Italian breeders have pleased us with another wonderful variety of strawberries, which is suitable for growing in continental European climates. In Russia, the variety is cultivated both in open ground and in greenhouses, greenhouses, and booths. Suitable for low volume and hydroponics.
Aprica strawberries are the result of the activities of an Italian consortium of nurseries (C.IV). Officially sold through Salvi vivai (Italy) and Mazzoni (Italy)
Berries
The fruits are conical in shape, mostly one-dimensional. Occasionally there are “double” ones, simply huge, to the delight of children, to the chagrin of industrialists. The color is bright red, the skin is glossy. The average weight of the fruit is 30 g. When it rains, the berries do not get wet. Above average size remains throughout the harvest.
The pulp is dense, tasty, sweet, with a subtle strawberry aroma. Transportability is good. The taste of the berries does not deteriorate even with a lack of sunlight and excessive humidity.
Thanks to their dense structure and balanced taste, Aprica strawberries can be consumed fresh or canned with equal success.
Productivity
The variety is self-pollinating. The first wave of ripe berries appears in the second half of May. The yield is 1.2 kg. on the bush. The variety begins to reveal its potential from the second year after planting. It is characterized by stable productivity, which is practically independent of weather conditions.
The best varieties of strawberries: based on the results of 2017-2018.
The past years have been generous with new items. Italian and Dutch breeders presented many worthy ones that everyone should get acquainted with. For commercial production, for the garden - and just like that, for the soul of the variety tester.
Early varieties of strawberries
Depending on the region, ripening time in open ground occurs at the beginning of June. The category also includes ultra-early varieties of short daylight hours, bearing fruit from mid-to-late May, adjusted for the region.
Alba
Not losing its position in industrial plantings and gardens, the first berry of the season is almost always Alba. It is recognizable: slightly elongated, chiseled - a perfect cone, very uniform. With dense pulp and appropriate sourness, industrialists love it for its productivity and friendly gatherings, and everyone loves it for its excellent taste, density of pulp, and beauty.
Early standard, best industrial classic variety.
There are also disadvantages: on poor soils, with insufficient nutrition, sourness begins to dominate. With sufficient mineral fertilizing, the beautiful alba blooms with a sweet taste and a true strawberry aroma. And the worker cannot live without water: the pulp becomes too dense and dry. But there is also a plus: its density is not that for which many “crispy” industrial varieties are disliked - it is a good density, paired with juiciness, giving the ideal consistency.
Brilla
And Alba seems to be in trouble: a super new product from Italian breeders is about to dislodge it from the pedestal of the best field early commercial variety. An early, hardy, mega-yielding variety - up to 1.5 kg per bush is a lot for early strawberries.
The photo shows ultra-early Brill strawberries, new for 2017-2018.
The Brilla strawberry variety is good for everyone: the right berries, the right sweet and sour taste with elegant sourness, a pronounced strawberry aroma - it is good for everyone and suits everyone. And another feature of the variety is stability: consistently high yields, consistently good quality of fruits despite the heat, rain and cold summer. In fact: Brix level 7.7, resistant to major diseases, winter-hardy.
Flair
The same Flair that made a lot of noise is popular in Europe and Scandinavia. Ultra early - ripens 10 days before Elsanta, the most delicious among the early ones. Productivity is at the level of the strongest, taste is at the level of the best. Manufacturers liked it and summer residents liked it.
Since 2016, it has not lost ground. By the way, in Belgium in 2013 it won the Tasting of the Best competition, in 2025 in the UK - in the competition The Highest Sugar Among Early Varieties. Productivity is 300-400 g per bush, disease resistance, unpretentiousness for an intensive variety - we can talk about its advantages for a long time.
Marisol
The new product of 2022 has become a revelation for many. Originator of Nova Siri Genetics.
In the photo there are Marisol strawberries: one of the most productive in southern Italy. Dense, suitable for transportation and storage.
It is called a new vision of selection. It doesn’t matter what they call it, but you will see a surprisingly elongated shape, sparkling juicy and dense berry. And admire the taste - bright, with a strawberry aftertaste. Summer residents will love the variety for its decent taste, sweetness - Brix 11.6-9.5, one-dimensionality - with an average weight of 25-30 g.
The bush is tall, powerful, peduncles are higher than the leaves, the berries are elongated-conical, juicy and dense. Positioned as suitable for tired soils with a high infectious background. There is not a lot of data on Marisol strawberries today, but a lot suggests: the Italian is promising.
Olimpia
The Olympia strawberry (Olympia NF638) bears its name for a reason: yields up to 1.2 are very, very good for a mid-early variety. She is called the improved Roxana - she is similar in shape, productivity, taste, unpretentiousness, and ripening time. It’s similar – but superior in many respects, those who have seen and tasted Olympia are sure.
In the photo there are Olympia strawberries: one of the best Italian novelties.
The Olympia strawberry variety was obtained by Italian breeders, suitable for cultivation in the field, good for industrial production, and for the garden.
Sunsation
Where would we be without Sensation - it would be in the TOP 5 if not for the alphabet. A sensational Dutch variety from Flevo Berry. the best at the end of 2017 in the mid-early segment. One of the most delicious - an extremely balanced taste, sweetness with a fruity aftertaste, juicy aromatic pulp - you can praise it for a long time. And admire the dotted uniform berry.
It was not in vain that the Dutch tried: with high agricultural technology, 1.5-1.7 kg per bush is truly a sensation. And coupled with taste, which, let’s tell you a secret, is not the strong point of Dutch varieties, this is a triple sensation.
Honeoye
One who has not given up ground for decades - there are no such people. Perhaps the only strawberry variety in the history that has not given way to new products in its segment for decades. Farmers who value productivity and, most importantly, stability do not refuse Honey.
Gardeners are in love with it and are in no hurry to evict it from their garden beds: it will never let you down - neither in the heat, nor in the cold, nor in a lean year. The berry is not the largest, up to 35 g, but it lasts until the last harvest and does not become smaller: a rare quality. According to reviews of experts, the eternal leader of the average category, but does not fall below this level. That's why we love it.
a brief description of
Italian breeders were able to please gardeners in many respects. Aprika strawberries have a long list of benefits.
Advantages of the variety
- large fruit;
- one-dimensional berry shape with a low rejection rate;
- the taste is harmonious, sweet;
- high transportability;
- does not get wet from prolonged rainfall;
- mid-early harvest;
- good productivity, which depends little on the weather;
- self-pollinating, does not depend on neighboring pollinators;
- drought resistance;
- berries are not baked in the sun;
- high resistance to diseases, including powdery mildew;
- return frosts in the spring are not scary;
- unpretentiousness to soil composition;
- possibility of growing in greenhouses, hydroponics;
- produces a moderate number of tendrils, sufficient for propagation, but not leading to the “spreading” of the variety.
The variety is still being tested, and no particularly significant shortcomings have been found so far.
If you really find fault, the disadvantages include:
- poor harvest in the first year of planting;
- high cost of planting material.
Aprica strawberries claim to be among the best representatives of mid-early varieties.
Aprica
Aprica
A new early-ripening variety of Italian selection (4 days after the ripening of the Clery variety). Suitable for growing in the continental climate of the European part. Plants develop well and exhibit high resistance to diseases, especially powdery mildew. The leaves are erect, the flower stalks are below the level of the leaves. The variety is high-yielding.
The fruits are attractive in appearance, conical in shape, one-dimensional, retain above-average size until the end of the harvest period, sweet taste, firm flesh. The fruits are relatively resistant to getting wet during rain and are well transportable.
Landing
It is recommended to plant aprica in spring or summer. By autumn the bushes will get stronger, develop and produce a good harvest next year. In the southern regions, Aprica will have time to take root when planted in August and even in September.
Aprica prefers sunny areas with good drainage. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil. The best results will be shown on soil that is neutral in acidity (pH: 5.2 - 5.5), rich in humus (for each m2 of berry garden it is recommended to add at least a bucket of rotted manure and 200-250 g of wood ash). The occurrence of groundwater should be no closer than 1.0 m to the surface of the earth.
When placed in a bush manner, 4 plants are planted on one square meter, with a distance of 25-30 cm. If you grow Aprica with ribbons, it will be more convenient to monitor the release of tendrils, comfortably harvest and weed the plantation from weeds. A distance of 30 cm is left between plants, and 50 cm between ribbons. For uniform lighting, the ribbons are placed from north to south.
When planting, make sure that the root collar is not sunk into the ground. For the first two weeks, young seedlings need increased daily watering.
Description of the Durban strawberry variety - how to increase productivity
After growing various varieties of strawberries for a long time, I discovered an amazing variety. This is the best hybrid for commercial cultivation, which is the Durban strawberry. It gives a year-round harvest.
It is actively purchased by supermarkets due to the good quality of the fruit, aromatic taste and long shelf life. According to its characteristics, it is the best among remontant varieties. It is not difficult to grow. It bears fruit well not only in the greenhouse, but also on the balcony or in the room on the windowsill.
To have an idea about the Durban remontant strawberry, it is recommended to study the description of the variety.
This strawberry variety is large-fruited. It has high taste, long shelf life, and tolerates transportation well. The fruits are bright red in color and have a cone shape. Berries with firm but juicy pulp. It's sweet and sour. The aroma of the fruit is delicate, strawberry. The weight of one fruit reaches 20 grams.
The plant has a powerful bush with a well-developed root system. The plant produces a small number of tendrils. Therefore, all nutrients come from the root system to the green mass for high-quality growth of berries.
Durban begins to bear fruit from early July to mid-October. In greenhouses and on windowsills, berries bear fruit all year round. During the season you can harvest several times.
Durban requires weekly feeding and watering. If all agrotechnical measures are carried out correctly, up to 1.5 kg of berries can be harvested from a bush per season. When planting seedlings, fruiting occurs quickly. This variety grows well in any soil and does not require strong light.
Growing and care
The variety has shown itself to be unpretentious to care. Does not require special knowledge and growing skills from the gardener. Agricultural technology includes a standard list of activities, when performed, you can count on good results.
Watering
Beginner gardeners make the mistake of stopping watering their strawberries after harvest. The plant needs water from the beginning of the growing season until it is covered for the winter. The amount of watering depends on weather conditions. In hot weather, irrigation is carried out every 3-4 days. A drip irrigation system is preferred.
You should not test the plant’s “patience” and make it suffer during drought. Aprica will survive, but productivity and immunity will decrease
Loosening, weed control
Strawberry beds must be kept clean. Weeds take away the light that is needed for the berries to ripen, interfere with ventilation and remove nutrients from the soil. The first loosening is carried out in the spring, as soon as the soil becomes soft. In the future, crust formation is not allowed until the end of September. Loosening can be replaced by mulching with straw or agrofibre.
Removing a mustache
The whiskers are regularly removed, otherwise they will take away part of the energy that should go to the formation of the ovaries. The variety produces a small amount of mustache, so monitoring this process is not difficult.
Top dressing
Timely fertilizing improves plant productivity. Aprika is fed 3-4 times per season:
- In early spring, the plant needs nitrogen fertilizers. The best option is a one-time feeding with diluted cow manure. 2 kg of manure is stirred into 10 liters. water. Each plant requires 1 liter of fertilizer. When replacing fertilizer with chicken manure, the concentration is reduced by 5 times.
- During the period of fruit set, the nutritional supplement recipe consists of 1 tbsp. spoons of potassium salt, 2 tbsp. spoons of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water. Dissolve and add 0.5 l. on the bush.
- During the fruiting period, you can help the bush produce tasty large berries by watering it with a solution of wood ash: 1 cup of ash is diluted in 10 liters of water. 1 liter of solution is enough per plant.
If the soil is rich in humus, you don’t need to add anything in the fall, otherwise you can provoke the growth of bushes before winter. You can scatter wood ash over the garden bed, which will strengthen the plant and at the same time repel many pests of berry crops.
Pest and disease control
The variety has shown high resistance to diseases of the root system and aerial parts. If strawberries are given sunny places in the garden and the bed is kept clean, then Aprika is not afraid of rot, spotting and powdery mildew. This quality is valued by gardeners and farmers who strive to grow environmentally friendly crops.
To prevent a protective barrier against infections and pests, you can plant marigolds, garlic, fennel, and lemon balm around the strawberry beds.
Preparing for winter
The variety showed good winter hardiness with a minimum of shelter in the Moscow region, the Urals, the Volga region, and the northern regions of Belarus. A 5 cm layer of mulching material is enough. This could be straw, sawdust, or leaves. When growing the variety in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, in the republics of the Northern Caucasus, the Aprika variety does not need shelter.
Strawberry variety Delhi
This new early-ripening strawberry variety was developed by Italian breeders. Outwardly, it differs little from its relatives - it has dark green leaves, fleshy and strong peduncles. The bushes grow of medium density, compact, are distinguished by their endurance and rapid growth.
Strawberries of this variety should be planted at the end of May, following a planting pattern of 4 plants per 1 m2. It is important to ensure that the plant is planted in fertilized, mineral-rich soil. Watering should be done regularly, but do not overdo it - excessive moisture will cause the berries to lose their sweetness. If you properly care for plants of this variety, you can get very sweet berries as a result. It is because of the large amount of sugar that this variety is so popular.
Berries ripen over a long period, so the harvest season is long. The fruits are large (up to 40 g), heart-shaped, and have a wonderful bright red color. From one bush, with proper agricultural technology, you can collect up to 800 g of finished products.
The Delhi strawberry variety is distinguished by its high cold resistance. Weakly susceptible to diseases of the root system and powdery mildew. Suitable for growing both in greenhouse conditions and in open ground. When choosing the latter, you should select well-lit areas for planting that are sufficiently protected from direct wind.
Reproduction
An accessible method of reproduction is by mustache. It is more effective to use shoots of plants that are at least 2 years old. The rosettes located closer to the mother bush are considered strong.
It is advisable to place a disposable plastic container with nutrient soil under each outlet. This way you can get high-quality planting material with a closed root system, which can be planted all year round.
Strawberry variety Vibrant
Vaibrant is an early variety; the harvest period begins in May. The medium-sized plant is distinguished by a strong root system and the active formation of flowering shoots, each of which has up to 5 inflorescences. The berries have a flattened conical shape, a bright red color and an attractive glossy skin. The pulp is distinguished by high taste and expressive aroma. The variety is characterized by resistance to common diseases, pests and a long shelf life of the crop.
This variety of strawberry is characterized by a high reproduction rate, since the plants produce a large number of tendrils. Planting of seedlings is carried out in early spring at a distance of 35-40 cm. It is not recommended to thicken the beds, this is due to an increase in the cost of applying fertilizers. Both in agricultural technology and in harvesting, a two-line cultivation system is more convenient. To do this, maintain a distance of 60 cm between rows, and 80 cm between rows.
To obtain a high yield, it is recommended to apply organic or mineral fertilizers before flowering. It is necessary to repeat the procedure during the formation of the ovary. Basic care consists of sufficient watering, as well as loosening the soil. If you follow all the rules, you can collect up to 1 kg of berries from one bush during the first fruiting period, and subsequently - 400 grams.
Sources used:
- https://asprus.ru/blog/novye-vysokoprodkuktivnye-sorta-zemlyaniki-ot-italyanskoj-kompanii-macconi/
- https://sovhozik.ru/shrubs/zemlyanika/zemlyanika-dyurban-vyrashhivanie-opisanie-sorta-foto-i-otzyvy
- https://dachamechty.ru/klubnika/primi.html
- https://dachamechty.ru/klubnika/tago.html
- https://ogorodniki.com/article/vkusnye-i-sochnye-sorta-klubniki
- https://vizazh-2.ru/sorta-zemlyaniki/luchshie-sorta-klubniki/
- https://sort-klubnika.ru/sorta/klubnika-sorta-aprika-krasivaya-i-sladkaya-italyanka
- https://7dach.ru/igorks/sem-zimostoykih-sortov-zemlyaniki-opyt-vyraschivaniya-207730.html
- https://sort-klubnika.ru/sorta/brilla
Reviews
I’ve been growing “Aprika” for three years now. As for the shape, size, shine - the variety is simply beautiful. But when it comes to taste, not everything is so clear. In my opinion it's sour. But it is worth noting that I do not use any special agricultural technology; only chicken manure is used as fertilizer. Maybe it should be fertilized with something else before ripening, I don’t know.
Low-maintenance, sweet and beautiful Aprica strawberries are perfect for commercial and home growing. In a short time of testing, the variety has accumulated a record list of advantages and claims to be one of the best.
Description of the variety
The hardy and highly productive ultra-early ripening Brill strawberry promises to seriously compete with such commercial varieties as Alba, Honey and Clery.
Bushes
Brill's strawberry bush is of medium height, well leafy. Multi-primed peduncles lie down under the weight of large berries. The plant produces powerful tendrils in moderate quantities.
Berries
Large orange-red fruits have an average weight of 30 g, a flattened cone shape with a pointed tip, and a bright glossy surface. The taste is harmonious, there is much more sweetness than sourness. Brix 7.7. The aroma is pronounced strawberry.
Brilla berries are good for fresh consumption and for winter preparations
Productivity
Brilla is a high-yielding variety. For early varieties of strawberries 1.0-1.5 kg. from the bush - a very high figure. Fruiting begins in mid-May. The fruits are easily separated from the stalk, do not flow or wrinkle during transportation. They can lie in a cool place for 3-5 days without losing their appearance.
