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Geoff Langford, Berryworld
This trial was planted on 29th May 2025 at Anthony Rakich’s home block on tables.
Harvest started 9th October and continued until 21st December with 21 individual harvests (twice a week)
2025 was considered a good average year for strawberry production with yields much better in the trial block than in 2024.
Note that we have started to report sales in dollars/meter. In this trial all were planted at 8 plants/meter, with a small gap between plots. When comparing sales value between varieties, $/meter best represents the profitability to the grower, as some varieties are being planted at different spacings but the cost of growing is typically based on growing area.
The two new varieties, Golden Gate and Keystone, were disappointing with Keystone severely affected by Phytophthora. These varieties are both day neutrals so are probably better suited to cooler climates and are both performing exceptionally well in our Lincoln trial, where Golden Gate has just topped 1 kg at the beginning of February (compared to a very average yield on Monterey of 400g/plant). Results from the Lincoln trial will be in a subsequent report. We obviously need more season’s testing to understand how to get the best of these two new varieties.
On a side note, how did phytophthora get to be such an issue in soilless tabletop production? Likely it came in with the irrigation water, which was sourced from a creek.
The chart below shows what we all know; early fruit is profitable.
Ventana topped the chart again for overall value, but the drop in size from mid November causes growers a lot of issues.
The value of an early variety that has better consistent size is a clear target for the future and why NZBP plans to bring Surfline in from the University of California later this year. It will have 2 years through the quarantine process so plant availability is a few years away yet, but something to look forward to.
Victor and Valiant both continue to perform well and their consistent large berry size makes a big difference to harvest costs. The difference between 20g and 30g average berry size represents a 33% difference in picking and packing costs assuming each variety has similar picking ease. Both varieties have excellent flavour so are worth a trial to see if they work for growers in their management system.
Royal Royce is an enigma. When it is performing, it is an excellent variety with good production, beautiful fruit with good size and good flavour. This years’ performance in the Auckland trial was good but we now have 4 years data and this was the first year it has really performed. We think it is very sensitive to winter chill and at Lincoln it has a tendency to go on holiday for an extended period in January, which it has done for us at Lincoln each year we have grown it.
I have been evaluating strawberry varieties for over 50 years. Sometimes a new one stands out and replaces the previous standard quickly. Pajaro replacing Tioga was a classic example. More recently the changes have been slower and we are getting into a “horses for courses” situation. Every grower’s soil, climate, nutrient management and marketing situation is different and so different varieties will have different value for individual growers. So the message is clear. Take note of the data above but try the promising ones to see if they might work in your unique situation.