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Strawberry Flair (Flair) – an early, early, Dutch variety of culture, which has won the recognition of farmers from around the world. Despite the fact that the species does not have a high yield, it has many other advantages: marketability and taste, keeping quality, large-fruitedness. Fleur is most suitable for growing in greenhouses for further sale.
Bright red fruits darken as they ripen.
History of breeding
The berry culture of the Fleur variety was obtained in 2004 in the Netherlands thanks to the work of Dutch breeders. The author of the variety is Marcel Suiker, an employee of Flevoplant BV. Strawberry Fleur has gained particular popularity in Germany and Scandinavia, in Our Country it is cultivated in areas with suitable climatic conditions.
Description of strawberry variety Fleur and characteristics
Fleur is a non-repairable strawberry variety, characterized by high quality of taste and fast ripening. A relatively new hybrid form has powerful bushes, reaching a diameter of 40-45 cm, a height of 20-25 cm. The plant is open, compact, but multi-horned, with a small amount of foliage of medium size, bright green in color, with serrated edges. Strawberry petioles are strong, long, flower stalks are high – up to 16 cm, powerful, located at the level of the leaves, but with time of ripening they fall to the ground. The buds are white, five-petal, very large – up to 4 cm in diameter. Fleur has a high ability to form whiskers, strong rosettes. The berries of the variety are large, regular in shape, one-dimensional. When ripe, the red fruits become darker in color. The surface of the berries is shiny, the achenes are small, depressed to an average depth, have a yellow tint. Strawberry pulp is red, contains a lot of juice, acquires a caramel flavor as it ripens. The commercial value of Fleur is very high.
The variety is resistant to rain and humid climate, but does not tolerate drought and hot weather at all. Sharp changes in conditions and temperature changes negatively affect the fruiting and growth of bushes.
Fleur is a self-bearing strawberry variety
Characteristics of fruits, taste qualities
Strawberries of the Fleur variety ripen uniform and large. The shape of the berries is classic – in the form of an elongated cone, the average weight of the fruit is 20-30 g. At the initial stage of ripening, the culture has a rich red color, closer to the harvest it becomes darker in color. All specimens are even, with a shiny surface and small grains of a yellow tint. Their pulp is dense, juicy, there may be voids inside, strawberry aroma. The fruits contain a high concentration of sugar, but are not without a refreshing sourness. Taste qualities of Fleur, according to experts, are very high.
Strawberries are recommended for universal use. It is consumed fresh, added to dairy products and desserts, used for freezing and canning, and dried.
Flair berries are high in antioxidants.
Ripening time, yield and keeping quality
One of the main advantages of strawberry Flair is the friendly ripening of fruits, the timing of which directly depends on the region of cultivation. Under favorable conditions, full ripening occurs in 30 days, that is, a week earlier than other varieties. In the Moscow region, strawberries are harvested towards the end of June, and in the south – already in mid-May.
As for the number of fruits on a bush, this indicator is strongly influenced by agricultural technology and weather. On average, one adult plant brings up to 0,5 kg of ripe berries. If Flair is cultivated in a closed ground condition, then this figure increases to 0,8 – 1 kg.
The variety has high keeping quality, suitable for transportation over short distances. Harvesting is very easy, as all the berries are in plain sight.
Growing regions, frost resistance
The variety bears fruit well both in tunnels, greenhouses and equipped greenhouses, as well as in open ground. Areas with a temperate climate are best suited for its cultivation.
When grown in cold zones, the variety needs mandatory shelter with the arrival of frost. In the south, the culture safely survives the winter under mulch without additional insulation.
In hot areas with severe drought, strawberries feel bad. High temperatures contribute to the deterioration of the presentation and taste of berries, negatively affect yields, and reduce fruiting.
The variety develops productively and forms ovaries in cool weather.
Disease and pest resistance
According to the originator of the variety, Flair strawberries have an average resistance to major diseases and pests, although gardeners say that in spring and autumn it must be treated with professional protective preparations. If verticillium or spotting spreads on the site, the variety will not be able to resist them.
Also, the variety can be attacked by pests: ants, slugs, aphids. To combat them, you should use tools purchased in specialized stores.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Judging by the description of the variety, photos and reviews of gardeners, strawberry Fleur is not an ideal variety and has not only advantages, but also disadvantages.
Fleur is one of the best strawberries for sale.
Advantages:
- earlier flowering and fruiting;
- pleasant aroma and taste;
- friendly maturation;
- large-fruited;
- resistance to moisture;
- long shelf life;
- excellent presentation;
- good transportability.
Disadvantages:
- instability to heat;
- susceptibility to disease;
- the likelihood of low productivity;
- low yield.
Methods of reproduction
Strawberry Flair can reproduce in three ways:
- Rosettes. The variety at the time of the vegetative period forms a large number of mustaches, which, in order to obtain new bushes, should be dug in at the beginning of summer. With the onset of autumn, they are removed from the ground along with the roots and planted.
- By division. Fleur grows very quickly, so some gardeners divide the mother bushes. To do this, they are carefully dug up, cut into pieces so that each has a root system, then placed in pre-prepared beds.
- Seeds. To breed a variety by seed, large grains should be collected from the mother crop. To do this, overripe berries are dried, after which planting material is separated from them, sown in containers with fertile soil and covered with a film. After the appearance of sprouts, it is removed.
It is best to grow strawberries Fleur rosettes
Planting and care
Strawberry Flair requires certain conditions for successful growth. Plant development and yield are strongly influenced by the choice of location and adherence to agricultural technology. The variety prefers an open space without drafts with good lighting throughout the day, and an excellent crop can be harvested when grown in greenhouse conditions. The soil can have any composition, but it is better if it is soil with a normal level of acidity. For strawberries Fleur, since its bushes are small in size, a two-line or one-line planting scheme is suitable with an interval between sprouts of 20-30 cm, rows – 40 cm.
Plant care consists in periodic watering and fertilizing, and do not forget about mulching and loosening the beds. Moisten the culture with settled warm water as the earth dries up, under the root. Top dressing is carried out with complex fertilizers containing phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and other useful elements. The soil should be loosened a few days after watering, mulched with sawdust, mowed grass and spruce needles. It is recommended to cover the bushes before winter.
Preparation for winter
Strawberry Flair has good frost resistance, but only if the bushes are provided with good shelter. The ideal option for wintering is considered to be warming with a thick spunbond or agrofiber placed on low arcs. When growing the species in open ground, there is a risk of freezing at the time of return frosts.
Cultivation of strawberries in the open field is difficult
Conclusion
Strawberry Fleur is a variety that is very sensitive to the vagaries of the weather. Good results are not guaranteed in all regions; it shows itself better in protected ground. The main advantages of the variety are considered to be an excellent presentation, early ripeness, immunity to certain diseases. Reviews about strawberries Fleur are controversial, someone liked the variety, and someone was very disappointed in it.
Reviews of gardeners about the Fleur strawberry variety
