Christine

Parentage
Bred and selected by Dr Derek Jennings from a cross between two unnamed seedlings.

Season

7 -14 days earlier than Elsanta in the UK depending on site and location.

Fruit Quality

Large to very large fruit, which are light orange-red in colour, very bright and with an exceptionally fine sweet flavour. Very good Class I percentages with few small or misshapen berries. In HDC trials Christine was noted as the firmest variety in the trials with high skin strength and little bruising, and performed better than Elsanta in shelf life tests.

Yield and Fruit Size

Slightly less than Elsanta which is typical of very early varieties. Christine produces plants with a crown size range of 9-13mm, which limits its 60 day crop potential.

Disease Resistance

Highly resistant to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis). Susceptible to crown rot (Phythophthora cactorum).

Use of the Variety

Plants are more vigorous than Elsanta. Christine requires a generous supply of water for the full expression of its flavour and yield potential, and to avoid any seediness in the fruit.