Content
There is at least a small bed of strawberries on almost any personal plot. This 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 interesting and promising new products appear every year. Among them is the Brighton strawberry, which, thanks to its merits, has already gained many fans in a short time.
History of selection
Brighton strawberries are an achievement of breeders from the USA. It appeared at the beginning of the 21st century. Following the “trends” of that time, experts created a remontant variety with neutral daylight hours, capable of bearing fruit abundantly in temperate climates. But cultivation practice has proven that it belongs, rather, to the category of semi-repairable.
Russian 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 Russian Federation. Nevertheless, it has successfully “taken root” in the garden plots of Russian gardeners, adapting to a climate that is more severe than temperate.
Description of the Brighton strawberry variety and characteristics
Having read the description of the Brighton variety of remontant strawberries, it is easy to understand why it relatively quickly managed to gain popularity among gardeners all over the world.
Characteristics of fruits, taste
Peduncles bend under the weight of large berries. Their average weight is 50-60 g; there are some “record holders” weighing up to 80 g. The shape is typically “strawberry”, rounded-obtuse. 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), elongated, 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. The slight sourness definitely makes it more interesting, because not everyone likes bland sweetness. The berries also have a light “strawberry” aroma.
The skin of the Brighton strawberry is thin, but quite durable.
This is a universal variety. Brighton strawberries are not only eaten fresh, but also canned for the winter, frozen, and used as a filling for baked goods. 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 is a day-neutral variety; its duration does not affect yield. Therefore, when grown indoors, the bushes bear fruit for 10-11 months a year. When planting in open beds, the duration of fruiting depends on the local climate.
In central Russia, the first berries ripen at the beginning of June, in the Urals and Siberia - 10-15 days later. The harvest is harvested until autumn. In warm southern regions, Brighton strawberries bear fruit from late April or early May until the first frost.
When grown in open ground, 600-800 g of berries are harvested from an adult bush per season. In especially successful seasons - up to 1 kg.
Brighton strawberries are fairly compact, “squat” bushes, not particularly densely leafy
The density of the Brighton strawberry pulp provides it with very good shelf life for this berry. At room temperature it will not spoil within 2-3 days. Under optimal conditions, the berries retain their “marketable appearance” and taste for a week and a half. They are distinguished not only by keeping quality, but also by good transportability. Strawberries can withstand “moving” over long distances without damage.
Growing regions, frost resistance
Breeders created Brighton strawberries for cultivation in temperate climates. The bushes are able to overwinter without being damaged at temperatures down to -20-25 ºС, even if they are not provided with shelter.
However, the practice of growing this variety in Russia has proven that it can adapt to more severe climatic conditions. Brighton strawberries consistently bear fruit in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. Although here, of course, she needs to be protected from the cold.
You can’t count on record harvests of Brighton strawberries in less-than-optimal conditions.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Breeders have provided Brighton strawberries with “innate” immunity against fungal diseases, including all types of spotting and gray rot. The only exception is root rot. But in the vast majority of cases, the gardener himself is to blame for its development, who is overly zealous with watering. If you follow the recommendations regarding agricultural practices, the risk of developing root rot is minimized.
Pests are also not particularly interested in Brighton strawberries. They often bypass it, even attacking 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 identical in shape, but this cannot be said about the latter
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The undoubted advantages of Brighton strawberries include:
- cold resistance is good even for Russia;
- endurance, allowing you to adapt to not always favorable climatic and weather conditions (and not only survive, but also bear fruit);
- unpretentiousness in care - Brighton strawberries require mainly 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 and balconies);
- compactness of plants, which saves space in the garden bed;
- 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 attack;
- large fruit, presentable appearance, excellent taste of berries;
- the versatility of strawberries, their keeping quality and transportability;
- long fruiting period, as a result – high yield.
It was not possible to identify any significant shortcomings in Brighton strawberries. However, it must be taken into account that, despite the ability to tolerate “interruptions” in watering, the variety is not drought-resistant. With a regular lack of moisture, the yield decreases sharply and 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, the Brighton strawberry bushes simply will not have the “strength” left to ensure the ripening of the crop.
When growing Brighton strawberries, the mustache will have to be trimmed every 2-3 weeks.
Reproduction methods
Strawberries Brighton are very active in forming mustaches. Therefore, it is propagated precisely in this way, provided by nature itself. The gardener will definitely not have to face a shortage of planting material.
For propagation, several “mother” bushes are selected in advance - two-year-old, healthy, abundantly fruiting. During spring, all the buds are cut off. By June, the mustache begins to form. Of these, you need to leave 5-7 of the most powerful ones.
The largest rosette is the first from the mother plant. But if you need to propagate Brighton strawberries quickly, use a second one on each tendril.As soon as roots about 1 cm long are formed on them, without separating them from the bush, they are either “pinned” to the soil or planted in small pots or cups.
12-15 days before transplanting new specimens to a permanent place, the mustache is trimmed. The procedure is planned for the end of July or August. In warm southern regions you can replant until October.
If you plant mustaches in peat cups, new plants will not have to be removed from the containers when transplanting.
Planting and care
The Brighton variety places standard requirements on the planting site for any strawberry. And it is better to “listen” to them, wanting to harvest abundant harvests every year. When it comes 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 return frosts is minimized.
The location for the Brighton strawberry bed is selected taking into account the following criteria:
- open space, well lit and warmed by the sun;
- protection from strong gusts of cold wind and drafts;
- a substrate that allows water and air to pass through well, but is also quite nutritious - loose loam, sandy loam;
- neutral or slightly acidic soil acid-base balance – pH 5.5-6.0;
- relatively deep, about a meter, groundwater lying under the surface of the soil (if there is no other place, you will have to build a bed at least 0.5 m high).
Strawberry Brighton categorically does not tolerate stagnation of water at the roots. This further increases the risk of developing root rot. Plants will not take root in very “heavy” or excessively “light” soil. Other unsuitable places for garden beds include steep slopes and lowlands.
It is necessary to moisten the soil in the bed with Brighton strawberries relatively often, but in moderation. If it is not too hot outside, 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 important, but it is better that drops of water do not fall on the leaves, flowers and fruits
The long fruiting period and relatively high yield ensure that Brighton strawberries require intensive feeding. 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 the harvest of the “first wave”;
- 2-3 weeks after fruiting ends.
The first feeding is necessarily nitrogen-containing fertilizers. They are necessary for the active formation of green mass. This can be either mineral fertilizer or natural organic matter. Next, store-bought products designed specifically for strawberries are added. They provide plants with all the substances necessary for berry ripening in the required volume.
An optional, but very useful agrotechnical measure for Brighton strawberries is mulching.This helps the gardener save time on weeding the bed and loosening it, and also allows you to water the bushes less often. It prevents the soil on the surface from “baking” into an airtight 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 above-ground part of the plant appears when the disease development process has already gone too far.
To protect against spider mites, onions and garlic are planted in the Brighton strawberry bed, or the bushes are sprayed with “arrow” infusion once every 1.5-2 weeks. When characteristic thin, almost transparent “webs” appear, entwining the buds and young leaves, the plants are treated with acaricides.
The spider mites themselves are very small and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Preparing for winter
In southern regions with a subtropical climate, Brighton strawberries do not need shelter. Preparing bushes for winter is limited to trimming leaves and removing plant and other debris from the garden bed.
In temperate climates, in mid-autumn, after cleaning the bed, renew the layer of mulch or cover it with spruce branches. Humus is added to the base 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 arches over the bed, stretching 2-3 layers of any covering material over them.
Preparing Brighton strawberries for winter depends on the climate in the region where it is grown
Conclusion
Brighton strawberries are semi-remontant, day-neutral varieties. Among its undoubted advantages are the taste, large size and visual attractiveness of the berries. Gardeners also appreciate the compactness of the bushes, ease of care, and the duration of fruiting. Of course, the variety cannot be called ideal; it has some disadvantages. But they do not spoil the overall picture.
Reviews from gardeners about Brighton strawberries
The description of the Brighton strawberry variety given by the breeders is confirmed by photos and reviews from gardeners. Most opinions about him are definitely positive.
Tell me please, is the variety self-pollinating? And if you heat the crop in the greenhouse in winter?
Good afternoon.
Yes, Brighton strawberries are a self-pollinating variety.