Eves Delight

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Seascape'

Summary: The plants of 'Eves Delight' have a sparse to medium density of foliage whereas those of 'Seascape' have a medium to dense foliage. The leaf colour of 'Eves Delight' is medium green on the upper side whereas it is dark green on 'Sparkle'. The inflorescence of 'Eves Delight' is positioned above the foliage whereas it is positioned level with the foliage for 'Seascape'. The petal arrangement on the flowers of 'Eves Delight' is overlapping whereas it is touching on 'Seascape'. The achenes are positioned above the fruit surface for 'Eves Delight' whereas they are level with the fruit surface for 'Seascape'. Excluding the core, the fruit flesh of 'Eves Delight' is light pink whereas it is medium red on 'Seascape'. The fruit cavity of 'Eves Delight' is absent or small whereas it is of medium size on 'Seascape'. 'Eves Delight' begins flowering and fruiting late in the season whereas 'Seascape' begins mid-season.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, sparse to medium density of foliage, day neutral type of fruit bearing

STOLONS: sparse density of pubescence

LEAF: medium size, medium green on upper side, absent or weak blistering, medium glossiness, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: equal in length and width, rounded base, serrate to crenate margin
PETIOLE: medium length

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late
INFLORESCENCE: positioned above foliage, slightly outwards attitude of hairs on pedicel
FLOWER: calyx diameter same size as corolla, stamens present
PETALS: overlapping, equal in length and width, white on upper side

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: late
FRUIT: equal to moderately longer than width, large, conical, narrow band without achenes, difference in shape between the primary and secondary fruit is absent or very slight
FRUIT SKIN: medium red, even or very slightly uneven colour, medium to strong glossiness, even or very slightly uneven surface
ACHENES: inserted above level of fruit surface
CALYX: attachment inserted, upwards to outwards attitude of sepals, same diameter as fruit
FRUIT FLESH: medium firmness, light pink, white to light red core, absent or small fruit cavity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Eves Delight' (breeder designation '04CF21') was the result of a strawberry breeding program started in 1986 by Mr. Peter Vinson of Edward Vinson Limited based in Kent, United Kingdom. The purpose of the program was to develop improved day neutral varieties for the northern European climate. 'Eves Delight' originated from a cross made in 2003 between the female parent designated as '02P78'(a day neutral type), and the male parent designated as '02EVA13R' (a day neutral type), known for passing on the traits of good fruit size, shape and eating quality. 'Eves Delight' was selected in 2004 from a family group comprising approximately 140 plants grown in a seedling field at Kemsdale Farm, Faversham, Kent. It was initially selected based on fruit size, quality and good eating experience and after conducting commercial scale trials was found to be the best cultivar within its family. Additional selection criteria included yield, appearance, skin firmness, tolerance to diseases such as mildew and botrytis, compact plant habit, long shelf life and simple trusses.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Eves Delight' were conducted at a production farm in Trois-Rivière, Quebec during the summer of 2015. A minimum of twenty bareroot plants were planted in double row raised beds in early May of 2015. The raised beds were approximately 20 cm high and 70 cm wide and covered with black plastic. The plants were spaced 41 cm from each other in a staggered pattern and the rows were spaced 1.5 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

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Strawberry: 'Eves Delight' (left) with the reference variety 'Seascape' (right)

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Strawberry: 'Eves Delight' (left) with the reference variety 'Seascape' (right)