Strawberry Varieties

[leechmann]

I was looking through the seed catalogs, looking for the types of strawberry plants I wanted to buy. Most of the varieties area rated for zones 4-8. I am looking for input on the varieties any of you folks would recommend for the Central MN. area. On the map, we are on the border between 3 and 4. Let me know, what you have had luck with.

Thanks, Leechmann

[fishinchicks]

I have a sister that lives in Marshall county. She has had success with everbearing strawberries. She is planning to add more this year, along with raspberries. She mulches hers before winter, and they have come back no problem.

[KEN W]

Depends on if you want June bearing or everbearing.2 of the newest varieties are Junebearers out of the U of M.....Mesabi and Winona.Mesabi ripens first.They are cold hardy at their Grand Rapids experiment station,so they should grow anywhere in Minn.

I prefer everbearers.....would rather have fruit on them twice.The best variety for me has been Ft. Laramie.Lots of large berries.And it fruits in Sept on it's runner plants.One of the few that does that.which is why they work great in hanging baskets or pots.I just moved here last year and put in 25 of them.....they were so good,my grandkids ate them as fast as they got ripe......so I ordered 50 more this spring.

I have also grown Ogalala for the past 25 years,which is the earliest bearing I have seen.It produces many,many runners.In fact,to many.Dark red medium sized berries.Somewhat tart compared to others.

Whichever you buy.....pick all the blossoms off the first time.For Junebearers.....that means no berries the first year.For everbearers......you can let them fruit the second time they flower.....usually in mid Aug through Sept till freezeup.

They are available from Henry Fields,Gurneys,and Jungs.

[Bowfin]

Whatever variety you buy - make sure you winter mulch them or they get good snowcover for insulation. I learned this the hard way. A few years ago I had a terrific patch - I didn't mulch them one winter when we didn't get much snow - froze out the whole patch. I had to start over.

[leechmann]

Well Ken, I couldn't wait any longer. I had to order today. I bought some of the Laramine everbearing plants and some Ozark beauty plants. I thought if I ordered them, maybe spring would arrive faster. I'm hoping.

Thanks Leechmann

[KEN W]

You will most likely need to get bird netting to keep the robins from getting a bunch of them.I get 7 feet wide.....20 ft long pieces from the same company I get the plants from.

Also......when I plant a new bed.....I go to one of the box stores and get some bags of composted manure/compost and till in 3-4 inches in the row before planting.

I cover the bed with straw and that year's corstalks to prevent winter injury.

One trick I learned years ago is in the spring to cover half the row with Reemay spon bonded material and those plants will start producing berries about 10 days earlier than the uncovered plants.Gives you earlier berries over a longer period.....about when the covered plants end the uncovered ones start.

Leech......I see you are from Park Rapids.....My brother lives there.....just retired from teaching there.I get over there to fish with him quite often.

[leechmann]

Thanks for the tips Ken. I'll bet I know your brother then. My wife has worked at the school for years. Fishing is one of my favorite things to do. My son and I have a bait business. We trap minnows and leeches and wholesale them to bait stores.

Maybe we'll have to meet one day.

Thanks Leechmann