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How to grow Sumptuous Strawberries

3/19/2018

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PictureQuinalt
How to grow Sumptuous Strawberries, one of the easiest and most popular fruit grown in US gardens.
1. Choose Your Varieties- There are 2 main types, See below.*
2. Location- full sun to Part-Sun in well-draining, slightly acid soil rich in organic matter.
3. Space- plants 2’ apart in rows or mounds 3-4’ apart. Allow runners to spread and fill in gaps. They can also be planted in ornamental beds as a ground cover. Some do well in containers or hanging baskets.
4. Planting & Fertilizing- Bare root- soak for up to an hour or so in water to hydrate roots. Trim roots with clean tools to 4-5” long. Dig your hole, add organic starter fertilizer. Plant strawberries so the crown is above soil surface and completely cover the roots with planting compost or other organic soil amendment. If planting a plant potted with soil, make sure you do not plant too deep or too shallow- keep at level it is in the pot. Water well and keep moist until well established. Replant new additions every 3 years or so when plant vigor starts to decline. Add Organic Fertilizer Spring and Fall, top dress with mulch to conserve moisture, choke weeds and enrich soil matter.    
5. Pruning- first year plants- do not allow to fruit the first June to establish good roots. Most of our strawberries are old enough to fruit this year. Use G&B Fertilizer- Tomato, Herb & Veggie and Planting Compost or Acid Planting Mix to get plants well established.
*Two Types of Strawberries-
June or Summer Bearing- fruit heavy one crop in June.
Everbearing- are really two crop varieties- June & in Fall. Some considered Day Neutral, meaning that they continuously fruit throughout the season.  
Strawberries we carry:
Rainier- June Bearing- WA State release. Medium to large conical-shaped, quality, soft fruit.  Disease resistant & virus tolerant, tough plant. Vigorous grower with showy floppy leaves. Use flavorful berry for fresh eating, freezing, jams, jellies and sauces.
Tristar- Everbearing- Developed at Univ. of Maryland, released in 1982. Produces sweet, aromatic early spring crops of small to medium sized conical fruit. Berries have firm, glossy, deep red skin with solid flesh. Fall crop is heavier bearing elongated larger fruit.  Use for fresh eating, freezing, sauces or jams. Medium sized plants use for bed, borders, mounds, pots or hanging baskets. Produces fruit on unrooted runners. Disease resistant. 
Quinault Everbearing- Very popular, one of the largest strawberries- WA State release. Large, firm, deep-red berry with good flavor. Use for fresh eating, deserts and jams- not recommended for freezing. High yielding vigorous plants produce runners. Many be susceptible to mildew, avoid by allowing good aeration, in moist, yet well-draining soil. 

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Rainier
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    Kerri Bailey

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