Strawberry Fleur: variety description, growing rules and care tips, reviews

History of selection and regions of cultivation of Fleur strawberries

Dutch breeders have given the world many unique hybrid varieties of berry crops, characterized by stable characteristics and excellent taste. The Fleur berry variety was developed in 2004. The new hybrid form of strawberries is resistant to humid climates and does not tolerate heat and drought at all.

Zones with moderate climatic conditions are most suitable for growing berry crops. Strawberry Fleur grows well and bears fruit both in open ground and in specially equipped greenhouses, greenhouses or tunnels.

Strawberry Fleur: description, photos, reviews

The Flair variety from Goossens Flevoplant ripens approximately 5-7 days earlier than Honey.
The variety can also very easily become earlier in fruiting if shelters are used during its cultivation. Fleur has a fairly open plant with long inflorescences. Strawberries Fleur bear fruit in the middle zone from June 21 to July 13. If you evaluate strawberry varieties on a 9-point scale, then Fleur will confidently score 7 points for productivity. To taste - 6 points. Safety of berries during transportation - 7 points out of 9 possible.

It is necessary to prepare protection against return frosts, otherwise you may lose the crop already in the flowering phase!

Pros and cons of the variety

Any berry crop has advantages and disadvantages. Fleur strawberries are no exception. Therefore, in order to avoid mistakes when growing and caring for berry bushes, you need to find out all the pros and cons inherent in the varietal hybrid.

Advantages:

The ripening period for berries in the southern regions is mid or late May.
Large berries have excellent taste characteristics and retain their presentation for a long time.
The simultaneous ripening of strawberries allows you to avoid delaying the harvest, and thanks to the dense pulp, the fruits can easily withstand transportation.
The plant is resistant to moisture and easily tolerates prolonged rains.

Interesting!
For productive formation of ovaries and fruit development, strawberries of the Fleur variety prefer moderate, cool weather. Flaws:

The berry crop absolutely does not tolerate prolonged drought and heat.
Due to the early fruiting period, the bushes bloom in April, when in temperate latitudes return frosts and sudden temperature changes are possible.
Weather conditions and violations of care rules negatively affect the taste characteristics of berries.

Also, the disadvantages of the variety include relative resistance to various diseases and pests. The hybrid form of strawberries is demanding to care for, but the harvest of tasty, large berries overshadows all the difficulties in growing the crop.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Judging by the description of the variety, photos and reviews from gardeners, Fleur strawberries are not an ideal variety and have not only advantages, but also disadvantages.

Fleur is one of the best strawberry varieties for sale.

Advantages:

earlier flowering and fruiting;
pleasant aroma and taste;
amicable maturation;
large fruit;
moisture resistance;
long shelf life;
excellent presentation;
good transportability.

Flaws:

heat instability;
susceptibility to disease;
the likelihood of low productivity;
low yield.

Features and characteristics of strawberries

Sudden changes in weather conditions and temperature changes have a negative impact on the growth and fruiting of berry bushes. According to gardeners and farmers, the best yield indicators of the variety were recorded when strawberries were grown indoors with controlled temperature and watering.

Bush size and leaf blade appearance

Berry bushes grow to a height of 25 centimeters, with a small number of medium-sized leaves. The leaf blades are attached to the bushes by long petioles, and during the growing season they acquire a bright green tint.

Flowering and pollination

With the onset of the flowering period, long flower stalks appear on the plants, up to 15-17 centimeters in size, with large, snow-white flowers.

Strawberry Fleur is a self-bearing variety of berry crop.

Fact! To increase yield, experienced gardeners partially pollinate strawberries by hand using a thin brush.

Ripening time and yield

The ripening of berries occurs simultaneously, but directly depends on the weather and climatic indicators of the cultivation region.

Tasting qualities of berries and scope of application

The fruits of the berry crop ripen large and uniform, elongated, conical in shape, with an average weight of 20 to 30 grams.

When ripe, the berries acquire a rich red color with small yellow seeds. Fully ripe strawberries turn dark red with a shiny surface.

The taste qualities of the berries are assessed by experts as very high. The pulp of the fruit is dense, with a high content of sugar and juice. After eating the berries, a pleasant fruity and strawberry aftertaste remains.

Strawberry Fleur, recognized as a dessert variety, is recommended for universal use. The berries are consumed fresh, used for canning, cooking and freezing. Also, strawberries are added to desserts, dairy products and dried.

Experienced gardeners make delicious homemade tinctures and liqueurs from ripe berries.

Important! Strawberries contain a large amount of antioxidants that protect the body from the negative influence of the environment. The fruits help improve the functioning of the heart, digestive organs, and enhance the immune system.

Winter hardiness and drought resistance

In cold climates, fruit crops need shelter for the winter. In regions with temperate and southern climates, bushes easily survive the winter period.

But plants tolerate drought and heat with great difficulty. Constant exposure of bushes to the sun reduces fruiting, which negatively affects the yield. Berries, under constant exposure to sunlight, spread, losing their taste and presentation.

Susceptibility to diseases and parasites

Berry crops are prone to damage by various diseases and parasites. Therefore, with the onset of spring, bushes are treated with professional chemical and biological protective agents for prevention.

Strawberry Fleur, or not without hasty conclusions

A variety with a name - in 2013 in Belgium - victory in the category of the Best Tasting competition, in 2012 - the highest Brix among varieties of the early segment (Great Britain).
You admire the smoothed berry with a glossy side - it stands out with its shine, of which there are so many. In the photo, Fleur's strawberries are simply beautiful. By the end of the collection it does not become particularly small.

And also a tantalizing strawberry aroma, true, bright, piercing. But not everything is as smooth, not everything is as shiny as the skin of the beautiful Fleur: what you should think about before introducing a Dutch woman into the field and garden - characteristics, assessment of economic value, reviews from practitioners.

Description: following the author's application, according to the breeder

In open ground it ripens approximately in mid-May, in the second ten days - in the conditions of Ukraine, in Russia fruiting without various kinds of agrotechnical measures that accelerate ripening is later.

The strawberry variety Flair was obtained in the Netherlands, the copyright holder is El Santa Beheer BV. Work on the varieties has been carried out since 2003.

Popular in Scandinavia and Germany, where it is used along with well-known commercial varieties. Patented in 2011 USPP23162 P2. Positioned as promising for commercial cultivation in greenhouses, tunnels, and outdoor cultivation.

In the Netherlands and Great Britain it is used indoors - in tunnels, greenhouses, in pots and in hydroponics.

The yield for industrial production is average, but with high agricultural technology it is quite high, from 150-200 to 300 g and more per plant (frigo).

With high agricultural technology, there is also mention of a yield of 450-500 g (ZKS seedlings).

The ripening period is ultra-early - 5 days earlier than Honeoye (and, by the way, a shorter harvest period). In central Russia, the Moscow region, it can be classified as mid-early in open ground, ripening at the end of the first - in the second ten days of June.

The bush is powerful, multi-horned, tall, not too spreading, but not compressed, in the patent description it is designated as open, well-leafed. Peduncles are numerous, powerful, long, at the level of the leaves. The bush is 20-25 cm high, diameter 40-45 cm, in comparison with Alba, Kleri is more developed and powerful (of course, a comparison of those developing in the same conditions, with the same class of seedlings).
The leaves are bright green, obtuse, with a serrated edge.
The flowers are white, diameter 3-4 cm, number of petals – 5 pieces. Peduncles 10-16 cm long, powerful, pubescent, at the level of the leaves, lie down when ripe.
The berries are bright red when technically ripe, dark red (closer to a burgundy hue) when fully ripe, with intense shine - a distinctive feature. The achenes are small, medium recessed. The shape is conical-elongated, regular, one-dimensional. The size is large and medium - there are no special giants, it does not pea by the end of the harvest. The taste is bright, with a distinct smell of wild strawberries (although, as always, there are tasters who feel the original fruit bouquet), sweet, without obsessive sourness, not simple - multifaceted. Does not lose sweetness in cool weather or rain.

Resistance to major diseases and pests is sufficient, according to the originator's application, there is no more detailed information. According to reviews, it is sensitive to soil pathogens, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, and susceptible to diseases of the root system.

Based on the patent description, which sets out a brief comparative description of Flair with the well-known Honeoye: in comparison, it has a more powerful, at the same time more open bush habit, larger leaves, denser and more transportable fruits. The collection period is 5 days earlier (approximately), more compressed.

Early flowering, early simultaneous compressed ripening;
An open, powerful bush with many peduncles, long and strong;
Decent taste, aroma;
Product density, suitability for transportation and long-term storage.

In general, summing up the responses, we can conclude: if you don’t like Fleur, you’re growing it wrong. Or not there. In extreme cases, the wrong planting material.

According to breeders, it does not tolerate heat well - in the south it suffers during the peak of high temperatures: the leaves droop, and at prolonged high temperatures with insufficient watering and lack of shading, attacks are possible among seedlings planted at the height of summer. By the way, according to the patent holder’s application, the strawberry variety Fler was tested at temperatures of 0...+35 C. Considering the milder climate of Holland, with the absence of such low winter and high summer temperatures characteristic of the south of Ukraine and central Russia, conclusions should be drawn: no different heat resistance, the variety in the southern regions should be grown either indoors or under cover to obtain ultra-early products;
The start of the growing season too early in conditions of relatively late spring (Moscow region, etc.) threatens low productivity: starting too early for frigo is often of no use. The plants do not have time to take root, but the flower stalks are gaining growth, and the berry is about to arrive - the root system is not ready to provide adequate nutrition, the leaf apparatus is not sufficiently developed. Frigo, in field conditions, according to reviews, does not give a worthy return in full - unless with painstaking care - it is no coincidence that foreign sources recommend closed soil as the best option;
Gardeners in regions close in climate to the Moscow region and Central Russia note low taste qualities in some years - there is no particular versatility or brightness of taste. Perhaps adaptation to the climate is not going well, perhaps poor agricultural technology is to blame.

... and good on commercial plantations.
Recommended for open and closed ground, the Fleur strawberry variety is grown in commercial areas to obtain an extra-early harvest under cover. Or in the garden - for early berries. Classic agricultural technology is used, applied to short-day crops. In order to avoid verbose unnecessary introductions, I will keep it short and succinct: planting and care, cultivation - the main points.

Demanding on the soil - susceptible to diseases, to soils with poor crop rotation, contaminated with pathogens. Planted in prepared areas with a light soil texture, high humus content in well-ventilated areas, without the threat of moisture stagnation.
It is initially recommended as a protected soil crop - this is how it will reveal its full potential. An option for breeding and getting returns is to use the current year's ZKS seedlings.
In commercial areas it is most often grown in a two-year cycle - when planting a plantation in early spring. In the third year, productivity drops. For small-volume production (a controversial issue), personal plots can be used without updating for 3 years.
Before planting, preventive treatment of seedlings is desirable as a measure to prevent diseases of both the root system and leaf apparatus.

Planting at a distance of 30-35 cm between bushes, between rows of about 40-45 cm. With more compact planting, 25-30 cm, you should pay attention to the increased need of plants for nutrition. The two-line method is more often practiced - as practice has shown, it is less labor-intensive during both cleaning and working with plants. As for economy, it is less economical due to the width of the covering material used in winter - but a compromise can always be found. The planting density for gardens and small-scale production is classic - about 4 plants per m2.

Planting time depends on many initial factors - in particular, on planting material. Frigo seedlings (pay attention to the class - the size of the root collar - those who want to taste the berry in the year of planting should look towards the diameter of 15 cm, plant early), planted in early April (the timing is valid for the southern regions, the center of Ukraine) will give a quick start: beginning ripening in the last ten days of May, when planting in early May - in mid-late June.

Video: ripening of Fleur strawberries, detailed review.

Planting cassette seedlings of seedlings, etc. ZKS, the current year's seedlings are planted in August, September, October. If conditions permit, there is the possibility of shading, drip irrigation, etc. July planting is possible - it is the most productive for the next year. Unfortunately, the climate dictates its conditions, as does the profitability of using all agrotechnical benefits, so most often planting is planned for August. October beds will also come in handy - for queen cells: you shouldn’t hope for a plentiful harvest.

To use all resources, or more precisely, to direct them towards fruit formation, the mustaches on the fruit-bearing beds are torn off. On the contrary, for breeding on mother plantations, they get rid of the flowers, preventing fruiting, and break off the flower stalks.

Features of planting strawberries

Strawberries of the Fleur variety are demanding on growing conditions and soil composition. In order to avoid mistakes and get a bountiful harvest of berries, it is necessary to take into account some features of growing berry crops.

Selection and preparation of beds

Planting work begins with choosing a place to place the berry beds:

Well-lit areas that are not blown by the north wind or drafts are suitable for planting bushes.
The berry crop prefers fertile soil with neutral moisture and acidity.
Groundwater is allowed at a level of at least 1.5-2 meters from the ground surface.
Heavy, clayey soil is diluted with a mixture of sand and humus, and peat, compost and a little clay are added to the sandy soil.
The area is dug up, cleared of weeds and ridges are created.

In the prepared beds, make a trench or dig small holes, leaving a distance of 25 to 30 centimeters between plantings.

Choosing seedlings

The health, fruiting and productivity of the fruit crop depend on the choice of planting material.

The seedlings are inspected for damage and disease. The root system of the bushes should be well developed, without any signs of rot, nodules or tubercles.

Before planting in the ground, strawberry rhizomes are treated with professional antibacterial drugs and a growth stimulator.

Timing and technology of planting bushes

Strawberry Fleur is a perennial variety of berry crop. It is recommended to plant bushes in the soil in the spring. In this case, the first harvest of berries is harvested after a year.

In regions with warm winters, strawberries can be transferred to open ground in the fall, then you can taste the first berries in the spring.

Once the time for planting seedlings has been determined, you can begin planting activities:

Berry bushes are installed in pre-prepared holes or trenches.
The roots are carefully distributed and covered with fertile soil mixture.
The soil under the bushes is lightly compacted and watered with warm water.
The beds are mulched with a layer of dry grass.

Strawberry “FLEUR”, variety description.

The winner of several prestigious European exhibitions, the mid-early strawberry variety Fleur was patented in the Netherlands in 2011 - an excellent variety for commercial cultivation and amateur gardens. Strawberry Fleur forms a medium-sized, multi-horned bush with numerous peduncles. The berries are medium-sized, elongated oval, chiseled - berry to berry, burgundy-red, shiny. By the end of the harvest they become slightly smaller. The taste is sweet with a barely noticeable unobtrusive sourness, thick rich aroma. With a lack of sun in rainy weather, Fleur does not lose its sweetness. The variety's resistance to diseases and pests meets European standards, and winter hardiness is also at a high level. Fleur strawberries will undoubtedly become your family’s favorite delicacy: adults and children will appreciate not only the taste, but also the high yield and unpretentiousness of the variety.

Buy “FLEUR” strawberries at the nursery.

We guarantee the quality of Fleur strawberry seedlings and are responsible for their safety in transit. Thanks to professional packaging and a closed root system, Fleur strawberry seedlings reach any region of the country in excellent condition.

Order Fleur strawberries: in the online store, by phone. 8 982 25 75 224, by mail

Our company is a FEDERAL CORPORATE CLIENT of Russian Post; under an agreement with Russian Post, our parcels are delivered only to the Main Post Office (and not to regional post offices!), which reduces delivery times, and are sent out of turn! We take into account the nuances of the postal service and know when it is better to hand over parcels so that they leave our city on the same day (or at least the next day) and go to customers.

The average cost of shipping by Russian Post is 300-350 rubles, shipping by EMS airmail is on average 1500-1800 rubles.

Answers to frequently asked questions:

2. We do not cut shrub seedlings to fit the box and do not remove strawberry leaves (the plants tolerate shipping with leaves well!; sometimes, during a particularly long shipment, the leaves may become slightly discolored - this is quite normal!)

3. If possible, we try to take into account your wishes about delivery times, so that you have the opportunity to choose a suitable time for landing (the weather has been favorable in the region, a place has been prepared for landing, etc.)

4 . We do not purchase plants or hire hired workers: we grow, assemble and pack the plants ourselves - very meticulously, carefully and scrupulously - we work for quality, not speed! Sometimes this means you may have to wait a bit for your order - be patient!

5. Thanks to professional packaging, strawberries in parcels never get wrinkled and seedlings never break!

6 . All plants were grown in the Urals (northern Perm region) in open ground in a risky farming zone and adapted to difficult climatic conditions. For example:

– end of October 2022: no snow, temperature -16-18 degrees C; – January 2022: during the week it costs -45 UAH; – June 1, 2022: it’s snowing, etc.

The Ural weather constantly presents us with such surprises, but the species and varieties of plants we have selected live, grow, bloom luxuriantly and bear fruit magnificently no matter what!

7. Working with LIVE plants in considerable volumes, sending them to the most remote regions of the country and even abroad, we extremely rarely receive quality complaints (in 2022 there were only 4 of them!), so if, for some reason, the plants damaged during shipment, we can afford to resend the plants to the customer free of charge!

8 . Within 1-2 days after sending the parcel, we will inform you of the track number to track it (message to phone and email). In addition, we ourselves track your shipment and notify you of its arrival at the specified post office. You don't have to worry about where the package is.

9. In the off-season, you can consult with manufacturers. We will tell you how to choose the right crops and varieties, prepare the soil, plant plants, feed, shape, propagate, spending a minimum of effort, getting maximum returns. We have a wealth of experience and we are ready to share it! Contact us! NOTE! In the spring-summer period, during the work and mailing season, due to workload, we are not able to provide advice or answer all calls and messages! Hope for understanding!

Further care

The hybrid form of strawberries is quite demanding in terms of watering and protection from the external environment.

Regularity of watering

Water the strawberries as needed, as soon as the top layer of soil is completely dry. For irrigation, use only settled water heated in the sun. Irrigate the plant at the root, trying not to spread moisture onto the leaf blades, flowers and fruits.

During periods of prolonged drought, the bushes require additional soil moisture, and during rains, watering is stopped altogether.

How to fertilize a plant

Fertilizing strawberries is combined with irrigation measures. Fruit-bearing bushes require fertilizing based on minerals. Best of all, the berry crop responds to mineral complexes based on potassium and phosphorus. In early spring, to increase green mass, fertilizers containing nitrogen are used.

Important! During the period of fruiting and ripening of berries, nitrogen fertilizers and fertilizing are not used.

Weeding and loosening the soil

Loosening the soil helps moisture penetrate to the rhizomes of plants and enrich them with oxygen. But weeds pose a real danger to small bushes, spreading dangerous fungi, viruses and parasites. Weeding of the beds is carried out several times during the growing season, completely removing weeds in the strawberry growth zone.

Mulching

After weeding and loosening the beds, it is recommended to carry out a mulching procedure that helps retain moisture and nutrients in the soil. Also, a layer of mulch prevents further growth of weeds.

Protection from winter and spring frosts

To protect berry bushes from frost and return frosts, special covering materials are used, sold in specialized stores or garden centers.

With the onset of spring, the plants are freed from shelter.

Preventative treatments

Berry bushes are susceptible to attack by various parasites and are often affected by fungi, viruses and bacteria.

To avoid such troubles, preventive treatment of bushes with fungicides and insecticides is carried out in early spring.

Also, during the growing season, experienced gardeners spray the bushes and soil with infusions prepared according to folk recipes.

Planting and care

For successful growth, Fleur strawberries require certain conditions. Plant development and yield are greatly 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; an excellent harvest can also 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 Fleur strawberries, since its bushes are small in size, a two-line or one-line planting scheme with an interval between sprouts of 20-30 cm and rows of 40 cm is suitable.

Attention! Before planting seedlings, it is recommended to treat them with special compounds.

Caring for the plant consists of periodic watering and fertilizing, and do not forget about mulching and loosening the beds. Moisten the crop with settled warm water as the soil dries, at the root. Fertilizing 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, mown grass and spruce needles. It is recommended to cover the bushes before winter.

Preparing for winter

Strawberry Fleur has good resistance to frost, but only if the bushes are provided with good shelter. The ideal option for wintering is insulation with thick spunbond or agrofibre placed on low arches. When growing the species in open ground, there is a danger of freezing at the time of return frosts.

Comment! During the period of ovary formation, the variety needs low temperatures. If spring is early, the harvest will be poor.

Growing strawberries in open ground is difficult

Breeding methods

To obtain new strawberry seedlings, several methods are used to propagate the berry crop.

How to grow Fleur strawberries from seeds

To grow a berry bush from seeds, select large, overripe berries, dry them and separate the seeds from the pulp.

Small seeds are planted in a container with fertile soil and covered with film. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film is removed.

Dividing the bush

Strawberries grow quickly, so you can get new plants by dividing an adult bush. To do this, the mother plant is carefully dug out of the ground and divided into several seedlings, leaving developed rhizomes on each. The finished seedlings are transferred to the ground.

Rosettes

The peculiarity of strawberries is the numerous growth of whiskers, on which rosettes with leaves are formed during the growing season.

To get a new strawberry bush, the tendrils are dug in at the beginning of summer, and in the fall, they are separated from the mother bush, along with the formed roots.