I have just completed this chart that compares various characteristics of alpine varieties. It is at:
http://varieties.thestrawberrystore.com/VarietyCharacteristics.pdf
Please add comments/questions.
December 30, 2009
December 17, 2009
Do I Need to Freeze the Seeds Before Sowing?
This is a frequent question because there is a fair amount of information online that suggests this. Yes, it is true that freezing the seeds for 3-4 weeks can increase germination. Seed you buy here from The Strawberry Store is already preconditioned and is ready to be sowed.
If you buy seed elsewhere, ask them if they have preconditioned the seed. This is especially important if you’re buying the seed at the last minute. You don’t want to have to wait 3-4 weeks to sow them.
When Should I Start Seeding?
The answer to this question is “it depends”. Vague enough for you?
Let’s start by saying that under ideal conditions alpine strawberries will produce their first fruit 4 months from seeding. I say ideal here to mean that:
- the seeds are germinated in conditions that will give fairly quick germination rather than germination that drags out over a period of many weeks.
- the plants are given adequate space to grow. Plants in tiny cells won’t live up to their true potential and may be held back if restricted.
- the media/soil pH is in the desired range
- the seeds/plants have adequate nutrition.
That being said, here we start seeding the first week of January for spring shipments of starter plants. To grow larger plants it is necessary to start earlier. We have chosen to seed in summer for plants that will be shipped in the fall and the following spring. The main reason for this is that germinating seeds in the winter is more expensive because bottom heat and lights are required.
A Great Link about Mulching Your Strawberries
Cornell always has great information, especially about strawberries. Here is an article that I read today. Check it out. If you haven’t mulched yet, go out and get some straw and do it today.
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/strawpdf/strwintermulch.pdf
Comments? Questions?
December 11, 2009
Cast Your Votes for Heirloom Strawberries
Do you have a favorite or have you heard of one that you absolutely have to have? From what I’ve heard I want (an obsessive want) ‘Tangi’. Anyone know where I can get even one plant?
What’s Your Favorite Gourmet Hybrid?
Mine is ‘Mara des Bois’. Here’s a photo that I took of a bowl of them. Don’t you want to just cut them up and start eating them?
Fragaria X ananassa 'Mara des Bois'
Any Experiences with Wild/Virginia Strawberries?
My only experience is with a variety named ‘Intensity’. I love the taste. What are your experiences? Any pictures?
Can Anyone Describe the Taste of a Musk Strawberry?
I challenge you to try to describe the taste of these gourmet strawberries.
Let’s Talk About Alpine Strawberry Varieties
There is literature online that says that all alpine varieties are the same. From someone who has been working with varieties of this species I can tell you that there are distint differences between varieties. First, there are varieties that produce red, white or yellow fruit. These obviously aren’t the same.
When you’re talking about red fruiting varieties, there is some “sameness” or similarities. Some of this is due to the fact that the varieties are bred. I don’t know of a breeder that is breeding alpine varieties, though it is possible that this is going on especially in Europe. The varieties that we have are selections. Someone noted a different plant or different characteristic in a plant and selected it. They worked with it and propagated it. It eventually became a cultivar or variety.
One obvious questions is: how many varieties are there? I have to admit that I don’t know. Over the years I have collected over 30 varieties with different names. There is one variety that I don’t have and can’t find. It was sold years ago as ‘Charles V’. I kick myself frequently that I didn’t buy it. Is it lost? This brings up the question of whether these varieties will be lost if we don’t try to keep them going.
Any thoughts?
Does Vermicompost Affect Germination?
I just wrote a manuscript based on a trial in the fall of 2009. I was running the annual germination trials - most states require that germination percentages are included on seed labels. I had read that vermicompost (worm castings) affect germination of seeds of various crops including tomatoes.
Each year seeds lose viability and germination decreases even when properly stored. I had old seeds of a particular variety. Last year the germination was 64%. 60% is the minimum standard. We suspected that their germination would be substandard and would have to be used for plant production.
The specific results will be published, but the answer to the original questions is that in this trial, yes, vermicompost increased germination of the seeds. The data were analized statistically and the effect was statistically significant. How about that?