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Fruit & Orchards

Zone 5-Too early for strawberry plants?

15 years ago

I have been seriously tempted to buy some great looking plants everytime I go into the local box store. It's been harder to resist each time. Last time I actually had them in my cart. They are not bare root, in fact a lot of them have flowers. I had to leave behind my strawberry bed when we moved last summer and am anxious to get another started. The store has them outside in their nursery so I know they are hardened off. Unfortunately we are at risk of a frost for another 6 weeks or so. Do I buy them and hope for the best?

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Comments (4)

kniles38
15 years ago
Not too early to plant, but I would order bareroot from Nourse (MA) or one of the others. Probly end up being cheaper even with shipping and much better selection.
jellyman
15 years ago
orchard17:

Great looking is not the whole story on strawberry plants. Give yourself the chance to choose plants from a wider selection, based on the adaptability of variety to your climate, whether they are Junebearing/everbearing etc. Nurseries and bigbox stores do have some pretty plants at this time of year but, as you have noted, it is too early for fully leafed, blooming plants.

Like Kniles, I favor bareroot plants, and Nourse is an excellent source with a great selection. Order them in, and you will be able to plant now. You won't lose much, if any time, and will probably be much more satisfied with your choice in the long pull.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
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Karen Pease
15 years ago
My strawberry plants (from years past) are already coming up beautifully, and I'm just south of the 4b/5a boundary (Iowa City). I just thinned them out last weekend.
ottawan_z5a
15 years ago
I already have a small strawberries bed (everbearing type) but I ordered bare-root Seascape (day-neutral) variety which is claimed to be true everbearing over the whole summer with relatively small crop. I ordered it from veseys Canada to give it a try. They do not produce too many runners so you have to start with enough plants.

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