Nabila
Bred by Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV), Italy, for Mediterranean and low-chill regions, Nabila carries large, conical, glossy, well-flavoured fruit and is grown in Mahabaleshwar as well as trialled in the eastern states.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Strawberry
- Type
- Runner plant (tissue-culture / certified)
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- ~150–170 days
- Expected yield
- Good; large fruit size is its main commercial draw
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained sandy loam on a raised, black-plastic-mulched bed
- Release
- Bred by Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV), Italy; first propagated 2004
About this variety
Nabila was bred by Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV) in Italy, from a controlled cross between the variety 'Ventana' and a CIV breeding selection (Q6Q8-26); the cross was first asexually propagated at San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy, in 2004 and later granted plant patent protection. It was selected specifically for Mediterranean-climate and other low-chill growing regions, and produces large, conical, glossy, well-flavoured fruit. In India it is grown commercially in Mahabaleshwar and is an increasingly common option in variety trials in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, generally presented as a large-fruited alternative to the older American releases (Camarosa, Chandler) rather than an ICAR-bred Indian variety.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Spacing30×30 cm on raised beds 1–1.2 m wide, through black plastic mulch
- FertilizerFYM plus basal P and K at bed preparation; nitrogen split at ~3 weeks and at flowering, full potash at flowering (see the crop guide for the full schedule)
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter, pH 5.7–6.5
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
~150–170 days
Expected yield
Good; large fruit size is its main commercial draw
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Major pests
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Notably large, glossy, conical fruit — a genuine commercial draw for fresh-market sale and export-grade sorting.
- Bred specifically for low-chill, Mediterranean-type regions, which suits Indian growing conditions well despite its European origin.
Things to consider
- A newer entrant to Indian growing compared with Camarosa or Chandler, so fewer growing seasons of local experience exist with it.
- Not an ICAR-bred Indian release — planting material must be sourced fresh each year from a certified nursery, not farm-saved.
Suitable regions
An imported Italian cultivar, not an ICAR release, grown in Mahabaleshwar and increasingly in Odisha and Chhattisgarh trials as an alternative to the older American releases.
- Maharashtra
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
Frequently asked questions
Is Nabila an American variety like most others grown in India?
No — Nabila was bred in Italy by Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV) from a cross between 'Ventana' and a CIV breeding selection, first propagated in 2004. It is one of the few commercially grown Indian strawberry varieties with a European rather than American origin, selected specifically for Mediterranean and other low-chill growing regions.
Sourced from: US Patent US20120210476P1 — Strawberry plant named 'NABILA', The Rania and Nabila varieties — Mazzoni Group. editorial policy.