STRAWBERRY Grower's Thread...

[tommyg]

That's great insight. Unfortunately I think I near killed my strawberry plant as it is still in rough shape. Do blueberries withstand colder climates? I am thinking of replacing my strawberry plant.

[stevelau1911]

Blueberry plants are reputed to be cold hardy to zone 3 and I've had them in pots over the winter with no protection at all, and it doesn't seem to bother them. It got down to -9F which was the coldest I've ever seen here on that winter so I don't think zone 6 poses any threat to blueberry plants.

I've heard that they can't thrive in alkaline soil, but I've never had a problem with PH as I mix in lots of peat moss & wood chips before planting, sometimes displacing the native soil.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Sorry to hear about your strawberry plant, Tommy. Keep in mind though, this isn't exactly the right time of year to grow them and unless you have good light it's difficult to have success.


Some people find blueberries hard to grow, but you may have a different experience. I seem to recall you have a little blueberry shrub in a pot already, don't you Tommy?


Did you ever get my seeds? I included the Alpine type for you. I didn't get your seeds and it's been a month. It's Christmas though so who knows if it got lost in the shuffle and it's just late. I can surely send some more if not. There are passiflora seeds in the envelope too.


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[Jananas Bananas]

I have started more strawberry seeds in one of my AeroGardens. This is the first one that has popped! I have a full unit (7 pods) all with strawberry seeds!



~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

My Alpine plant is still growing and bearing fruit. Here's one starting to ripen tonight...





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[The Hollyberry Lady]

This is the same plant I've been growing right straight along. I've been eating berries off it continuously for months now!


Here it was earlier today...





There are green berries on the other side of the plant that will ripen in a few days. I like putting them on my cereal.


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[MediaHound]

I'll have to post some pics someday. I'm now a strawberry grower as of a few weeks ago, planted some starters in my garden.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh I can't wait to see your shots, Jarred!


What kind are you growing? You know they're spreaders, right? Each year your patch will be bigger and bigger...unless you are growing runner-less types, like my Alpine variety in my pictures. Otherwise, strawberry plants spread via underground runners.


When it comes time for the berries to ripen, if you have any problems with birds, you can use a mesh netting to put over top of your patch and this will keep them away. I used rocks to weigh the netting down.


Anyway, good luck with yours, Jarred.


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[Jananas Bananas]

I have baby hands again! Love that look, too cute!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

So cute Janan. You must be so proud.


I think my Alpine in my aero-garden is going to live forever! It's bursting with growth and it hasn't stopped. It's such a compact little garden strawberry plant. I've got some seeds for you too. I mailed some to Tommy but he never got them. I might try again.


So hopefully this new one will do well for you, Janan. I know you want to grow a strawberry plant in the A-G. I'm ordering a few new kinds to try from the same place I got the Alpine ones from. No worries, I'll share.


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[The Hollyberry Lady]

I decided to cut back my strawberry plant and take off some of the older leaves. Just look at how cute and dainty it is tonight...





The center of the plant is bursting with new growth, so it'll be double that size in a few weeks. It's everbearing so it will continue to produce berries all winter long.


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[The Hollyberry Lady]

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[Jananas Bananas]

Really pretty and tasty looking!

I just ordered some "Yellow Wonder" and Duchesnea 'Harlequin' Strawberry seeds the other day. I'll see how that goes!

~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yes I find them very appealing too. They're so incredibly flavorful Janan. You don't get that intense strawberry flavor with the larger berry varieties, so even though Alpine fruits are smaller, they make up for this in taste.


Please describe the new types you're ordering. Are they everbearing?


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[Jananas Bananas]

The Yellow Wonder is an Alpine Sherry.

'Yellow Wonder' Strawberry - Google Search

These (Harlequin) are variegated and similar to an Alpine.

Sweet Duchesnea Harlequin Strawberry Grow from Seeds | eBay

I want to get some Pineberries too. They look like your Alpine when they are white with the red seeds. I haven't ordered these yet, but they are supposed to taste like pineapple.

white Strawberry - Google Search

I think they all look delicious and all have different flavors. I hope I can get them to grow.

~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Those look so interesting Janan! Love to try a seed or two of them.


Ok here are two berries on my plant today...








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[Jananas Bananas]

Those look like perfect specimens, Sherry.

I just love the contrast look when the berry is white and the seeds are so red. It's just so beautiful to me. I think it will be interesting to see if I can grow that one. It is supposed to be a wild alpine that they brought back from near extinction. Too cool, eh?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Why do you think I take so many darn shots of them? Because I find them beautiful too. I just think they're the prettiest things. And oh the flavor. WoW!


I am thinking of starting a 2nd plant, Janan. I've got some in your box that I'm sending so you can start one too. Jordan has some already but not sure if he sowed any.


I'd like to also grow some strawberry plants in pots this season too.


Janan, is that Duchesnea one a variegated variety? Some of the leaves look white.


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[Jananas Bananas]

Yes Sherry it is a variegated leaf variety.

That's why I started an entire 7 pod AG with nothing but strawberry seeds. I mean can you really have too many strawberries? I don't thing so! I have actually had 4 out of the 7 seeds pop, but only two have shown any growth. I just put some new seeds in the other pods this morning. The baby hands is Patio Temptation that you sent me and the other is the pink blossom Tristan. The ones I added this morning are the Florida Star you sent me.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Be sure to save some seeds from all your new kinds...so you can share with me!


I agree...you can never have too many. They're so compact they can be added just about anywhere. They make very attractive additions to already existing flower pots too...and they're shallow rooters so they don't take up much soil space.


Now you've got me strawberry crazy! I'm going to go sow a couple more seeds now...


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