| Strawberries
are broken down into three groups: June bearing
Strawberries better called day-length sensitive. These Strawberries flower and fruit only once a season.
Day
neutral Strawberries produce flowers and fruit during the entire
growing season. These plants are sometimes called ever bearing Strawberries.
Alpine Strawberries occasionally produce small
fruits throughout the growing season. They are more of
an ornamental plant than a fruit producing Strawberry.
The Bed: Add a fresh layer
of rich compost to the top soil, then till or spade the bed to
loosen the soil and work in the compost. Rake level.
How to Grow: Purchase
dormant Strawberry crowns at your local Garden Center 5 to 8 weeks before
last frost. Immediately after purchase plant the crowns in
fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Space the crowns 6"
to 8" apart in rows spaced 8" to 12" apart being
careful to not plant the crowns to deeply. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
During the first growing season pinch off flowers
and runners to help establish the bed. Once night temperatures are
consistently below freezing mulch plants with a heavy layer of
straw. Remove the straw as soon as possible the following spring.
Harvesting: During the
second growing season harvest Strawberries as soon as
ripe.
Available Hybrids - Cultivars: Day
neutral - 'Fort Laramie', 'Tristar', and 'Tribute' to name a few.
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