Strawberries

Strawberries were mentioned in some Roman writings in the 200 BC time period. The French led the way in strawberry production after a French explorer brought the strawberry back to France from Quebec. The first breeding crosses made to improve the strawberry began in the 1800’s. Strawberries are native to both the northern and southern hemispheres. They are grown in every state in the US. Strawberries are visually stunning and they are produced in a variety of sizes, colors, flavors and shapes. The typical strawberries grown today belong to the genus Fragaria.

The strawberry is very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. They are a good source of folate, potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and manganese. Because strawberries are universally loved for their taste, they are one of the major ingredients in a number of foods including ice cream, pies, yogurts, breakfast cereals, and of course, eaten fresh.

There are many types of strawberries. The most common are June bearing or spring bearing plants. Another is the everbearing which produces fruits in the spring, summer, and fall. Finally, there is the day neutral strawberry that will produce throughout the growing season. The most important consideration for planting strawberries is choosing the site. The site must have excellent drainage and be in full sun. The soils should be tilled to a depth of 12 inches and good amounts of compost or well cured manure should be incorporated in the soil. The soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for best results.