Strawberries
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| Berryfruit Variety Descriptions
Strawberries |
The selection of a strawberry variety should start with an understanding of the requirements in the market or markets being aimed at. This should be the main factor in determining variety selection.
The major market segments are:-
The main export markets historically are USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Australia. In USA and Australia, the demand is for varieties with bright, medium red skin colour. Flesh colour is relatively unimportant, while size preference is for large fruit which should have a shelf life of at least 7 days after arrival. Firmness is therefore a major consideration. There is also a specialist market in the USA for stem berries where the demand is for very large fruit with a long stem. The fruit is dipped in chocolate so skin colour and flavour are not particularly important.
In Japan, two main markets exist. The first is the catering trade, where the fruit is mostly used for cake decoration. The requirements are for even, medium sized fruit with bright, medium red, skin colour. Berries must be able to retain the brightness after 5 days.
The second market, the fresh dessert trade, is very demanding. The requirement is for medium to large, evenly sized fruit with bright red skin, evenly red flesh, especially sweet and with an almost aromatic flavour. A near perfect skin finish is also needed and the fruit must look perfect on arrival and at point of sale. There are indications that there is increasing demand for "American" type fruit in the dessert trade with demand for varieties like Chandler.
There is both export and local demand for processed strawberries used as dairy food flavouring and in jams. The requirements do vary, in many cases depending on what the particular processor is used to. There is a general swing to fruit with redder flesh but there are no other specific berry requirements, other than for particular end uses.
As processing fruit normally sells for much less than fresh fruit, high yields, easy harvesting and calyx removal are essential to make money from processed strawberries.
For many people, this is a major market for their strawberries. Quality requirements are increasing as the public will only buy good looking and tasting fruit. It does take time to educate the general New Zealand public to varieties that are significantly different from the medium red, mild flavoured fruit which has been produced in recent years. There are increasing signs that repeat sales are enhanced with varieties considered as particularly good flavoured. Harvesting fully ripe fruit makes a big difference to final flavour with unripe fruit unable to develop the sugar and flavour levels beyond those present at the harvesting date although the colour will change to full red. Fruit picked before fully red will have a poorer flavour.
Varieties that can continue cropping over extended periods, have an advantage for this market.
There is a small, relatively high priced local market for fruit produced from May to October. Competition from Queensland and to a lesser extent, USA, is a constant threat. The requirement is for varieties that can produce good yields at low light intensity, pollinate readily and are relatively disease resistant in high humidity situations. Flavour is normally poorer under low light conditions which makes competition against overseas grown outdoor fruit more difficult.
There are many different systems of hydroponics, some involving a growing media, while others use nutrient solutions only. Some varieties seem to perform better under these conditions than others. This is probably because of pollen viability under lower light and cooler temperature conditions under which hydroponics is usually practised during winter under protected cropping. Irvine and Levin are two that have performed consistently well over recent years in these conditions.
Strawberries are grown on raised beds traditionally covered with black polythene. Drip type irrigation tubing eg Biwall, is often laid on top of the mound underneath the polythene. Distances between rows depend on the type of equipment being used as it is important to be able to straddle rows to lay polythene and for spraying. Common distances are 760mm, 800mm or 900mm. Plant spacing depends on the variety and whether plants are to be kept for several seasons. For one year cropping, plants are usually planted in a staggered double row 200-250mm apart. For multi-year cropping, plants are usually grown in single rows 150-200mm apart.
Wheat or barley straw are commonly used between the rows to keep the fruit free from rain splash and to prevent weed germination. Bales are usually sterilised before laying to prevent seed germination. Use rate of straw is commonly around 250-300 bales per hectare.
Varieties are listed as being either Short day, Day Neutral or Intermediate. While these categories are used the boundaries between them are not always clear.
Short day varieties are those where flower initiation is triggered by short day lengths, and fruit production is normally limited to the October - December period. However some flowering and fruiting may continue later than this, depending on the variety, climatic and crop loading factors. In climates such as Auckland where the distinction between short and long days is not noticeably marked, it is common for many short day types to continue cropping well into January and beyond. In more southern latitudes like Canterbury, the distinction is quite clear and short day varieties will commonly finish fruiting around Xmas time.
Day neutral varieties are unaffected by day length and will fruit whenever temperatures are high enough to maintain growth.
Intermediate varieties will normally produce a second crop from February to May, following a first crop in October to December. First year plants may produce some fruit from January to March.
A page of colour plates allowing a visual comparison of some of the following varieties is available (Please note this is a large document with over 150K of graphics). Alternatively, clicking a variety name in the list below will call a 40K image of that variety.
Type:
Intermediate
General description:
UC variety. Fruit is medium red with light red flesh. Large to very large. Firm. Good flavour. Mid season. Good yields. Suited to central and southern NZ
Deficiencies:
King fruit tends to split.
Market Suitability:
Fresh export to USA, Australia and Japanese catering markets. Process and Local
District suitability
Central districts
Plant Availability:
Low demand variety only available from some specialised nurseries
Cultural notes:
Susceptible to Red stele root rot. Ensure clean planting stock and use higher mounds than standard, especially on heavier soils.
Type:
Short Day
General description:
UC variety. Fruit is medium red with light red flesh. Fruit size is consistently large to very large and consistently conical in shape. Firm. Good flavour. Mid season. Moderate yields. Produces few fruit per truss. Suited to northern NZ
Deficiencies:
Average plant yield, white flesh and average flavour
Market Suitability:
Fresh export to USA, Australia and Japanese catering markets. Process and Local
District suitability
Northern New Zealand
Plant Availability:
Unlikely to be widely available unless demand increases
Cultural notes:
Large plant but will probably need reasonably close plantings for best yield results.
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Bright, dark red. Goes very dark as it becomes over-ripe. Size medium - large. Plants shows Potassium deficiency symptoms, especially late season, showing up as purple margins on leaves. Large fruit number per truss with last fruit tending to be very small. Flavour good but can be slightly astringent in some conditions. Slightly soft. Excellent yield. Day Neutral.
Deficiencies:
Softness. Small size on lower parts of trusses. Dark colour and occasional poor flavour
Market Suitability:
PYO Gate sales Local
District suitability
Central and Southern New Zealand
Plant Availability:
Readily available
Cultural notes:
Ensure good plant size before allowing flowers to form fruit to minimise small size tendency. Maintain good potassium levels late in the season. Difficult to produce quality fruit on second year plants. Sensitive to mite attack
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Medium red skin. Light red flesh. Prominent seeds. Soft. Large size. Very disease susceptible. Flavour average. High yields with extended season. Day Neutral.
Deficiencies:
Softness, disease susceptibility
Market Suitability:
Pick your own, gate sales
District suitability
Waimate
Plant Availability:
Very limited available from specialist sources only
Type:
Short day
General description:
UC variety. Parentage: Douglas x advanced selection Cal 85.218-605. Medium red fruit. Flesh medium red. Consistently large to very large fruit size. Firm, shiny and consistently conical fruit. Flavour very good. More resistant to wet weather than Pajaro. Yield is very good. Plants are relatively vigorous
Deficiencies:
No obvious weaknesses apparent to date
Market Suitability:
Appears suitable for fresh export and local, processing and Pick-your-own. Possibly suitable for Japanese dessert market
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand. Suitable in Southern areas where spring crop only, is required
Plant Availability:
Readily available
Cultural notes:
Should work well when grown as for Pajaro, but some trialing may be needed to get the best from this variety. Plant spacing should be wider than Pajaro. Plant density of 80000-100000 plants per hectare is suggested.
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Consistently very large fruit. Dark red colour with dark red flesh. Excellent flavour. Variable firmness. Shape slightly variable from conic to wedge shaped. Reasonably strong day neutral but produces plenty of runners in fruiting beds. Capable of very high yields. Has large, late production peak. Very tall growing plant.
Deficiencies:
Variable shape, dark colour
Market Suitability:
Processing where fruit integrity is not important and dark colour is required. Local market.
District Suitability:
Central and Southern New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Very limited. Still under trial but likely to become unavailable unless strong grower demand occurs
Cultural notes:
Needs slightly wider spacing than Aptos
Type:
Short day
General description:
UC variety. Parentage: Irvine x advanced selection Cal 85.218-605. Produces a vigorous plant. Medium red fruit. Flesh medium red. Consistently large to very large fruit size. Firm, shiny and consistently conical fruit. Flavour is moderate. More resistant to wet weather than Pajaro but appearance has not been rated as high. Yield is very good.
Deficiencies:
Average appearance
Market Suitability:
Appears suitable for processing, export and Pick-your-own.
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Limited. Unlikely to be widely available unless demand increases
Cultural notes:
Needs wider spacing than Pajaro. Further trialing required
Type:
Short day
General description:
UC variety. Medium red fruit but not as bright as Pajaro. Flesh light red. Size varies from very large to small. Firm but softer than Pajaro. Flavour very good. Produces a multi crowned plant quickly. More resistant to wet weather than Pajaro. More susceptible to botrytis than Pajaro. Yield is very good.
Deficiencies:
More inconsistent appearance compared with Pajaro. Tendency to produce large quantities of small fruit later in season
Market Suitability:
Very suitable for processing, export and Pick-your-own. Possibly suitable for Japanese fresh market
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Readily available
Cultural notes:
Best suited to wider spacing. Suggested densities are 80,000-100,000 plants per hectare
Type:
Short Day
General description:
A UC variety. Parentage: Seascape x (Fern x Parker). Produces consistently large, long conic shaped fruit. Fruit coloured moderate-dark red with high skin gloss. Flesh colour moderate-dark red. Flavour is good. Yields and season length are similar to Pajaro. Plants are relatively vigorous.
Deficiencies:
Long pointed fruit
Market Suitability:
Appears suitable for fresh export and local, processing and Pick-your-own.
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Trial variety and therefore limited availability. Likely to become unavailable unless strong grower demand occurs
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Parentage: Douglas x Muir. Consistently large fruit, bright red colour with pale flesh. Good flavour. Firm. Shape variable from conic to wedge shaped. Strongly day neutral with few runners produced in fruiting beds. Similar yields to Aptos. Strong but squat growing plant. Fruit surface is very susceptible to rain damage especially after an extended dry spell.
Deficiencies:
Wet weather damage susceptibility.
Market Suitability:
Export, local, & gate sales, Early markets from protected cropping
District Suitability:
Central and Southern dry summer areas. Suitable for protected cropping in Northern areas over winter.
Plant Availability:
Limited availability as a minor use variety
Cultural notes:
Requires less chilling than most other day-neutral types
Type:
Short day
General description:
Previously called Orion but recently renamed. NZ bred variety tested as T42. Parentage includes Fern, Douglas, Hecker and Pajaro. Consistently very large. Good shape. Bright red skin, light red flesh. Moderately firm. Good flavour. Has very large leaves.
Deficiencies:
Wet weather damage susceptibility.
Market Suitability:
Excellent variety for protected cropping situations.
District Suitability:
Central New Zealand and protected cropping situations.
Plant Availability:
Very limited availability
Type:
Short day
General description:
NZ bred variety and tested as T69. Parentage includes Fern, Douglas, Cruz, Pajaro, Holiday and Tufts. Consistently large. Good shape. Dark brick red coloured skin, red flesh. Firm. Excellent flavour.
Deficiencies:
Dark fruit may be a disadvantage in some markets.
Market Suitability:
Fresh export USA, Australia, Local
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand. Suitable in Southern areas where spring crop only, is required
Plant Availability:
Limited availability and may be deleted unless grower demand increases
Type:
Short day but runs on.
General description:
UC variety. Parentage is Parker x (Tioga x Pajaro). Consistently very large. Shape a bit variable. Darker than Pajaro, light red flesh. Moderately firm. Good flavour. Handles weather damage better than Pajaro
Deficiencies:
Shape, smaller fruit in late season
Market Suitability:
Fresh Export, Local. Good Xmas cropper in many areas
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand. Suitable in Southern areas where spring crop only, is required
Plant Availability:
Readily available
Type:
Short day
General description:
UC variety. Consistently very large. Bright red skin, light red flesh. Exceptionally firm. Excellent flavour when picked fully ripe but can be insipid when picked under-ripe. Early if not deflowered. Average yields, but exceptional quality results in high export grade out.
Deficiencies:
Wet weather damage susceptibility. Low yield.
Market Suitability:
Fresh export USA, Australia, Local
District Suitability:
Northern and Central New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Readily available
Cultural notes:
Responds well to close plantings. 100000-150000 plants per hectare are suggested.
Type:
Short day.
General description:
Parentage: Douglas X a Tufts hybrid. Medium red fruit rated as attractive. Excellent flavour when fully ripe but needs to be left after turning red. Flesh red. Size: very large. Exceptionally firm. Yield is very good and carries on, like Douglas longer than most short day types. Shape is very variable with early season fruit tending to have knobs on.
Deficiencies:
Shape. May be too firm for some markets.
Market Suitability:
Fresh export USA, Australia Local
District Suitability:
Far Northern areas
Plant Availability:
Limited availability and likely to be deleted
Cultural notes:
Needs wider rows than normal because of very long fruit trusses to prevent fruit being squashed.
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Parentage: Selva x Douglas. Fruit is moderate-dark red, attractive and glossy. Size is moderate-large. Good flavour. Firm. Shape conic. Moderately strong, upright plant. Has some susceptibility to botrytis in wet seasons. Tendency to produce misshapen fruit in cool temperatures.
Deficiencies:
Susceptible to botrytis, misshapen fruit
Market Suitability:
Outstanding day neutral, best suited for specialist, late season, fresh markets but suitable for all fresh export and local markets.
District Suitability:
Appears suitable for all parts of New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Production is increasing as suitable production methods are developed. Difficult to get high runner production performance
Cultural notes:
Does not appear to need deflowering. Medium plant spacing
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Consistently large fruit and produces some exceptionally large. Bright red colour with pale flesh. Very mild flavour and needs to be picked fully ripe otherwise can be tasteless. Exceptionally firm. Shape slightly variable with tendency to ridged fruit. Weak to moderately day neutral. Similar yields to Aptos. Strong growing plant but susceptible to potassium deficiency. Good weather resistance.
Deficiencies:
Poor flavour
Market Suitability:
Export, local, & gate sales
District Suitability:
Central and Southern New Zealand.
Plant Availability:
Very limited availability and likely to be deleted
Cultural notes:
It is essential that this variety is picked fully ripe to achieve maximum flavour development. Medium to wide plant spacing.
Type:
Day Neutral
General description:
A UC variety. Produces consistently throughout the season. Fruit is large sized, well shaped and firm. Dull, medium red skin colour. Average flavour.
Deficiencies:
Dull skin colour and average flavour.
Market Suitability:
Local & gates sales
Plant Availability:
Limited availability. Trial variety only
Cultural notes:
In most respects is an improved version of Selva and should be treated the same.
Type:
Day neutral
General description:
UC variety. Parentage: Hecker x (Tufts x Pajaro parent). Consistently large fruit. Exceptionally bright red colour with pale flesh. Good flavour. Firm. Shape slightly variable from conic to wedge shaped. Strongly day neutral with few runners produced in fruiting beds. Similar yields to Aptos. Moderately strong but squat growing plant. Some "June yellows" may be observed in the spring.
Deficiencies:
Variable shape, small size
Market Suitability:
Export, local, & gate sales
District Suitability:
Central districts. Suitable in Southern areas on very fertile soils where large plant size can be achieved
Plant Availability:
Limited availability
Cultural notes:
Essential to ensure the plant becomes well established before allowing to fruit. Suits close spacing
These are no longer commercially available:
Cruz, Donna, Douglas, Fern, Hecker, Mrak, Muir, Santana, Soquel, Tustin
In quarantine or early grower testing stage:
Eris, Selene, Tethis, F1, G14, G34, H6, H7
Roy Beecroft, Glencroft Gardens, Wrights Road, Sheffield, Ph/Fax (03) 3183865
Michael Hill, 165 Clark Road, Hobsonville, Auckland 1250, Ph/Fax (09) 416 8409
Richard Lawry, Arapaepae Orchard, P O Box 601, Levin, Ph 06 368 2270
Andy McGrath, Gorton Road, R D 2 Cambridge, Ph (07) 827 8281, Fax (07) 837 7773
Brian MacMillan, 126 Pukekura Road, Katikati, Ph/Fax (07) 549 1883
Francie Perry , PO Box 13051, Onehunga, Ph (09) 622 2350, Fax (09) 622 2351
Peter Robson, Kapiti Kroppers Nursery, 49 Lupin Road, Otaki, Ph (06) 364 7156, 364 3163
Michael Shanley, 558 Main North Road, R D 1, Katikati, Ph/Fax (07) 549 0070
Allan Taylor, 103 Springs Road, Katikati, Ph/Fax (07) 549 1669
Turners & Growers Ltd, P.O. Box 56, Auckland, Ph (09) 366 6633 (Jason Dilger), Fax (09) 366 4499