50 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots – Fragaria – June-Bearing

Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown fruit to your garden with these 50 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots. The ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa ‘Sweet Charlie’) is a highly acclaimed June-bearing variety, celebrated for its remarkably sweet and aromatic berries. These bare roots are a fantastic way to establish a productive strawberry patch, offering robust plants that will yield a delicious harvest. Originating from Florida, the ‘Sweet Charlie’ is particularly well-suited for warmer climates but thrives across a broad range of USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.

This Fragaria Sweet Charlie plant is a popular choice among gardeners for its consistent performance and delectable fruit. Plant these bare roots in your garden and look forward to an abundance of juicy strawberries perfect for eating fresh, making jams, or adding to desserts. The ease of planting bare roots makes this an accessible project for both novice and experienced gardeners eager to enjoy their own berry bounty.

Key Benefits

The ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry offers numerous advantages to the home gardener, making it a highly desirable addition to any edible landscape. Its reliable nature and flavorful fruit are just a few reasons why it’s a favorite:

• Exceptional Flavor & Aroma: These Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots produce berries renowned for their intensely sweet taste and strong, pleasant aroma, making them a true culinary delight.
• June-Bearing Variety: Enjoy a concentrated harvest of delicious strawberries typically in June, perfect for processing or enjoying fresh during peak season. This characteristic is a hallmark of June-bearing strawberry plants.
• Strong Disease Resistance: The ‘Sweet Charlie’ variety boasts excellent resistance to common strawberry diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions and promoting healthier plants. This makes them ideal for gardeners seeking disease-resistant strawberries.
• Early Ripening: Often one of the first varieties to ripen in the season, allowing you to enjoy fresh strawberries sooner than many other types.
• Ideal for Southern Gardens: While adaptable, this variety performs exceptionally well in warmer climates, making it a prime choice for those looking to grow strawberries in zones 5-9.
• Great for Fresh Eating & Preserving: The firm texture and sweet taste of ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberries make them versatile for eating fresh, freezing, or making jams and jellies.
• Vigorous Growth: These bare roots develop into strong, productive plants that spread readily, filling out your strawberry patch quickly.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for a bountiful harvest from your Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots. When planting, choose a site with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Strawberries prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility. Plant the bare roots with the crown (the point where the roots meet the leaves) at soil level, ensuring the roots are spread out in the planting hole. Water immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

During the growing season, consistent moisture is crucial, especially when fruits are developing. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering if possible, as wet foliage can encourage fungal diseases. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again after the main harvest. For those looking to grow strawberries in zones 5-9, consider mulching around the plants with straw to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep berries clean. In colder zones, mulch also provides winter protection. Remove runners as they appear, unless you wish for new plants to develop, which can help propagate your Fragaria Sweet Charlie patch naturally.

Maintaining a healthy environment for your disease-resistant strawberries involves regular weeding and monitoring for pests. While ‘Sweet Charlie’ is known for its resilience, good cultural practices further enhance its health and productivity. Proper spacing between plants (about 12-18 inches) ensures good air circulation, which is vital for preventing fungal issues. Pruning old leaves and spent flower stalks also helps redirect plant energy towards fruit production. With attentive care, your June-bearing strawberry plants will reward you with an abundant crop.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots, providing a substantial start to your strawberry garden. Bare roots are dormant plants shipped without soil, making them lightweight and easy to plant upon arrival. Each bare root contains the crown and root system ready to sprout new foliage and runners once planted in suitable conditions. When mature, ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry plants typically reach a height of 6-8 inches and can spread up to 12-18 inches, especially as runners develop. These plants are known for their vigorous growth and early establishment after planting. Expect your first significant harvest in the season following planting, with strong yields from these Fragaria Sweet Charlie plants for several years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do Sweet Charlie strawberry plants get? A: Mature ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry plants typically reach a height of 6-8 inches and can spread up to 12-18 inches, especially as they produce runners. The spread can be managed by pruning runners if you prefer a more contained patch.
• Q: Are these an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots are intended for outdoor cultivation. They require full sun and specific soil conditions to thrive and produce fruit optimally.
• Q: How much sunlight do these strawberries need? A: ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberries require full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to produce the sweetest and most abundant berries.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberries are considered relatively easy to care for, especially due to their strong disease resistance. Consistent watering, proper soil, and adequate sunlight are key for a successful harvest.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: The 50 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Bare Roots will arrive dormant and without soil, carefully packaged. They should be planted as soon as possible after arrival for best results.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Sweet Charlie strawberry bare roots? A: The best time to plant these bare roots is typically in early spring after the danger of hard frost has passed, or in late fall in milder climates. This allows them to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: Will these strawberries survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In colder parts of this range (Zone 5-6), providing a layer of straw mulch for winter protection is recommended to help the plants overwinter successfully.
• Q: What makes ‘Sweet Charlie’ a June-bearing variety? A: As June-bearing strawberry plants, ‘Sweet Charlie’ produces one large crop of berries over a 2-3 week period, usually in June. This contrasts with everbearing or day-neutral varieties that produce fruit throughout the season.
• Q: Are these strawberries resistant to common diseases? A: Yes, ‘Sweet Charlie’ is known for being a disease-resistant strawberries variety, particularly against anthracnose and botrytis, which are common issues in strawberry cultivation.
• Q: Can I grow these if I’m looking to grow strawberries in zones 5-9? A: Absolutely! ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberries are an excellent choice for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, adapting well to a range of climates within this spectrum, though they excel in southern regions.