20 Blakemore Strawberry Bare Roots – June-Bearing Sweet Strawberry Plants for Garden

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our Blakemore strawberry bare roots. This offering includes 20 dormant bare root plants of the classic Fragaria × ananassa ‘Blakemore’ variety. Known for its sweet and firm fruit, the Blakemore strawberry is a beloved June-bearing type, cherished for its robust flavor and excellent texture. Originally developed by the USDA in 1931, these strawberries were historically popular across the southern and eastern United States due to their fruit’s exceptional firmness, making them ideal for shipping and preserving. These hardy plants are perfect for home gardeners looking to grow a reliable and productive strawberry patch, yielding an abundance of delicious berries each season. A comprehensive strawberry growing guide will help you achieve a bountiful harvest.

Key Benefits

Growing Blakemore strawberry bare roots offers numerous advantages for both novice and experienced gardeners. These plants provide a delightful blend of historical significance and modern-day appeal, ensuring a satisfying harvest.

• Exceptional Flavor: Enjoy the distinctively sweet and classic strawberry taste that the Blakemore variety is famous for, perfect for fresh consumption, jams, or desserts.
• Firm Fruit: The fruit’s firm texture makes it highly suitable for transportation, freezing, and canning, retaining its quality longer than many other varieties.
• June-Bearing Production: Experience a concentrated, abundant harvest during the early summer, providing a large yield of berries over a few weeks.
• Historical Significance: Plant a piece of history in your garden with this time-honored variety, developed by the USDA in 1931 and a staple for generations.
• Hardy & Resilient: These sweet strawberry plants are relatively hardy, tolerating moderate drought conditions and resisting rotting in hot, humid weather, making them a reliable choice for various climates.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for garden beds, raised beds, or even large containers, these plants adapt well to different growing environments.
• Easy to Grow: With basic care, these Fragaria ananassa bare roots establish quickly and produce prolifically, making them a great option for beginner gardeners.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure a successful harvest of your Blakemore strawberry bare roots, proper care and attention to their growing environment are crucial. These plants thrive with specific conditions but are also forgiving. They prefer a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is essential for optimal fruit production and sweetness. When planting, ensure the crown of the bare root is at soil level, with the roots spread out beneath the surface.

Soil Type and Moisture: Blakemore strawberries prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0) is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage, and sandy soils with organic matter to enhance water retention. Consistent moisture is important, especially during flowering and fruiting. Water regularly, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. While relatively drought-tolerant, prolonged dry spells can reduce yields. Our strawberry growing guide emphasizes proper soil preparation.

Temperature and Hardiness: These June-bearing strawberries are optimally grown in USDA Zones 3 through 8, making them suitable for a wide range of climates across the United States. They are tolerant of varying temperatures but benefit from winter protection in colder zones. 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. Keep the area around the plants free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and water. Monitor for common strawberry pests and diseases, addressing any issues promptly to maintain plant health and ensure a robust crop of sweet strawberry plants.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 Blakemore strawberry bare roots, ready for planting. Bare roots are dormant plants shipped without soil, making them lightweight and easy to handle upon arrival. Each bare root is a young plant with a crown and roots, poised to establish quickly once planted. These plants are a June-bearing variety, meaning they will produce a single, concentrated crop of berries in late spring to early summer, typically in June, after their first year of establishment. Once mature, the individual plants can spread up to 12-18 inches in diameter, forming a productive patch. Expect fruit production to begin in the season following planting, with peak yields from the second year onwards. The berries are medium-sized, conical, and possess a bright red color. For comprehensive details, refer to a detailed strawberry growing guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Blakemore strawberry plants get? A: Each individual plant can spread up to 12-18 inches in diameter, forming a dense patch over time. The foliage typically reaches 6-8 inches in height, with fruit appearing just above the leaves.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This product consists of Blakemore strawberry bare roots, which means they are shipped without pots or soil. They are dormant plants ready for immediate planting in your garden or preferred container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Blakemore strawberries are primarily outdoor plants, thriving in garden beds, raised beds, or large outdoor containers where they can receive ample sunlight. While they can be started indoors, they require outdoor conditions for optimal growth and fruiting.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: These June-bearing strawberries require full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate light is crucial for healthy growth and abundant, sweet fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, Blakemore strawberries are relatively easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginner gardeners. They are hardy and tolerant of various conditions, especially with the help of a good strawberry growing guide.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: Your order will arrive as Blakemore strawberry bare roots. They are shipped dormant, without soil or pots, wrapped to maintain moisture. This is a standard and effective way to ship many perennial plants.
• Q: Can I use these sweet strawberry plants for making jam? A: Absolutely! The firm texture and sweet flavor of Blakemore strawberries make them an excellent choice for making jams, jellies, preserves, and other culinary delights.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: These bare roots will establish and grow foliage in their first year. You can expect your first significant crop of berries in the June following the year of planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Blakemore strawberry bare roots? A: The best time to plant bare root strawberries is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late fall before the ground freezes.
• Q: Will these Fragaria ananassa survive winter in my zone? What’s the minimum temperature? A: Blakemore strawberries are hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8. They can tolerate winter temperatures well below freezing when established, especially with a layer of mulch for protection in colder zones.