Strawberry variety Favorite (Cambridge Favorite)
Favorite is a non-repairable variety of garden strawberries (strawberries) of medium ripening, universal use. It was bred in England, the original name is Cambridge Favorite. It is appreciated for its good yield, excellent taste, and ease of maintenance. Suitable for growing both in open and protected ground, as well as in trays. Recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region (Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, the Republic of Dagestan, Ingushetia, North Ossetia-Alania, Adygea, Crimea, Chechen, Kabardino-Balkarian, Rostov regions).
The plant is short, medium spreading. Usulation is moderate. The leaves are very large, medium-silvery, light green in color with a glossy sheen. The flowers are bisexual, white, collected in compact multi-flowered inflorescences. Peduncles of medium thickness, located at the level of the leaves, lie on the ground under the weight of the crop.
Favorite's berries are medium and large in size, beautiful, of the correct wide-conical shape, very uniform in the total mass, by the end of the fruiting season they acquire a more rounded shape. The skin is deep, bright red, shiny. Achenes yellow, superficially impressed. Strawberry pulp is light red, firm, but not firm, juicy, with a bright strawberry aroma.
The flavor of the variety is very good, but without a "zest". Berries have a classic sweet and sour taste, the palette is harmonious, but in seasons with unfavorable weather conditions, sourness may prevail. The fruits are versatile in use, excellent fresh, excellent for any processing and freezing, can be used as a decoration for desserts. The berries tolerate transportation very well, do not wrinkle or flow, therefore the Favorite is very suitable for growing commercially in small volumes.
The average weight of fruits in the season is about 30-35 grams; at the first harvest, specimens and larger ones can be observed. Strawberry fruiting is very stable, the berries do not become shallow by the end of the season and do not lose their good taste. The variety is distinguished by amicable ripening, yields a harvest in a short time. The yield of our hero is average, about 500-700 grams of berries from a bush, depending on the intensity of agricultural technology. According to the reviews of gardeners and farmers, we can conclude that this variety is no longer relevant for growing for commercial purposes, does not compete with modern innovations, but it is very stable and will never leave without a crop.
Strawberries have very good immunity, they are not affected by diseases more often than other varieties on the site, but timely high-quality prevention will never hurt. Winter hardiness of plants is good in the recommended growing region, but in colder areas, you should still take care of a good shelter of the plantings. Drought tolerance is also quite good, but dry periods will have a negative impact on yields. On the other hand, short-term lack of moisture can have a positive effect on the sugar content of the berries. Gardeners sometimes use such a little trick - a few days before harvesting, they stop watering strawberries so that the fruits become a little sweeter.
In agricultural technology, Favorite is absolutely simple, very unpretentious, does not require special attention. It can even be attributed to the symbolic group of varieties "planted and forgotten", it is especially attractive for those gardeners who do not have the opportunity to often visit their site. Bushes are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other, then standard care is carried out, which consists in weeding, loosening the soil, preventive treatments, watering and feeding.
The favorite is a reliable variety that has earned a lot of good reviews about itself. It can be called a stable workhorse that can provide crops in the most unfortunate seasons, when other varieties cannot withstand the harmful effects of weather conditions.Of course, this strawberry is not as tasty and fruitful as many popular "giants" of the market, but it clearly will not disappoint you and will never leave you without berries.
This variety does not cause me stormy delight. Berry like a berry. Correctly written: "taste without zest". The fruits are not very large, despite the high agricultural technology. The yield is average. But the "mustache" is increased. A "nice bonus" is the high incidence of diseases. And the plantings of Cambridge are becoming a breeding ground for infection. I would have worn out for a long time, but is in good demand among buyers. Maybe it shows itself better in others. But I do not like.