HORTICULTURE

Strawberry Varieties
with Potential for Michigan

Dr. Eric Hanson
Department of Horticulture
MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824

New strawberry varieties are being released continually. Breeding programs in several state and Canadian provinces are developing varieties that may be of value to Michigan growers. Although it is impossible to evaluate all new varieties in each region of Michigan, we have done some testing on the MSU campus in East Lansing with the financial support of the MSHS Trust Fund. These observations in addition to work done in neighboring states provide a good indication of the potential of some recently released varieties.

A variety trial was planted on a loamy sand soil on the MSU campus in May, 1995. The varieties are replicated three times in 15 foot-long, single row plots. Standard management practices were followed and plants were picked for yield and berry size data in 1996 and 1997. Fruit firmness was measured with a FirmTech1 meter. Fruit rot % was the percentage of the weight of 1 pint of berries that was rotten after 1-2 days at 34F and 1-2 days at 70F. Plant vigor was assessed at harvest time by measuring the percentage of the plot surface area covered by plants (plant cover), and the average plant height.

Yields both years were relatively low due to weather events. The 1995/1996 winter was open and cold, and resulted in considerable winter injury to the crowns of some plants. The 1996/1997 winter was more mild with adequate snow, but some damage to crowns appeared to result from 15oF temperatures during April, shortly after mulch was removed. Some minor frost damage occurred in the spring of 1996 and 1997, primarily on the early varieties.

The performance of the varieties is summarized in the table. All data are means of the two harvest seasons. The varieties were classified as early, mid-season or late, and statistical comparisons were made only within these groups.

The standard early varieties are Honeoye, Annapolis and Earliglow. Honeoye is the most productive, followed by Annapolis, then Earliglow. One newer variety in this season that has promise is Chambly. Chambly was developed in Quebec, and is an attractive, cone-shaped, medium sized berry. It may be a little too dark for some people. Chambly caps easily and may have some value as a processed berry.

Kent is the standard, productive, mid-season variety used for comparison. Newer mid-season varieties that showed the most potential were Cavandish and Delmarvel. Cavandish was productive, with is a very large attractive and flavorful berries. Some growers have reported a problem with irregular ripening of Cavandish fruit (white tips and undersides), and we saw some indication of this as well. Demarvel was also productive. Its fruit were medium in size, glossy, attractive and very firm. Berries retained their integrity after thawing in freezing tests. Flavor was average to good.

The late season standards in the trial were Jewel and Allstar. The two most promising new late season varieties were Seneca and Latestar. Both Seneca and Latestar have received good reviews in other midwest states. Seneca berries were glossy, medium in size and firm. They appear to freeze well (retain integrity and gloss when thawed). Latestar was productive with large, glossy berries. Berries were medium firm and seemed to freeze well. Latestar does not cap easily.

Based on these observations and reports from other midwest states, Michigan growers should consider several newer varieties on a trial basis. These include Chambly (early), Cavandish and Delmarvel (mid-season), and Seneca and Latestar (late season). One other late variety that was not included in this trial but has received good reviews in neighboring states in Winona.

Strawberry Cultivar Performance in East Lansing (means of two years).

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Last modified: December 30, 1997