Queen Elizabeth strawberries: how to grow a royal crop

Strawberries vs wild strawberries: what's the difference?

Very often, gardeners mistakenly call garden strawberries strawberries. In fact, the familiar large and fragrant berries, popularly called strawberries, are classified by botanists as belonging to the strawberry genus. Although these plants belong to the same Rosaceae family, they differ significantly.

Strawberries have round berries

Differences between strawberries and wild strawberries - table

Characteristic	Strawberry	Strawberries
Berries shape	Round small fruits.	Cone-shaped with a pointed tip. The berries are much larger than strawberries.
Berry coloring	The fruits are dark burgundy, the color is uneven.	The berries are bright red, evenly colored when fully ripe.
Bush shape	The bushes are spreading, the flower stalks rise above the leaf blades.	The bushes have a more compact shape, less powerful and spreading.
Pollination	The plant is bisexual, there are male and female bushes. Male specimens do not bear fruit; they are necessary for pollinating female flowers.	Strawberries are a monoecious plant, that is, one bush has both female and male flowers, so absolutely all bushes produce a harvest, which significantly increases its quantity.

Disadvantages of the variety

Considering the characteristics of the Elizaveta strawberries, it would be fair to say about the disadvantages of this variety:

if the weather is too hot, the bushes stop growing and bearing fruit;
with constant rain, the berries become watery and not so sweet;
after three years of cultivation, the fruits become smaller, so it is recommended to renew the bushes every 2 years;
It bears fruit well only in fertile soil and subject to timely feeding.

It is worth noting that the taste of berries depends very much on weather conditions. Therefore, if there are few sunny days in the region and it often rains, you should choose a different crop variety.

Characteristics of strawberries of the Queen Elizabeth variety

Brief history of creation

The Queen Elizabeth hybrid was bred by the English amateur breeder Ken Muir at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. It appeared in the Russian Federation at the very beginning of the century and over fifteen years of cultivation by Russian gardeners it showed excellent frost and drought resistance. The variety is successfully grown in the south of the country, in the middle zone and in Siberia. Among the advantages, gardeners highlight the excellent taste, transportability and shelf life of berries.

The strawberry variety Koroleva Elizaveta was brought to Russia 15 years ago, and has now become a favorite among gardeners.

It is noteworthy that in the UK, the lists of strawberry varieties do not include a variety, hybrid or cultivar called Queen Elizabeth. Most likely, the berry is known there under a different name.

Queen Elizabeth: variety description

Strawberries of this variety are one of the remontant varieties popular among gardeners. The berry is considered high-yielding. The first fruits ripen in early June, the second wave begins in July, the third at the end of August. If weather conditions permit and sufficient efforts are made by the gardener to care for the plant, fruiting continues until October.

Queen Elizabeth strawberries produce several harvests per season; they ripen even under snow

Strawberries of the Queen Elizabeth variety are truly royal. They are red with a glossy sheen and large in size. Their average weight is 40–50 grams. Individual fruits can weigh up to 100 g. Despite their large size, strawberries have a very pleasant, pronounced strawberry taste and smell. This is especially valuable since most large-fruited berries are tasteless. However, if there is not enough heat and sun, strawberries cannot boast of excellent taste; the berries become sour and watery.

Queen Elizabeth strawberries have powerful, spreading bushes. From one such plant during the season you can get up to 2 kg of berries, while the average size of the fruit remains the same throughout the season. With the correct planting scheme, approximately 12 kg of crop can be harvested from one square meter.

Two queens, similar and different

Recently, strawberries of the Queen Elizabeth II variety have been gaining popularity. Unlike the “English woman,” this variety appeared in the south of Russia in 2001, and from there it quickly spread, first in the southern and central regions, gradually moving to the north of the country. How are these two varieties different from each other?

The variety Queen Elizabeth II belongs to domestic selection

Elizabeth II produces larger berries, up to one hundred grams each, and the fruits of the Queen Elizabeth variety weigh that much in exceptional cases. The Russian Elizaveta has denser flesh, its berries last longer, which is very important when transporting long distances. But the English Queen gives three and sometimes four waves of harvest. And “Russian” - no more than two.

Table: Advantages and disadvantages of the Queen Elizabeth variety

Advantages	Flaws
A huge advantage of the Queen Elizabeth variety is its ability to produce several harvests per season. The berries are tasty and large.	The variety is demanding of heat and requires good and regular care.
The variety is productive, you can harvest up to 12 kilograms from 1 square. meters per season.	Due to the abundant fruiting, strawberries are depleted, so it is necessary to frequently replant the plantings.
Queen Elizabeth is tolerant to such common strawberry diseases as late blight, powdery mildew, and brown spot. Rarely affected by gray fruit rot.	Strawberries are often plagued by insect pests.
The berries are transportable and can be transported over long distances.	Under unfavorable conditions, the taste of the berries deteriorates significantly.

What Queen Elizabeth strawberries look like - video

Reviews

Queen Elizabeth-2 has been giving stable results on my site for the fifth year now. Moreover, the berries do not become smaller and the yield does not fall. This refers to the experts’ statement that strawberries do not bear fruit for longer than 2-3 years. What else I like about this variety is that it doesn’t rot even in rainy periods, it doesn’t lose its taste and aroma, its yield and frost resistance are excellent.

Queen Elizabeth-2: one of the first remontant varieties, which gained popularity throughout Russia. Scammers also took advantage of the popularity, so a lot of materials appeared about unique berries weighing up to 100 g, variations of varieties numbered 1 and 2. The variety is not bad, but in current realities there are better varieties.

Queen Elizabeth's Growing Secrets

Strawberries can be planted in open ground throughout the entire season, from late spring to early autumn. But the most suitable time for planting seedlings is the end of July and beginning of August. Before frost, the seedlings will take root well and become stronger, therefore, they will withstand winter frosts well. You can also plant strawberries in the spring after the threat of frost has passed (usually late May). This time is excellent for planting seedlings obtained from seeds and transplanting grown seedlings from a shkolka (growing bed).

For strawberry bushes planted in spring, cut off all flower stalks that appear in summer. This is necessary so that the berries begin to bear fruit abundantly next year.

Choosing a location for a strawberry plantation

Choosing the location of Queen Elizabeth is a very important point. This is a day neutral variety and requires a very sunny location for excellent development and fruiting. The Queen cannot stand shadows, even small ones. A lack of sunlight threatens a poor harvest and a change in the taste of the berries.

Choose a level place for Elizabeth to land. A slight slope is allowed, but under no circumstances should strawberries be planted in lowlands. The variety does not tolerate excessive dampness, coolness and cold wind.

Sun deficiency threatens Queen Elizabeth with a poor harvest and a change in the taste of berries

The most suitable substrate for Queen Elizabeth strawberries is light sandy loam or loamy soil. But other nutritious soil will also work. If you adhere to the correct regime of watering and fertilizing, strawberries will produce an excellent harvest on any type of soil.

Strawberries cannot be planted in places where cucumbers and tomatoes previously grew. Excellent precursors for the crop are onions, garlic, and carrots. It would be great if cabbage or green manure was grown in the beds.

How to prepare the soil for planting?

Start preparing the site 2-3 weeks before the expected date of planting strawberry seedlings. This is necessary so that the substrate has time to settle. Dig the bed thoroughly, removing all weed rhizomes. Apply fertilizers to the soil:

superphosphate (20–30 g);
potassium sulfate (10 g);
humus (1 bucket).

The amount of fertilizer is indicated per 1 sq. m.

Queen Elizabeth does not tolerate high acidity of the soil. If the soil in your area is acidic, then add dolomite flour when digging at the rate of 300 grams per 1 square meter. meter or wood ash (500 g per 1 sq. m).

The soil must be dug up 2–3 weeks before planting strawberries in the ground.

On a flat area, make low ridges 80–90 cm wide. On them you can place Queen Elizabeth bushes in two rows. In an excessively damp area, it is recommended to plant strawberries in high beds raised 25–30 cm above the soil level.

Two to three weeks after preparing the soil, you can proceed directly to planting the plants. To do this, you need to dig holes at a distance of 35–40 cm from each other. Make them of such a size that the strawberry roots can fit freely.

Plant strawberry seedlings in cloudy, or better yet, rainy weather. If the weather is sunny, then after planting, cover the bed with lutrasil or sheets of cardboard.

Features of planting strawberry seedlings Queen Elizabeth

Before planting, wash the roots of the seedlings and trim them a little.
Prepare a mash of manure, clay and water and dip the roots into it. These procedures will stimulate the development of the root system.
Place the seedlings in the hole and straighten the roots. Carefully fill them with soil, compacting it lightly.
When planting seedlings, make sure that the strawberry heart is not covered. It must be exactly at ground level.
Moisten the plantings generously, place humus around the plants and mulch the beds with straw.

Do not bury the center of the rosette (heart) when planting

Caring for strawberries: watering features and fertilizing regime

Watering

Queen Elizabeth strawberries love moisture. Although you shouldn’t flood the bushes. Watering is required thoroughly, but not frequently. Water directly under the bush, pouring 1 liter of water per plant. In hot weather, water every 2-3 days; in cool and rainy weather, water as needed.

Then loosen the top layer of soil and mulch the strawberries with sawdust or straw. Mulch will reduce the number of waterings.

During the flowering period of strawberries, sprinkling watering is not advisable, otherwise the berries will grow ugly.

Fertilizer application

Feed strawberries three times a season with infusions of mullein or chicken droppings. Chemical fertilizers should be used only if the plant lacks microelements (if they are deficient, the fruits become smaller and the foliage becomes light green).

Fertilize strawberries with organic matter; chemical fertilizers should only be used if the plant lacks microelements

Preparing organic fertilizer for strawberries is not difficult.

Place manure or bird droppings in a large container and add grass.
Fill everything with water to the brim and cover with a lid.
After a week, the composition will ferment and a characteristic unpleasant odor will appear.
The resulting solution must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 for manure, and 1:15 for litter.

This fertilizer can be used for both root and foliar feeding of strawberries.

Feeding mode

When to feed	How to fertilize
At the very beginning of growth, as soon as the leaves appeared.	Urea solution (60 g of the drug per bucket of water).
Before budding begins	Mullein or bird droppings solution (1 liter per 1 plant).
After fruiting in early September	Mullein or bird droppings solution (1 liter per 1 plant). You can also use chemical fertilizers (potassium sulfate, superphosphate, nitrophoska, etc.), their granules should be scattered over the surface, loosened and the bed well watered.

Video: Tips for caring for garden strawberries of remontant varieties

Strawberry propagation Queen Elizabeth

Most often, strawberries of the Queen Elizabeth variety are propagated by mustaches, but if you need to obtain a large amount of planting material, you can use alternative and no less effective methods: dividing the bush and the seed method.

Master class on propagating strawberries with tendrils

In summer, leave 3–5 tendrils on each bush and remove the rest. When the rosette located closest to the mother plant has developed sufficiently, dig it into the garden bed. Or bury a plastic cup filled with soil in the ground and place an outlet in it. Do not cut off the mustache; with its help, the young plant will receive nutrition from the mother plant.
Cut off the part of the antennae after the rosette. By August, the rosettes will be sufficiently rooted and can be separated from the bush.
Cut the seedling from the queen cell with a clean knife. Dig up with a clod of earth if the rosette was buried in the garden bed. If the mustache has taken root in the cup, remove it from the soil, moisten it and remove the seedling.
Plant the rooted rosettes in a separate bed (school) for growing.
In the spring, move the grown and strengthened seedlings to a permanent place. To do this, prepare the ground. Dig up the seedlings along with a clod of earth and plant them in the holes.
In the first year after planting, do not allow strawberries to bloom and bear fruit. Remove all flower stalks and tendrils.
To plant, take the first socket

Propagation by seeds - step-by-step guide

Soak Queen Elizabeth strawberry seeds. Place them on a damp cotton pad and cover with wet material on top. Leave for two days.
Prepare a loose planting mixture of turf soil, sand and peat. Pour it into a shallow container, put a layer of snow on top, and place the soaked seeds on it.
Gently distribute them using a toothpick or match. There is no need to cover the crops on top.
Cover the container with a plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator for stratification (this simulates winter conditions and improves germination).
After 10–14 days, remove the container and place it in a warm place.
After such stress, the first shoots will appear within a week. Moisten the plantings, preventing the top layer from drying out. Wipe off condensation from the film periodically.
As soon as the strawberries grow two or three true leaves, remove the film.
After two weeks, pick the strawberries into separate pots. Plant in open ground at the end of May or beginning of June (depending on the climate in your region).
The seed method is rarely used, but with its help you can get a large number of plants

Features of strawberry propagation by dividing the bush

Select Queen Elizabeth strawberry bushes that are at least two years old. The planting material should be healthy, the bush should be powerful, and the leaves should be bright green.

Dig up the bush, shake off the soil from the roots.
Divide into several parts with a sharp and clean knife, so that there is a rosette of leaves and roots on the division.
Powder the sections with activated carbon and immediately plant the strawberries in a permanent place.

Each division should have a rosette of leaves and a bunch of roots.

Reproduction methods

A simple method of propagation is dividing the bush. It is carried out in the fall, when they plan to rejuvenate the plantings. The strongest and most powerful bushes are dug out of the ground, divided into parts so that each has shoots and well-developed roots. If necessary, the latter are cut off in places where there are signs of disease, and then planted in a new prepared area.

The English variety is also propagated by mustaches, since it produces more of them than the Russian remontant “Elizabeth”

When propagating by whiskers, several whiskers are selected, which are rooted throughout the summer. In the fall, the rosettes can be separated from the mother specimen and transplanted to a new location.

Diseases and pests characteristic of the variety

Queen Elizabeth is a variety that is practically not affected by brown spot, late blight and powdery mildew. Strawberries are also resistant to gray rot. With good care and moderate watering, Queen Elizabeth rarely suffers from this disease. However, the plant is often plagued by insect pests.

Table: pests and diseases and ways to combat them

Disease or pest	Signs of defeat	Ways to fight
Strawberry mite	Mite larvae are especially dangerous, destroying young leaves at the very beginning of development. As a result, the leaf becomes deformed and curls into a tube, the bushes inhibit growth, and the berries become smaller.	Spray the plants and the soil around them with acaricides: Fitoverm, Actofit and Fosbecid, treat before and after fruiting. It is not recommended to use chemicals during fruit set, so use an infusion of onion peels and garlic. Spray the bushes with infusion every 7 days before picking berries. If the plantation is heavily infected, the bushes should be dug up and burned.
Spider mite	Small yellowish spots are visible on the upper part of the leaf blade. Subsequently, the leaf becomes completely yellow and dries up, the fruits also dry out while still green. In the advanced stage, strawberries are covered with whitish cobwebs.
Raspberry-strawberry weevil	Females lay eggs in flower buds, then nibble on the peduncle. The buds dry out and fall off.	Collect and destroy all damaged buds. Spray the plants with an infusion of tobacco dust, hot pepper or mustard with soap solution. During the flowering and fruiting period, hand picking helps well. To do this, shake the bush over the leaf early in the morning, collect the bugs and burn them.
Strawberry nematode	The cuttings are short, deformed, leaf blades are twisted. The berries turn out small and ugly. You can see small white swellings on the roots.	Dig up the affected strawberry bushes, trying to remove the entire root system, and destroy them.
Slugs, snails	Snails and slugs love to eat the aromatic pulp. They leave holes in the fruits and sticky tracks on the surface of the leaf blades.	Set up slug traps. Dig bowls filled with jam or sugar syrup next to the strawberry bushes. Destroy any shellfish that get into them immediately. Creating a barrier made of eggshells, dolomite flour, wood ash or red pepper that is impenetrable to snails and slugs also helps.
White spot	Small, rounded white spots appear on the petioles, stalks and leaf blades, surrounded by a brown border. Subsequently, the stains turn completely brown and the fabric in these places dries out, leaving holes.	Cut off and destroy the affected parts of the plant. In spring and autumn, spray the soil with fungicides. In case of severe infection, treat the bushes with Horus or Topaz.

How to recognize strawberry diseases and pests - photo

Mite larvae are especially dangerous because they destroy young leaves.

Females lay eggs in flower buds, then nibble on the peduncle

Snails and slugs leave holes in fruits and sticky tracks on leaves

Small white swellings can be seen on the roots of the affected plant.

Small, rounded white spots appear on the petioles, stalks and leaf blades, surrounded by a brown border.

Spider mites infect leaves; yellow dots are first visible, then dry areas

Advantages

The main positive qualities of the strawberry variety include:

The first harvest from Elizaveta strawberries is harvested much earlier than from other early varieties;
Fruiting of the variety continues until the onset of cold weather;
Elizabeth is highly resistant to most diseases and attacks by major pests;
the collected fruits are distinguished by their excellent presentation and good taste, so the variety can be grown for further sale;
strawberry plantation tolerates cold well, the Elizaveta strawberry variety is quite frost-resistant;
the harvested crop can easily be transported over any distance and can be stored for a long time;
during heat treatment, the berries retain their shape;
Fruiting of this strawberry begins during the planting season;
high yield of the variety;
large-fruited berries.

How to collect and preserve the harvest?

The answer to this question is simple - you should not store berries for a long time. Ripe strawberries should ideally be eaten on the same day they are picked. It is better to leave the fruits at room temperature, as the aroma is stronger when the berries are not refrigerated.

If you need to transport strawberries to another place, then pick them in the morning, when it is still cool. Take not quite ripe, pinkish berries. It is best to put them in boxes covered with cotton cloth.

Refrigeration will help protect strawberries from spoilage, but at the same time they will lose their aroma. Do not sort or wash the berries before putting them in the refrigerator. Place them in a plastic container and cover with a lid. In this form, strawberries can be stored for about three days.

Freezing will help preserve strawberries for a long time

Freezing will help preserve the fruits for a longer period. Place clean berries on a plate and place in the freezer. When they harden, place them in a plastic bag or plastic container. This way, the berries will not stick together, and you can get exactly as much as you need. Queen Elizabeth strawberries also make excellent jams, preserves and compotes. The berries do not overcook, which makes this variety especially valuable for lovers of sweet preparations.

Advantages of the variety

Before planting “Elizabeth” strawberries, it is worth studying the positive aspects of this variety of crop:

It begins to ripen much earlier than other varieties of this berry.
Bears fruit before the onset of cold weather.
Resistant to most types of diseases and pests.
The berries are very large and beautiful, so they can be grown for wholesale sales.
Tolerates frost well.
The berries are stored for a long time and are well transported.
During the cooking process, the fruits do not fall apart.
Begins to bear fruit in the year of planting.

In addition, the branches with berries do not press to the ground and do not rot.

Reviews from gardeners about Queen Elizabeth strawberries

It’s already the month of September, the berries have grown not big, but strong. My early berries taste a little bland and don't have the flavor you enjoy from early berries. Maybe it’s because it’s already autumn or the seedlings haven’t gained strength and haven’t gotten used to it. But I’m very pleased that now I’ll have strawberries all summer, at least I’d like to hope. And now I will wait for spring berries.

irinatarbe

https://otzovik.com/review_2420780.html

We purchased this wonderful variety of strawberries three years ago from the wonderful nursery “Slavyanskaya Usadba” and to this day it grows in our beds and only makes us happy. We pre-fertilized the bed for a better harvest. In the first year, we fertilized the soil with mullein, and then we will need to regularly feed the strawberry bushes. Feeding can be very different; all gardeners have their own methods. I made an infusion from different herbs; for this I have a special lawn growing, which I then use as fertilizer. This is the main feeding for good yield and for the bushes to gain strength. In the first year, we were warned that we should not expect a big harvest, but still, these strawberries managed to please us with their size, taste and aroma!

MariMar

https://otzovik.com/review_3234572.html

Before Queen Elizabeth, I grew about 12 different varieties of garden strawberries, none of them compare with it either in the taste of the berries or in their abundance.

Olya

https://www.websad.ru/archdis.php?code=340286

I bought the Queen Elizabeth last year. The fruit was sparse and not very tasty, but there were a lot of whiskers. I decided to leave it because there was nothing else. This year it bears fruit abundantly, the taste is 4+. The berries are large, irregularly conical in shape, larger than a matchbox, in a day or two, 500–800 g per 10 bushes. I feed them with fertilizer for strawberries every 2-3 weeks. I'll leave it, for sure.

Lulek

https://www.websad.ru/archdis.php?code=340286

It is not for nothing that the Queen Elizabeth variety of strawberries (or strawberries, as is more common) is one of the favorites among hybrids. It is valued for its abundant and long-lasting fruiting. Its berries are tasty and aromatic. They are good fresh and for canning.

Author: Olga Isakina
Print

Good afternoon I am Olga. I am 40 years old. Rate this article:

(0 votes, average: 0 out of 5)

Share with your friends!

Rules for caring for strawberries

Experienced gardeners know that simply planting strawberries in the right place will not be enough. For its competent and timely development, regular care will be required. It can be easily accomplished if you follow simple and effective tips:

The Elizaveta strawberry variety requires regular watering for good fruiting and well-being, however, like any garden crop;
After abundant watering, it is recommended to carry out the process of loosening and weeding the soil, but not vice versa. Don’t forget about mulching the soil around the planted berries. This technique will reduce the growth of weeds, and the need for frequent watering will also disappear;
In order for the berries of the variety to be as large as possible, it is worth removing the first flower stalks that appeared in the spring;
Despite the resistance of the Elizaveta 2 variety to many diseases, it can easily develop rot. Gardeners should remember that any problems with the crop are much easier to prevent than to treat;
If you remember the description of the strawberry variety Elizaveta 2, you can remember that it gives the most substantial harvest in the first year or two after planting. Experts recommend promptly updating seedlings every couple of years;
if the winter is planned to be too harsh, you should take additional care of the safety of the berries. It is necessary to insulate not only the strawberries themselves, but also their roots using mulch, for example, from pine needles.

If there is no land plot for growing Elizabeth 2 berries or it is too small, additional portable containers can be used for such purposes. They can be easily found in any themed store. This variety of strawberries is also used for growing in heated greenhouses due to its unpretentiousness.