Time to think about the delicious juiciness of next summer’s strawberries.
Strawberries can be roughly divided into two groups.
1. Short day (Everbearers) which will produce at least two harvests in spring and late summer.
2. Day neutral which will fruit continuously through summer and autumn without a single big pick.
3. Alpine strawberries are available and are suited to cooler climates.
Everbearer strawberries produce larger crops and fruit for longer. The fruit are usually bigger.
Popular everbearer varieties in New Zealand include.
Camarosa.
Is a high yielding variety with a light early crop with a more abundant summer crop.
Pajaro.
Vigorous plants that produce high yields through the summer.
Chandler.
This variety is also high yielding but has a higher resistance to weather events.
These varieties are best planted in mid-winter so crowns root well before heavy fruiting.
Day Neutral varieties produce fruit all season long rather than having a specific fruiting period.
The best-known variety in New Zealand is;
Albion.
Albion has a very sweet flavor and is great planted in pots.
San Andreas and Temptation are also day neutral.
These can be planted a little later.
Planting and growing.
Strawberries prefer well drained soils rich in organic matter. Plant about 30cms apart and during the season they will require regular watering and the application of fertilizer.
Using pea straw mulch will retain moisture, limit weed growth and ensure the berries are clean.
Limit the number of runners per plant to no more than 4 to ensure the plants energy is directed to making delicious fruit. The runners can be used for next year’s crop.
These wonders require 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day during the season.
Lost Coast Plant therapy used every two weeks will ensure your strawberries remain disease free.
It is made of organic components leaving no residue in the fruit which can be harvested immediately.
Strawberries have a number of common diseases and for all but the slugs LCPT is the answer.
Fungi.
Grey Mould affects the plants particularly in wet weather. It appears as white or gray fluffy growths on the leaves and stems.
Mildew is also a common fungus affecting strawberries. The first sign is white patches on leaves and one established it spreads quickly.
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Botrytis (Gray Mold) |
Botrytis cinerea; fuzzy gray mold on fruit, especially in humid conditions |
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Powdery Mildew |
White powdery coating on leaves and fruit; thrives in dry, warm air |
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Anthracnose |
Sunken dark lesions on fruit and stems; spreads via splashing water |
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Leaf Spot |
Mycosphaerella fragariae; purple spots on leaves that turn tan in the center |
These fungal diseases can be prevented by using our spray at a 1 in 100 dilution every 2 weeks.
If they are established, removing the infected material and spraying with LCPT every 2 days for 4 applications will treat the disease.
Aphids suck the sap form the plants. They multiply at a phenomenal rate. Prevention with the 2 weekly spray works treatment doses are as for mold.
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Aphids |
Sap-sucking insects that cluster on stems and leaves; cause curling and honeydew |
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Spider Mites |
Tiny mites that thrive in dry conditions, cause stippling and webbing on leaves |
For the slugs a container buried to ground level and filled with beer works and will ensure that no toxic chemical is introduced into the strawberry patch.