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Strawberry Charlotte is a French variety that yields 4-5 crops per season. The culture is resistant to lack of lighting, therefore, in heated greenhouses, it bears fruit all year round. The yield is low (up to 1 kg per bush), but the berries are very sweet and juicy, with a rich aroma and a pleasant aftertaste.
History of breeding
Charlotte is a strawberry variety bred in France in 1995. Obtained on the basis of crossing the variety Cal.19 and the well-known variety Mara de Bois, which is distributed in many countries. The originator of the Charlotte variety is CIREF.
Strawberries came to Our Country 10 years later – in 2004. It spread in different regions and was liked by many gardeners for its pleasant taste. The culture is not included in the register of breeding achievements. However, many summer residents continue to grow it on private farms.
Description of the Charlotte strawberry variety and characteristics
Strawberry Charlotte produces small, moderately sprawling, medium leafy bushes. They are compact and do not take up much space. The leaves are large, typical green in color, the shade is darker towards the top. The surface is slightly wrinkled. Peduncles slightly higher than the leaves, sag under the weight of the berries. There is little mustache, which makes it easier to care for.
Characteristics of fruits, taste qualities
Charlotte strawberries have a symmetrical round-conical shape. The sizes are medium and large (by weight 15–20 g), mostly uniform, not too different from each other. The color is bright red, with a pleasant sheen. Seeds are located on the surface.
The flesh of Charlotte strawberries is very juicy and fragrant, the consistency is medium – more tender than that of Alba and San Andreas, but denser than the Miracle of the World variety.
The taste is pleasant, very sweet, with a rich aftertaste. The aroma is reminiscent of classic wild strawberries. On the palate there are nutmeg and fruity notes. These berries will appeal to connoisseurs of really sweet strawberries.
Charlotte – a classic dessert option: the fruits are consumed fresh
Ripening time, yield and keeping quality
If cultivated in open beds, the culture bears fruit until the first frost, i.e. up to and including September. At the same time, fruiting begins in June – the variety is early. Strawberry Charlotte belongs to remontant varieties, it is able to produce crops all year round (when grown in a heated greenhouse). The yield is moderate – from 500 g to 1 kg per bush. The indicator strongly depends on the weather and on the features of care.
Despite the fact that the skin of the fruit is quite dense, they are not intended for long-term storage in the refrigerator. Transportability is also low. But if you pick berries at the stage of technical ripeness, they can be transported over long distances.
Growing regions, frost resistance
Strawberry Charlotte is quite demanding on temperature, while growing normally even with an abundance of cloudy days. The frost resistance of the variety is satisfactory, although drought resistance is low. Therefore, during the dry season, watering is required at least twice a week.
Culture can be bred in various areas of the country. But in regions with a short summer (Urals, Siberia), it is preferable to grow in greenhouses. This will allow you to get a stable yield of up to 1 kg per plant.
Charlotte strawberries can be grown outdoors in areas with long summers
Disease and pest resistance
In general, Charlotte strawberries have fairly good resistance to major diseases and pests. However, in a cool, rainy summer, as well as due to improper care, the bushes can suffer from such diseases: gray rot, brown spot, powdery mildew.
For prevention, Charlotte strawberry bushes are treated even before flowering begins. For this, proven fungicides are used: Bordeaux liquid, Maxim, Fitosporin, HOM, Fundazol and others.
It is also necessary to remove all affected parts and apply fertilizers containing potassium and superphosphates in a timely manner.
Pest infestation is also possible. The threat to the crop is represented by strawberry mites, aphids, weevils.
They are fought with folk remedies: a decoction of potato tops, marigold flowers, an infusion of mustard powder, garlic cloves. In case of mass damage, they resort to insecticides: Biotlin, Fitoverm, Match, Eforia, Aktara and others.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The yield of Charlotte strawberries is low, so they are not suitable for commercial cultivation. At the same time, summer residents appreciate this culture for very sweet and fragrant berries, which are superior to many domestic varieties. Culture has other benefits as well.
Strawberries Charlotte gives the first harvest in June
Pros:
- very tasty and fragrant berries;
- medium and large, approximately the same fruits;
- long fruiting until September;
- the possibility of year-round cultivation;
- undemanding to care;
- satisfactory winter hardiness;
- good resistance to common diseases and pests.
Cons:
- the yield is low, depends on the weather;
- drought resistance is average;
- transportability and keeping quality are low.
Comparison of Strawberries Charlotte and San Andreas
To visually see the advantages and disadvantages, Charlotte strawberries (in the bottom photo) are sometimes compared with others.
If we draw an analogy with the famous San Andreas variety, we can find several similarities:
- compact bushes no more than 30 cm in diameter and height;
- both varieties are remontant;
- a small amount of mustache;
- early ripening;
- extended fruiting until the end of September;
- good resistance to major diseases;
- glossy skin.
The most characteristic differences are presented in the table.
Characterization | Strawberry variety | |
Charlotte | San Andreas | |
Productivity | 500 g – 1 kg | More than 1 kg |
Mass of berries | 15 – 20 g | 30 – 50 g |
Taste | Very sweet | Sweet, sour |
Consistency | Gentle | More dense |
Achenes | not recessed | Depressed |
Lightness and portability | Average | Good |
Methods of reproduction
Strawberries Charlotte can be bred in any traditional way:
- mustache;
- division of the bush.
Mustache bushes give little, but they can still be used for breeding. To do this, in May or early June, they are cut and planted in fertile, light and moist soil to a shallow depth (up to 4 cm). Mustaches take root well in the first season.
Charlotte’s strawberry bushes start dividing at the end of summer. Plants at the age of three years need to be dug up and put in jars with settled water. Then gently untangle the roots and separate them. Plant in fertile soil, mulch for the winter and cover with agrofibre.
Planting and care
Planting Charlotte strawberries can be scheduled for spring (early May) or autumn (late September). It is desirable that the day was not hot, cloudy. The place should be dry (not low) and completely open, lit. It is desirable that the site is not blown by strong winds.
The soil is prepared in a few months – it is dug up and brought in a bucket of compost or humus for 1-2 m2. Loams are suitable for Charlotte strawberries. If the soil is heavy, sand or sawdust, 1 kg each, is buried in it for the same area.
Charlotte strawberry planting scheme is standard – bushes are planted in a checkerboard pattern
The distance between adjacent specimens is 30–35 cm (they are compact and do not grow much). Between the rows it is enough to leave 80–100 cm. The mound on the bed can be made 30–40 cm high.
To grow healthy and productive specimens of Charlotte strawberries, as in the description of the variety and in the photo, gardeners in their reviews recommend adhering to several rules:
- Regular watering, especially in drought – 1 liter per 2 bushes. Water should be warm, settled.
- Charlotte does not need frequent fertilizers – in April they give urea or ammonium nitrate (15–20 g per 1 m2), during flowering and fruiting – azofoska (20–30 g per 1 m2) or organic matter (litter 1:20 or mullein 1:10). In autumn, you can pour infusion of wood ash (200 g per 10 l).
- Loosening and weeding is carried out periodically (as needed). To facilitate work, plantings are best mulched with straw, sawdust, needles or other mulch. You can try to grow Charlotte strawberries under agrofibre.
Mulching strawberries makes it much easier to care for them.
Preparation for winter
Since Charlotte strawberries are bred abroad, they do not have the same good winter hardiness as many domestic varieties. Therefore, special attention should be paid to shelter for the winter. At the onset of the first frosts (the temperature is about 0 or slightly lower), they change the mulch and lay a new layer 5–10 cm high. They put the frame and stretch the agrofibre. In early spring, the shelter is removed, but not all at once, but gradually.
Conclusion
Charlotte strawberries are not very productive, but they give very tasty berries with a pleasant strawberry flavor. Its fruits are especially good fresh. Harvest can also be used for jams, jams, fruit drinks and other homemade preparations.
Reviews of gardeners about strawberries varieties Charlotte
