Fresh, ripe strawberries are irresistible, but the varieties sold in most stores are far from the best, being firm (and consequently tart) berries to stand a long haul to market and several days on the display shelf.
If you want the sweetest flavor, you should grow your own. Which ones you choose depends on whether you like to eat fresh or freeze your berries and where you live.
Strawberries Great To Grow
Dark Red Fairfax
Dark red Fairfax is generally considered the most delicious among fresh berries but is not particularly good for freezing. In addition, some people consider its dark red color a drawback since dark berries are generally considered overripe.
Red Glow
A serious contender for the title of “best-flavored strawberry” is Red Glow, still very new but beginning to come into its east of the Rockies. It is excellent fresh or frozen.
Others unusually good for fresh eating are:
- Versatile Midland
- Sparkle
- Fairpeake
- Temple
- Red Rich
- Midland and Sparkle are also great for freezing.
A bit more difficult to grow:
- Fairpeake
- Temples are slipping somewhat from the list of the most popular.
For an ever-bearer, Red Rich’s outstanding flavor continues to keep it up among the leaders.
Strawberry Varieties
Also very good and flavorwise are:
- Armor
- Catskill
- Empire
- Fairland
- Pocahontas
- Redstar
- Stelemaster
- Tennessee Beauty
- Vermilion
- Robinson is fairly good in some areas and cannot be topped in size, but compared with really good strawberries, it just doesn’t come up to par.
Marshall Varieties
If you are a big-berry lover, try Catskill, Pocahontas, Empire, and Ardmore in the east, Shasta and Lassen in California, the Marshall varieties in Oregon and Washington, the new Florida 90 in Florida, and Jerseybelle. This huge variety is causing a stir in New Jersey and nearby states.
Prolong Growing Season
Enthusiasts, who on cold winter nights dream of strawberries, are forever trying to prolong the growing season. Everbearers, the obvious answer, is unfortunately rather disappointing.
They are generally difficult to grow, while low yield and poor flavor make them not worthwhile. One of the exceptions is the previously mentioned Red Rich, whose fine flavor has made it popular with even the experts.
The next best way to have strawberries all year is to freeze them. But remember that even the best-frozen berry is not nearly as good as a fresh one—or you’re in for a disappointment.
Best Strawberries For Freezing
Midland is generally rated best for freezing, with Red-glow a close second. Also good are the following:
- Sparkle
- Dixieland
- Catskill
- Pocahontas
- Tennessee Beauty
- Surecrop
- Empire
- Earlidawn
The third possibility, of course, is to make preserves. For this try:
- Blakemore
- Dixieland
- Pocahontas
They produce delicious, bright jams and jellies —a very tasty way to wait for spring.
Varieties For Northernmost States
With few exceptions, the varieties I have listed can be grown successfully in most regions east of the Rockies. However, in the northernmost states, you would be wise to choose varieties known to withstand long, cold winters, like Catskill, Empire, and Sparkle.
In Louisiana and the Gulf area, Clonmore, Missionary, Klondyke, and the new Headliner are best. However, missionary and Florida 90 are the only strawberries that give dependable results in Florida.
If you live in the coastal plain area of North Carolina, the wonderful Albritton variety can’t be beaten, but it does not give high yields in most other sections.
Important Factor For Strawberry Production
There is one important factor that can prevent the successful production of strawberries anywhere, though it is most prevalent in the heavy, cool, moist soils of the Northeast. This is the red stele disease caused by a fungus.
If your land has become infested, there are wide excellent, resistant varieties to choose from, including:
- Surecrop
- Stelemaster
- Sparkle
- Red-glow
- Fairland
- Vermilion
- Temple
June-Bearing Variety
For a fantastically fast crop (about two months), plant a June-bearing variety, as early in the spring as possible.
Select a planting site that receives full sunlight and has well-drained soil containing abundant organic matter. Well-rotted manure is best, but compost, sawdust, etc., can be used.
Setting The Plant
About two weeks before the plants are to be set,
- Use 1 pound of complete (10-6-4) fertilizer for every 50 square feet. Work it in thoroughly.
- Set plants in beds of two rows each, with 12 inches between rows and between plants. Be sure soil is firmly packed around each plant, then water with soluble fertilizer.
- Spread 24-inch-wide black plastic over the area, covering just one bed.
- Cut a 6-inch slit for each plant, pegging down edges to prevent blowing.
Blossoms and runners will appear soon. Runners, which do not belong in the hill system, should be removed. However, do not remove the blossoms. A month later, you will be picking strawberries.
44659 by Dr. Walter F. Jeffers