Strawberry Baby Elephant

It is generally accepted that it is extremely difficult to grow a berry like strawberries on your own: this requires suitable conditions, good care, fertilizers, frequent watering and much more. But most importantly, the majority of Russian gardeners consider the climate of their region unsuitable for growing sweet berries. To date, breeders have developed dozens of varieties that are unpretentious to weather conditions, soil composition and do not require much attention from the gardener. One of these species is the Elephant variety. This strawberry is an excellent option for beginning gardeners, as well as for those who live in cold regions.

A detailed description of the strawberry variety Slonenok, photos and reviews about it can be found in this article. Here we will talk about the advantages of persistent strawberries, some of their disadvantages and how to properly grow the Elephant variety in a temperate climate.

Characteristics of a large-fruited species

The strawberry variety Slonenok is relatively young - it was selected at the end of the last century. Scientists from the Siberian Research Institute were involved in breeding a new species, so it is not surprising that The main advantage of the Elephant variety is considered to be its strong frost resistance.

Full description of the Elephant variety:

• berry ripening time is average;
• bushes are powerful, well branched, erect;
• the formation of whiskers is active, the shoots are colored pale pink;
• The Elephant variety can be propagated by seeds, tendrils, or dividing the bush;
• the leaves on the bushes are colored in a rich green shade, have a slightly concave shape and are covered with a silvery coating;
• the edge of the leaf is jagged;
• the inflorescences are painted white or cream, the flowers are medium-sized, bisexual (that is, the Baby Elephant does not need pollinators);
• peduncles of medium size, spreading, multi-flowered;
• Strawberry berries Slonek are large, the average weight is 20-28 grams;
• the fruit does not have a neck, its shape resembles an egg, the strawberry is often forked in the lower part;
• the outside of the strawberry is bright red, the flesh of the berry is also scarlet, dense, the surface is glossy;
• the taste of the Baby Elephant is characterized as sweet with a slight sourness;
• the aroma of the berries is very rich, well-defined “strawberry”;
• This variety of strawberries has a perfectly balanced content of sugars, acids and vitamin C;
• the tasting assessment of the fruits of the Slonenok variety is 4.7 points;
• Strawberry yields are high - about 200 grams per bush or 0.8 kg per square meter (on an industrial scale - up to 90 centners per hectare of fields);
• the first berries are larger (up to 40 grams) and leveled, subsequent harvests give a smaller harvest, such strawberries can have any shape;
• the variety is considered unpretentious and persistent;
• Elephant's frost resistance is very good (strawberries overwinter without shelter even in the central regions of Russia and in some northern regions);
• in conditions of high humidity, bushes and berries can be affected by gray rot;
• Strawberries are unpretentious to agricultural technology, but they can “thank you” for poor care with small and sour berries;
• The purpose of the variety is universal: Baby Elephant is also good fresh (as it is considered a dessert variety), the berry is suitable for canning, making preserves, jams and marmalade, and tolerates freezing well.

Among other things, the Baby Elephant strawberry tolerates drought well, so it can be safely planted not only in Siberia, but also in the more southern and hotter regions of the country.

Advantages and disadvantages

If breeders managed to develop the ideal variety, new types of strawberries would no longer appear. Baby elephant, like other varieties of sweet berries, has both strengths and weaknesses.

The advantages of this strawberry include:

• large and beautiful berries;
• excellent aroma and pleasant taste of the fruit;
• very good frost resistance;
• unpretentiousness;
• the ability to grow in arid and cold regions;
• high productivity.

The Siberian variety also has some disadvantages, among them:

• high risk of rotting strawberries in conditions of high humidity;
• strong dependence of the quality of berries on the amount of fertilizers and watering;
• dense, not too juicy pulp.

Despite the listed disadvantages, the variety is quite popular not only among private gardeners and summer residents; Baby Elephant is often grown by farmers. Reviews from gardeners about these strawberries are mostly positive: they are loved for their yield and large fruit size. And dense berries withstand transportation better, so they are excellent for commercial purposes.

Agrotechnical rules

Strawberry Elephant is indeed an unpretentious variety. But, as mentioned earlier, it is sensitive to lack of care: the quality and quantity of the harvest is noticeably reduced.

In order for strawberries of the Elephant variety to grow as in the photo, the gardener must make a lot of effort. And you should start with the correct planting of strawberry seedlings.

Landing rules

Choose a place for strawberry beds that is sunny and protected from drafts. The site should not be located in a low area, as moisture can accumulate there, and for the Elephant, its excess is destructive.

Good strawberry seedlings have a healthy appearance, a dense stem and long branched roots. Plants with 3-4 true leaves are suitable for planting.

You can plant Baby Elephant in both spring and autumn - to choose the right time, the gardener must take into account the climate in his region. If the winters are not very harsh, snowy and without thaw, it is better to plant strawberry seedlings in the fall. This way the Baby Elephant will have a better chance of going deeper into the soil and putting down good roots. When planting in autumn, you can expect the first harvest of large berries already in the next season.

A month before planting, ammonium nitrate, humus, and wood ash are added to the soil. If the acidity of the soil is high, it is necessary to reduce it by adding a little quicklime - the Baby Elephant does not like soil with a pH level of more than six.

After two weeks, the area under the strawberries is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel, having previously scattered superphosphate and potassium chloride over it. Now you can make holes for seedlings, leaving a distance of 20 cm between them. The row spacing should be convenient for the gardener, usually about 80 cm is left. All that remains is to water the holes with warm water and plant the strawberries, compacting the soil around its roots.

Stages of care

You need to care for the Elephant variety carefully and regularly. The main stages of caring for strawberry beds should be the following:

1. Frequent and abundant watering, because the Baby Elephant loves moisture very much. It is imperative to take into account that excess moisture can lead to rot in strawberries. Therefore, it is recommended to water the bushes with drip systems. The water for irrigation is taken warm, and the time is chosen in the evening.
2. To reduce the number of waterings, it is necessary to use mulch (straw, humus, peat, sawdust). Mulch will prevent the soil from drying out and prevent it from multiplying. weeds and pests. In autumn, it is recommended to remove the mulch layer and burn it, as it can become a source of bacteria and viruses.
   
3. Large-fruited strawberries must be fertilized, otherwise the berries will be small and not so tasty. It is necessary to feed the bushes several times a season, while in the summer it is recommended to use mineral complexes, and to use organic matter in the autumn-winter period.For the Baby Elephant, feeding with humus, compost, wood ash, and potassium phosphate complexes is good.
   
4. To prevent strawberries from becoming infected with rot and fungal diseases, it is recommended to treat the bushes with Bordeaux mixture or a solution of copper oxychloride. It is better to fight insects with the help of special chemicals. At the stage of fruit formation, “chemistry” is undesirable; it can be replaced with folk remedies (for example, vegetable oil + wood ash + vinegar + liquid soap).
   
5. For the winter, it is better to mulch the Elephant’s bushes with pine needles. This material perfectly protects the roots from freezing, allows air to pass through, allowing strawberries to breathe during the thaw period, and does not contribute to the proliferation of insects and infections.

Review

Conclusion

The Elephant variety is perfect for those who live in a region with a difficult climate: this strawberry perfectly adapts to both cold and heat, and can withstand both drought and excess humidity.

Despite its non-repairability, the Elephant’s Child pleases with abundant harvests - during the season, good owners manage to collect up to 2.5 kg of beautiful and tasty berries from each bush.

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