Strawberry Elvira is a large-fruited variety with a fairly early ripening period. This berry is very popular with most European farmers, and for some time now it has begun to rapidly gain popularity in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Variety description
Strawberry Elvira was bred by Dutch breeders. It is quite suitable for both home cultivation and industrial cultivation. It is extremely resistant to diseases that affect the root system, as well as to various fungal infections.
The bush of this strawberry variety has a spreading crown of medium size and density. Quite large rounded berries can weigh from 40 to 60 grams. The fruits have a beautiful appearance: bright scarlet skin combined with a glossy sheen. They have a dense flesh of a dark pink hue with a unique strawberry aroma. Interestingly, the Elvira strawberry variety is different in that it completely lacks even the slightest sour taste.
Dignity
In addition to good resistance to all kinds of diseases, the berries have good transportability, asthey quite easily carry transportation over long distances, while absolutely not losing their presentation. The yield of the Elvira variety is approximately half a kilogram of fruit from one bush. However, with proper care, you can achieve twice as much.
One of the advantages of Elvira strawberry is its resistance to cold. This plant can tolerate frost well down to -22⁰C without any shelter. If it is insulated, then it is able to overwinter in more severe conditions. This variety, which is important, tolerates high humidity well.
This strawberry is considered universal, because it can be eaten both fresh and made from it all kinds of delicious preparations. In addition, it is perfect for the production of juice, liqueurs and other drinks. It can also be frozen, because even in this form it will be well preserved due to its dense pulp.
Selection of site and seedlings
In general, the Elvira strawberry is quite unpretentious. As mentioned above, the plant is resistant to diseases such as fungus and root rot, so it will grow well even in shady and excessively wet areas. But in order to significantly increase the yield of this crop, it is necessary to plant beds exclusively on fertile soil. The ideal option for this strawberry variety would be a partially shaded land. Otherwise, excessive exposure to direct sunlight can be detrimental to this crop.
When choosing seedlings, you need to use only the part that is closest to the so-called mother bush, because it is guaranteed to produce strong and he althy plants that will subsequently give a bountiful harvest of strawberries. In addition, you should pay special attention to the appearance of the foliage. It must be intact, not gnawed by pests and not have any diseases, since weak, defective and damaged specimens will not be able to give a good harvest. Therefore, it is better to reject such bushes immediately.
Landing
Experts recommend planting Elvira strawberries in open ground in spring or autumn. The beds for this can be prepared throughout the summer, digging and fertilizing them. This variety is planted according to the usual scheme, which involves placing plants at a distance of at least 30-35 cm from each other. The same distance must be observed between the rows. When growing strawberries in greenhouses, this scheme can be maintained in the proportion of 25 by 30 cm.
Most often, bushes are planted in a checkerboard pattern, however, beds located in a lowland or on excessively wet soil are placed in a single line in order to prevent the appearance of gray rot. At the moment when the seedling is placed in the hole, its roots must be very carefully and carefully straightened.
Before you start planting, you need to make sure that the soil is well moistened and warmed up. In order for the roots of the seedlings to be placed in the hole as comfortably as possible, it is necessary to lower them almost into a liquid slurry formed from the ground andwater.
Care
Loosening, weeding and watering are procedures that strawberries simply need. Experts recommend doing them at the same time. As for loosening, it must be done a maximum of 8-10 cm deep, otherwise the root system of the bush can be damaged. Such a procedure helps to saturate the underground part of the plant with oxygen and also prevents infection with rot and various fungal infections.
It's no secret that weeds grow always and everywhere, so such an acute problem arises when growing strawberries. They are best pulled out by hand, capturing along with the root. This method of weeding will avoid their further germination and spread throughout the beds.
Feeding
Such a plant as Elvira strawberry, which is described in this article, is quite responsive to the timely application of fertilizers to the soil. In order for the nutrients to fully contribute to the proper development of the bushes, top dressing is carried out exclusively during watering. This culture almost equally well perceives both organic and mineral fertilizers. As for the latter, she prefers phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, and from organic matter - mullein, herbal infusions and bird droppings.
It should be remembered that during flowering, the formation and ripening of fruits, in no case should you feed the plant with nitrogenous compounds, because they are mainly aimed at actively increasinggreen mass. However, in early spring, such fertilizers will be simply irreplaceable. The frequency of top dressing looks like this: the first time fertilizers are applied over the next two weeks after planting the bushes, the second - during flowering, and the third - at the very beginning of fruiting.
Reviews
Strawberry Elvira has recently become very popular not only among amateur gardeners, but also among professionals. The latter note that its industrial cultivation gives good and stable yields. Many are satisfied that the plant unpretentiously and safely survives not only the frequent absence of sunny days, but also the cold winters inherent in the northern regions of Russia. In addition, everyone likes the unusual strawberry flavor and aroma of these berries.
