Ogallala Strawberry

Planting & Care for Edible Plants – Strawberry Fruit

Preparation

• The Ogallala Strawberry produces large, plump, firm berries that are high quality, sweet, with a wild strawberry flavor and good for processing.
• This strawberry variety makes a wonderful edible fruit for the home gardeners and areas with less than ideal soil.
• They are vigorous, drought resistant, productive and hardy.
• They are an everbearing variety so be sure to harvest June-September.
• Hardiness zone 3.
• Strawberry plants need a soil pH level 5.3 - 6.5. Not sure what your soil level is? Run a test before planting.
• There are three different ways you can plant your strawberry patch; matted rows, hill rows or solid beds. Strawberries can also be grown in containers.
• Life of plants 3-4 years with proper maintenance.

Opening Plant Material

• Bare Root - Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted. 

Planting Bare Root Bundles

• Strawberries come in bare root bundles.
• When you receive your plants separate the bundled plants, remove any dried leaves at their tops and soak the roots in water for an hour or two before planting.
• Plant them early in spring, while the ground is still cool and moist, and in a sunny spot, if possible.
• Fan out the roots, keeping them straight down. (If the roots are long, you can trim them back to about 4 to 5”, before planting.)
• Plant the crown even with the soil line. Avoid planting too deep or too shallow.
• Firm the soil around each plant and water well.

Pruning - Through-out the Season

• Don’t be intimidated when it comes to pruning. It’s important to do so to ensure the size and shape of your plant stays regulated, stimulate strong growth, and overall fruit quality.
• For everbearing varieties, start harvesting in mid-summer of the first year. Start a new bed the next spring. Continue to harvest all summer long on the original bed then destroy it. The finest and best yields are from young vigorous plants that are allowed to crop for a maximum of two seasons.

Watering - After Planting

• If summer brings about one to one and a half inches of rainfall every week or so, you won’t need to use the hose. But if it gets really dry, you can give your new plant a good, thorough soaking. The best way to do this is to let your garden hose trickle slowly. This gives the water a chance to soak in instead of running off. You can also use a soaker hose to water several plants at once.

Watering - Through-out the Season

• Water strawberries so that they receive a minimum of 1 inch of water per week during the growing seasons. 

Go to our "Plant Features & Video Tab" for more information & tips on caring and maintaining this plant.