In our country, quite a lot of people have a summer cottage, where they are engaged in the cultivation of various fruit and vegetable crops. What could be better than delicious berries from your own garden, endowed with all the necessary vitamins that benefit your health? The very first juicy and sweet berry after a long winter is strawberries. Previously, her varieties could please gardeners with only one crop per season, but thanks to the efforts of breeders, this has changed dramatically. Today, one of the most promising types of domestic selection is considered to be a large-fruited strawberry variety Elizabeth 2.
General characteristics
Strawberry Elizabeth 2, whose photo is simply mesmerizing, gained popularity among gardeners, not only because of the high yield and large tasty berries, but also because of the high indicators of stability of life. The variety was bred almost 15 years ago on the territory of the Don Don Nursery plantations. The basis of this selection discovery was the predecessor - the berry of the Queen Elizabeth variety. Many people think that strawberry Elizabeth 2, reviews of gardeners confirm this, has too much in common with her predecessor, and her selection is only an advertising move. In fact, the new species is markedly different in many characteristics. First of all, strawberry Elizabeth 2 (variety description, photos, reviews and much more is presented in the article) is distinguished by an earlier ripening period. In addition, it is prone to fewer diseases and has a more powerful green mass. All this has been confirmed by numerous culture tests in various nurseries throughout the country.
External description
The description of the strawberry variety Elizabeth 2, according to external data, characterizes the plant as very powerful. Its bushes are densely leafy, erect. The foliage is very large and bright green. Her ribbing is medium, the surface is shiny and slightly concave.
Strawberries themselves are capable of reaching a weight of up to 100 grams each, of course, only if all the requirements for care and an optimal climate are met. The fruits of the variety are very bright, red and smooth. Their aroma and taste allowed the variety to get a high tasting score, and the dense pulp allows the crop to be transported over long distances without loss.
Features of agricultural technology
Strawberry Elizabeth 2 (variety description, photos, reviews and care features can be found in the article) is a remont species, therefore, with proper care, it allows you to get up to three crops per season. The first juicy berries can be tasted at the end of May, and the last - at the end of September. The shape of the fruit depends on the weather and stretches under favorable climatic conditions.
The density of strawberries allows you to store it for a long time without loss, and its excellent taste can be consumed not only in fresh form, but also in processed:
- frozen;
- in the form of jam;
- in the form of jams;
- in compotes.
Strawberry Elizabeth 2 can propagate both in seedling method and from seeds. In the latter case, maternal qualities are not transmitted to the bushes, but in any case, the plant is frost-resistant and suitable for cultivation in the middle lane.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The positive qualities of this type of strawberry include:
- frost resistance;
- resistance to pests and most diseases;
- early ripening;
- fruiting throughout the summer without changing the quality of the berries;
- great taste;
- beautiful shape;
- good transportation qualities and keeping quality.
Strawberry variety Elizabeth 2 has only one significant drawback. To get high-quality, large and tasty berries, you have to carefully monitor the composition of the soil in the beds. This species is very demanding on the nutritional and chemical composition of the soil on which it grows.
Planting seeds
As already mentioned, this method is not very relevant, since it does not provide ready-made plants with the opportunity to maintain their maternal qualities and continue to multiply with ordinary antennae, but it is still used. For its implementation, strawberry Elizabeth 2 (the description of the variety, photo, reviews and possible diseases must be studied before planting) should begin its activity at the end of winter. The latest deadline for sowing is the beginning of March. At this time, special seedlings should be prepared and filled with light nutrient soil. It is best to opt for ready-made seedling mixtures sold at specialized points.
An important feature of any strawberry is that its planting material sprouts only in good light, so you do not need to deepen the seeds at all. They are simply evenly distributed on the surface of slightly moistened soil, after which the seedlings are covered with a film or glass.
Sprout care
At first, the pots are opened only if necessary to moisten the soil, and after germination, gradually begin to increase the ventilation time of the sprouts. After the first true leaf appears, this period should be at least half an hour a day. Strawberry varieties Elizabeth 2 (reviews of gardeners confirm this) requires picking and seating in individual containers only after the appearance of the second real leaf.
All sprout care consists in observing the moisturizing regime and stable comfortable temperature. In the warmth of a house or a greenhouse, seedlings get used to the microclimate and require normal hardening for normal life in the open ground. To do this, 2 weeks before transplanting, the containers with the sprouts should be taken out to fresh air, gradually increasing the time they spend there. As a rule, seedlings can be planted on beds in June.
Landing technology
Strawberry Elizabeth 2 (description, reviews and much more is provided in this article) has a certain technology for planting in open ground. Only with its observance can you get a quality crop that has all the characteristics declared by the manufacturer.
First of all, you should choose and prepare the site for this correctly. The land for cultivating a repairing variety of large-fruited strawberries should be flat and as open as possible. It is very important that the site is well lit, but at the same time be calm. In some cases, a slight bias is allowed.
The soil for the culture should be clean, without excess vegetation. That is why before planting in advance it is recommended that a deep digging be carried out in the autumn and remove all weeds. Also, at this time, you should feed the soil, adding 20 grams of potassium fertilizers and twice as much superphosphate per square meter.
On acidified soils, strawberries grow qualitatively and will not bear fruit. In such cases, it is better to prepare the land for several seasons by regularly adding dolomite flour to the soil. Acidity for the culture should be at the level of 5-6.
Landing pattern
Ideally, strawberry Elizabeth 2 (variety description, reviews are of interest to many domestic summer residents) should be located in rows allocated for planting in rows towards the sun, that is, on the south side. Sometimes the direction of the rows to the west is also allowed. Plantings should be located as high as possible from groundwater, so if there is a chance of flooding of the roots, the site should be artificially elevated.
The standard planting scheme for this berry culture of any variety is single-line. It involves placing bushes at a distance of 15-25 cm from each other and observing row spacing of 50-80 cm. It is convenient to walk along such paths: pick berries, look after plants, and remove excess vegetation.
To save space, gardeners often use a two-line scheme, which is the presence of wide row spacing every 2 rows of bushes. In this case, plants are placed at a distance of 25-40 cm, and the width of the paths remains similar to the previous scheme.
Once the bushes are placed in their permanent places, the site should be abundantly watered and sprinkled with mulch. You can use organic or any other material at your own discretion. It is important when choosing agrofibre to place it on a site even before planting bushes.
Plant care
Strawberry Elizabeth 2 (variety description, photos, reviews confirm this) is considered a demanding crop, but if you look at all the rules in more detail, the situation no longer seems so complicated.
To get some good harvests per season, it is enough to adhere to the following recommendations:
- before the appearance of flowers and ovaries, pour strawberries in the rain way;
- after flowering, water only under the root;
- always use only warm water for irrigation, preferably air temperature, but not lower than 15 degrees;
- allocate a minimum bucket of water for each square meter, and in severe drought double this amount;
- after each watering, loosen the soil;
- Do not feed the crop during flowering and fruiting;
- treat the bushes with fungicides for prevention at least three times per season.
Care for the northern regions is additionally characterized by sheltering strawberries for the winter. The conditions of the middle zone do not require such a measure, since the variety tolerates mild or short frosts well enough.
Nutrition
It is possible to use both organic mixtures and mineral mixtures to feed crops, but experienced gardeners recommend alternating these fertilizers.
The first top dressing is carried out before the snow melts. To do this, wood ash and urea in equal proportions are scattered right on it at the place of growth of strawberries. As soon as fully formed bushes appear, but even before flowering, the culture should be added to the root with the infusion of mullein. After this, the entire fruiting period is best fed with foliar mineral complex additives.
Preparation for the next harvest begins immediately after the last harvest of the season. Superphosphate and nitrophosphate are scattered on the ground, after which they are loosened and watered. You can do this before the rain, then watering is not needed. Before planting strawberries on a new site, they dig up the soil and make organic fertilizers.
Hazards for the variety
Strawberry Elizabeth 2 (description, photos confirm this) if the proper care rules are not observed, it can be affected by brown spotting and other diseases, but, as a rule, this does not happen. Experienced gardeners try to prevent any infection and, in order to prevent it in the spring, treat plantings with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid in a concentration of 1%.
If infected plants are detected, their diseased leaves should be removed immediately, and if necessary, completely sacrifice diseased bushes.
Reviews
Most gardeners do not too distinguish this strawberry variety from the previous one in most characteristics. In fact, it all depends on the characteristics of the climate and agricultural technology, so the obvious differences are not always manifested in due measure. Many gardeners even believed that the cultivation of a new variety is actually only an advertising move to attract attention.
In reality, much depends on the quality of planting material. Many agricultural companies sell non-pure samples for sale, which even if all the rules of care are followed, are not able to fully display all their varietal qualities.
According to real reviews by gardeners, the taste of berries may also not be ideal, but they are always characterized as positive. This behavior of the variety is explained by the tendency of strawberries to depend on weather conditions. That is why even a proven landing every year can produce a different crop.
Conclusion
Given the opinions of consumers and breeders, we can conclude that strawberries of the Elizabeth 2 variety deserve a place in each garden plot. Even taking into account some differences of opinion, the culture forms noticeably larger berries that can lie and transport well, and the variety’s ability to produce crops throughout the summer gives it an additional advantage. But be that as it may, this berry requires attention. In order to enjoy the taste of sweet fruits, you must properly care for her.