Secrets of growing strawberries of the Elizaveta 2 variety in the country

Breeding history and growing region

The Elizaveta 2 variety was bred on the basis of the Queen Elizabeth variety. This discovery was made by Russian breeders on the basis of the research and production company "Donskoy Nursery". A couple of years after hatching, the strawberries were sent for testing to different regions, where they took root well. Most of all, the variety is acclimatized to the conditions of a changeable climate, which is observed in the cities of central Russia.

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Description of garden strawberries Elizabeth 2

The appearance of Elizabeth 2, of course, is similar to other varieties, but it still has individual characteristics.

Bushes

The appearance of strawberry bushes looks powerful. The plant has dense leaves of a rich green hue and many tendrils. The texture of the leaves is ribbed. Berry bushes usually bear fruit abundantly.

If the peduncles are not cut off, 4–6 antennae with 2–4 rosettes are formed on the bush. This is due to the expenditure of a large amount of energy on fruiting. Peduncles are located under the leaves, which is explained by the weight of large fruits.

Flowers and berries

The flowers are white with a bright yellow core. The fruits are quite large. The weight of one berry is about 50 g, although there are also record berries weighing 130 g. The size of the strawberries directly depends on the care, namely, the control of the fruiting wave and the use of certain agricultural techniques.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The opinions of gardeners regarding this variety of strawberries are quite controversial. Some call it one of the best in terms of yield, others consider it too whimsical and fragile. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Elizabeth 2?

Methods for obtaining planting material

Given the fact that regular replacement is necessary for abundant fruiting of strawberries, gardeners are often interested in how to get high-quality planting material.

Seed method

This method is considered the most difficult in terms of labor intensity. This is due to the need to prepare seeds approximately six months before planting. Also, the process is complicated by the fact that the seedlings need to be regularly looked after.

It is important to understand that with the seed method of obtaining planting material, varietal characteristics may not be preserved.

When sowing seeds, you should take into account their small size. That is why the seeds should not be deepened too deeply into the soil. Before sowing, the soil must be abundantly moistened and compacted.Seeds are sown on the prepared soil, which are covered with glass or foil for the purpose of warming and creating a greenhouse effect and placed in a warm, illuminated place.

The first shoots usually appear after a couple of weeks. Young bushes are planted in open soil when warm weather finally stabilizes. By that time, there should be 4–5 strong leaves on the bush.

Outlets

Repaired strawberries are successfully propagated by tendrils. To do this, you need to choose the most productive and strongest of them, bend to the ground and lightly sprinkle with soil. After a while, they will take root. In the middle of summer, they can be transplanted into a permanent garden bed.

By dividing the bush rosettes

Bushes 2-3 years old are perfect for replacing planting material. The main selection criterion is the strong root system of the strawberry. The bushes should be separated very carefully, because there is a risk of injuring the delicate roots with a sharp knife.

Garden strawberry care

Given the numerous reviews of gardeners who have been growing this variety of strawberries for several years, we can conclude that it is relatively unpretentious. Bushes feel great not only in spacious beds, but also in flower pots. However, some moments of departure are still considered fundamentally important for Elizabeth 2.

Watering

This type of berry needs regular and abundant watering. In case of insufficient moisture, the fruits will be small and dry. However, the method of sprinkling should also not be used in the case of Elizabeth 2. This is due to the fact that large berries ripening on branches can simply rot from excess liquid.

An excellent solution for regular watering is a drip system. Although many people water the berry bushes by hand. The volume of water for each bush is strictly individual.

Ideally, the soil should be moistened to a depth of 30 cm.

Top dressing

The main elements for the successful cultivation of this variety are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. It is recommended to feed the plant with one of the listed formulations every 2 weeks. For foliar feeding, you can use the means "Ovary" and "Epin".

Diseases and pests

The description of this strawberry variety characterizes the culture as quite resistant to various fungal diseases and insects. Elizabeth 2 is resistant to several types of rot, powdery mildew. But as a preventive measure, berry bushes are still recommended to be treated with special solutions from time to time. "Integral" and "Fitosporin" will protect the plant from decay, and tobacco ash will prevent the appearance of small bugs.

Other nuances of growing

Elizabeth 2 has several nuances, taking into account which will help grow healthy and strong bushes:

1. Strawberries, as a rule, give smaller fruits for 4-5 years. This is due to the fact that useful minerals gradually disappear from the soil. In order for the culture to receive a sufficient amount of trace elements, it is important to apply nitrogen and mineral fertilizers.
2. During flowering, the antennae and shoots should be cut so that the plant does not waste its vitality on them. In this case, the berries will be larger and sweeter.
3. Elizabeth 2 is very fond of sunlight. By replanting a plant from a shady area to an open area, the gardener will soon notice an improvement in the general condition of the berry culture.

Obviously, there are no difficult moments in caring for this type of strawberry. The main condition for abundant fruiting and high-quality harvest is timely watering, regular feeding and the availability of the required amount of sunlight.