Popular and old strawberry varieties – an overview

For hobby gardeners who would like to harvest strawberries as early as possible in early summer, there are various popular varieties available. The bright red berries of the “Lambada” variety are particularly popular; the fruits are currently the sweetest strawberries on the market. Growing them in the home garden is therefore particularly worthwhile if the berries are mainly eaten raw or are to be used for cakes and pastries. The comparatively low yield is a disadvantage,

These particularly sweet berries thrive best on dry soils. When caring for the bushes, particular attention should be paid to powdery mildew infestation. The “ Lambada ” variety is particularly susceptible to these pests.
The “ Honeoye“Belongs to the early fruiting strawberries. In terms of taste, however, the fruits show a drastic difference to the berries of the “Lambada” variety. Although it is quite aromatic and distinctive, the acidity of the fruit can be tasted clearly. Overall, the decorative, purple-red strawberry is not a particularly sweet variant. For this reason, the fruit is mainly used for the production of various desserts and for the preparation of jam. In addition, the associated foliage has health-promoting properties. The resilient variety is particularly popular due to its easy care. In addition, a long-lasting harvest can be guaranteed, although the fruits become significantly smaller in the second harvest.

Ready for harvest in high season

Varieties with a particularly rich aroma are preferably harvested in midsummer. The “ Polka ” variety is particularly suitable for areas with changing climatic conditions, because the berries are characterized by their particularly high adaptability to changing environmental influences. In order to increase the already high yield of the berries, it has proven useful to cultivate the fruits on heavy soils and to ensure adequate irrigation, especially during the flowering and ripening periods. The particularly decorative berry shines and presents a constant dark red pulp with a sweet aroma.

The ” Elsante ” variety , which delivers particularly high yields, has developed into a veritable mass product . The berries, which are also offered in the supermarket as classic strawberries, have a long shelf life and have an extraordinarily high vitamin C content. The orange to red fruits are also suitable for freezing. However, there are some disadvantages when it comes to cultivation:

• typical aroma is absent
• high demands on the location
• Inadequate protection against late frost due to missing leaves
• prone to root diseases

The “Sonata” variety is now advertised as an improved Elsanta , which is quite frost-hardy and also has a more aromatic taste. The berry, which also has a particularly long shelf life, is particularly suitable for early greenhouse crops and also for colder growing areas. When growing, it should be noted that the berries quickly lose their taste in high heat and become very soft.

Late harvest varieties

Even after the main season, strawberries are often harvested. One of the late varieties is, for example, the strawberry “ Symphony ”, which develops large fruits and ensures a high yield. Since the strawberry plants can adapt very well to different climatic conditions, the variety is also suitable for cultivation in cool areas. When cultivating, it is important to ensure that there is sufficient distance between the individual plants, as the plants are strong. Resistant to root rot, the “Symphony” variety is also suitable for inexperienced gardeners. In terms of taste, however, the fruit is not always convincing; therefore, it has been found useful to sample before cultivating.

Berries of the “ Salsa ” variety are described as more aromatic and better in taste ; the large, bright red fruits are particularly juicy and can be stored for a long time.

Old strawberry varieties

Old strawberry varieties are increasingly being cultivated again in home gardens. One of the best-known variants is “ Mieze Schindler ”, which is almost 100 years old. Cultivated for the first time by the breeder Otto Schindler, who named the strawberry after his wife, the fruits are grown today mainly because of their extraordinary taste. As the only strawberry variety, this cultivation is reminiscent of the typical aroma of a wild strawberry. The fruit also stands out due to its special appearance:

• especially small fruiting body
• dark red fruits with pink pulp
• Appearance is similar to the blackberry or raspberry

When cultivating this ancient variety of strawberry, certain aspects must be taken into account. Since the fruit almost exclusively develops female flowers, a suitable variety is necessary for fertilization, for example “Senga Sengana”, “Ostara” or ” Korona “. One plant is required for fertilization for a total of four plants. The berries of the “Mieze Schindler” can be harvested as fruits with the middle of the harvest between the end of June and mid-July. However, a low yield is always to be expected. In addition, the pulp is particularly soft and the berries cannot be stored. As ” Naschberry“Well suited for in between, but quick processing is necessary. In addition, consideration must be given to the particular susceptibility to diseases such as leaf rot and fruit rot.

The best known and at the same time a very old variety in German home gardens is the “ Senga Sengana ” variety , which is one of the most successful strawberry plants in Europe. The berries, which are initially medium-sized and later become smaller, are characterized by dark red fruits with a very sweet taste. The berries are suitable for fresh consumption, but are particularly often used as toppings for cakes or for making jam. As the ideal strawberry for freezing and preserving, the fruit plays an important role in the household. Although the cultivation is generally considered to be very robust, the plant shows a high susceptibility to fruit rot. This susceptibility is caused by the lush foliage.

One of the very old, but almost forgotten varieties is the “ Apricot Chinoise ” variety . The berries are characterized by a very special taste, which is rather untypical for strawberries. The aroma is reminiscent of a combination of peach, nectarine and apricot. Even when fully ripe, the rather small fruit retains a yellow color. Particularly suitable as a ground cover, this cultivation forms a colorful carpet.

The ” Hansa ” variety , also known as the ” blood strawberry “, has almost completely disappeared from the gardens at home . Discovered as a chance seedling in 1904, it was later brought onto the market by Julius Buhk. The plant color, which is atypical for strawberries, is particularly striking; initially red-brown, the fruits take on an almost completely black color when fully ripe. The fruit is particularly sweet due to its very high sugar content. In addition, the strawberry is particularly suitable for preservation.

Several harvest batches with the monthly strawberry

Strawberry varieties that can be harvested in several batches are particularly popular in domestic gardens. The fruits of the “Ostara” variety are among the best-known monthly strawberries. It can be grown outdoors as well as in a flower box on the balcony. Between July and November – depending on the weather until the onset of frost – you can harvest the particularly long-lasting berries, which are characterized by their aromatic taste. In addition to direct consumption, the fruits are also suitable for further processing into cakes or jams. So that the strawberry plant can develop optimally, attention should be paid to an ideal location and ideal soil condition:

• sunny location, maximum partial shade possible
• Location with high incidence of light
• Substrate: rich in nutrients and humus
• well moist soil

Since the cultivation presents itself as frost-hardy, the plants do not need any additional winter protection during the cold season.

The seedlings are sown at intervals of 30cm in February. Always ensure careful watering after planting. It is also particularly important to weed weeds regularly by working the subsoil with a hoe. Under no circumstances should you damage the fine roots during this process. Every four weeks, the plants should also be supplied with bark mulch so that the plant receives the necessary nutrients and produces particularly aromatic fruits.

Since the berries of the ” Ostara ” variety are particularly susceptible to fruit rot, care should be taken to ensure that the water balance in the soil is balanced; strong moisture increases the susceptibility of the plant. If the crop is already heavily infested, we strongly advise against consuming the fruit. In addition to fruit rot, aphids or caterpillars are also infested. However, the damage these pests cause is negligible.

Hanging strawberries

Climbing strawberry varieties are suitable for convenient harvesting or cultivation on the balcony. The ” Diamant ” variety , which is a relatively new breed from California, is particularly popular . The medium-sized fruits, which taste aromatic-sweet, can be cultivated as climbing berries as well as hanging berries. The plant develops long, falling shoots in balcony boxes or traffic light pots. Alternatively, you can also attach the plant to a trellis. The shoots are then tied up. You can harvest the fruits from June to September.

The ” Elan ” variety , which can be harvested from June to September, is a long-lasting hanging strawberry . These are particularly large fruits with a spicy-sweet aroma. The strawberry plant forms numerous, very strong runners so that it can also be planted as a ground cover. In order to increase the already high yield, you can increase the desired formation of runners and also prematurely. For this purpose, the first flowers are removed. Later on, more fruits and flowers will develop on the foothills.

Conclusion
In order to find the right strawberry variety for your own garden, the comparison between the individual varieties and, above all, the different requirements is of particular importance. Skilfully selected, brought to the ideal location and optimally cared for, both passionate hobby gardeners and beginners with little experience can enjoy the healthy fruit from their own cultivation.