FUN FACT:

Not only do strawberries taste great, they’re

good for you as well. Strawberries have higher

levels of vitamin C, folate, and potassium, ounce

for ounce, than most other fruits, including

oranges. The Nutrition and Health Research

Center has shown that eating one serving

(about 8 to 10 strawberries) a day can

significantly decrease

blood pressure, which

may reduce the

risk of heart

disease

StrawberriesINTRODUCTION

The sweet taste of strawberries picked at their peak rivals the taste of any sugar-laden candy. Introducing kids to this special treat is a great way to show them that healthy choices can be yummy too. Strawberries are well suited for school gardens because they are one of the first fruits to mature in spring and can be grown in small spaces, including containers. Although not as long-lived as some fruiting shrubs and trees, strawberries are perennials and once established and properly maintained, a strawberry patch can produce fruits for years.

There are four main categories of strawberries commonly grown. June- bearing varieties produce berries for about 2 to 3 weeks in late spring to early summer (despite the name, some varieties produce berries before June). Day neutral varieties produce a main crop in early summer and then smaller crops all summer long. Everbearing varieties yield a light crop in early summer, a few berries during the summer, and then another heavier crop in late summer or fall. And finally, alpine strawberries are improved versions of the wild strawberry. They produce small, sweet tasting fruits from spring until fall. Unlike other strawberries, alpine variet-ies grow well and produce in part shade, especially in warm climates.

ORIGIN AND BRIEF HISTORY

Wild forms of strawberry plants grow all over the world, so the exact origin of the plant cannot be traced to one specific location. Although edible, most of these native strawberries have small berries and an unremarkable taste. In the 1300’s, Europeans began cultivating strawberries in gardens and selecting species with desirable traits. The modern day strawberry did not arise until the 1700’s when a strawberry species from Chile (known for having larger berries) was crossed with a strawberry native to Virginia (known for having a better flavor) in France. Breeding and selection between these two species continued throughout the 1800’s, especially in Europe, resulting in the juicy, sweet fruit we know today.

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PLANTING

PLANNING• Strawberries grow best on sandy loam soil with a pH of

5.5 to 6.5 in full sun. Strawberries don’t like wet soils so choose a well-drained site or plant in a raised bed or container.

• Finding the best variety for your region is the key to a successful crop. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Office for a list of recommended varieties.

PREPARATION• Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller

to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or a complete fertilizer such as 5-10-10 (1/2 pound per 25-foot row) before plant-ing in the spring.

PLANTING• Strawberries are sold as plugs (small plants with soil) or

as bare root plants. If you have bare root plants, make sure to keep them moist until planting.

• Although strawberries can be planted in the spring or fall, in northern locations plant in the spring to give the roots plenty of time to get established before winter.

• Plant in rows spaced 4 feet apart and leave 18 inches between plants in the row.

• When planting, set individual plants in the soil so the crown (fleshy area where the leaves emerge) is at the soil level. Planting too deep or too shallow can kill the transplant.

CARE• Strawberry flowers are frost sensitive. In more northern

regions, plants may need to be protected with a floating row cover at night. Make sure to remove the cover during the day so bees can pollinate the flowers.

• As plants send out runners, train the new daughter plants to root in the established planting rows.

• Keep well watered and weeded all summer.

• At the end of the season, remove all dead foliage to keep disease in check. In cold areas, mulch strawberry beds with a 3- to 4-inch-thick layer of straw mulch in late fall. Strawberries will be dormant during winter months. In spring, check plants frequently and when the strawberry leaves start to show yellow, gently rake the straw off beds and use it to mulch around plants and between rows. The mulch preserves soil moisture, prevents weed growth, and keeps the berries from touching the ground and rotting

• When the harvest season for June-bearing strawberries draws to a close, it’s time to renovate the bed to keep it healthy and productive. Mow off the foliage using a lawn mower with the blade set high enough to avoid damaging the crowns of the plants, collecting the leaves in the mower’s bag, then topdress the bed with compost. A week or two later, trim back the plants by hoeing or rototilling to reduce the width of the rows by about half. Day-neutral and everbearing strawberry varieties don’t need this yearly renovation, but for the best productivity, the plants should be replaced every 3-4 years.

PESTS • To avoid verticillium wilt and red stele diseases, select

disease-resistant varieties and remove diseased foliage.

• Mulch the plants and clean up debris after fruiting to prevent mold and disease from attacking the fruits.

• A variety of insects attack strawberry roots, leaves, and fruits. Control root-feeding insects by growing a cover crop and rototilling the soil well before planting. Control insects such as aphids, with appropriately labelled organic sprays. Prevent fruit damage by covering the beds with floating row cover after pollination by bees. Control snails and slugs by using a slug bait such as iron phosphate.

• Birds and other small mammals can also become a problem. Install wire arches over the plants and then cover with bird netting.

HARVESTING• Pick fruit by pinching the stem with your finger and

thumb about a half-inch behind the berry. That way you remove the berry without bruising it.

• Every 2 or 3 days, pick all the ripe berries. Avoid picking green-tipped berries – they’re not fully ripe. They’ll taste much better in a day or two.

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LESSON IDEAS

MAKING NEW STRAWBERRY PLANTS Strawberries are very rarely grown from seed by gardeners. They are usually propagated asexually. Strawberry plants grow in clumps, but as they mature, they will send out above-ground stems called runners. New plants with new clumps of leaves and roots will develop on these runners. These new plants can either stay attached to the parent plant or they can be removed and planted on their own. Observe the growth of new plants on the runners of the strawberry plants in your garden or containers. Remove the new plants and either replant them in your garden, or pot them up for students to take home.

PLANT BREEDINGThe science of plant breeding was very important to the development of the strawberry we know today. Plant breeders are gardeners and scientists that work to control the reproduction of plants to try and develop new varieties of that plant possessing desirable characteristics. Breeders begin by identifying plants with superior qualities such as disease resistance, preferred height, and good fruit quality, and then they control the pollination between plants to hopefully produce seeds/new plants that will consistently possess these characteristics. The process of selecting traits can be a very time consuming practice. Scientist must control pollination and grow seeds to maturity for a number of generations until they produce seed that reli-ably possesses the desired traits. USDA Sci4Kids offers an article for kids on strawberry breeding available at www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/plants/story10/strwbrry.html.

NUTRITIONAL SUPER STARAlthough all fruits and vegetables are a good addition to your diet, strawberries are proving to be significant contributors to human health. They are being studied for their positive impact on blood pressure, heart disease, and reduced risk for cancer. Ask students to research the health benefits of strawberries and then create brochures that could serve as advertisements for enticing people to eat them. The California Strawberry Commission’s Website is a good place to start digging: http://www.calstrawberry.com/.

STRAWBERRY SAMPLING EVENTPrepare the Bring Home the Fun Recipe with your class. By demonstrating preparation methods and sampling the final product in the classroom, students will be ready to share the recipe with their family.

FUN FACT:Although functionally classified as a berry,

botanically the red, fleshy part of a strawberry is technically an enlarged stem

and each ”seed” that dots the outside of

the flesh is actually its own fruit (a type of

fruit called an achene). So when you eat

a strawberry, you are actually eating more

than one fruit.

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BRING HOME THE FUN WITH

StrawberriesBecause they do not need much space or deep soils to grow, strawberries are great plants for home gardens of any size. In addition to in-ground gardens, strawberries can thrive in raised bed gardens and containers, so even a sunny porch can yield a small strawberry crop.

Not only do strawberries taste great, they’re good for you as well. Strawberries have higher levels of vitamin C, folate, and potassium, ounce for ounce, than most other fruits, including oranges. The Nutrition and Health Research Center has shown that eating one serving (about 8 to 10 strawberries) a day can significantly decrease blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Strawberries are highly absorbent, which means they definitely need to be washed, especially if any sprays or chemicals were used in growing. This also means they need to be washed without soaking and as close as possible to when they’ll be eaten. Prepare 2 quarts of a produce wash solution according to manufacturer’s direction. Using a sieve or colander, dip strawberries quickly in the wash solution, then remove and rinse with cool water. Dry well with a paper towel and hull the berries by pushing a drinking straw up through the middle of the berry from the bottom (a great activity to keep little hands busy).

Often, strawberries don’t last long enough to make it into a recipe. Packed with vitamins and fiber, they’re highly nutritious served on their own - and you may choose to do just that in your classroom. But, if you’re looking for a unique way to enjoy the harvest, try out this easy recipe for raw strawberry-oat bars.

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Raw Strawberry-Oat Bars Serving Size: 1 bar, Yields 30-32 bars

6-8 cups strawberries, cleaned and trimmed as above

6 cups pitted dates

1 cup rolled oats

½ t salt

1. Process dates, oats and salt in a food processer until smooth – add

more oats if the mixture is too sticky to handle.

2. Roll, or press by hand, onto waxed paper on a cookie sheet.

3. Mash half the berries (or process) and spread over date-oat crust.

4. Slice bars to your desired size, slice the remaining whole berries, and

top bars with a few slices of whole strawberry.