Sweet Charlie

First released in1992 by the University of Florida, strawberry growers in twenty countries have successfully used the Sweet Charlie variety for commercial fruit production.  It remains the preferred variety for growers in India, China and other market areas where producers are close to their markets.  The Sweet Charlie has demonstrated the ability to adapt to different systems of production under various growing conditions.  The variety has allowed growers to enter the early fresh fruit market with a high quality fruit.  The Sweet Charlie variety is characterized by the following:

EARLINESS
The Sweet Charlie enters into production 4 to 6 weeks before the Chandler and 3 to 4 weeks before the Oso Grande in adjacent fields in the same growing area.  The variety maintains this earliness when grown as a fresh plant or a frigo plant.

QUALITY
The fruit of the Sweet Charlie is distinguished by its distinctive flavor which has received very good acceptance in the marketplace.  The fruit has a high concentration of sugar and vitamin C and less acidity than the Selva or Oso Grande.  Its aromatic characteristics are much superior to these other two varieties.  Sweet Charlie produces medium to large size fruit.  The variety maintains its fruit size throughout the production season.

YIELDS
The production level of Sweet Charlie ranges between 500 to 750 grams per plant.  Its productivity is equivalent to the Oso Grande.

RESISTANCE and SUSCEPTIBILITY -
The variety Sweet Charlie has demonstrated a high levels of resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). 

FERTILIZATION -
The Sweet Charlie variety requires a distinct management of the fertilization program.  The variety utilizes only 50 percent of the nitrogen required by California varieties such as the Chandler and Oso Grande.  The Sweet Charlie requires a high level of calcium and potassium both of which influence the fruit quality.