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Growing strawberries

Strawberry Varieties

Spring Bearing Strawberries

Spring bearing varieties will produce their greatest yield early in the season. Their season is short relative to the other varieties listed below, but they are heavy bearers. In the first year, discourage fruit production by removing flowers; this will increase plant production for a robust second year crop.

Ever Bearing Strawberries

Ever bearing varieties will yield a small crop at the beginning of the season, with a sprinkling of berries throughout the summer months, and then a heavy crop in the fall.

Day Neutral Strawberries

Day-neutral varieties will consistently set fruit throughout the season. They are a good choice if you are not concerned with large yields.

Strawberries do best when they receive six to eight hours of sunlight a day. They require a well-drained sandy soil that is high in nutrients. Strawberries are very sensitive to standing water and irregular watering, and like a rich mixture of compost and manure. Be careful to plant them in an area where there is no competition from tree roots, grass, or other heavy feeders.

Strawberry plants should be spaced 18 inches apart. If making a large planting, space rows four feet apart to accommodate developing runners. Allowing your strawberries plenty of room will cut down on loss due to disease.

Drinking with strawberries

Without a doubt my favourite thing to drink with strawberries is a sweeter champagne or sparkling wine.  Avoid any champagne or sparkling wine that is very dry – a dry sparkly will seem very acidic when paired with strawberries. 

Try a demi-sec champagne or a sweeter Prosecco or Moscato d’asti.  Puree some fresh strawberries and pour 1 teaspoon of puree into a champagne flute; top with the sparkly and you’ve got summer in a glass!

 

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