- Authors: Dutch selection
- Name synonyms: Elan F1
- Taste: very sweet with a pleasant strawberry aftertaste
- The size: large
- Weight: from 30 to 60 g
- Yield rate: high
- Yield: 1-2 kg per bush
- Repairability: Yes
- Advantages: can be grown in a greenhouse and even in pots all year round
- Description of the bush: strong in strength, but compact
Elan strawberry is a tasty and healthy berry with a whole range of vitamins and minerals. It is worth considering in more detail the features of the variety, as well as the nuances of growing a popular plant.
Breeding history of the variety
The Elan variety was bred by breeders from Holland several years ago. As a result of selection, it was possible to significantly increase the yield of the plant, which was liked by many gardeners. Also, breeders were able to expand the distribution area of a new type of strawberry.
Description of the variety
Elan Strawberry is a promising hybrid that combines the unique properties of parent plants. The variety is a compact and early flowering strawberry that bears fruit almost all year round if grown at home.
Variety characteristics:
- dimensions: height from 25 to 30 cm, width from 30 to 40 cm;
- leaves of a rich dark green hue, dense and glossy;
- flowers are white, each with five petals.
Strawberries are hardy and grow well even in cooler regions.
Ripening terms
Elan F1 ripens in a couple of months. The first flowers are formed in early May, flowering continues until the first frost.
Yield
In one season, strawberries yield a significant harvest of sweet berries, rich in vitamins and minerals. Average yield is 1-2 kg per bush with proper care. Fruiting lasts from July to October. At the same time, the quality of the berries is preserved.
Berries and their taste
Elan's fruits are large, weighing 30-60 grams. The brilliant, ruby-red berries have a blunt-conical shape. The pulp is dark red, juicy, dense. The fruits of the Dutch strawberry have a unique aroma, a very sweet, slightly sour taste.
Growing features
The variety grows well in places where the sun is shining. Also loves partial shade. The soil where it is planned to plant seedlings should be fertile, moderately moist. The bush grows both alone and in group plantings, suitable for growing and at home.
Site selection and soil preparation
Strawberry seedlings are recommended to be planted in an open garden in early May, when the weather is warm. If you plan to grow the variety in a greenhouse, then you can plant the seedlings a little earlier.
The hybrid prefers sunny or slightly shaded areas of the garden, where the maximum groundwater level does not exceed 80 cm. If the water rises higher, the seedlings will quickly get wet and rot. Additionally, before planting, it is worth checking the acidity of the soil: it should be in the range from 5.7 to 6.2 pH, which is also suitable for growing hydrangeas and azaleas.
The strawberry planting bed will need to be prepared in the fall. You can also start preparatory work a month before planting seedlings. You definitely need:
- clean the area from weeds;
- dig up the earth to enrich it with oxygen;
- apply organic fertilizers.
During planting in the garden, it is necessary to mark the future rows of the seedlings. The width between the rows should be 50 cm, between the bushes - 20-30 cm. The seedling is planted in the hole together with a lump of earth. After filling the root system of the seedling, it is recommended to press the soil around the bush with your hand to compact it, and then pour abundantly with warm water.
Pollination
Insects are involved in pollination of strawberry flowers. At home, you can pollinate the plant yourself with the help of improvised means. To increase the yield of the bush, it is recommended to remove the first peduncles.
One of the important techniques in strawberry care is feeding. Regular fertilization guarantees a rich harvest. There are several different ways to feed strawberries, and each of them is designed for a specific period of plant development. During flowering, fruiting and after it, feeding should be different.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
The plant is characterized by increased frost resistance, so you do not need to cover the strawberries for the winter. However, experienced gardeners recommend pre-winter preparation:
- removal of damaged and dry leaves;
- weed removal;
- loosening the earth.
The latter is necessary to increase the amount of air supplied to the roots of the plant.
Diseases and pests
The variety is not susceptible to diseases, this is a genetic feature. However, the culture is not immune from the epidemic, so it is worth taking care that there is no massive infection of strawberries with a fungus.
Powdery mildew, the enemy of many bushes, is especially dangerous to the plant. Also, the bush can be attacked by ants, ticks. Recommendations to reduce the risk of plant disease:
- weeding;
- loosening the soil;
- sparse fit;
- soil treatment with fertilizers and preparations.
In addition, gardeners are advised to add garlic, onions to the soil or plant marigolds, the smell of which will scare away pests.
Strawberries are often subject to many dangerous diseases that can seriously undermine their condition. Among the most common are powdery mildew, gray mold, brown spot, anthracnose and verticillosis. Before buying a variety, you need to inquire about its disease resistance.
Reproduction
There are three ways to propagate a bush.
- Division of the bush. In this case, an adult plant is dug up and small divisions with developed roots are formed from it.
- Mustache reproduction. A reliable and easy-to-use method. A large rosette, located close to the mother plant, is carefully instilled in order to grow roots, and then separated from the main bush and transplanted.
- Seed reproduction. Not the easiest way to grow strawberry seeds in nutrient soil.
