The taste consensus is in.
This variety is sweet and when very ripe, the taste profile is caramel + pineapple flavored strawberries.
However similar to other white strawberry varieties, it is also slower to grow and very challenging in our environment.
We grew in both Kratky (non circulating hydroponic) and soil to compare their growing journeys.
LIQUID BASE (KRATKY, non circulating hydroponic)
The hydroponic trials began first.
Seeds were sowed on January 20 2018 and germinated on the 29th, 9 days.
More of our germination notes at this link.
The seeds are paler and smaller than the common red varieties.
In hydroponic trials, it was possible to observe roots development at different stages.
This knowledge deepens our understanding of their growth stages for nutrients application.
In 2018, we grew over four varieties of white strawberries in hydro plugs to study their growth characteristics and compare.
In addition, we also record their taste profiles.
Flowers showed 5 months later in our liquid-based parent plants.
In appearance, the flowers look the same as red strawberries varieties. five white petals and a yellow center.
The crown and most of the stems are also vividly red.
The first flush of flowers from June did not turn into fruits.
Most were pruned away which encourage new blooms to show in August.
The latter flowers grew into fruits finally.
In noncirculating hydroponic, the fruits production during the first year was not good.
Less than 60 fruits per plant for 4 months (other varieties, especially Red Alpine 80 – 120 within the same window).
Only seeds darkened as fruits ripen.
The outer and inner flesh of the fruits are a lighter shade of cream or white.
Pineapple scent filled the air instead of strawberries.
2019 Liquid Base
They are more productive plants in the second year.
One brunch supports 5 – 7 fruits in Kratky bottles.
Constant pruning to reduce leaves helped with pests’ prevention.
We also found a way to revive old plants with crown pruning.
The latter seems to work only in liquid than soil-based plants.
Crown rotting remained the highest risk for soil-based White Strawberries varieties in our natural climate.
Sweet pineapple candies’ scent permeates the air around these plants when fruits are ripening.
More attention needed for ants’ presence in the growing environment as they host pests such as aphids or mealy bugs.
This plant returned from dormancy in July 2019 to fruit again.
Regrettably, parent plants died in December 2019.
SOIL BASED PLANTS
First-generation seeds were sowed on September 11, 2018.
They germinated on the 22nd (11 days).
Our objective was to study soil and hydro growing progress.
Eleven seedlings were transplanted to soil.
Two-month-old seedlings unearthed to see how they grow.
These are still relatively small seedlings compared to the red Alpine varieties.
These plants were monitored closely because seeds are no longer available for sale.
From leaves to stems, white strawberries are less vivid color than the red Alpine varieties.
Compared to White Soul, this variety grew better.
They did not show leaves wilt and dropping off within the first month.
Flowering started in the 4th month.
Fruits formed slowly over a one month period.
Their seeds were viable and we began second-generation trials with them.
Seeds collection began in earnest, every fruit’s seeds were saved.
Fruits production window was quite long.
It extends beyond 4 months.
However, most of our soil-based plants died one after another in their prime by December 2018.
It was observed that leaves first weaken, leading to a fast decline.
Only two plants remained from this batch.
PESTS CHALLENGES
Strawberries seem very susceptible to leaf sappers like these.
We suspect they were brought by ants but they did not look like thrips (no silver tracks) and thinner than aphids.
Most were spotted only under strong light as they react to light.
Otherwise, they remain still and camouflaged in leaf veins.
Neem does not work on them.
They were lift off with scotch tape and trapped to kill.
The damage on leaves is shown by darker streaks in the middle section.
A video of a kind of leaves sapping pests –
LIQUID vs. SOIL BASED
In soil, these plants grew slower and seem more challenging however once established, they are more robust than KRATKY (liquid base) plants.
Whether in soil or liquid base, aged very well.
The older the strawberries the hardier and hassle-free after the first year.
THE NEXT GENERATIONS
Second Generation (PC2) shared some interesting insights into growing these delicious fruits in our climate.
In the liquid base, they halved the growing time from seeds to the hardier stage.
Instead of waiting four months, these seedlings were established by the second month.
The above seedlings’ seeds were harvested from our own plants on April 12, 2019, at 5.26 pm and sowed them the next day (April 13).
Freshly harvested seeds from our own fruits germinated in 3 days on April 16.
Parent plants took 9 – 11 days to germinate.
Soil-based grew slower than liquid-based plants.
Leaves and growth spurts between parent and second-generation seedlings, in soil and liquid-based, showed the same characteristics.
Growth in liquid-based plants charged ahead while soil-based remain stagnant.
The latter continued to show weaknesses (yellowing leaves, stunt growth) and re-setting work needs to be carried out to address them else they will die.
Unearthed from soil to prune base leaves and re-set in soil.
Fling test (workshop) was applied to make sure the crown had set well.
In their second month, there was still no roots mass in soil based plants.
Whereas KRATKY plants’ roots were over 15 cm long.
2nd Month – Crown has thickened and beginning to multiply for liquid-based plants.
Flowers were spotted in the third month of second-generation plants in the liquid base!
For a comparison, parent plants in liquid base showed flowers only at the 5th month.
In soil, it was seven months.
Plants that had been acclimated to our environment grew faster and with less fuss than their heirloom parents.
Petals will look bruised after hand pollination.
PC2 plants have more fruits on the plant for the first harvest.
However, the length of time for fruits to grow (and ripen) is about one month.
These are more vigorous fruiting plants than their heirloom parents.
They grew as vigorously as red alpine varieties.
PC2 Liquid Base Fruits
Fruits start light green and grew paler until mostly white.
Only seeds darken when ripe.
Three stages of fruits’ development – small and light green to slim white and then filling up to rounder white shaped fruits.
The third generation, PC3 germinated on August 9 and was sowed on August 2 at 11.11 am.
These plants entered the flowering in early December 2019 and more fruits on plant ripened at the same time.
From our two years of growing this variety, in both soil and liquid-based, we conclude that this variety is more difficult in soil than liquid-based, perhaps due to our climate.
Parent and 2nd Generation Plants Portrait
A rare family portrait of parent and second-generation plants from seeds at the same time.
NOTES and OBSERVATIONS
- Very susceptible to heat thus they are easier to grow in liquid base than soil
- In small reservoirs such as these small containers (330ml cans), the fruits took longer to form and not able to ripen more than 2 at a time
- At every stage in natural SG environments, seedlings of first-generation plants are at risk of failing for varied reasons, for example, pests, heat or crown rot.
- Crown Rot remained the highest risk than heat problems
- Seeds harvested from first-generation heirloom parents in a natural environment are more acclimated plants, but still easier in liquid over soil-based
- Prior knowledge of setting strawberries is important as these seedlings are frail
- Runner-less
- PC2 fruits are bigger, faster and better first harvest than parent plants
- Natural nutrients are bridged with AB feed
- Lifespan in SG natural environment – 2 years
- 3 harvests per year