5 Cardinal Strawberry Bare Roots – Fragaria x ananassa – June-Bearing Fruit Plant

Overview

Bring the joy of homegrown fruit to your garden with these 5 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots. The Cardinal strawberry plant, known scientifically as Fragaria x ananassa ‘Cardinal’, is a highly regarded June-bearing type, meaning it yields a substantial, concentrated harvest over a 4-5 week period, typically from late spring to early summer. Developed in 1974, this robust variety is particularly well-suited for regions with humid summers, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in the Southern United States and the Ohio River Valley. These vigorous plants are sent as high-quality bare roots, ready to establish quickly in your garden. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, growing your own June-bearing strawberry plants offers a delicious and rewarding experience, providing fresh, sweet berries right from your backyard.

The Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal is cherished for its reliable production and adaptability. Unlike ever-bearing varieties, June-bearing types focus their energy on a single, prolific fruiting season, resulting in larger, often sweeter berries. These bare roots are an economical and effective way to start a new strawberry patch or expand an existing one, ensuring a bountiful harvest for years to come. With proper care, these plants will quickly develop into healthy, fruit-producing specimens, transforming your garden into a source of delectable, fresh strawberries.

Key Benefits

The Cardinal Strawberry bare roots offer numerous advantages for the home gardener, promising a delightful and productive growing experience. This variety is celebrated for its ability to produce a significant yield of flavorful berries, making it a favorite among those who enjoy fresh fruit straight from the garden.

• Abundant June Harvest: As a June-bearing strawberry, the ‘Cardinal’ provides a single, large crop of delicious berries over a 4-5 week period, perfect for fresh eating, jams, and freezing.
• Vigorous Growth: These plants are known for their strong, upright growth habit and ability to produce runners freely, making them ideal for establishing a matted row growing system.
• Adaptable to Climate: The Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal exhibits good tolerance to humid summers, thriving in regions like the Southern US and Ohio River Valley, ensuring successful growth where other varieties might struggle.
• Suitable for Containers: While excellent for garden beds, these plants can also be successfully grown in containers, offering flexibility for smaller spaces or patio gardening.
• Reliable Performer: A time-tested variety developed for consistent production and disease resistance, providing a dependable source of fresh strawberries year after year.
• Easy to Establish: Shipping as Cardinal Strawberry bare roots simplifies the planting process, allowing for quick establishment and growth in your chosen location.
• Hardy and Resilient: Recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, these plants are quite resilient, requiring minimal extra winter protection in colder climates to ensure their return each spring.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Cardinal Strawberry bare roots is straightforward, ensuring a successful harvest. Upon arrival, soak the bare roots in water for 20-30 minutes before planting. Choose a site with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal fruit production. The soil should be well-draining, rich in organic matter, and have a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage and aeration. Plant the bare roots with the crown (where the leaves emerge) at soil level, ensuring the roots are spread out in the planting hole.

Water newly planted strawberries thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Consistent moisture is crucial, especially during flowering and fruiting. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Strawberries are relatively heavy feeders. Fertilize in early spring and again after the main harvest with a balanced fertilizer or one higher in phosphorus and potassium to encourage fruit development. For those wondering how to grow strawberries successfully, proper spacing is key. In a matted row system, space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows 3-4 feet apart. Allow runners to fill in the rows, but manage them to prevent overcrowding, which can reduce fruit size and increase disease risk. In colder USDA zones (4-5), applying a layer of straw mulch in late fall after the ground freezes will provide essential winter protection for your strawberry plant care.

Keep an eye out for common strawberry pests like slugs, birds, and various fungal diseases. Good air circulation, proper watering techniques (avoiding overhead watering), and prompt removal of diseased leaves can help prevent problems. In containers, monitor soil moisture more frequently as they dry out faster than in-ground plantings. Ensure containers have adequate drainage holes. Regular weeding is also important to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Following these simple guidelines will help you achieve a bountiful crop from your Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal plants.

Size & Details

This offering includes 5 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots, ready for planting. Bare roots are an efficient way to establish a strawberry patch, as they are dormant plants without soil, minimizing transplant shock. Once planted, these vigorous plants will quickly develop foliage and establish a robust root system. The Cardinal strawberry is known for its upright growth habit and ability to produce runners freely, which can root to form new plants, making it ideal for the matted row growing system where plants spread to form a solid bed. Individual plants typically reach a height of 6-12 inches with a similar spread.

Expected time to first harvest is usually the following spring after planting, as June-bearing varieties establish their root system in the first year before producing fruit. The berries themselves are medium to large in size, firm, and have a classic sweet strawberry flavor. These plants are recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, indicating their resilience across a wide range of climates. In colder zones, a layer of winter mulch is advisable for optimal protection. When considering how to grow strawberries, starting with bare roots like these offers a strong foundation for a productive and delicious garden addition.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many Cardinal Strawberry bare roots are included? A: This product includes 5 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots, providing a good start for a new strawberry patch or an expansion of an existing one.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The best time to plant Cardinal Strawberry bare roots is in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late fall in milder climates.
• Q: What kind of sunlight does the Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal need? A: These plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal fruit production and overall health.
• Q: Is this a June-bearing or ever-bearing strawberry variety? A: The Cardinal strawberry is a classic June-bearing strawberry, meaning it produces one large, concentrated crop of fruit over a 4-5 week period in late spring to early summer.
• Q: What USDA hardiness zones are suitable for this strawberry? A: The Cardinal strawberry is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, showcasing its adaptability to various climates. In colder zones, winter protection is advised.
• Q: Can I grow these strawberries in containers? A: Yes, these plants can be grown successfully in containers. However, container-grown strawberries will require more frequent watering and consistent fertilization compared to in-ground plants.
• Q: What type of soil is best for growing strawberries? A: Strawberries prefer well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Good soil preparation is key for successful strawberry plant care.
• Q: How much space do these plants need? A: For a matted row system, space individual bare roots 18-24 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. The plants will spread by runners to fill in the area.
• Q: How long does it take for these bare roots to produce fruit? A: Typically, Cardinal Strawberry bare roots planted in the spring will establish their root system and produce their first significant crop the following spring.
• Q: What are the main benefits of growing this particular strawberry variety? A: Key benefits include its vigorous growth, tolerance to humid summers, suitability for both garden beds and containers, and its reliable production of a large, sweet crop, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to grow strawberries.