than 0.5 kg of strawberries.

Did you know? Eating just 8 strawberries a day can improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation in the body, and even reduce the risk of cancer.

Strawberries can be transported over long distances, but this must be done quickly and only in specialized refrigerated vans (at a temperature of +10...+12°C). If the correct temperature conditions are observed, the berries will remain fresh for 3–5 days. At home, strawberries can be stored in a refrigerator using a special box for berries and fruits.

Garden strawberries (strawberries) of the Dutch hybrid Florian are popular among gardeners due to their large and fragrant berries. If a grower grows at least 50 bushes of large-fruited varietal strawberries, his family will be provided with fresh berries and aromatic jam for the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The plant has no visible defects. But there are many advantages of the variety :

• stable strawberry yield;
• good taste characteristics and beautiful bush design;
• the duration of fruiting, which begins in early June and continues until the coldest autumn days, and in indoor conditions - even in December;
• grows well in low light;
• high immunity to major diseases of fungal and infectious origin and pest attacks;
• resistance to withstand winter frosts and adapt to sudden fluctuations in ambient temperature;
• not fussy to care for, the variety needs fertilized soil and replanting after three years, otherwise the fruits of the plant will become smaller and will be no different from wild berries;
• versatility in use, the plant is used both for consumption and for decoration, due to its decorative value.

The disadvantages include the fact that the plant is very depleted over the course of a season, so it should be fertilized regularly and renewed every three years.

Positive and negative qualities of a hybrid

There are rarely bad reviews about the remontant strawberry Elan, which indicates the absence of significant shortcomings. Positive features include:

• stable and high productivity;
• excellent taste and pleasant aroma;
• a long fruiting period, which can last in a heated greenhouse until December;
• Elan bushes develop well in low light;
• the hybrid is resistant to pathogens of fungal and bacterial diseases;
• with the open growing method, the Elan strawberry variety can withstand harsh winters and summer temperature fluctuations;
• remontant strawberries do not require special care, they grow in one place for 3 years, and then they are replanted so that the berries do not become crushed;
• Elan strawberry fruits are universal and suitable for all types of processing, decorating confectionery products, and freezing.

Important! After three years of planting strawberries, Elan must be replanted. If the bushes are left for the fourth year, the hybrid will bear small berries closely similar to wild strawberries.

Gardeners consider the disadvantage of the Elan variety to be the mandatory procedures of abundant fertilizing in the fall. Prolonged fruiting depletes the bushes. If strawberries do not replenish lost nutrients, then weak plants will freeze in winter. The remaining bushes in the spring will bring a poor harvest.

Planting and cultivation

To obtain a harvest in summer, timely seed sowing should be carried out in early February. To do this, you need to adhere to the following procedure:

1. Pour the soil substrate into containers and distribute the seeds over the surface. Then carefully sprinkle with a thin layer of earth or river sand. All that remains is to water the seeds; for this you should use a spray bottle. Then cover with glass or film.
2. To harden, place it in a cold place for 3-4 days, and then create the necessary conditions: temperature 24C, additional lighting and regular ventilation.
3. After friendly shoots with three leaves appear, the cover simulating a greenhouse must be removed and the temperature reduced to 18C.
4. After a month has passed after the seedlings have formed, pick the seedlings into separate small containers.

Seedlings are planted in the ground in early May.
It is customary to plant seedlings in open ground already in early May.

The culture prefers light and warmth , so the place for the strawberry bed should be on the southwestern, well-ventilated and sunlit side of the site.

Groundwater should lie at a level of 80 cm, soil acidity should be in the range of 5.7-6.2 pH.

Stages of planting in the garden:

1. Dig up the soil in the selected area, clear it of weeds and apply mineral and organic fertilizers.
2. Make planting holes, keeping a distance of 30 cm between seedlings, and at least 50 cm between rows.
3. Plant bushes taken out of the container along with a lump of soil into the holes. The optimal planting density is 5-6 bushes per square meter.
4. Water well and compact the soil so that there is no cavity left inside.

It is important not to place Elan seedlings next to garden strawberries, but to create a distance between different varieties.

Subsequent care of the crop

According to the description of the variety, Elan strawberries are unpretentious. To get a good harvest, you must follow simple rules:

• Elan strawberries are drought-resistant, but to obtain large, sweet berries, irrigation is carried out 2-3 times a week;
• after watering, the soil is loosened and mulched; straw, dry leaves or rotted compost are suitable as mulch;
• at the beginning of flowering, to obtain long-term fruiting, the first flower stalks on the planted seedlings are removed;
• no more than 4 mustaches are left on each bush;
• timely weeding, as weeds take away nutrients from strawberries;
• in order not to reduce the yield and prevent diseases from appearing, the lower leaves are removed;
• fertilizing is applied 3 times per season, in the spring - nitrogenous fertilizing, in the summer - potassium fertilizing, in the autumn - phosphorus-potassium fertilizing;
• For the winter, the beds are covered with a 15 cm layer of mulch, agrofibre or spruce branches.

Preparing for winter

In order for the strawberry bush to successfully survive the winter cold, it is necessary to carry out pre-winter preparation.

Preparatory work begins immediately after fruiting. Since the Elan strawberry is a remontant variety, pruning is carried out only for sanitary purposes, removing dry and damaged leaves. You cannot cut off all the foliage, as this will save the root system from freezing. After sanitary pruning, weeding is carried out, and the soil between the rows is carefully loosened for better air flow.

If the autumn is rainy, then additional irrigation is not required. In dry weather, up to 1.5-2 liters of warm water are poured under each bush. After irrigation, the bushes are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer so that the plant lays flower buds, regains strength, and the root system prepares for the upcoming frosts. Wood ash is used as top dressing; 1 tbsp is used for each plant. l.

Before sheltering, preventive maintenance against pests and diseases is carried out. To do this, strawberries are treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture or brilliant green (10 drops per bucket of warm water).

Before frost, strawberry bushes are covered. There are several ways:

1. Humus, peat or rotted compost are added under the roots of the bush.
2. Mulching with pine needles, fallen leaves, rotted sawdust or grass clippings.
3. After snow falls, the bushes are covered with snow-white snowdrifts.
4. In regions with harsh and little snowy winters, non-woven fabric or agrofibre is used. The cover of Elan strawberries is removed after the end of spring frosts.

Subtleties of cultivation

The plant is not particularly demanding to care for. In order for the crop to grow well and bear fruit, you must follow the following rules:

• make sure that the soil in the garden bed is moist, which will ensure the active growth of young leaves;
• mulch in spring to prevent flower stalks from contacting the ground;
• pluck the very first flower stalks;
• cut off excess mustache, leaving 3-5 pieces;
• thin out plantings in a timely manner, avoiding overcrowding, which will negatively affect fruiting;
• leave less greenery on the bush, directing the main nutrition to the fruits, because many nutrients are consumed for the development of foliage;
• replant plants in time to protect young seedlings from frost;
• apply complex fertilizing with a full range of micro and macroelements with a combination of organic matter and mineral fertilizers; it is important not to overdo it with nutrition in order to prevent excessive growth of bushes;
• at the end of fruiting, to rejuvenate the plant, it is recommended to cut off the foliage;
• take care of protecting strawberries for the winter by covering them with mulch.

Care consists of watering, mulching, tearing off the mustache and the first flower stalks

Description of strawberry Eliana

Strawberry variety Eliane is a hybrid obtained in 1998.
The originator was Vissers Aardbeiplanten BV. The variety is recommended for growing in homesteads and small farms. In Russia it is planted in the southern regions, Siberia and the middle zone. This variety of strawberry is found under the name Eliani frigo. Frigo technology allows you to use seedlings at any time of the year for constant cultivation of crops. The roots of the seedlings are placed in plastic bags and kept in cool conditions. Seedlings harvested using the frigo method remain viable for 3 years.

Characteristics of the Eliane variety:

• tall powerful bush;
• average tendency to form a mustache;
• large shiny light green leaves;
• often sheet platinum takes the shape of a boat;
• The flower stalks are powerful, erect, and fall to the ground under the weight of the berries.

The berries are homogeneous, regular in shape in the form of a cone. The sepal is raised, the neck is short. The fruits have bright red, dense and shiny skin. When ripe, strawberries do not darken, only slightly changing color from the sepal to the tip. The achenes are yellow in color and located on the surface.

Strawberry Eliane in the photo:

The pulp of the berries is light red, slightly dense, juicy and tender. The aroma is pronounced, with strawberry and fruit notes. The taste is unusual, multifaceted, reminiscent of strawberries and peach. The harvest is used fresh and frozen, as well as for making jam and other preparations.

Attention! Eliane strawberries grow best in mild climates.

The hybrid has low resistance to drought. In the absence of moisture, fewer ovaries appear, and the taste and size of the berries deteriorate. In hot weather, the berries often get baked. Excess moisture negatively affects the quality of the fruit: they become watery in taste.

The winter hardiness of the Eliane variety is assessed as high. Without shelter, bushes tolerate temperatures as low as -15 °C. In the presence of snow cover and additional insulation, plants survive in more severe frosts.

Reproduction methods

The plant propagates by seeds, seedlings from tendrils and division of the bush . Each method has its own characteristics, pros and cons.

A suitable propagation method for this variety is considered to be whisker seedlings. To do this, at the time of fruiting, you need to mark strong and developed uterine bushes that have smooth and large berries.

When forming rosettes on the tendrils, you should choose the largest one, which is generally located closer to the mother bush. The remaining rosettes must be removed so as not to weaken the plant.

When the rosettes acquire roots, they need to be buried without separating them from the bush. This event must be carried out in August, ten days before transplantation to a permanent place.

Autumn replanting will help young bushes quickly take root and adapt to new conditions. The fruits will form next summer, and harvesting will take place all year round without interruption.

The plant propagates by seeds, seedlings from tendrils and division of the bush

Strawberry Elan: brief information

Strawberry Elan belongs to small-fruited remontant hybrid forms. The originator is the Dutch company ABZ-strawberry.

A strategic product of a company specializing in the breeding of decorative hybrid forms of strawberries. Among hundreds of similar forms propagated by seed, it is Elan that is grown in Europe in gardens and used in commercial production. The rest are simply decorative.

Recommended for professional and amateur cultivation indoors, in small containers, outdoors, in hills, and in balcony cultivation.

Widespread in the European Union, USA, and Southeast Asia due to its high productivity and adaptation to soil and climatic conditions.

Strawberry Elan: everything about the gsort (more precisely, the hybrid form) of the neutral day: it’s important to know.

The originator recommends use for commercial cultivation: for direct sales, for the fresh market as an addition to the main line.

Diseases and pests

Strawberry Elan is not immune from diseases and pests. The plant is most prone to fungal diseases .

This situation especially worsens in rainy weather, when the temperature drops, and in cloudy times. The fungus forms both on the greenery of bushes and on the roots and fruits of the plant.

Damage to the crop is caused by powdery mildew, spotting, gray rot, and Fusarium wilt.

Not only diseases, but also pests such as strawberry mites, weevils, spider mites, nematodes, and ants pose a threat .

They mercilessly destroy plants, feed on roots, leaves, and some of them prefer to feast on berries; in addition, they are carriers of many dangerous diseases.

Nematode on strawberry

For preventive protection against diseases and pests, an important operation is the creation and maintenance of an optimal microclimate and a minimal infectious environment.

To do this you need:

• in the spring, remove the top layer of soil between the bushes, since a significant part of the insects spend the winter there;
• loosen the soil and remove young growth of weed crops;
• carry out spring pruning of old peduncles, tendrils and leaves;
• When watering, do not allow the soil to become waterlogged;
• carry out preventive treatments of bushes in a timely manner, using proven protective agents that will resist plant diseases and also protect against parasites.

With proper care, Elan continuously produces delicious fruits throughout the entire season, while the harvest harvested in the fall does not differ from the summer harvest in terms of aroma and sugar content .

Strawberry variety Elan (F1)

Elan is a remontant variety of garden strawberries (strawberries) for universal use. It is considered one of the best among hanging varieties, suitable for growing in vertical containers, flowerpots and pots, and very good for open ground. It is a hybrid, therefore it is labeled F1. According to some reports, there are other hybrid forms of Elan with a more complex pedigree, designated F2, F3, etc. Our hero was bred by Dutch scientists relatively recently; this strawberry appeared in Russia about 10 years ago and rapidly gained popularity. Gardeners and farmers value it very much for its high yield, excellent taste, ability to adapt to a variety of climatic conditions and exceptional vitality. The variety is suitable for cultivation in open ground in almost all regions of Russia, and has proven itself well in the Urals.

The plant is powerful, tall, medium spreading, abundantly leafy. Externally, the bushes look very presentable and will be a wonderful decoration for the interior of the room if you decide to grow Elan in a canopy culture. The plant's adaptation is moderate, even scanty. The mustache is long and powerful. The leaves are medium-sized, slightly wrinkled, bright green, shiny, with wide sharp teeth along the edges. The flowers are white, bisexual, bloom abundantly, and produce a lot of berries. The flower stalks are very long, tall, strong, hold the crop well, but as it ripens, they lie down on the ground. On average, the plant forms about 12-15 peduncles, each of which produces about 12-15 fairly large berries. Gardeners have noticed this trend - the more strawberries set fruit, the smaller the mass of individual specimens becomes.

One of the main features of the variety is that it bears fruit not only on the mother bush, but also on this year’s unrooted rosettes. Typically, this phenomenon does not always work out for the gardener, since fruiting on the mustache can negatively affect the productivity of the mother plant. But with Elan the situation is a little different. The harvest from the rosettes is really not bad, the berries on them are quite large, and the bush itself continues to actively bear fruit, with proper care, of course.

Strawberries are medium and large in size, regular conical in shape, tending to heart-shaped, and are distinguished by their uniformity. The largest specimens may be slightly comb-like when first collected. The skin is bright red, shiny, and orange-red when not fully ripe. Achenes are yellow, small, superficial. The flesh is red, dense but not hard, juicy, very aromatic. The taste of the berries is wonderful - very sweet, but not cloying, multifaceted, with a rich palette of different shades. Gardeners highly praise Elan’s taste, putting him at the top of the list of favorites among many popular remontants. According to some foreign sources, the fruits of this variety contain 30-50% more vitamin C than the berries of other varieties, but how true this information is is a rather interesting question.

Strawberry fruits are universal in consumption, especially beautiful when fresh, excellent for processing into preserves, jams, etc., suitable for freezing, and will be an excellent decoration for various desserts and other culinary delights. The berries have excellent transportability and keeping quality; the harvested crop will reach the place of sale in its original form, even if this place is very far away. It is worth noting that when harvested, the fruits remain dry and beautiful, are easily separated from the stalk, do not wrinkle or flow. Elan berries are distinguished by their uniformity and excellent presentation. Thus, our hero is very attractive for cultivation for the purpose of selling fresh produce to the market.

The average fruit weight per season is 20−30 grams; specimens weighing about 50 grams can be observed. The variety is distinguished by early ripening; even in cool regions, the first wave of fruiting begins around the end of May. Strawberries bear fruit almost without interruption until late autumn, and gardeners note that even at low temperatures (down to -10°C), the number and size of the berries do not decrease, and their taste also remains at the highest level. Thus, Elan, as a full-fledged remontant, is able to provide you with an abundant, stable harvest throughout the season. However, do not forget that in order to obtain the best results, it is necessary to properly and regularly care for the plantings. By the way, this hybrid stands out favorably against the background of other remontants in regions with a harsh climate, since many of these varieties simply do not have time to yield the entire harvest before the onset of persistent cold weather, as a result of which their declared high yield turns into average.

The variety is highly productive; it is possible to obtain about 1.5 kg of berries from one plant, with a maximum of 2 kg. It is worth understanding that such results are relevant only for intensive cultivation, which implies strict control over the growing conditions of strawberries, regular abundant fertilizing, timely preventive treatments, and generally very high-quality care. For a simple gardener who does not strive to squeeze the maximum out of plants, 800 grams of berries per bush is quite achievable, and with more careful care, Elan can produce 1 kg of harvest. It is worth saying that nowadays, in the pursuit of new breeding products, such figures no longer surprise us, but they can indeed be called large. And sometimes the most popular “giants” of the strawberry market are simply not able to produce the results that advertising screams about. For example, the promised 3 kg of berries from a bush of Albion and its “descendants” (San Andreas, Monterey, etc.) are absolutely unattainable in garden conditions, and the yield of these remontant favorites in a summer cottage is noted to be within 1.5 kg of fruits per plant, which , in principle, is also rare. And, to be honest, not all remontant varieties of foreign selection are able to take root in the conditions of most regions of Russia, and therefore even the highest-yielding variety can lose out to a specimen with an “average” yield.

But Elan’s adaptive abilities are excellent. It takes root well even in areas with a cold climate, and even in very hot regions it feels very comfortable. It shows very good results in the Urals, bears fruit abundantly until November, and often even “goes under the snow” along with the last berries. The winter hardiness of strawberries is very decent; in comparison with many other remontants, it can safely be called one of the most resistant to winter cold. Of course, plants need shelter, especially in northern regions. The variety is also very frost-resistant; with its early flowering, this is a big plus - the flowers are practically not affected by return frosts, and the bushes themselves feel quite comfortable. If suddenly the weather conditions fail and the plants freeze, then do not despair - the hybrid is characterized by very intensive growth and an excellent ability to recover from various stresses. In general, according to reviews from gardeners, the variety is indeed very “tenacious”, and compared to other sissy remontants it looks the most invulnerable.

Gardeners' opinions

Reviews from gardeners indicate that many of them have completely switched to the remontant variety Elan, or have added it to their strawberry collection.

“This productive variety is best for year-round cultivation in greenhouses and on window sills. The berries have a pleasant taste and amazing aroma due to the high sugar content. But most importantly, the plants are undemanding to care.”

“On the advice of friends, I planted several Elan bushes. The first fruits have ripened. They were large, aromatic and, compared to other varieties, had a unique taste that will not leave any family member indifferent.”

“I bought seeds of ampelous strawberries of the Elan variety. Successfully sowed and raised seedlings. And in the spring I made a pyramid out of tractor tires. I planted the seedlings in it. And next year, to the envy of passers-by and neighbors, I decorated my balcony with green plantings with ripening fruits, and I treated my family with fragrant berries throughout the season.”

Every gardener dreams of extending the ripening period of delicious strawberries, so Elan is gaining more and more popularity , since with this variety you can enjoy fresh fruits all season long.

More about the variety

Polka strawberries, according to the description of the variety, photos and reviews from gardeners, bear fruit well in many regions of Russia and the former republics of the USSR. I liked the Polka variety for its unpretentiousness and productivity.

Strawberry variety Polka description:

1. The compact bush does not differ in height and spreading. But the dark green leaves with toothed edges are attractive.
2. The plant produces many flower stalks with large white flowers. The Polka strawberry variety, according to gardeners, does not have barren flowers; they all set fruit.
3. At the initial stage, the berries of the Polka strawberry variety are scarlet, but at technical ripeness they become dark red. The shape resembles a blunt, shortened cone. The skin is thin but durable and does not stain your hand when touched.
4. One of the characteristics that does not allow Polka strawberries to leave the race is the unusual taste of the juicy pulp: it is similar to caramel. Inside, the berry is without voids, coral-red in color, becoming lighter towards the center.
5. The fruit weight of the Polka variety varies in the first wave from 40 to 50 grams, the rest are half as much. As gardeners write in reviews, everything depends on strawberry agricultural technology.
6. It forms a lot of whiskers, so as not to deplete the bush, timely pruning is required. Only the mustache is left for replacement.

A description of the Polka strawberry variety would be incomplete without talking about processing methods. Dense, tasty berries with a caramel aftertaste are good fresh, in compotes and frozen.

Important! Berries do not lose either shape or color during heat treatment. Jam and compote from Polka berries take on a burgundy color.

And how fragrant the jellies, confitures, and candied fruits are, words cannot describe. As they write in reviews, many gardeners even dry the berries; the taste is not lost, but becomes even more expressive

Jam and compote from Polka berries acquire a burgundy color. And how fragrant the jellies, confitures, and candied fruits are, words cannot describe. As they write in reviews, many gardeners even dry the berries; the taste is not lost, but becomes even more expressive.

Advantages of Polka

Polka garden strawberries, which receive mostly positive reviews, have many advantages over other varieties:

1. The plant is frost-resistant and survives well in harsh winter conditions under reliable shelter.
2. Does not require much effort when growing.
3. Suitable for industrial processing.
4. Has excellent transportability.
5. Practically does not get sick, although prevention is necessary.

Attention! It bears fruit well not only in open ground, but can be grown in a greenhouse if favorable conditions are created. Although Polka strawberries, according to the description of the variety, are not remontant, the harvest can be obtained for a long time

You can’t call it super productive, but you can get up to one and a half kilograms from a square of strawberry beds

Although Polka strawberries, according to the description of the variety, are not remontant, the harvest can be obtained for a long time. It cannot be called super productive, but you can get up to one and a half kilograms from a square of strawberry beds.

Cons Shelves

Although there are few shortcomings, in relation to our readers, it would be unethical not to point them out:

1. The peculiarity of the variety is excellent fruiting in the first and second years after planting. In the third year the berries become small. In addition, we already mentioned this in the description; at the end of fruiting, the berries are almost two times smaller than the first ones.
2. It is necessary to constantly update the plantings, which is not always convenient.
3. According to the description of the Polka variety, it is heat-resistant and can withstand short-term drought. But the berries lose size and taste.
4. The bushes grow greatly over the season.

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.

Site selection and preparation

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

• to plow;
• fertilize: manure or compost, calcium chloride, superphosphate;
• break the breasts;
• pour well, let stand for at least a day;
• loosen the ground and dig holes.

Step-by-step instructions for landing

It is recommended to plant strawberries in the autumn, no earlier than September. When planted in spring, the bushes produce small fruits.

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

Loosening the soil

Loosening the soil and removing weeds are important steps in caring for strawberries. Done once a week. It is necessary to ensure ventilation of the beds and prevent fungal diseases.

Watering and fertilizing

For 10 days after planting young bushes, not abundant, but frequent watering is important. Further watering is carried out less frequently, but more abundantly. The roots will go deeper, making the plant resilient. Then the strawberries will be ready for winter. In spring, hydration is again considered a key care requirement. When fruiting, a large amount of water is not required to prevent the berries from becoming watery. It is enough to maintain the required water balance. On hot days, irrigate the bushes.

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

This will allow you to reap the harvest in the future without much labor or expense. Standard spring and autumn fertilizing is sufficient to obtain a good harvest. In the fall, organic matter is added. In the spring, when the snow melts, apply urea and nitrogen fertilizers under the bushes. It is recommended to apply complex fertilizers in the 3rd year of fruiting, when the plant is already depleted.

Mulching

An important requirement in the care process is mulching the bushes. This is necessary to retain moisture, especially important in hot, dry weather. This procedure also prevents the development of fungal diseases, and the berries remain clean without coming into contact with the ground.

Mulching is carried out immediately after planting young seedlings. In mature 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 pine needles, straw, dry grass, sawdust, peat, and humus.

Pruning and wintering

There are two opinions about pruning leaves. Some believe that the foliage serves as a covering for the buds in winter. Others argue that pruning stimulates the bush for future productivity.

In any case, when pruning, it is important to cut off only the leaf blades and tendrils, leaving the stems. Before frost sets in, cover the bushes. Covering is done after the initial frost to harden the plant

With good shelter and snow cover, the plant can withstand frosts down to -30 o C

Covering is done after the initial frost to harden the plant. With good shelter and snow cover, the plant can withstand frosts down to -30 o C.

Preparing strawberries for winter

Any plant requires preparation for winter. In addition, please note that these strawberries are not frost-resistant.

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

Tiered beds for strawberries: organizing drip irrigation, adding compost and mulching

In the south, you don’t really run close to such a tall structure with a watering can or hose, but everything dries, oh well. Therefore, a drip irrigation system with a time relay was immediately installed in the central water supply. The automatic water supply is set for irrigation at night, since during the day and evening there is no pressure in the system at all, for about five years now. The droppers themselves sometimes stick, so you have to pierce them four times a season. But such time costs are not comparable to the effort and time spent on manual watering. And the soil is not washed away by watering from a hose, and the strawberry roots in the pyramid are not exposed.

Twice a season, we generously fill all tiers of the strawberry pyramid with compost. In spring, a mandatory procedure is mulching. The material for mulch is mowed lawn grass, sawdust, you can also add pine litter. Therefore, weeds for this entire multi-story strawberry bed are the exception rather than the rule. Annual weeds are simply cut off, while perennials are easily pulled out with their roots, since the soil is very porous.

drip irrigation elements for pyramid

We prefer to plant low-growing marigolds between the bushes (sparsely interspersed, not densely). They perfectly protect plantings from nematodes. A bush of low-growing sage grows next to the pyramid. It also has a beneficial effect on strawberries, creating a positive allelopathy effect (but keep in mind, large plantings of sage suppress many garden plants, only inclusions are needed). A marshmallow bush grew at the very top last year. Let’s leave it, let it at least shade the crown a little.

In the fall, you need to take care of how to cover the strawberry pyramid for the winter. Any modern non-woven materials, as well as burlap or tarpaulin, will do. Non-fabrics, of course, are easier to cover, they are lightweight. But this is not important, what is at hand is what needs to be insulated.

covering the strawberry pyramid for the winter (photo 2015)

Varietal features and characteristics

Strawberries of the Divnaya variety differ from analogues in the early dates of flowering and fruit ripening. Fully ripe berries appear in the first half of June, and in hot regions - in the second half of May. This feature of the crop is both a plus and a minus, since in areas with cold springs it is necessary to cover the plants so that the blooms do not die before they are fully formed.

The bush differs from other strawberries in its powerful stem, large number of leaves and tendrils. Despite this, the plant is quite compact, but due to its excessive density it is necessary to constantly trim excess shoots. A characteristic feature of Divna is the shape of the berry, which has a blunt-conical appearance. At the same time, the size and proportions of the fruits are constantly changing.

Bush size and leaf blade appearance

Divnoy strawberry bushes are tall (20-30 centimeters) with a powerful stem and a lot of foliage on it. The leaves are large, have a dark green color, a glossy surface with characteristic shallow wrinkles and denticles along the edges.

Flowering and pollination

The beginning of flowering directly depends on the weather conditions of the region in which the crop is located. Under the necessary climate and care conditions, strawberries begin to bloom in the first half of May.

The flowers of this variety are bisexual and therefore do not require additional pollination from other plants.

Ripening time and yield

The ripening period also depends on climatic conditions. With early flowering, the first fully ripened fruits will appear in the second half of May and early June. The yield of the variety is high, and at home you can collect about 1-1.5 kilograms of fruit from one bush. The average weight of the berry is 20-30 grams, but over time the fruit begins to shrink.

Taste qualities of the fruit and its further sale

Tasters rate the taste of Divnaya strawberries at 4.8 points out of 5 possible due to their pleasant and moderate sweetness, characteristic sourness and strong strawberry smell. Among the disadvantages, they note the not always attractive appearance, which is heterogeneous and can change every collection period. However, the berry is considered a serious competitor in taste to its Western counterparts.

Winter hardiness and drought resistance

This crop has increased resistance to cold climates and can withstand frosts from -20 °C to -25 °C without shelter. It should be remembered that strawberries are highly susceptible to frost in the spring, when inflorescences begin to form. The plant can also survive drought, but not for long, because then the crop begins to hurt, dry out and may die.

Immunity and susceptibility to disease and parasites

One of the advantages of the variety is its immunity to some diseases and parasites that affect other crops. Among the ailments, the Divnaya strawberry is resistant to:

• fungal spots;
• gray rot;
• verticellosis.

The strawberry variety Divnaya is susceptible to certain parasites:

• spider mite;
• nematode;
• slug.

To prevent damage by these pests, preventive treatment should be carried out.

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