Nothing says summer like fresh home-grown strawberries. Now, for the first time, organic strawberry plants are available shipped directly to your door. Note we said strawberry plants, not a bunch of dug-up, bare-root stragglers that have been sitting in cold storage. Our plants are already growing and are fully rooted in three-inch pots, ready to start producing boxes and boxes of luscious strawberries.

We offer two varieties of strawberries for your eating pleasure.

Our summer-bearing Chandler strawberries are the grower's choice for  superior flavor and high yields with consistently more large berries. These set fruit here until late summer. Chandler is grown throughout the US.

What does an organic strawberry plant mean to you? It means from the very beginning these plants are grown in fertile, nourishing organic soil and that no chemicals are used in the growing, packing or processing of the plant or the fruit. Commercial strawberry production is extremely dependent on the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides. Most strawberry fields are first treated with a chemical to destroy any pathogens that may interfere with that perfect strawberry and then covered with plastic to keep bugs and weeds at bay. The chemicals can be absorbed by the roots of the plant and taken up by the fruit. This chemical treatment is followed by more spraying to rid the plants of bugs or disease. The use of plastic causes a lot of soil erosion which depletes the soil and makes more chemical fertilizer necessary. And, since strawberries are mostly water, a lot of run off occurs during the watering process taking with it the nitrates and other chemicals found in these fertilizers into common water areas. And, since commercial growers usually start fresh each winter, the onslaught of chemicals and the preponderance of plastic waste is expansive. By growing an organic strawberry in an organic environment, you can truly enjoy one of life's little pleasure with full assurance that there are no hidden substances in or on your little ruby gems!

However, strawberries can be a bit ornery to grow. They have some very specific requirements and there are some helpful things to know about growing them. First and foremost is that they don't compete with weeds well. Second is that, in order to grow plump and juicy, they need plenty of water and nutrients plus excellent drainage. Their need for water is compounded by their shallow root system that can dry out easily. The third thing is that while the strawberry loves the water, the moistness is also very attractive to ground bugs like mealy bugs and earwigs. These little bugs like to hollow out  homes for themselves in the berries. Further, the abundance of water can also cause ripening fruit to rot where it touches the ground. Fourth is that the fruit is tastiest when it fully ripens on the plant. Unfortunately, this is also the stage the birds tend to come in and swipe them right out from under you.

It might seem hopeless, but there are some simple solutions. Strawberries seem to grow better in raised beds or in containers. These can be filled with top-quality compost or potting soil which helps to encourage beneficial bacteria and earthworms. Raised beds containing quality topsoil can be filled with strawberries, mulched with compost (which adds to fertility), and covered with clean straw to help conserve moisture and keep the strawberries off the ground. Raised beds need only be a foot tall and two feet wide. Planting two rows of strawberries about 8 inches apart will provide a strawberry bonanza.

Hanging baskets, like our Bloom Master planters (see below), are ideal because the berries can hang in the air, which keeps the ground bugs away.  If watering a hanging basket is a concern, any container can be used and placed atop walls or on blocks in the path of automatic sprinklers which keeps water levels more consistent. Baskets and pots are easier to fertilize than large rows in gardens. They are also easier to protect from the birds. If it comes down to you or the birds, set up one of our motion detector sprinklers aimed at the strawberries. It will deter a lot of different kinds of critters that might be after your goodies.

To encourage nice large plants, runners can be pruned off during the first part of the growing season. These can be potted up and replanted in another spot later on. Also, if the plants have not yet reached a good size, the first flowers can be pinched out to encourage more leaf growth, which will mean more food for the strawberries later and more fruit for you.

For more information on growing strawberries visit ATTRA.

Perhaps one reason strawberries are so popular is that they can be used in so many ways. They lend their sweet succulence to a variety of dishes and beverages. It is no wonder they go with our favorite, herbs.

Strawberry Wine with Herbs
1/2 pound fresh strawberries
20 Lemon Balm or Lemon Verbena leaves
2 tablespoons Rosemary leaves
1 bottle of Rosé Wine

Wash, hull and slice strawberries. Finely chop herbs. Mix strawberries, herbs and wine in a clean glass container. Close container with a tight fitting lid. Shake mixture well.
Refrigerate for 2 days, shaking it occasionally.
Strain the wine into a pitcher through a sieve lined with a cloth towel. Serve cold.

Planting Strawberry Fields?

STRAWBERRY PLANTS
The more you buy the more you save!
1 Strawberry Plant $ 4.50
6 Strawberry Plants $16.95
12 Strawberry Plants $24.00
24 Strawberry Plants $36.00
36 Strawberry Plants $48.00

Cultural Information

Height: 3 to 6 Inches  

Hardiness: Zone 5

Flower Color: White

Characteristics: Full Sun,
Herbaceous

Internet Specials

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