Malwina is the latest ripening among the currently available strawberry varieties worth growing. It is going
to set new standards for late season varieties in the direct marketing segment. Already under standard
cultivating conditions, the peak season is some 22 days after Elsanta (12 days after Florence). When straw
covering is applied it ripens as late as about 30 days after Elsanta!
Malwina is a crossbred of "Sophie" x a clone from Schimmelpfeng, Weihenstefan. The crossbreeding was done in
1998 by Peter Stoppel, Kressbronn.
The plant is very robust and vigorous, with dark green, medium sized, glossy leaves. Malwina blooms under
the foliage and is self-pollinating.
The berries are large, firm and feature a glossy mid red. When picked pale red (wholesale marketing), their
flavour is good and excellent when picked fully ripe.
Malwina is a pleasure to the eye, in the basket as well as in the punnet. Its aroma reminds us of
"straw-berries from grandma's garden", as a customer put it.
Yields for Malwina are about 10 - 15% lower than that of Elsanta (and about 20% lower when straw covering is
applied). The percentage of large fruits is 85% (about 77% with straw covering). That means the proportion
of marketable Class 1 fruits is higher than with Elsanta.
The picking rate is between 10 and 15% lower, though, due to the short pedicels and the ample foliage.
