Flair
Flowering and picking period
Given the earliness of Flair, it is an ideal variety to start the strawberry season. Flair can be two to five days ahead of Clery. Flair’s flower branches are long so that the flowers often protrude above the crop. However, this, and certainly when covered with fleece or foil, also increases the risk of night frost damage and appropriate precautions must be taken here. The fruits of Flair grow quickly so that a busy harvest period follows in a short time. On average, the harvest lasts four weeks.
Fruit quality
Flair likes cold climates, the fruits grow better and are firm. Flair has an easy fruit set if the plants get enough chill hours during the winter. This results in the stretching of the flower branches and better quality of the fruits. If it is warm at the end of the year, it is possible there will be some pre-flowering. The fruit shape is long and conical and has a nice shine and bright red colour.
Harvest and production
Typical for Flair is its open plant type, which makes it easier to harvest. If the plants are grown in a tunnel, it is advisable to harvest the berries twice on warm days. The taste is good and the fruit size and production are comparable to that of Clery.
Disease resistance
Flair is not sensitive to soil diseases however, it is smart to use precautionary actions against Phytophthora cactorum. Flair is not sensitive to mildew but the fruits can be affected by it when grown on table tops. Flair is sensitive to soil herbicides but it is advisable to treat them once the plants have rooted.
Cultivation experiences
Flair needs a lot of cold hours during the winter and is therefore a good variety for colder climates. Good results can be achieved in the open air and in tunnel cultivation. The fruits are fairly rain resistant. Good results can also be achieved under tunnels with Flair, provided that there is sufficient ventilation and irrigation. In case of heat or drought, the plants can fall open, making picking difficult. Flair simply likes a cooler climate and is therefore suitable for early crops. Flair also has options as a tray plant for early greenhouse cultivation. Here it is important to break through the winter dormancy by means of sufficiently long cold storage or additional day-extending lighting. The Flair crop type is sometimes characterized by spooned leaves or light-coloured elongated leaves, typical symptoms of zinc deficiency. In addition to the extra need for zinc, Flair also needs to get enough manganese and iron. Flair is mainly a variety for direct home sales or short chains. It is promoted to consumers as a flavour variety.
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