Strawberries are a welcome addition to any home garden. They are relatively easy to grow, require a minimum of space, and virtually no chemicals are needed.
From as few as 25 transplants to start a matted row, a berry yield in excess of 50 pounds can be achieved one year after planting. Strawberries require a site that is open to direct sunlight most of the day. Try to avoid very low-lying areas prone to spring frosts, and you should definitely plan to purchase a white spunbonded row cover to protect open strawberry blossoms from spring frosts/freezes. The same cover may be used for bird control during harvest.
Berries not eaten fresh can be readily frozen or preserved. Besides being an excellent dessert fruit, strawberries are a good source of vitamin C as well as being low in calories (1/2 cup fills an adult's daily need for vitamin C and equals about 25 calories).
Fragaria x ananassa or strawberries are available in the five most popular and easy to grow varieties for your gardening pleasure.
OZARK BEAUTY The absolute hardiest, most vigorous and one of the heaviest producing everbearing plants we’ve tested. You’ll be feasting on big crops of these exceptionally delicious scarlet-red berries from early summer until the first frost. And all winter you’ll savor preserves and frozen desserts. Zones: 4-8
HONEOYE Got a hankerin’ for one of the tastiest strawberries ever? Honeoye, introduced by the Geneva Station in 1979, boasts large, firm, juicy fruits with a wonderfully tart, distinct flavor. Produces runners very freely, so it’s a perfect ground cover. Long season of heavy crops in early June.
Zones: 4-8
SWEET CHARLIE Just like the name says. These berries taste like they have sugar on them fresh from the field. Sweet Charlie plants are vigorous, disease-resistant, and produce large firm fruit. Plants are medium in size making harvest easy. Sweet Charlie is an early season variety. Zones 4-8
NEW! STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL A similar size berry to Sweet Charlie, that is firm, attractive, and flavorful. Comes in early season like Sweet Charlie but picks for 1 to 2 weeks later. Zones: 4-8
All varieties come bareroot, 25 to a pack 9.95 / pack. Purchase 3 Packs, or 75 plants for 23.85 and save 2.00 per pack.
Planting and general care tips for strawberry plants.
