Keystone Day Neutral Strawberry

Keystone is a resilient day neutral strawberry cultivar from University of California Davis, bred for USDA zones 5 to 9 with continuous fruiting from spring through fall, excelling in high yields late in the season of up to 1.5 to 2 pounds per plant under long daylight conditions. The moderate vigour and upright growth of 8 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 16 inches wide of the strawberry plants make them adaptable to coastal and southern production, supporting mechanical harvesting and dense planting for efficient operations. The variety stands out for its robust disease resistance, including the FW1 gene for strong protection against fusarium wilt, a major threat since methyl bromide's phase out, along with moderate tolerance to verticillium wilt and phytophthora crown rot, ensuring healthier plants and reduced crop losses in soil borne pathogen prone areas. The medium large berries of 25g to 35g in weight, are conical, RHS 45B bright red and firm with a balanced sweet flavour of 8 to 10 °Brix, offering excellent shelf life of 9 to 12 days for fresh markets and shipping. In comparisons with Monterey, Keystone provides superior late season output and disease defences, though it benefits from well drained soils to optimize performance. This healthy performer promises bountiful, quality fruit with peace of mind whether you are an overseas grower tackling fungal challenges or seeking year round productivity. The day neutral powerhouse delivers high late season yields of flavourful, firm berries perfect for extended, reliable harvests.