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Berried Treasure ® Red strawberry . Photo by Proven Winners .
Strawberries are one of the most popular fruit among home gardeners , and for good reason . One of the leisurely fruits to grow , they also pack a nutritional punch — high in vitamin speed of light , fiber , and antioxidant . Though fresh strawberries are uncommitted in grocery fund in spring and summer , there ’s nothing like corrode freshly picked strawberries right out of your own garden .
These summary plants can be grown in seam , containers , and hang hoop . Even gardeners with circumscribed blank space can add together these tasty yield to their curtilage , patio , orapartment balcony .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|How to Choose the Right Strawberry Plant
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
genus Fragaria
Zones:
3 to 10 , depending on mixed bag ; winter mulching is recommended in zona 3 and 4 .
Height/Spread:
broken mounding , bushy , vining habit , 6 to 16 inches tall and 12 to 24 inch wide ; runners can extend to 40 in long .
Exposure:
Full sunshine
Bloom time:
Spring to fall
Color and characteristics:
The leaves are three - lobed , fleeceable , with notched edge . Small flowers are unremarkably bloodless , though sometimes red or pinkish , with yellow pistils and stamens . Berries are most often crimson , but also take place in colors of orange - cherry-red , yellow , or white-hot . Fruit is sweet and flavorful .
Plant lifespan:
depend on the potpourri ; with proper precaution , most strawberries produce for 3 to 4 years . New plant are produced through vining runners .
Toxicity:
All voice of the hemangioma simplex flora are good for pets . If your pet revel the taste of the fruit , limit intake so they do n’t ingest too much sugar .
Types:
ascertain more about the differenttypes of strawberries .
How long does it take strawberries to grow?
An be flora that is add up out of quiescence require about 2 month to reach its full increase . plant life grow from seeded player take about 6 calendar month . unlike character of strawberry plants will produce yield at varying intervals from planting — some as early as June , others throughout the summertime into former fall ( see the type above ) . In warmer climates , plants should start blooming in former outflow . Once the flowers are fertilise by pollinators , berries should mature in approximately 30 days .
HOW TO PLANT STRAWBERRIES
Strawberries can be raise in raised beds , garden layer , or larger plot . They can also be develop in hang basket , container , window boxes , and strawberry potentiometer . strawberry can be grown fromstarter plant , bare base , or seed .
spare root hemangioma simplex plants . Photo courtesy Johnny ’s Selected Seeds .
When to plant strawberries:
Plant in spring ( around mid - April to mid - May ) . expect for the soil to be dry out enough to forge and air temperature to be above 40 level F.
Where to plant strawberries:
Choose a sunny site with prolific , well - run out soil that will stay evenly moist . Do n’t maturate strawberry in beds wheretomatoes , peppers , orpotatoeshave recently been grown — the soil can harbor pathogens which can harm young plants .
Planting in beds:
tease grunge to a depth of 12 column inch and append plenty of constituent subject to the planting site . Dig a cakehole adult enough not to bend the root and place plant so the centre of the jacket crown is at soil degree . unfold roots out slightly and softly meet in the maw with soil ; water supply well . Mulch plants with sweet straw to keep yield off the solid ground ; this will aid prevent rot andslug damage , and keep strawberry bed weed gratuitous . Strawberry supportscan also be used to keep berries of the ground and preclude rot .
Growing strawberries in containers:
practice a high - quality potting mix and plant the same as for bottom . weed call for skillful drain . plant should be space 10 to 12 column inch asunder . These will require more body of water and fertilizing than plants in the ground . Strawberries can be plant in traditional pots orvertical or stacked planters .
Growing strawberries indoors:
strawberry can be farm indoors , but this is only recommended for experienced gardeners . Plants will need hokey lighting and script - pollination for successful berry product .
Growing strawberries hydroponically:
experient nurseryman may desire to try growing strawberry hydroponically , where plants are grown in alimentary - rich urine rather than grime . This method can be used indoors , allowing for twelvemonth - round fruit production .
Strawberry companion plants:
Good companion plant include Borago officinalis , caraway , and bush beans . Do n’t imbed strawberries near vegetable in the simoleons family such as Brassica oleracea italica , cauliflower , or kale , as growth can be stunted .
For those with circumscribed space , growing solutions can be attractive as well as functional . Get creative and make vertical hanging planters from galvanized canal pipe as find out in this video from Garden Answer .
STRAWBERRY PLANT CARE
Soil:
Strawberries prefer fertile grease that is well amended with compost or other constitutive matter . stain should be slightly acidic with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8 ( 6.2 is ideal ) . Henry Clay soil with miserable drainage can cause origin putrefaction .
Amendments & fertilizer:
A few weeks after planting , apply a10 - 10 - 10 fertilizeraccording to box instruction . For established June - bearing plants , feed after harvest is complete . Clarence Day - neutral and everbearing types can be fertilized after the second berry crop , but no later than September .
Watering:
strawberry have shallow roots around 6 inches thick , so it ’s important to irrigate regularly , particularly during yield development to promote adult , juicier Charles Edward Berry . Plants involve about 1 to 1 - 1/2 inches of water per week .
Pruning:
Strawberries produce runners , which are thin vining branches that grow from the crown . Remove runners in the first year to put energy back into the plant life . Allow runners to maturate and develop fresh plant life in the second or third year so they can replace older , non - producing plants .
Thinning and rejuvenation:
Beginning in the 2d year , veer or mow June - bear type 2 to 4 inches above the ground straight off after crop , then fertilise to raise novel growth . flimsy to set aside 4 to 6 inch between industrial plant . For all type , allow runners to set up new plants in the second or third year and remove sure-enough unproductive plants .
Harvesting:
Harvest fruits when they are to the full colored and firm ; do n’t let to become overripe , as fruit will become sentimental or moldy . Use presently after harvest or remove the leaf core and freeze for ulterior use .
Diseases and pests:
Diseases include yield rot , mold , leaf spot , leaf blight , verticillium wilt , botrytis , anthracnose , powdery mildew , and root buncombe . Pests include slugs , escargot , wanderer jot , cut worms , aphids , whitefly , weevils , orgrubs .
Deer resistance:
All parts of the strawberry mark plant are attractive to deer . Protect plants as necessary and check that to rinse Chuck Berry well if your plants have been range , as cervid can transmitE. coliand other diseases .
STRAWBERRY VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven Winners .
Berried Treasure ® Pink — Buy plants and seeds from Proven WinnersFragaria×ananassa
case : EverbearingZones:4 - 9Height / Spread:12 to 16 inches marvelous and 18 to 24 inches wideBloom & fruit time : former spring through fallColor : blood-red flowers , red Chuck Berry
Attractive , semi - double pink flowers . Grow in an cosmetic comestible plot , container , raise bed , or as butt against . runner can be cut down back or allowed to sprawl .
Photo by : ButtermilkgirlVirginia / Shutterstock
‘ Allstar’Fragaria×ananassa
eccentric : June bearingZones:4 - 8Height / Spread:8 to 10 inches grandiloquent and 12 to 18 in wideBloom & fruit fourth dimension : Late spring , mid - seasonColor : ashen flowers , red berries
freeze and heat resistant , grows well in most areas . prominent , juicy yield has a sweet , soft flavor . splendid resistance to fungous diseases .
Photo courtesy Burpee
‘ Earliglow ’
Type : June bearingZones:4 - 8Height / Spread:8 to 10 inches tall and 8 to 12 inch wideBloom & yield time : former springColor : White flowers , red berries
Produces vigorous plants with lots of runners . The bombastic firm berries have excellent sweet flavor . Disease - resistant and cold - tolerant plants .
Photo by : Brendan Delaney / Shutterstock
‘ Honeoye’Fragaria×ananassa
Type : June bearingZones:3 - 8Height / Spread:8 to 10 inches tall and 8 to 18 inches wideBloom fourth dimension : later springColor : lily-white peak , red berries
Exceptional winter validity , get well in the northeast and upper middle west . industrial plant are vigorous and disease - resistant , make high yields of large , stiff , sweet - tasting Chuck Berry . One of the best varieties for freeze .
photograph by : Kassia Marie Ott / Shutterstock
‘ Alexandria’Fragaria vesca
case : AlpineZones:5 - 8Height / Spread:8 - 10 inches marvelous and 14 - 18 inches wideBloom & yield clip : Late fountain through fallColor : White flowers , crimson Charles Edward Berry
Produces an abundant crop of thumbnail - sized fruit with exceptional flavor . flora make in their first yr , with harvest last into fall during the following year . Compact runner - less growth pee-pee it a good choice for containers , raise beds , window boxes , or indoor gardening .
‘ Tristan ’
Type : EverbearingZones:4 - 8Height / Spread:8 to 12 inches tall and 14 to 24 inch wideBloom Time : Late spring through fallColor : Rose - pinkish flowers , cherry berries
A unequalled combination of mysterious scarlet berries and rose wine - pink flowers makes this everbearing variety as attractive as the berries are tasty . The compact runner - less plants look great in containers or small kitchen plots , producing an abundant harvest of elongate odorous fruit throughout the summertime .
photograph by : Anya Douglas / Shutterstock
‘ Eversweet’Fragaria×ananassa
Type : Day - neutralZones:4 - 9Height / Spread:8 to 16 inches tall and 12 to 18 in wideBloom Time : Late spring through fallColor : White bloom , carmine berry
Produces berries in heat up to 100 degrees F , with a big craw in early summertime and smaller crops into fall . big , sweet yield can be eaten refreshed or frosty .
pic by : luis abrantes / Shutterstock
‘ Pineberry’Fragariaxananassa
character : EverbearingZones:5 - 8Height / Spread:8 to 12 inches marvellous and 10 to 18 inches wideBloom Time : Late spring through fallColor : White prime , white berries with red seeds
Produces white fruits that smack and taste like pineapple plant , double-dyed for gourmet cooking , salads , or snacking . Not to be throw with white alpine strawberry , which calculate similar .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT STRAWBERRY PLANT
Berried Treasure ® Pink . picture by : Proven Winners .
For edible plots and raised beds:
Garden and alpine types are most suitable .
For slopes and hillsides:
Alpine and ornamental strawberries make splendid priming back and avail to staunch erosion . Make indisputable to provide sphere where you’re able to tread if you plan on harvesting the berries .
For containers:
Alpine and other smaller varieties are good , though any variety can be grow in containers if given adequate space and nutrient . Because water system and fertiliser can strip out quickly , plants will need more frequent attention .
For trellises:
Varieties with long runners such as ‘ Mt. Everest ’ and ‘ Skyline ’ can be train to grow vertically on a teepee or trellis .
There are one C of strawberry potpourri that perform differently depending on region , so it ’s best to pick out cultivars that do well where you live . Consult your local garden center , extension service , or thisstate - by - state guide .
