These sweet summer gems are a popular garden crop, especially if you are getting kids involved! Little ones will love learning how to grow strawberries and will surely enjoy helping with the harvest even more. A perennial plant that will keep coming back year after year, strawberries can yield an impressive harvest when properly maintained. Use them in salads, jams, and pies, or eat them straight off the plant before they even make it to your kitchen table.
Some strawberry growers tend to use high levels of pesticide on their crop - because GardenSoxx® helps to deliver water and nutrients directly to the plant roots, crops are often healthier and have less chance to be affected by pests or disease. As a result, there is a reduced need for pesticides or other chemical inputs when growing with GardenSoxx®. Organic strawberries are notably higher in vitamin C and may help to maintain stable blood pressure. They also support heart health and may lower your risk for cancer and other chronic diseases.
Growing strawberries in GardenSoxx® | Plant Family: Rosaceae
Different Varieties of Strawberries
While the list of different varieties of strawberries is seemingly endless, there are a few popular favorites for home gardeners that get a lot of attention. The first important distinction to make is between June-bearing strawberry varieties, everbearing strawberries, and day-neutral strawberries. June-bearing strawberries will produce only one large harvest, typically beginning in June and lasting different lengths of time depending on the cultivar. Everbearing will produce two to three harvests throughout the growing season, but the yields may be lower per harvest than a June-bearing type. Day-neutral strawberry varieties have a smaller size fruit but can produce a harvest well into the fall, provided temperatures remain warm.
One of the most popular June-bearing strawberry varieties is the Allstar - a reliable, disease-resistant cultivar that produces large, uniform fruit with a sweet flavor. This self-pollinating variety is also cold-hardy, making it a great choice for northern growers.
For a heat-tolerant option, the Camarosa strawberry variety is a popular June-bearing plant that produces large, rounded fruit. Allowing the fruit to get slightly “sunburned” will improve their flavor and sweetness.
Easy to grow and adaptable to both very hot and cold growing zones, the Eversweet everbearing strawberry is a popular choice that will yield a harvest throughout most of the growing season and into the fall.
If heirloom strawberry seeds are more appealing to you, the Seascape strawberry is an excellent everbearing cultivar that is widely popular among commercial and home growers. Once it starts fruiting, about 3 months after planting, it will continue well into the fall in warmer regions and produce very sweet, juicy fruit.
For a day-neutral variety that is consistent, reliable, and resistant to disease, the Albion strawberry variety is a real winner. Producing large, symmetrical berries with an excellent flavor, this cultivar is a popular choice for larger growers.
A more compact-sized plant that will product some of the first strawberries of the season is the Ruby June - a day-neutral cultivar that is resistant to most common diseases and adapts well to most climates.
Nutritional Information For Strawberries
Nutritional Facts - per 100/g
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 32 | - |
| Total Fat | 0.3 g | - |
| Sodium | 1 mg | - |
| Potassium | 153 mg | - |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g | - |
| Sugar | 4.9 g | - |
| Protein | 0.7 g | - |
| Vitamin C | - | 65% |
| Iron | - | 2% |
| Calcium | - | 1% |
How to Grow Strawberries in Your GardenSoxx®
While you can plant strawberries from seed, it is unlikely that the plant will yield a harvest in the first year. Buying an established seedling will definitely speed up the process quite a bit. Plants can also be established from runners that grow from other plants. Plants should be between 10-12 inches apart to have space to grow, and should be placed in full sun with well-draining soil. Pinching off blossoms at the beginning of the growing season will increase the strawberry yield once the plant is ready to start fruiting.
Strawberries Seed to Harvest Time: If planted from seed, the plant will not produce fruit until the second year. Once established, depending on the variety, strawberries can be harvested once in June or produce multiple harvests all summer.
How to Harvest Strawberries
When the strawberries turn red and are still firm to the touch, cut them off the stem with a clean pair of scissors. Do not pull them, as this can damage the plant.
