A critical economic and biological trait of garden strawberries that determines flesh firmness and the ability of berries to maintain their marketability during transport and storage.
In the reference
152
varieties
crop Garden strawberry,
where this is mentioned in the description.
For garden strawberries, shelf life is assessed through a complex of parameters, including flesh firmness measured by dynamometers or penetrometers, resistance to deformation, and the preservation of marketability in the post-harvest period. The trait is closely linked to transportability and the 'residual storage effect' at room temperature after unloading from cold storage.
Variety trials utilize a five-point evaluation scale, as well as the marketable yield percentage, where 65–90% is considered a high value for commercial varieties. Under normal conditions, the storage life is 1–2 days; with refrigeration or the use of a controlled atmosphere, it can be extended to 15–20 days.
Agrotechnical factors significantly influence this indicator: excess nitrogen reduces flesh firmness, while the application of potassium, phosphorus, and calcium contributes to improved shelf life. Harvesting for subsequent storage requires adherence to temperature regimes and careful picking, as any mechanical damage significantly reduces the berry's lifespan.
General information about the subject — on the page
Keeping quality.
Varieties of Garden strawberry mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.