Cal Giant # 2 - Variety Description

Fruit Production and Appearance

Classified as a short day cultivar, the Cal Giant # 2 is especially adapted to moderate climate environments where growers produce strawberry fruit into the late summer and autumn. Considered a mid-season variety, the Cal Giant # 2 enters into production the same time as the Selva or Chandler varieties. California growers have utilized the variety primarily in a chilled, fresh plant system for fall planting. The variety responds well to high levels of natural or supplemental chilling. Frigo plant trials in 1999 - 2000 will confirm its performance under a frigo plant program. Total fruit yields are similar to the Chandler variety.

The fruit of the Cal Giant  # 2 is very conical and maintains its size over the course of the extended production season. The fruit averages 30 grams per berry throughout the production season. The fruit develops both a firm skin and flesh and has a very high gloss. It is medium red in color, similar to the Camarosa. The flavor and aromatic characteristics of the fruit are superior to Camarosa and greatly exceed varieties such as the Selva. The soluble solid content averages 9.58 percent on refractometer readings.

Disease Resistence

The Cal Giant # 2 has outstanding resistance to many of the diseases that plague commercial strawberry production in California and the world. The variety was selected after extensive trials on non-fumigated soils. Together with other varieties from the California Giant program, it demonstrates no appreciable difference in yield when grown on non-fumigated soils or soils fumigated with methyl bromide. In this respect the Cal Giant series represent a radical departure from the varieties of other breeding programs in California. The Cal Giant # 2 is highly resistant to Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora ssp. and Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). It also displays marked resistance to many foliar and fruit diseases such as Powdery Mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis spp fragariae), Angular Leaf Spot (Xanthomonas fragariae) and Phomopsis (Dendrophoma obscurans).

Cultural Suggestions:

• The plant responds well to supplemental cold storage prior to planting. It is suggested that the plants be given a minimum of two to three weeks storage after nursery harvest, prior to planting.
• As soon after planting as is deemed safe, the plant responds very favorable to "spoon feeding" of Nitrogen throughout the fall and winter months. Early crown development can be enhanced with applications of Phosphorous.