What Are Strawberries?
The strawberry was native to North America and many continents long before it became a cultivated garden staple. First Peoples were gathering and using strawberries in cooking well before the arrival of colonists. Ancient Romans also wrote about their wide range of medicinal uses. By the 1300s, the French began introducing wild strawberry plantings into their gardens. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, strawberry hybrids became more widely planted across Europe and North America.
Nothing says “welcome to summer” like the freshly picked sweet decadence of a sun-warmed strawberry! If you haven’t tried one fresh off the plant, you're missing out. There are abundant varieties available—from wild strawberries to prolific June-bearers to the ever-producing day-neutral types. Strawberries can be eaten fresh, made into jams and pies, or used in wine, smoothies, and syrups.
Here at Art's Nursery, we love our strawberries! We’re thrilled to bring in many different kinds throughout the season. Stop by while strawberries are in stock and check out our selection in the seasonal house. If you're making a special trip, give us a call first to confirm availability.
Planting
Strawberry plants thrive when they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight and are planted in silty or sandy loam with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. They absolutely need good drainage and even soil temperatures to produce fruit. Mulch with straw, pine needles, or hem-fir mulch, and use a quality organic berry fertilizer in spring. Strawberries can be grown from seed or starter plants in spring. They are hardy and vigorous perennials that often produce runners, which can be removed to increase fruit production. You can replant the runners or share them with friends!
Pollination
Many different pollinators love the simple, open flowers of strawberries. The flowers contain both male and female parts, and while wind and gravity help, bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, and even field mice assist with most of the pollen transfer. If you're growing strawberries in an area with low pollinator traffic—like a top-floor balcony—you can hand-pollinate with a cotton swab or small paintbrush.
How to Grow Strawberries in Containers
Strawberries grow well in larger containers and even some smaller ones, as long as drainage and even temperatures are maintained. Smaller containers can be grouped together or insulated with rocks at the base to reduce temperature swings from hot days and cool nights.
Types of Strawberries — Three Categories
Strawberries are grouped into three main types based on how they flower and fruit according to light exposure:
- Short Day (June-Bearers): These varieties set flowers when days are shorter than 10 hours. They produce the largest harvests, usually ripening in June.
- Long Day: These bloom when daylight exceeds 10–12 hours. One example is Fragaria vesca, a woodland type with small, flavourful berries and great groundcover appeal.
- Day Neutral: These varieties set flowers when temperatures are between 8°C and 30°C, regardless of day length. They produce in 6-week cycles throughout the late spring and summer.