If you are a berry lover, you can't possibly have a garden without dedicating a space to growing delicious homegrown strawberries. Some people even go so far as saying they are the best of all the berries. What is unique about the strawberry (actually a member of the rose family) is that it is the only fruit with seeds on the outside rather than the inside.

The delicate and great-tasting heart-shaped berry has always been associated with love, passion, purity, and healing. Legend has it that if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will fall in love with each other.

And speaking of legends and folklore, locals in some parts of Bavaria still practice the annual rite--each spring--of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to the elves. They believe that the elves, who are known to be passionately fond of strawberries (what good taste they have), will help to produce healthy calves and an abundance of milk in return.

Strawberries are also prized for their medicinal purposes and health attributes. Ounce for ounce, strawberries have more Vitamin C than citrus fruit; they have been associated with lowering cholesterol, easing symptoms of gout and digestion problems, and lowering the risk of certain types of cancer.

Strawberries are generally divided into three groups: spring-bearing, ever-bearing, and day-neutral. The fruits of day-neutral plants and ever-bearers are usually smaller than the fruits of the spring-bearers. Spring-bearing strawberries generally produce a crop during a 2-4 week period in the spring. Ever-bearing strawberries produce three periods of flowers and fruit during the spring, summer, and fall--while day-neutral strawberries will produce fruit throughout the growing season.

Strawberries prefer the sun but do tolerate some shade. Their major requirement is good drainage, so they'll benefit from being planted in mounded soil, terraced beds, barrels or other types of containers. They can also be used as an edging plant or a groundcover.

We base the selection of strawberry varieties on their dessert quality, preserving quality, disease resistance and bearing season. We invite you to discover the flavor of sensational homegrown strawberries! Click here to view different varieties.

Strawberry Planting and Care Instructions
Be sure to plant strawberry starts with their crown just above the soil level. Use a good soil amendment like Gardner & Bloome Soil Building Compost to help them get going well. We recommend spacing plants 12" apart. Remove all flowers the first two months to help with rooting and then remove runners so that the plant can put its energy into producing fruit.

Placing plastic sheeting underneath the foliage will help keep the soil warm and weed-free. It also deters slugs, snails and other crawling insects from feeding on foliage and berries. Water your plants using drip irrigation or by flooding trenches between the mounds or terraces. Keep them happy by feeding them with fish emulsion or Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer, which will promote more bud growth and fruit.