Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow in your garden and you will reap harvest from the plants for years. If weather conditions are favorable, each strawberry plant should produce a yield of one quart of berries.

 How to Choose Strawberry Plants

 The three types of strawberry plants are Day Neutral, Ever Bearing and June Bearing.

 Day Neutral

 Day Neutral strawberries produce fruit during the growing season. They will also produce runners. Day Neutral are easy to grow in a small space. However, the strawberries are usually small as well, though sweet and delicious.

 Ever Bearing

 Ever Bearing strawberries produce at least two and often three crops of berries during the spring, summer and fall. Ever Bearing strawberry plants do not send out many runners and are also a good choice if space is limited.

 June Bearing

 June Bearing strawberries produce only one large crop a year. They bear fruit only for two or three weeks in the month of June, hence the name. These are the traditional strawberry plants that have been grown by our ancestors. They produce fruit and many runners. They are classified in categories of early, seasonal and late varieties. Strawberries of June Bearers are usually large and sweet with lots of juice.

 Where to Plant

 Always plant strawberries in an area where they will get at least eight hours of sunlight a day. They need sandy, loam soil that is well drained with a PH of 5.8 to 6.2. Never plant strawberries where eggplant, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes were grown the previous year. This will cause Verticillium Rot.

 Choosing and Planting

 Always plant strawberries early in the spring as soon as the soil is dry enough to cultivate and the chance of frost is past.

 When purchasing check to be certain that plants are certified disease free.

 Always chose plants that have light colored roots, large crowns and green leaves free of blight or brown patches.

 Add one to two inches of compost or cow or sheep manure to the soil before planting.

 Keep your berry patch free of weeds.

 Dig the hole deep and wide enough that roots can be spread.

 Be sure the crown is level with the soil and that the soil comes only halfway up the crown.

 Distance

 There should be at least four feet between strawberry rows.

 Plants should be set at least sixteen inches apart.

 Care

 Flowers will appear on the plants shortly after being set in the ground. These should be pinched off the first year to allow plants to mature on June Bearers. Pinch off all flowers that appear before July 1st on Day Neutral and Ever Bearing species. This also gives a boost to the production of runners. Though June Bearers will produce no fruit the first year, the removal of flowers will bring a larger harvest the following year and extend the life of your plants for several years.

 Mulch

 Mulch cools the soil temperature and stops weed dead. Add mulch to areas between your plants as soon as they are planted. Mulch also keeps berries off the soil and prevents rotting. Straw is an excellent mulch to use for strawberry plants. Never use plastic to cover strawberry plants. It heats the soil and prevents the development of fruit.

 Frost

 If you live in a northern climate, strawberry plants should be covered with straw before the first frost in the fall. This will prevent the crowns of the plants from being damaged. The straw should be removed early in the spring as soon as there is no chance of frost overnight.

 Water

 If you want your strawberry plants to yield lots of large, juicy berries, they will need two inches of water each week. Extra water should be given from the flowering to the fruit bearing stage.

 Fertilizer

 Strawberry plants should be planted in fertile soil and a balanced fertilizer applied. Most strawberry producers use 10-10-10, which is perfect. Spread one pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet for best results. Fertilize June Bearers after the harvest and Ever Bearers and Day Neutrals after the second harvest. Over fertilizing will result in lush leaf growth but few flowers. If you live in northern regions, never fertilize strawberry plants in the fall. This will result in new leaf growth that will be killed over the harsh winter.

 The Harvest

 Strawberries are best to eat when fully ripe. Once they turn completely red, leave them on the vine for two days. The only way to determine if strawberries are ready to harvest is by tasting them. Once picked, set strawberries in the shade and when you are finished picking take them into the house.

 Nutrition

 Strawberries are high in Vitamin C. Eight strawberries contain more Vitamin C than a medium sized orange and they are also high in folic acid, which is very important in fetal development. Women who are pregnant should eat strawberries, fresh or frozen, at least once a week.

 Picking Strawberries

 If you wish to dip strawberries in chocolate, pick them leaving the stems on the fruit.

 Wear sunscreen of at least 15 and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from the sun.

 Prolonging Shelf Life

 As soon as you take the strawberries into the house, wash them and put them into the refrigerator, or preserve them. If you plan on freezing them, hull them, put them in air tight containers and put them into the freezer immediately. This will give them a fresh, delicious taste on a cold winter day. Leave berries whole for best results when freezing.

 Strawberry Shortcake

 Bake your favorite white or yellow cake either from a cake mix or from scratch, as you usually would. Cool thoroughly.

 Clean and hull berries; at least one quart. Divide in half.

 Mash one half of the berries and sugar to taste.

 Sugar whole berries to taste.

 Cut cooled cake in half and add ½ of the mashed berries to the top of that half. Lay the second half of the cake on top.

 Pour remainder of mashed berries to the top of the cake. Add whole berries to the top and all around the sides of the cake.

 Place slices of the strawberry shortcake in individual serving dishes and add whip cream.

 Serve.

 Fresh Strawberry Punch

 Supplies

 1 – 64 ounce can of pineapple juice.

 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate

 1 can frozen strawberry concentrate

 2 cups sugar

 2 quarts spring water

 1 quart of your choice 7 – UP, Sprite or Ginger ale

 1/3 cup Real Lemon or fresh lemon juice

 3 ripe bananas

 1 quart fresh strawberries

 Method

 Combine pineapple juice, frozen orange and strawberry concentrate, sugar, spring water, soda pop and lemon juice. Mix well.

 Put bananas and strawberries into a blender and puree.

 Add to liquid, mix, add ice and serve.

 Fast Facts about Strawberries

 Wepion, Belgium is known as the strawberry capital of the world.

 In Wepion, strawberries are topped with lemon juice and white pepper and served fresh.

 Plant City, Florida is the winter strawberry capital of the world.

 Strawberries are the only fruit that has seeds on the outside.

 There is a strawberry research center in Dover, Florida.

 Strawberries are always served at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. It’s a long standing tradition.

 There is a species of bird called the Strawberry Finch.

 Arizona and California both have cities named Strawberry.

 Strawberry Crater Wilderness is located in Arizona.

 Strawberry Mountain can be found in Oregon.

 There are 200 seeds on a strawberry.

 The strawberry was a symbol for the Goddess of Love.