Strawberry varieties “Queen Elizabeth” and “Elizabeth 2” - description, reviews and photos

Strawberry (garden strawberry) varieties Elizaveta (or Queen Elizabeth) and Elizaveta 2 are remontant varieties. The first is a “European” brought to Russia from Foggy Albion, the second is a product of Russian work with Elizabeth.

A bit of history

The Queen Elizabeth strawberry variety was bred by Briton Ken Muir in his nursery at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.She came to Russia almost immediately.

In 2001-2002, in the Donskoy nursery on the plantation of the Koroleva Elizaveta variety, fruit grower M. Kachalkin noted plants that differed from the rest in greater productivity, large-fruitedness and clearly expressed remontancy. Taking tendrils from these bushes, he obtained a new clone, which differed from the parent variety in many ways. Disputes arose among breeders whether this clone is a new variety of strawberry or not. The State Variety Commission put an end to the disagreement by including the Elizaveta 2 variety in the State Register in 2004.

Description of strawberry Elizaveta, similarities and differences between varieties

The domestic clone is an improved version of the Elizaveta variety. All the qualities inherent in the English variety are more pronounced in it.

Signs	Queen Elizabeth	Elizabeth 2
Winter hardiness	Low for Russian conditions	Average. In winters with frequent thaws, severe loss of bushes is possible
Productivity	1.5 kg/m²	3.5 kg/m²
Berry weight	30-45 g	60-90 g
Repairability	Gives up to 2 harvests per season	Repairability is clearly expressed. Gives 2-4 harvests per season
Usability	Weak, by the 2nd year strawberries practically do not produce whiskers	Very strong, mustaches are formed constantly. In order not to deplete the bushes and get a high yield, they should be removed every 3 days
Berries	Dense, dark red	Dense, dark red color, more pronounced than Elizabeth's
Taste	Great with flavor	Excellent sweet and sour with aroma (4.7 points)
Growing time in one place	2-3 years, then the berries become smaller, the taste deteriorates	3-4 years
Climatic zone of cultivation	Grows well in the south of the country. In the middle zone it often falls out completely	Suitable for growing in any climate zone

Caring for both varieties of strawberries is identical.

Features of agricultural technology

Since both varieties are remontants, the largest harvest occurs in autumn. At this time, the largest and most delicious berries are formed. But in September-October it is already cold, so the ovaries grow very slowly. Often the bushes go under the snow with undeveloped ovaries, which has a very negative effect on the winter hardiness and frost resistance of strawberries.

This has a particularly detrimental effect on the “foreigner”, who can completely die. Although the domestic variety will not freeze completely, it will suffer for a long time, which negatively affects the yield and durability of the bushes. To prevent the plantation from falling out, all flower stalks that appear after September 5-10 are cut off, and if the weather is cold, then the flowers must be removed earlier.

In spring, due to overwintered buds, strawberries can bloom very early. Bushes that have just emerged from under the snow and have not yet had time to grow leaves are already blooming. If the weather is warm, flowering begins in late April-early May, and by the end of the month the harvest ripens. But spring fruiting is the most modest and accounts for only 10% of the total harvest.

This should not be allowed. For full development, strawberries first need to form a head of foliage, otherwise the bushes become depleted and quickly degenerate. Therefore, all flower stalks are cut off until the leaves grow sufficiently.

In addition, Elizabeth 2’s mustache is constantly cut off (if the bush is intended for harvesting). This should be done from early spring to late autumn. The processes of borer formation and fruiting should be separated, since when berries and runners are simultaneously obtained, on the one hand, the berries become smaller and the yield decreases, and on the other hand, the runners are formed weaker and smaller.

In the 3rd year, the “English woman” experiences a significant decrease in the weight of the berries, their taste deteriorates, so to get a good harvest, she needs to be fertilized with phosphorus fertilizers (the best of which is wood ash) and microelements.

Domestic strawberries have a longer growing period of 3-4 years. But for the 3rd year, feeding with ash is also advisable.

Planting bushes under tree canopies, in the shade, on northern slopes or on poor soils negatively affects the growth and yield of both the first and second varieties.

Reproduction

In the Koroleva Elizaveta variety, powerful and well-developed whiskers are formed only in the first year of cultivation; subsequently, whisker formation stops completely. To obtain planting material, select several powerful bushes in the first year, cut off all flower stalks and allow the mustache to grow in all directions. Since the variety has very weak tendril formation, it is recommended to preserve all the formed tendrils, but no more than 3 on one garland.

The domestic variety produces so many tendrils that only 2-3 canes are left on one plant. It is better to leave spring shoots, then by the time of planting (end of July) the rosettes will be fully formed and even form buds, which, naturally, are removed.

Harvest

Both Elizabeths produce very large berries of excellent quality. In the domestic clone they are larger, autumn berries can reach a weight of 100-110 g, in Queen Elizabeth - up to 60 g. The pulp is dense, strawberries tolerate transportation very well, do not get soft when making compotes and jam, and are suitable for freezing. The taste is excellent, sweet and sour.

During a rainy summer, the berries become watery, their taste quality decreases, and they become unsuitable for transportation.

With properly planned agrotechnical measures, both varieties produce excellent large and tasty berries all season long.

Reviews of strawberry varieties Elizaveta and Elizaveta 2

All these reviews about the strawberry varieties Elizaveta and Elizaveta 2 were taken from dacha forums.

Review of strawberries Elizaveta 2 from the Moscow region:

Elizaveta 2 bought 4 bushes from Sadko last year. Last year there were flower stalks, but we tried to tear them off, but we put out tendrils and took two rosettes from each bush. We planted a garden bed in the fall. They did not cover anything for the winter. It has been blooming since spring, the berries are large and there are a lot of them. Then there was a break. They fed me. After that, in the second half of summer it bloomed, there were a lot of berries. The berries are large, but very hard, somewhat crunchy. They collected it constantly, and then they stopped collecting it, but it kept blooming and remained in the garden with berries and ovaries.

Review of strawberry varieties Elizaveta from Omsk:

This year in the spring I purchased strawberry seedlings of the Queen Elizaveta and Elizaveta 2 varieties from Poisk.
We had practically no summer this year, it was very cold and dry. All summer I grew bushes, and in August the mustache began to grow, and on September 22 I harvested my first harvest. Moreover, there is color both on the uterine bush and on the mustache of the first order. The berries are large, dense, aromatic.

Review of strawberries Elizaveta from Ryazan:

The berry is large, dense and without voids. Due to this, the weight is impressive. There are no voids in both small and large berries. The berry is tasty and aromatic. Large berries do not have a completely regular shape, but when you pick up such a berry, all complaints are immediately forgotten.

Review of Elizaveta 2 strawberries from the Perm region:

My Queen E 2 is already in her fifth year, I will breed.It starts earlier than everyone else, bears fruit for a long time, and ends fruiting on a par with late varieties. The berries are the same, do not get smaller, are medium in size, have a good taste, and are sweet. True, you need to feed it periodically. But why not feed such a hard worker?
I haven’t been sick with anything in 4 years. Comes out of winter better than anyone else.