Feb 13

Why are wild strawberry plants beneficial?

No one has missed to admire the pink blooms, juicy texture and sweet aromatic fruit of the summers. You must be thinking which is this fruit that is been talked about. It is none other than the strawberry fruits, which is widely appreciated for its bright red color, sweetness, aroma and juicy quality. It is always consumed in large quantities, either as fresh fruits or in form of prepared foods like juice, milkshakes, ice creams, preserves and pies. Have you ever come across the wild strawberry plants? If not, do check out the forest’s sweetest little gift as early as possible. This would be one of the greatest pass over if you haven’t seen it yet.

If you haven’t ever sat amongst a patch of wild strawberry plants and savor one of its tiny fruits, you have actually missed the sweetest thing on earth. This fruit is in fact one of the most nutritious and sweetest foods available in the lap of nature.  They are also known as Fragaria species and come in varieties. Study says that the wild strawberries are almost ten times smaller in comparison to the cultivated garden varieties. But, whatever be the comparison, nothing can surpass the unmatched sweetness and flavor of the wild fruits. They are high in potassium, calcium and iron and rich in vitamin C and A. Both its roots and leaves have important medicinal value. Just like raspberry leaf is being used in tea throughout the phases of a woman’s pregnancy, similarly strawberry leaves are utilized too. Drinking this tea is said to act as a stimulant for nursing mothers and also works brilliantly for those troubled with morning sickness. Their leaves and roots are so effective that they can guard you from deadly diseases like diarrhea, urinary tract issues and dysentery.

Were you aware of the fact that strawberry leaves of the wild plants are considered as isotonic?  As per the book “Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West”, such leaves can be used as cleanser for enema, a douche and eyes. They are also used as an antiseptic wash for any minor wounds, sore throat and skin conditions. There are in fact several benefits in the list that the wild strawberry plants have in its store.

When the talk is about the wild berries then you must be certainly looking for the toothed three-leaflet strawberry plants. You will find them in beach edges and acrid forests. In fact it is the biggest challenge to anyone who would find the little red berries that hide right below the large leaves. Searching for the fruits is always adventurous and interesting. Those of you who really care about these plants should always carry water to give on the tiny tasty berries in order to boost them up.

Did you know that wild strawberries are also better known as Alpine, European and Woodland strawberries? They in fact grow naturally all through the northern hemisphere. Study says that since 17th century, wild strawberry plants have fallen out of common use and the garden strawberry started cultivating since then.

Feb 13

Benefits of using strawberry baskets

As we all know that home grown strawberries are considered to be one of the popular summer delights, people do not leave the opportunity to grow them in their gardens. It would be best, if you arrange for strawberry baskets so that the fruit grows in a better way. Make sure these fruits are grown in a warm and sunny site. You can either choose small plants or seeds to make them grow into flowers and then see it getting transformed into bright red bulbs.

If you are planning to grow the strawberries right on the ground, do keep the fruits arid and off the ground in order to prevent mildew and mould forming. The strawberry or straw mats are usually used to attain this. It is sometimes very disturbing and pain staking for the gardener to maintain the plant. As the fruits have the propensity to attract the useless attentions of snails and slugs, the growers find it quite difficult to help the plant grow smoothly. In order to avoid such circumstances, many gardeners prefer growing the fruits either in the strawberry baskets or in pots.

If you prefer decorating your house with beautiful strawberry fruits then find out a good position in your lawn or may be in balcony. You have the freedom to place three to four plants in each of the strawberry baskets.  There, each 2 year old plants would be generating up to 1 ½ pounds of fruits. The most advantageous part of planting the fruits in a basket is almost 50% less wastage would happen due to the fresh breeze. This would keep the strawberries dry and would prevent the snails and slugs from harming. Make sure you use good fertilizer in the basket that would have a coating of small stones at the top to help preserve moisture. This would keep both the fruit and leaves of the plant completely moisture free.

Whether you place the plant in the strawberry baskets or may be on the ground, birds will always remain attracted towards it. In order to save the budding fruits from birds, make sure you use netting as soon as the fruits start to appear. Make sure the net isn’t draped over the undergrowth directly because the birds would still be able to get straight to the plants. What you can arrange for is a basic cage, which would be constructed just to guard the fruits and leaves. These plants always require good feed especially the tomato feed that seems to be the perfect one. Unlike the plants in the lawn, the ones in the baskets need regular nourishment as there is a limited amount of food in that small quantity of soil present in the basket. If you feed for every couple of weeks at the time of summer months, it would be quite fruitful and nourishing. Make sure you keep watering the plants in the strawberry baskets frequently as the hanging baskets dry out speedily during summers. Whatever you do, never spray with hosepipes as the fruits would get wet.

Feb 13

Planting And Growing Organic Strawberry Plants At Home

Your summer will not be complete if you have not taken a bite into a juicy strawberry that is freshly plucked out from your own backyard. Strawberry is one of those plants that can be grown very easily. Whether you have a big garden or a sunny porch at your home you can consider of planting and growing organic strawberry plants anywhere you want. One of the main reasons of growing your own strawberry plants is to avoid eating fruits that has high levels of pesticide even after you wash them. Strawberries require 3 things to grow well that is rich soil, good amount of sunlight and good drainage.

When you are growing organic strawberry plants you must ensure that it gets a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight every day. Make sure that the soil in the pot is high in organic matter. If you want your plant to grow properly you should clean the area of all grass and weed. Besides the requirement of rich soil the plant also needs slightly acidic soil that comes with a pH balance which should be in between 5.5 – 6.5. You should test the pH level in the soil and then if required you can raise the acidity level.

For growing organic strawberry plants you should make sure the site has proper drainage. The plant will die if it is water completely. They require constant moisture. If you feel that the site has inferior drainage then you can consider of making a raised bed. Now, when you have decided of planting you need to purchase. While making your purchase you will see that they are divided into three types: day-neutral, June-bearing, and ever-bearing. Each type of plant has its own weaknesses and strengths and will blossom and bear fruits at different times of the year.

Planting organic strawberry plants is fairly simple. Dig holes in your prepared bed and plant the crown of the plant a little above the level of the soil. Water your plant after backfilling. Once you have planted put in the soil bed shredded leaves, pine needles or compost. Pine needles are very helpful since they aid in boosting the acidity level of the soil when they break down. Check the plant when the first flower buds start to appear. If the plant is day-neutral variety or the ever-bearing one then you should remove the first buds so that you can let the plant establish itself prior to its commencement of the fruit bearing period.

However, when you are planting organic strawberry plants make sure that you do not plant them close to an area where eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes are growing. These plants can have verticillium wilt that can infect your strawberries. Cover your plant with netting so that you can keep the birds away from your berries. Install copper edging if you want to keep snails and slugs away from your plant. All these above mentioned points will ensure that you are able to plant and grow organic and healthy strawberry plants at your home very easily.

Feb 13

Know How to Plant Strawberries in Your Backyard

Strawberries are widely preferred by many all throughout the world. Ranging widely from little kids to the septuagenarians, this fruits have a wide range of appeal to one and all. If you too belong to this league of individuals who share the same sort of preferences, nothing can be better other than planting strawberry plants in your own backyard. If you share some kind of aficionado for gardening then you will definitely going to love this activity. And add to it the richness of taste of strawberries. You will definitely love this. However, in case if you do not know how to plant strawberries of your own, take this as your guide. Herein we will try to learn all that is related with planting this berry fruit tree. Therefore, you need to go through this if you really want to master the art of planting strawberry trees in your backyard.

While planting a strawberry plant always make the timing right. It is widely advised that you should plant a strawberry plant in the spring time only. The earlier it is planted in the spring time, the better it is. It is during this time of the year that you can be able to work the ground as per the requisite conditions. However, if you are living in the southern parts like in Florida or along the Gulf Coast, you may also try planting strawberries during the early winter. In the coastal areas of California or in the southern parts of the country, on the other hand, you can plant strawberry trees during the fall. So, depending upon the part of the country you are living in, you need to make the timing right so far as you want to know how to plant strawberries. It is then only you can bear the fruits of your efforts in the most prominent manner.

After you have made your timing right, you need to choose the planting space and soil. Always remember not to grow strawberries in the soil where you have grown any food products that belong to the Solanaceae family in the past 3 years. Also the soil should not be used for strawberries if you have planted tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers in the same turf for the same number of years as said above. It is so because then your strawberry plant will be more exposed to be affected with verticillium wilt, a soil borne disease. If you cannot manage a newly planted land then try at least to plant the strawberry trees on a plot that has a good supply of weed free organic matter. Also remember that strawberries require full sun to develop. So, you see the points related to your query of how to plant strawberries is not that hard to be followed.

Therefore, as you now know how to plant strawberries, at least about selecting the right kind of soil and site, go ahead and give it a try. Bet, you will love the experience.

Feb 08

Things To Know When Planting Strawberry in Pots

Strawberries grow very easily in containers. You can grow them indoors if you like. All they require is a little sunny spot so that they can have 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. If you are not able to provide sunlight for them you can create an atmosphere of artificial lights. To have a fully blooming plant you need to select the right kind of strawberry and plant it properly. The method of planting strawberries in pots is quite easy.

Strawberries can be planted during the early spring when the temperature is still a little cold. However, in warmer areas strawberry plants can be planted during the fall. Then again, if you plan to keep them inside then you can consider of planting anytime during the year. These plants require a soil that has pH of at least 5.3. However, it will grow in soils that have a lower or higher pH level. It would be a good idea if you put in a controlled release fertilizer in the soil before you plant the strawberries.

You should trim off all the older leaves and remove all the runners and flowers. You should trim the roots to about 5 inches when you are planting strawberries in pots. If you find any damaged root then you should immediately cut them off. Next, you need to put the roots in the water for about 1 hour before you plant. It should be planted in such a way so that the plant crown is at the same level with the surface of the soil and the roots are able to fan out.

For the first few weeks of planting strawberries in pots you must remove all blossoms by cutting them. This will offer them the required time to establish prior to using energy for growing fruit. You should water the plan on a daily basis till the growing season and then reduce the number of times you water your plant. You should fertilize strawberries for a month. Once, it has started to bear flowers you should fertilize it every 10 days till the season of harvest is over. A high potassium fertilizer is required by the plant. Hence, you must purchase your manure accordingly.

When you are planting strawberries in pots you need to know that they are prone to red spider mites and aphids. You must use suitable insecticide so that you can get rid of them. You may find that your plant has developed powdery mildew. It may also develop powdery fungus at times. You will be able to tell when the plant has powdery fungus when there are purple spots on the top of the leaves and on the bottom white fungus has developed. At this time you should treat it with a proper fungicide so that you can have a healthy plant.

If you keep these points in mind while planting strawberries in pots you will surely be able to have healthy plants at your home. So, what are you waiting for? If you want your kitchen garden to look bright plant a strawberry sapling today

Feb 08

Strawberry Seeds – the cheapest way to plant strawberries

Every plant life starts from a seed and grows into a plant which produces flowers and fruits. The law of life is same for plants and animals.  From the olden days, man has been continuing with this process – growing plants, consume them and replant using seeds. But various methods like grafting etc modified the features of an existing plant.

Strawberry plants can be grown in two ways in the garden, by planting the plant or sowing seeds. Many online dealers sell both strawberry plants and seeds. People usually get seeds on their own, by drying the seeds of the fruit. But these seeds have less chance to germinate. The seeds sold in the market are processed and sold that guarantees plant growth if grown with care.

Clients can get seeds and plants online. Usually people purchase plants due to the easiness in growing them. But for bulk production and farming, plants will cost a lot. More over the seeds are easy to get developed into plants. It is ideal for farmers and experts in purchasing seeds. Home grown strawberries are fresh and healthy to eat since it is free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Strawberries lose their flavor and taste during shipping. Hence buying seeds and growing plants yield tasteful and flavored strawberries.

The first step in growing strawberries is to purchase the best and suitable seeds. Online companies provide help in selecting the appropriate type based on the soil and weather. You can order for seeds sitting at home and products shall be delivered home safely. After getting seeds make sure it is not decayed. Germination can be done in many ways. The simplest way is to keep the seeds in moist and shallow soil. In order to retain moisture, keep it inside a room. Sprinkle water if needed and after 10-30 days the sprout will appear. When leaves appear place them outside and water them daily. When the plants develop more leaves it is time to plant them separately.

There are many methods to promote seed germination that include cold treating. Keep the seeds in a re sealable plastic bag for two weeks in a freezer. After that, make sure that the seeds are brought to room temperature before putting in soil. Adding two parts of peat moss to one part of soil favors seed germination. Strawberry seeds are not only used for growing plants, it has got other uses also. Dry seeds after cleaning, sieving and drying are available in market in various forms that are used for oil production, cold press and CO2 extraction, strawberry flavored products. It can be added to soaps and scrubs and also as a filling for warm cuddles, pillows and thermal slippers.

Feb 08

Buy strawberry plants and make your garden a special one

From the very early days man ate fruits and roots provided by nature and later on when he started to cultivate fruits and vegetables first for his own needs and later for profit motive. But when insects and others attacked these fruits, he began to use insecticides and pesticides to get away from these pests. These developments helped to cultivate more, but began to harm the health of the consumers. This made many to plant and grow plants on his own, especially fruits and vegetables in his garden for his own needs. Today it is very easy to grow and plant any kind of fruits if you have the perfect soil and weather conditions.

There are many fruit plants grown for consumption as well as an attraction to the garden. But strawberry satisfies both. They not only provide us with beautiful and tasty fruits, but the plant is grown in such a way that it gives prettiness to the garden. Due to these reasons, majority began to grow strawberry plants in their gardens. Even though growing strawberry seeds are easy, many people go behind plants that are available in the markets. This is due to the easiness and quality of those plants kept for sale. Strawberry plants are sold in such a way that the cost for buying a plant is almost same as buying seeds and growing it.

Various types of plants are available for sale in the market. The types are mainly of two – short day cultivars and the neutral day varieties. Short day cultivars include douglas, pajaro, chandler, oso-grande etc. Day neutral varieties include Muir and Irvine. Strawberry plants are the best one to experiment that helps to find out which type suits your location and soil. It is better to get these plants online because there is no need for experimentation. Online sale of plants ensure the delivery of products and tips regarding each type and how to grow it.

These plants are both grown in beds as well as beds in the backyard of your home. After selecting the appropriate quality and type of plants from markets, it should be grown in raised beds to avoid wet foot and root rot conditions and also makes it easier to pick. Beds should be raised as high as possible. After beds are raised smooth and pre-irrigated, open a v-shaped hole to withstand the root. Place the appropriate fertilizer in the bottom of the hole, keep the plant inside the hole and spread out the root to prevent root rot. Plants set too high will get too weak. Evenly space plants and start watering to grow your strawberry garden.

It is important to select the type that matches your garden and the way you plant it. Online sale of strawberry plants guarantee the delivery and thus one is able to get these plants sitting at home. Get these plants and enjoy the taste and beauty of these fruits.