Strawberry Rawena F1

Strawberry ‘Rowena’ F1 – Seedling

• Correct Spelling: Rowena F1
• Botanical Name: Fragaria × ananases ‘Rowena’ F1
• Plant Type: Everbearing fruiting perennial
• Growth Habit: Open, vigorous and productive
• Mature Height: Approximately 20–30 cm
• Mature Spread: Approximately 30–45 cm
• Flower Color: White
• Fruit Shape: Broad conical
• Fruit Color: Intense, glossy bright red
• Fruit Texture: Firm with good post-harvest quality
• Flavor: Sweet, balanced gourmet flavor
• Reported Brix: Approximately 8–9° under trial conditions
• Light: Full sun during Kuwait’s cooler months
• Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained
• Recommended Soil pH: Approximately 5.5–6.5
• Spacing: 30–40 cm between plants
• Suitable For: Raised beds, productive containers, outdoor gutters and edible gardens
• Best Planting Period in Kuwait: Late September to February
• Expected Harvest in Kuwait: Winter through spring, depending on planting time and conditions
• Strawberry ‘Rowena’ F1 is a vigorous, high-yielding everbearing strawberry developed for reliable outdoor production. It produces attractive, broad-conical strawberries with an intense bright red color and good firmness.
• The fruit maintains its glossy red appearance during normal storage and offers a balanced gourmet flavor. Its firmness, attractive presentation and good shelf life make ‘Rowena’ particularly valuable for gardeners seeking productive plants with fruit that can tolerate handling better than softer ornamental strawberry varieties.
• The plant has an open growth habit that helps display the fruit clearly and makes harvesting easier. Under suitable conditions, it continues producing across an extended season rather than delivering only one short crop.
• The official breeder describes ‘Rowena’ as a strong and healthy ever bearer with high productivity, good weather resistance, firm broad-conical fruit, excellent transportability and a reported sweetness level of 8–9° Brix.

Growing Strawberry ‘Rowena’ F1 in Kuwait

• Grow ‘Rowena’ during Kuwait’s cooler agricultural season. Transplant seedlings outdoors from late September or October through February, once extreme summer temperatures have declined.
• Select a location receiving approximately 6–8 hours of sunlight during winter. As temperatures rise in spring, morning sun with protection from intense afternoon heat will help maintain flower and fruit quality.
• Plant in fertile, well-drained soil, positioning the crown level with the soil surface. Never bury the crown or leave it continuously wet. Maintain consistent moisture during flowering and fruit development, as repeated drying can reduce fruit size and quality.
• For container cultivation, use a pot at least 25–30 cm wide for one plant. Because ‘Rowena’ is vigorous and bred primarily for production, it performs better in sufficiently large containers or raised beds than in small decorative pots.
• Apply a light balanced fertilizer after establishment, followed by regular feeding suitable for flowering and fruiting crops. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can produce abundant leaves at the expense of flowers and fruit.
• ‘Rowena’ has good weather resistance in the context of temperate outdoor strawberry production. This must not be interpreted as tolerance of Kuwait’s exposed summer temperatures. Protect or relocate plants before extreme summer heat arrives.