Strawberries can be found in everything from salads to desserts, but these tasty fruits are just as delicious on their own.
When looking at a strawberry, you can find it difficult to find the connection to its name from its physical appearance.
Strawberry plants are known for being a bit troublesome to grow, but nothing about the way they are grown has anything to do with straw.
Why Are They Called Strawberries?
The name strawberries could have come from the way that young English children would gather them in the woods and then sell the berries on a single piece of straw.
It was easier for children to carry large amounts to the city when they were impaled on the grass straw.
Strawberries had been brought over from the New World to France until 1624, which started with the Fragaria virginiana.
Another type of strawberry from Chile called the Fragaria chiloensis was brought to France in 1712.
There was the common belief that strawberries got their name from the farming practice of growing strawberry plants with a layer of hay to lock in moisture, keep pests off the plants, and make it easier to harvest them.
However, the word “strawberry” had been around for thousands of years before the plant was ever cultivated in this manner.
While there is no certain answer as to where strawberries gained their name, they’ve had a massive effect on a multitude of cultures.
Some people saw strawberries as a sign of wealth and status while others looked to them for cures of a variety of ailments.
Are Strawberries Really Berries?
No, strawberries are not berries.
To be classified as a berry, strawberries would need to derive from a single ovary and the entire exterior would need to be fleshy.
While blueberries and even bananas fit this description perfectly, you may not know that produce such as tomatoes, eggplants, and avocados are also berries.
Instead, a strawberry is classified as a pseudocarp or a “fake fruit.”
A strawberry is actually a collection of fruit that consists of many tiny fruits attached to the fleshy exterior wall.
The achenes, or the small specks on the strawberry, are the true fruit.
The name “strawberry” predates the science of naming different life forms found on the planet, which is why strawberries have been considered berries by the public for so long.
When the fruits were first brought to Europe in 1600s, they were only the size of walnuts.
As soon as they were brought over from the New World, strawberries began popping up in home gardens across the continent.
It didn’t take the delectable fruit long to find its way into royal banquets across England, making itself a staple in their sweets and marmalades.
During this period in history, banquets were held by the wealthy to show off the expensive spices and ingredients they could use in their massive meals.
With strawberries only being able to grow during the summer months across England and being incredibly difficult to grow, they became as precious as gemstones to the English.
As the fruit became more desired, more strawberry farms started popping up.
This meant that wild birds had more seeds to pick from and strew their seeds across the grounds of English forests.
By the time scientists began naming plants, the name strawberry had already become too popular for them to change.
Do Strawberries Actually Cure Anything?
No, strawberries are not the single-handed cure to any disease.
Although there have been many groups of people throughout history who have believed in the healing quality of strawberries, modern science has proven strawberries are no miracle cure.
The ancient Romans believed that strawberries had incredible medicinal qualities, such as being the cure for everything from depression to kidney stones.
Madame Tallien, who was an important member of Emperor Napoleon’s court, used to bathe in 22 pounds’ worth of strawberry juice every day in an attempt to help prevent aging and other ailments.
While the Romans and Madame Tallien weren’t quite sure how beneficial strawberries actually are for your health, strawberries do have a variety of health benefits.
They’re full of the fiber and other vitamins that our bodies need to stay healthy.
Like many other fruits, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C.
Vitamin C gives your immune system the boost it needs to fight bacteria, and it is excellent for keeping your skin feeling healthy and smooth.
Strawberries are also full of vitamin B9, which is also known as folate.
Folate is used to help support normal tissue growth and cell function, making it incredibly crucial for those who are pregnant or elderly.
There are a bunch of different minerals packed into a strawberry, like manganese, potassium, iron, copper, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Those who are looking to add more fiber into their diets should be eating more strawberries because a 3.5-ounce serving of strawberries has two grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Strawberries are also an awesome source of antioxidants.
People looking to improve their heart health and blood sugar control will want to add more antioxidants into what they’re eating.
While strawberries may not cure depression, these pseudocarps are able to help improve your overall health.
How Many Types Of Strawberries Are There?
There are 103 different species and subspecies of strawberry plants, with the most common strawberry being the Fragaria x ananassa.
Whenever you see an “x” in the scientific name of a plant, that means that it is a hybrid of two different species.
This hybrid was the result of combining the North American Fragaria virginiana with the Chilean Fragaria chiloensis.
The new hybrid strawberry wouldn’t make it back to the Americas until the late 1700s and would become a popular crop for American farmers by 1825.
Many species of strawberry plants that we have today are hybrids that have been bred to show different traits more consistently, such as size, taste, or harvest rate.
The most recently bred subspecies of strawberry is the Flavorfest strawberry.
Flavorfest strawberries look to be the best breed of strawberry for commercial growers.
These plants have consistently high yields, are resistant to a variety of diseases, and have a longer growing season than most other breeds of strawberries.
The Fragaria iinumae is a species of strawberries that grow naturally only in Japan.
These strawberries are known for being tiny and not having a very strong flavor, but they’re perfect for decorating cakes and other sweets.
The L’Amour strawberry was developed by Cornell and the New York State Experiment Station in 2003.
This strawberry is known for being especially attractive with its long, conical shape and fancy calyx, but they are susceptible to having angular leaf spotting.
East Malling Research of the United Kingdom has created a variety of strawberry species, such as Lucy, Alice, Judibell, Emily, Amelia, Mae, Fenella Bolero, Florence, Calypso, Elegance, Cassandra, Delia, Eros, Flamingo, and many more.
The Mara Des Bois has the strongest flavor and aroma of all the strawberry species.
It was created during a breeding program in France.
The 3 Main Groups Of Strawberry Plants
Although you can get lost in all the unique varieties, all strawberry plants are sorted into one of three groups: June-bearing, ever-bearing, and day-neutral.
These groups describe the type of harvest that a farmer should expect with each species of strawberry plant.
June-bearing plants only have one harvest, but the number of strawberries you receive is gigantic.
These plants are best for those who only farm seasonally or as a hobby because of their inability to produce consistently.
Those who grow June-bearing plants should expect more strawberries than a single household can eat before they go bad.
Make plans to share with family and friends or be prepared to make a fair amount of jam and other preserves.
Ever-bearing plants have a more modest harvest but produce more strawberries over a longer period.
These plants are able to produce crops as soon as there are consistently 12 hours of daylight and will continue producing crops until summer is over.
Although you may not see the same monstrous harvest as the June-bearing plants, you are able to have fresh fruit more consistently and don’t have to worry about your entire harvest spoiling at the same time.
Depending on how sunny your location is, you will most likely receive more crops from ever-bearing than June-bearing.
The final type of strawberry plant is day-neutral, which has three peak harvest periods.
The periods normally fall in early June, mid-July, and late August.
When considering what kind of plant you may want to purchase for your home garden, you will want to make note of how frequently you will need to harvest the plants and how much produce you should expect.
You should also consider the amount of space you have available for the plant and how much sunlight the species needs.
Are Purple Strawberries Real?
Yes, purple strawberries are a real thing, and there are a variety of oddly colored strawberries like white or yellow as well.
These striking strawberries are known as Purple Wonders and were created by Burpee.
These strawberries are not genetically modified.
Instead, they gained their strange coloring during some breeding experiments at Cornell University in 1999.
The species would not become what it is known for today until March 5th, 2012.
Purple Wonders are medium-sized strawberries that are incredibly sweet and aromatic.
When they first form, the strawberries start out white and turn deep burgundy over the course of their growth cycle.
These hardy plants were originally grown in New York, Illinois, and Michigan to test their high endurance level.
When used for cooking, they are mostly featured in strawberry wines and strawberry preserves.
The only downside to growing Purple Wonders is that they produce a low amount of fruit.
These plants don’t form as many runners, which are the type of vine that the strawberries grow on.
Thanks to the lower number of runners, these plants need less space to grow and are excellent options for container gardens and other small garden plots.
These crops don’t do well in matted row systems or pick-your-own farms.
Purple Wonders aren’t the only non-red species of strawberry plants.
There are two different types of white strawberries and one type of strawberry that is yellow.
Pineberries have the same shape as a strawberry but are seedless and white.
These berries are much smaller than strawberries, but they pack a punch of unique flavor that is like a combination of strawberry and pineapple.
There are also wild white strawberries called white alpine strawberries.
Although they are quite small, they are known for having an exquisite aroma.
The yellow strawberries are called Yellow Wonders.
Which Strawberries Are The Sweetest?
The sweetest species of strawberries are the Alpine species that originated in France.
When it comes to strawberries, the smaller fruits will almost always be the sweetest
These candy-like fruits have a deep red coloration but do come in other colors such as white and yellow.
Alpine strawberries have been enjoyed by humanity since the Stone Age and were originally sought by indigenous people.
Not only do these fruits have an excellent taste, but they are also much hardier than other strawberry plants and much easier to grow.
Both the juices and leaves from the Alpine strawberry plant are packed with nutritional value.
Another notably sweet strawberry is the diamante strawberry, which is one of the most popular strawberry species around the world.
They get their name from their elegant diamond shape.
These strawberries are seen as some of the best quality strawberries that you can purchase, which puts a much higher price tag on them than the average strawberry you’d see at the supermarket.
Diamante strawberries are one of the few species that stay sweet despite their large size.
Honeoye strawberries are another strawberry that is able to maintain a large size and be incredibly sweet.
Unlike Diamante strawberries, Honeoye strawberries are also firm.
Because of this unique set of qualities, they are the perfect strawberries for dipping in dark chocolate or using in desserts.
While other strawberries may become mushy under the heat of melted dark chocolate, Honeoye strawberries easily maintain their shape and density.
Sparkle strawberries may be known for being super sweet, but they are even better known for being one of the most beautiful species of strawberries.
These berries are often used for displays and advertisements thanks to their appealing looks.
These strawberries are also used to make premium strawberry jams.
Are Strawberries Hard To Grow At Home?
Yes, strawberries have a reputation for being difficult to grow at home.
The hardest way to grow strawberry plants is by growing them from seeds.
For those looking to grow their first strawberry plant, it may be best to plant them “bare root.”
When planting a bare root, you aren’t using soil while the plant is dormant.
Start by purchasing a plant from your local or online nursery, and begin to get them acclimated to their environment four to six weeks before the average day of the last frost for your location.
Although it may be tempting just to keep the plant in the pot that the nursery gives you, these plants can become prone to molding and may die before you have the chance to plant them in the ground.
You’ll want to choose a growing site for your strawberry plant that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight during the spring months and at least 12 hours in the summer months.
To avoid your plant molding on the ground, make sure that your soil is well drained.
You will need to water your plants frequently and fertilize them every four to six weeks, but the result will be delicious, fresh-grown strawberries straight from your garden.
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