strawberries

In addition to leaves, flowers and fruit, a strawberry plant has a crown, roots, runners and produces daughter plants. The woodland strawberry (scientific name Fragaria vesca) is a day neutral strawberry species. You might also see it called alpine strawberry, fraises des bois, wild strawberry or European strawberry. The plants produce small, sweet fruit with maybe two to three berries per plant per week.

Because many of these plants are grown from seed, the plants can either produce runners or not. They tolerate shadier sites and can be planted in the front of perennial beds, walkways or in containers.

Many strawberry cultivated varieties are available and can be grown with ease in home gardens. Some taste better than others. Some are more winter hardy than others. Some ripen in one small window in June, while others produce fruit throughout the growing season.
Strawberries require sun to produce fruit. Ten or more hours of sunlight each day is ideal,but they need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day.

Before planting, a soil test will help you find out if you need to add any nutrients to your soil.

It's a good idea to work some well-rotted compost into the soil before planting. Compost helps add nutrients to the soil, improves drainage and increases microbial activity, all of which will benefit the plants.

Strawberries are rich in the essential nutrients vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber. One cup of fresh strawberries contains 160 percent of the daily recommended quantity of vitamin C, for only 50 calories.

One cup of sliced, fresh strawberries, or 166 grams (g), contains a range of important nutrients in the following amounts:
Calories: 53 kcal
Protein: 1.11 g
Carbohydrates: 12.75 g
Dietary fiber: 3.3 g
Calcium: 27 mg
Iron: 0.68 mg
Magnesium: 22 mg
Phosphorus: 40 mg
Potassium: 254 mg
Vitamin C: 97.6 mg
Folate: 40 micrograms (mcg)
Vitamin A: 20 international units
Strawberries are available fresh, frozen, freeze-dried, and in jellies, syrups, and jams. Make sure to check the label of frozen and dried strawberries for added sugars. When looking for jellies or jams, go for all fruit spreads without added sweeteners and fillers