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At least a small bed with strawberries is on almost any personal plot. It is an extremely popular berry among gardeners all over the world. There are many old and “time-tested” varieties, the advantages and disadvantages of which are well known. But every year there are also interesting promising new items. Among them is the Brighton strawberry, which, thanks to its merits, has already gained many fans in a short time.
History of breeding
Strawberry Brighton is an achievement of breeders from the USA. It appeared at the beginning of the XXI century. Following the “trends” of that time, specialists created a remontant variety of neutral daylight hours, capable of bearing fruit abundantly in a temperate climate. But the practice of cultivation has proved that it belongs, rather, to the category of semi-repairable.
gardeners “met” Brighton strawberries 10 years later than American ones. The variety has successfully passed certification, but is still not listed in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Federation. Nevertheless, he successfully “took root” in the home gardens of gardeners, adapting to a more severe than temperate climate.
Description of the Brighton strawberry variety and characteristics
After reviewing the description of the Brighton remontant strawberry variety, it is easy to understand why she managed to gain popularity among gardeners around the world relatively quickly.
Characteristics of fruits, taste qualities
Peduncles bend under the weight of large berries. Their average weight is 50-60 g, there are individual “record holders” weighing up to 80 g. The shape is typically “strawberry”, rounded-blunt-conical. The closer to the end of the fruiting period, the more the size and shape of the berries vary. There are also relatively small (20-30 g), and elongated, and almost spherical, and ribbed specimens.
The skin is glossy, evenly colored dark red, without a white “spot” at the stalk. The flesh is reddish-pink, very dense, as if “crispy”, not particularly juicy. Brighton strawberries taste like a cross between wild strawberries and pineapple. Light sourness definitely makes it more interesting, because not everyone likes insipid sweetness. Inherent in berries and a light “strawberry” aroma.
The peel of Brighton strawberries is thin, but strong enough.
This is a general purpose variety. Brighton strawberries are not only eaten fresh, but also canned for the winter, frozen, used as a filling for baking. After heat treatment and exposure to low temperatures, it retains its bright color, recognizable taste and shape.
Ripening time, yield and keeping quality
Strawberry Brighton belongs to the varieties of neutral daylight hours, its duration does not affect the yield. Therefore, when grown indoors, bushes bear fruit for 10-11 months a year. When planting in open beds, the duration of fruiting depends on the characteristics of the local climate.
In central Our Country, the first berries ripen already in early June, in the Urals, in Siberia – 10-15 days later. The harvest is taken until autumn. In warm southern regions, Brighton strawberries bear fruit from late April or early May until the first frost.
From an adult bush, when grown in open ground, 600-800 g of berries are removed per season. In especially successful seasons – up to 1 kg.
Strawberries Brighton are quite compact, “squat” bushes, not particularly densely leafy.
The density of the Brighton strawberry pulp provides it with a very good keeping quality for this berry. At room temperature, it will not spoil for 2-3 days. Under optimal conditions, the berries retain their “presentation” and taste for a week and a half. They differ not only in keeping quality, but also in good transportability. Strawberries endure “moving” over considerable distances without damage.
Growing regions, frost resistance
Brighton strawberry breeders were created for cultivation in temperate climates. Bushes are able to overwinter without suffering at temperatures up to -20-25 ºС, even if they are not provided with shelter.
However, the practice of growing this variety in Our Country has proved that it can adapt to more severe climatic conditions. Strawberry Brighton steadily bears fruit in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. Although here, of course, it must be protected from the cold.
Record yields of Brighton strawberries in less-than-optimal conditions can’t be counted on
Disease and pest resistance
Breeders have provided Brighton strawberries with “innate” immunity against fungal diseases, including all types of spotting and gray mold. The only exception is root rot. But in the vast majority of cases, the gardener himself is to blame for its development, being overly zealous with watering. If you follow the recommendations regarding agricultural technology, the risk of developing root rot is minimized.
Brighton strawberries are also not particularly interesting for pests. Often they bypass it, even attacking the bushes of other varieties growing in the garden. The only exception is the spider mite.
The first fruits of the Brighton strawberry are one-dimensional and almost the same shape, the same cannot be said about the latter.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The undoubted advantages of Brighton strawberries include:
- good cold resistance even for Our Country;
- endurance, which allows you to adapt to not always favorable climatic and weather conditions (and not only survive, but also bear fruit);
- unpretentiousness in care – Brighton strawberries mainly require standard agricultural technology;
- the presence of immunity to almost all fungal diseases;
- suitability for cultivation not only in open ground, but also in greenhouses, both for personal consumption and on an “industrial scale” (it can also be cultivated on window sills, balconies);
- compactness of plants, which saves space in the garden;
- a relatively small number of leaves, such bushes are easier to care for, they are better blown by the wind, which reduces the risk of pest attacks;
- large-fruited, presentable appearance, excellent taste of berries;
- the versatility of the purpose of strawberries, their keeping quality and transportability;
- a long period of fruiting, as a result – a high yield.
It was not possible to identify significant shortcomings in Brighton strawberries. However, it must be taken into account that, despite the ability to endure “interruptions” in watering, the variety is not drought-resistant. With a regular moisture deficit, the yield drops sharply, the quality of the berries deteriorates.
Another nuance is the tendency to actively form a mustache. If they are not removed in a timely manner, Brighton strawberry bushes simply will not have the “strength” to ensure the ripening of the crop.
When growing Brighton strawberries, the mustache will have to be trimmed every 2-3 weeks.
Methods of reproduction
Strawberry Brighton very actively forms a mustache. Therefore, it is propagated in this way, provided by nature itself. The gardener will definitely not have to face a shortage of planting material.
For reproduction, several “uterine” bushes are selected in advance – two-year-old, healthy, abundantly fruiting. During the spring, all the buds are cut off on them. By June, whiskers begin to form. Of these, you need to leave 5-7 of the most powerful.
The largest rosette is the first from the mother plant. But if you need to propagate Brighton strawberries quickly, use the second one on each mustache. As soon as roots about 1 cm long are formed on them, they are either “pinned” to the soil without separating them from the bush, or planted in small pots, cups.
12-15 days before transplanting new specimens to a permanent place, the mustache is cut off. The procedure is planned for the end of July or August. In warm southern regions, you can transplant until October.
If you plant mustaches in peat cups, new plants will not have to be removed from containers during transplantation
Planting and care
Variety Brighton imposes standard requirements for any strawberry on the landing site. And it is better to “listen” to them, wishing to harvest plentiful harvests every year. With regard to agricultural technology, there are several important nuances, but caring for plants will not take much time and effort from the gardener.
Since Brighton strawberries are grown mainly in temperate climates, they are planted mainly in the spring. The optimal time is the second half of May or the beginning of June. You need to wait until the risk of returning frosts is minimized.
A place for a bed with Brighton strawberries is chosen taking into account the following criteria:
- open space, well lit and warmed by the sun;
- the presence of protection against strong gusts of cold wind, drafts;
- a substrate that passes water and air well, but at the same time is quite nutritious – loose loam, sandy loam;
- neutral or slightly acidic acid-base balance of the soil – pH 5.5-6.0;
- relatively deep, about a meter, groundwater lying under the soil surface (if there is no other place, you will have to fill in a bed with a height of at least 0,5 m).
Strawberry Brighton categorically does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots. This further increases the risk of root rot. Plants will not take root in very “heavy” or excessively “light” soil. Steep slopes and lowlands are also among the places unsuitable for beds.
It is necessary to moisten the soil in the garden with Brighton strawberries relatively often, but moderately. If the street is not too hot, once every 4-5 days is enough (the norm for an adult bush is about 3 liters). In extreme heat and in the absence of precipitation, the intervals are reduced to 2-3 days.
The method of watering for Brighton strawberries is not fundamental, but it is better that drops of water do not fall on leaves, flowers and fruits.
A long fruiting period and a relatively high yield ensure the need for intensive feeding of Brighton strawberries. Fertilizers are applied four times during the growing season:
- in mid-April, almost immediately after the snow melts;
- at the stage of mass formation of buds;
- at the end of June, after harvesting the “first wave”;
- 2-3 weeks after fruiting.
The first top dressing is necessarily nitrogen-containing fertilizers. They are necessary for the active formation of green mass. It can be both mineral supplements and natural organics. Next, store-bought products designed specifically for strawberries are added. They provide plants with all the substances necessary for the ripening of berries, in the required volume.
An agrotechnical event that is not mandatory, but very useful for Brighton strawberries, is mulching. This helps the gardener save time on weeding and loosening the bed, and also allows you to water the bushes less often. It does not allow the soil on the surface to “bake” into an air-tight crust and prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture.
The best prevention of root rot is proper watering. It is also recommended to replace ordinary water 2-3 times a month with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate or any fungicide of biological origin, reducing its concentration by half compared to that recommended in the instructions.
Root rot on the aerial part of the plant appears when the development of the disease has already gone too far.
To protect against spider mites, onions, garlic are planted in the garden with Brighton strawberries, or once every 1,5-2 weeks the bushes are sprayed with infusion of “arrows”. With the appearance of characteristic thin, almost transparent “cobwebs” braiding buds, young leaves, plants are treated with acaricides.
Spider mites themselves are very small, they cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Preparation for winter
In the southern regions with a subtropical climate, Brighton strawberries do not need shelter. Preparing bushes for winter is limited to pruning leaves and cleaning vegetable and other debris from the garden.
In a temperate climate in mid-autumn, after cleaning the garden bed, they renew the mulch layer or cover it with spruce branches. Humus is poured to the bases of the Brighton strawberry bushes, forming “mounds” 8-10 cm high. If the winter is predicted to be frosty and with little snow, it is advisable to additionally install arcs over the garden bed, pulling any covering material over them in 2-3 layers.
Preparation of Brighton strawberries for winter depends on the climate in the region of its cultivation
Conclusion
Strawberry Brighton belongs to the semi-repair varieties of neutral daylight hours. Among its undoubted advantages are palatability, large size and external attractiveness of berries. Gardeners appreciate the compactness of the bushes, unpretentiousness in care, and the duration of fruiting. Of course, the variety cannot be called ideal, it has some drawbacks. But they do not spoil the overall picture.
Reviews of gardeners about Brighton strawberries
The description of the Brighton strawberry variety given by the breeders is confirmed by the photo and reviews of gardeners. Most of the opinions about him are unambiguously positive.
