Strawberry Cabrillo

Cabrillo is one of the newest varieties of garden strawberries. Due to its properties, such as high content of essential substances, including beta-carotene (vitamin A) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), versatility and high yield, it is already popular with gardeners.

American breeders Shaw and Larson have been working on the creation of this strawberry variety for several years. Cabrillo was created in 2008 by crossing some numbered varieties of garden strawberries, which were bred by the same scientists earlier, and received its first name Cal 8.181-1, then it was replaced by CN236. Since 2009, in one of the sites in California, intensive experiments have been carried out with the aim of multiplying a new specimen. Studies have shown a positive result - all varietal properties of the plant were preserved during breeding. Finally convinced of this, breeders began the procedure for registering strawberries under its official name Cabrillo. In 2016, the University of California received a patent for a new variety of garden strawberries, claiming to be the best.

Strawberries have rather tall bushes, which are distinguished by the presence of abundant dense foliage and their position (they are more erect). The leaves are small in size, dense and soft, characterized by a bright green color and a special shine, similar to a greasy sheen. And also the leaf blade is slightly concave and sharpens a little closer to the edge. The plant has large snow-white flowers and high multi-pronged peduncles. Cabrillo releases a moderate amount of antennae, so there will be no problems with breeding it.

Cabrillo is classified as a medium-early fruiting plant. Flowering occurs in late May - early June, and the first berries can already be picked in mid-July. Since this variety is remontant, the bushes bear fruit stably throughout the summer, and in the southern regions the last harvest can be obtained even in September.

This species in Russia began to be exploited quite recently, so there is no reliable information about its winter hardiness and fastidiousness to weather conditions. It is recommended to grow the crop in places with short summers, for example, in Siberia or the Far East.

Depending on the climate and care, the plant bears fruit in different ways. The maximum number of berries can reach 3.7 kg per bush, but this is possible only thanks to perfect agricultural technology, regular feeding and constant monitoring of the environment. Under standard conditions and with due care, one unit produces about 1.5-2 kg of fruit.

This variety produces beautiful fruits that look very attractive. Each of them weighs on average 32 g, and some specimens reach 50-60 g or more. The pulp is very juicy, dense, has a good consistency, and the yellowish achenes are only slightly immersed in it. Berries are bright red with reflections of gloss, the color becomes darker in the context.

The fruits are distinguished by an excellent aroma, more intense than that of other varieties. The palate is impressive, with a pronounced sweetness with subtle hints of sourness. It should be remembered that you need to taste the berries only when they are fully ripe, otherwise the wonderful taste will seem mediocre.

Cabrillo is recommended to be planted in late May - early summer. To get a quick harvest, it is better to choose loose soil for planting. And also the plant shows excellent results during cultivation in greenhouses or film shelters, where tomatoes or potatoes have not been grown before.

The seedlings should be placed at a distance of 30 cm from each other, and a distance of at least 60 cm should be maintained between the beds - this is due to the presence of a mustache and the root system of the Cabrillo variety. It is recommended to plant bushes in the direction from north to south, observing a checkerboard pattern.

This variety prefers fertile loose soils for its good ripening. During the selection of a planting site, it is imperative to pay attention to the excellent lighting of the garden so that the plants are not covered by the shadow, the site must be protected from strong gusts of wind, and have good air circulation.

Before planting, the site must be carefully prepared. First of all, it should be cleaned of weeds, add a bucket of compost or humus, you can also add about 300 g per square meter of wood ash.

It is important to remember that the crop, when ripe, sinks to the ground, in order to prevent the fruits from rotting, mulching with hay or sawdust is required.

Cabrillo strawberry has bisexual flowers, so it does not need additional pollination processes.

Frost resistance

This variety tolerates winter weather well, but it is still recommended to warm the beds with at least a layer of straw or spruce branches in case of frost. If possible, gardeners advise covering strawberries with agrofibre.

This type of strawberry does not lend itself to many diseases, which is typical of many other varieties of this crop. For example, powdery mildew or spotting will not bring any harm to Carbillo.

But strawberries are not very resistant to late blight, therefore, at least several times a season, preventive actions should be taken to avoid this disease.

The bushes can also be attacked by various insects, such as aphids, weevils, and strawberry mites. You can get rid of such pests by spraying plants with folk remedies, for example, a decoction of marigold flowers.

There are two ways to breed Cabrillo.

The easiest is to use tendrils. Shoots should be separated at the beginning of June, and then placed in fertile soil about 4 cm deep, watering regularly. When small bushes are already formed, it is better to root them in plastic cups, so the plant will more successfully adapt to the subsequent place.

Another breeding method for this variety is division. To do this, choose mature healthy bushes over 3 years old. Cut with a sharp object into 3-4 parts with a normal root system and several leaves on each, and then immersed in the soil.