Elan strawberry variety is considered a real find all the breeders of the world and occupies more and more areas in the dacha and household plots, thanks to its positive characteristics.
Table of contents
Description and varietal characteristics of strawberry Elan
Strawberry Alan - the newest hybrid of the Dutch selection, which belongs to the reparative amtelnyh varieties, so it can be grown in open ground on the garden, and in flower pots of different shapes on window sills and balconies.
This method will help to decorate the house or apartment in an original way, as well as get a nice bonus as tasty berries.
The main parameters of berry culture
According to the description, the plant is tall, characterized by a tall bush with powerful shoots.
The plant is able to form large berries, whose weight can reach thirty-five grams. The maximum yield is 2 kg from a bush, and in open ground - 1.25 - 1.5 kg.
Fruits are dense, conical in shape. Juicy pulp, colored red and endowed with a pleasant strawberry flavor and unique aroma. It differs by 30-50% from other varieties with a high content of vitamin C.
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
There are no visible defects in the plant. But the benefits of variety are many:
- stable strawberry yield;
- good taste characteristics and beautiful design of the bush;
- the duration of fruiting, which begins in early June and lasts until the coldest autumn days, and in home conditions - even in December;
- grows well in low light conditions;
- high immunity to the main diseases of fungal and infectious origin and pest attacks;
- resistance to resist winter frosts and adapt to sharp fluctuations in ambient temperature;
- no whimsical care, the variety needs to be fertilized and transplanted as three years expire, otherwise the fruits of the plant will be shredded and will not be any different from wild berries;
- universality in use, the plant is used both for consumption and for decoration, due to its decorative value.
Planting and cultivation
For the summer harvest, timely seed sowing should be carried out in early February. To do this, follow the following procedure:
- Pour the soil substrate into the container and distribute the seeds over the surface. Then gently sprinkle with a thin layer of earth or river sand. You will only have to water the seeds, for this you should use a spray. Then cover with glass or film.
- For hardening, arrange for 3-4 days in a cold place, and then create the necessary conditions: temperature 24C, additional lighting and regular airing.
- After the friendly shoots with three leaves appear, the cover, imitating the greenhouse, you need to remove and reduce the temperature to 18C.
- After a month after the formation of seedlings, pick the seedlings into separate small containers.
Saplings are usually planted in open ground in early May.
Culture prefers light and heattherefore, a place for a strawberry bed should be located on the southwest, well ventilated and sunlit side of the plot.
Groundwater should lie at the level of 80 cm, the acidity of the soil - in the range of 5.7-6.2 pH.
Stages landing on the garden:
- To dig up the land in the selected area, remove weed crops and introduce mineral and organic fertilizers.
- Make the planting holes, keeping a distance of 30 cm between seedlings, and between rows - no less than 50 cm.
- In the wells to plant bushes, taken out of the container along with a clod of soil. Optimum planting density of 5-6 bushes per square meter.
- Well pour and tamp the soil so that there is no cavity inside.
Growing points
The plant is not distinguished by a particular whimsical care. For a culture to grow well and bear fruit, the following rules should be followed:
- ensure that the soil on the bed is wet, which will ensure the active growth of young leaves;
- spring mulching to prevent flower stalk contact with the ground;
- pick the very first flower stalks;
- cut off extra mustache, leaving 3-5 pieces;
- in time to thin out planting, not allowing thickening, which will negatively affect the fruiting;
- leave less greenery on the bush, directing the main food to the fruit, because the development of foliage consumes many nutrients;
- time to transplant plants to protect young seedlings from frost;
- to make complex, with a full set of micro and macronutrients fertilizing with a combination of organic matter and mineral fertilizers, it is important not to overdo the nutrition in order to prevent excessive growth of the bushes;
- at the end of fruiting to rejuvenate the plant, it is recommended to trim the leaves;
- take care of the protection of strawberries for the winter, by covering it with mulch.
Breeding methods
The plant propagates by seed, mustache seedlings and the separation of the bush. Each method has its own characteristics, pros and cons.
A suitable breeding method for this variety is considered to be a mustache seedling. To do this, at the time of fruiting, mark the strong and developed mother bushes with smooth and large berries.
When sockets get roots, they need to prikopatwithout separating from the bush. It is necessary to hold this event in August, ten days before the transfer to a permanent place.
Autumn transplant will help young shrubs quickly settle down and adapt to new conditions. The fruits will be formed as early as next summer, and the crop will be harvested all year round without interruption.
Diseases and pests
Elan Strawberry is not insured against the occurrence of diseases and pests. Most plant predisposed to fungal diseases.
Especially this situation worsens in rainy weather, with a decrease in temperature, in cloudy time. The fungus is formed on the greenery of the bushes, and on the roots and fruits of the plant.
Not only diseases are a threat to the crop, but also pests, such as strawberry mite, weevil, spider mite, nematode, ants.
They ruthlessly destroy plants, feed on roots and leaves, and some of them prefer to eat berries, besides they are carriers of many dangerous diseases.
For preventive protection against diseases and pests, the creation and maintenance of an optimal microclimate and minimal infectious environment is considered an important operation.
For this you need:
- in the spring, remove the top layer of land between the bushes, since there a significant portion of insects spend the winter;
- loosen the soil and remove the young shoots of weed crops;
- carry out spring pruning of old peduncles, tendrils and leaves;
- when watering do not allow overmoistening of the soil;
- timely carry out preventive treatment of the bushes, using proven protective agents that will resist plant diseases, as well as protect against parasites.
With proper care, Elan continuously gives tasty fruits for the whole season, while the harvest collected in autumn does not differ from the summer in terms of aroma and sugar content.
Opinions gardeners
“This crop is the best for year-round cultivation in greenhouses and window sills. 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 my acquaintances I planted several Elan bushes. The first fruits have ripened.They were large, fragrant and had a unique taste compared to other varieties, which will not leave indifferent any family member. ”
“I bought seeds of ampelous strawberry variety Elan. Successfully sowed and grown seedlings. And in the spring I made a tractor bed of a tractor pyramid. In her and planted seedlings. And next year, to the envy of passersby and neighbors, they decorated their balcony with green plantings with ripening fruits, and treat them to fragrant berries of their relatives throughout the season. ”
Every gardener wants to extend the ripening period of delicious strawberries, therefore Elan is gaining popularity, because with this variety you can enjoy the whole season with fresh fruits.