50 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots – Fragaria × ananassa – June-Bearing Fruit

Overview

Embark on a delightful gardening journey with these 50 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots. The Blakemore strawberry, scientifically known as Fragaria × ananassa, is a classic June-bearing variety that has graced gardens across the southern and eastern United States for decades. Developed by the USDA in 1931, this heirloom strawberry is celebrated for its exceptional fruit quality, particularly its firmness, which made it highly desirable for shipping in its era. These bare roots offer a cost-effective and efficient way to establish a robust strawberry patch, providing bountiful harvests of sweet, juicy berries. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or new to fruit gardening, these Blakemore strawberry bare roots are an excellent choice for a productive and rewarding planting experience.

This offering includes 50 individual Blakemore strawberry bare roots, ready for planting upon arrival. Bare root plants are dormant and ship without soil, making them easy to handle and transplant. Once planted in suitable conditions, they quickly establish themselves, putting out new growth and preparing for their first harvest. For anyone looking to enjoy fresh, homegrown strawberries, especially a time-tested variety known for its resilience and delicious fruit, these Fragaria × ananassa bare roots provide an ideal starting point.

Key Benefits

The Blakemore strawberry bare roots offer numerous advantages for home gardeners seeking a reliable and fruitful berry crop. Their historical popularity speaks volumes about their performance and taste, making them a fantastic addition to any edible garden. Growing June-bearing strawberries provides a concentrated harvest period, perfect for canning, freezing, or making jams.

• Abundant Harvests: Enjoy a prolific yield of medium-sized, firm, and flavorful strawberries during the early summer season. These June-bearing strawberries are known for their consistent production.
• Historic & Reliable Variety: Cultivate a piece of gardening history with a variety developed for its resilience and excellent fruit quality, ensuring dependable results year after year.
• Excellent for Preserving: The firm texture of Blakemore strawberries makes them ideal for jams, jellies, freezing, and other forms of preservation, allowing you to enjoy your harvest long after the season ends.
• Hardy & Adaptable: These plants are relatively hardy and tolerate moderate drought conditions, making them suitable for various garden environments and easier to maintain.
• Disease Resistance: Blakemore strawberries exhibit good resistance to rotting in hot, humid weather, a significant advantage for growers in certain climates.
• Optimal for USDA Zones 3-8: Thriving in a wide range of climates, these Blakemore strawberry bare roots are a versatile choice for many gardeners across the US.
• Easy to Establish: Planting bare roots is an efficient way to start a large strawberry patch, with plants quickly establishing themselves and growing vigorously.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Blakemore strawberry bare roots is straightforward, ensuring a successful and delicious harvest. These plants prefer a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Adequate sunlight is crucial for fruit production and flavor development. When preparing your planting site, ensure the soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter. Strawberries thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Incorporating compost or well-rotted manure before planting will greatly benefit the soil structure and nutrient content.

Upon receiving your Blakemore strawberry bare roots, plant them as soon as possible. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. Form a small mound of soil in the center of the hole and spread the roots over it. The crown of the plant (where the stems emerge) should be level with the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots. During the growing season, consistent moisture is vital, especially when the plants are flowering and fruiting. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot, but ensure the soil does not dry out completely. Mulching around the plants with straw (hence ‘strawberry’) helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the berries clean. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again after the main harvest for these June-bearing strawberries to support continuous growth and fruit development. Regular weeding is important to prevent competition for nutrients and water. These Fragaria × ananassa plants are relatively hardy but can benefit from winter protection in colder zones by covering them with a layer of straw or mulch.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots, providing a substantial foundation for a productive strawberry patch. Each bare root is a dormant plant, carefully harvested and prepared for shipment without soil or foliage, ensuring a compact and viable product ready for planting. Once planted, these bare roots will begin to sprout new leaves and establish a robust root system. Blakemore strawberry plants typically grow to a height of 6-12 inches and spread about 12-18 inches, forming a dense ground cover. They are a June-bearing variety, meaning they produce one large crop of berries in late spring to early summer. You can expect your first significant harvest the year after planting, with fruit production increasing in subsequent years. The berries themselves are medium-sized, firm, and bright red, known for their classic strawberry flavor. These Blakemore strawberry bare roots are an excellent investment for anyone looking to enjoy fresh, organic fruit from their own garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many strawberries will 50 Blakemore bare roots produce? A: A well-maintained patch of 50 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots can yield a significant harvest, often several pounds of berries per plant over a season once established. Production will increase in the second year after planting.
• Q: What size do Blakemore strawberry plants get? A: Blakemore strawberry plants typically grow to about 6-12 inches tall and spread out 12-18 inches, forming a matted row of plants. They are relatively compact and ideal for garden beds or containers.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Blakemore strawberry bare roots are intended for outdoor cultivation. They require full sun and specific outdoor conditions to thrive and produce fruit.
• Q: How much sunlight do Blakemore strawberries need? A: Blakemore strawberries require full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to produce the best fruit and ensure healthy growth.
• Q: Are these plants easy to care for? A: Yes, Blakemore strawberries are considered relatively easy to care for, especially for gardeners in USDA Zones 3-8. They are hardy and tolerate moderate drought, making strawberry plant care manageable for beginners.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: The 50 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots will arrive dormant, without soil or foliage, carefully packaged to ensure their health. They should appear dry and ready for immediate planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Blakemore strawberry bare roots? A: The ideal time to plant Blakemore strawberry bare roots is in early spring, after the last hard frost, to allow them ample time to establish before the summer heat.
• Q: Will these strawberries survive winter in my zone? A: Blakemore strawberries are hardy in USDA Zones 3-8. In colder zones, they will go dormant and can be protected with a layer of straw mulch to ensure survival.
• Q: What kind of soil do these strawberries prefer? A: These Fragaria × ananassa plants prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic pH (5.5-6.5). Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
• Q: Can I grow Blakemore strawberries in containers? A: Yes, Blakemore strawberries can be successfully grown in containers, provided the containers are large enough (at least 8-10 inches deep and wide) and have good drainage.