5 Earliglow Strawberry Bare Roots – June-Bearing, Sweet Fruit, Zones 3-8

Overview

Bring the joy of homegrown berries to your garden with 5 Earliglow strawberry bare roots. The ‘Earliglow’ variety (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Earliglow’) is a highly sought-after June-bearing strawberry, renowned for its deliciously rich and sweet flavor. These bare roots offer an economical and effective way to establish a productive strawberry patch, providing a bountiful harvest of tender, juicy fruit early in the season. Ideal for fresh eating, jams, and desserts, Earliglow strawberries are a favorite among home gardeners due to their reliable performance and delectable taste. This offering includes 5 individual bare roots, ready to be planted and begin their growth journey in your garden.

Earliglow strawberry bare roots are known for producing vigorous plants that establish quickly. This variety is particularly valued for its early ripening, often yielding fruit before many other June-bearing types. The berries are medium-sized, firm, and possess an intense, classic strawberry aroma and sweetness. Planting bare roots allows the plant to focus its energy on root development and new growth once established, leading to strong, healthy plants that will bear fruit for years to come. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these Earliglow strawberry bare roots are an excellent choice for a rewarding and flavorful harvest.

Key Benefits

Investing in Earliglow strawberry bare roots for your garden offers numerous advantages, from their exceptional taste to their robust growth habits. These plants are designed to thrive and provide a satisfying gardening experience.

• Superior Flavor Profile: Earliglow strawberries are celebrated for their rich, sweet, and classic strawberry taste, making them perfect for fresh consumption, baking, or preserving. The intense flavor sets them apart from many commercially grown varieties.
• Early Harvest: As an early-fruiting June-bearing variety, Earliglow provides one of the first harvests of the season, allowing you to enjoy fresh strawberries sooner than with later-maturing types. This early yield is a significant advantage for home gardeners.
• Disease Resistance: These plants exhibit good resistance to several common strawberry diseases, reducing the need for extensive chemical treatments and making them a healthier choice for organic gardening practices. This inherent hardiness contributes to a more reliable crop.
• Hardy and Adaptable: Suitable for a wide range of climates, specifically USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8, the Earliglow strawberry bare roots are incredibly resilient. They can withstand varied environmental conditions, ensuring successful growth in diverse geographical regions.
• Prolific Production: Once established, Earliglow plants are known for their generous yields, providing a steady supply of delicious fruit throughout their bearing season. This abundance makes them an excellent choice for families or those who love to preserve their harvest.
• Ideal for Home Gardens: Their manageable size and robust nature make these June-bearing strawberry plants perfectly suited for home garden settings, whether in raised beds, traditional rows, or even containers. They are relatively easy to care for and highly rewarding.
• Bare Root Advantage: Planting bare roots promotes strong root development and plant vigor from the outset, leading to healthier and more productive plants in the long run. This method ensures a robust start for your sweet strawberry variety.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Earliglow strawberry bare roots requires attention to a few key environmental factors and regular care. These disease resistant strawberries thrive when given the right conditions, leading to a bountiful harvest of delicious fruit.

Sunlight Requirements: Earliglow strawberries perform best in full sun, meaning they need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location in your garden that receives ample sun throughout the growing season. While they can tolerate partial shade, fruit production and sweetness may be reduced. Ensure good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal diseases, which is especially important for any sweet strawberry variety.

Watering and Soil: Consistent moisture is crucial for strawberry plants, especially during flowering and fruiting. Water deeply and regularly, aiming for about 1-1.5 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. The soil should be well-draining but consistently moist. A rich, loamy soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage, and sandy soils to enhance water retention. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. Mulching around the plants with straw or pine needles helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep berries clean.

Temperature and Fertilization: Earliglow strawberry bare roots are hardy in USDA Zones 3-8. They require a period of cold dormancy to produce well. Fertilize your plants in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or one formulated for berries. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can lead to lush foliage at the expense of fruit production. After the first harvest, a second lighter application of fertilizer can be beneficial. Protect plants from extreme heat during summer by ensuring adequate water and potentially providing some afternoon shade in very hot climates. Remove runners if you want to maximize fruit production on the mother plant, or allow them to root to expand your patch of June-bearing strawberry plants.

Size & Details

This offering includes 5 Earliglow strawberry bare roots. These bare roots are dormant plants, meaning they are shipped without soil or foliage, which is an optimal state for transplanting and ensures strong establishment upon planting. Each bare root is carefully harvested and prepared to maximize its chances of successful growth in your garden. Once planted, these roots will quickly sprout new foliage and begin to develop into mature plants. Earliglow strawberry plants typically grow to a height of 6-10 inches and can spread up to 12-18 inches wide, forming neat mounds. Expect the first harvest of delicious fruit in the late spring to early summer of the planting year, with peak production in subsequent years. This sweet strawberry variety is known for its consistent yields.

The plants are perennial, meaning they will return year after year, providing many seasons of fresh berries. They are June-bearing, producing one large crop of berries over a 2-3 week period in late spring or early summer, depending on your climate zone. The berries themselves are medium-sized, firm, and bright red, perfect for a variety of culinary uses. These disease resistant strawberries are a resilient addition to any garden, promising a rewarding and flavorful experience for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Earliglow strawberry plants get? A: Once established, Earliglow strawberry bare roots will grow into plants that typically reach 6-10 inches in height and spread 12-18 inches wide. They form a compact and manageable patch, ideal for various garden sizes.
• Q: Are these an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Earliglow strawberries are outdoor plants. They require full sun and a period of winter dormancy to produce fruit effectively. They are well-suited for garden beds, raised beds, or large outdoor containers.
• Q: How much sunlight do these strawberry bare roots need? A: For optimal fruit production and plant health, June-bearing strawberry plants like Earliglow need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a sunny location in your garden.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for, good for beginners? A: Yes, Earliglow strawberries are generally considered easy to care for and are an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. Their hardiness and disease resistance make them quite forgiving, especially when planting Earliglow strawberry bare roots.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: The Earliglow strawberry bare roots will arrive dormant, meaning they will be without leaves or soil. This is normal and ideal for transplanting, as it allows the plant to focus energy on root development once planted.
• Q: How long until these bare roots produce fruit? A: You can typically expect your first harvest of berries in the late spring or early summer of the same year you plant the Earliglow strawberry bare roots. Production will increase in subsequent years as the plants mature.
• Q: Will this sweet strawberry variety survive winter in my zone? A: Earliglow strawberries are very hardy and suitable for USDA Zones 3 through 8. In colder zones (3-5), mulching heavily in late fall is recommended to protect the plants from extreme winter temperatures.
• Q: What is the best time to plant Earliglow strawberry bare roots? A: The best time to plant Earliglow strawberry bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows them ample time to establish roots before the summer heat.
• Q: Can I grow these disease resistant strawberries in containers? A: Yes, Earliglow strawberries can be grown successfully in large containers or grow bags. Ensure the containers have good drainage and provide consistent moisture.
• Q: What is the scientific name for Earliglow strawberries? A: The scientific name for Earliglow strawberries is Fragaria × ananassa ‘Earliglow’. This hybrid species is the result of crossing two different wild strawberry species to create improved cultivars.