The ‘Summer Breeze Cherry Blossom Strawberry’ combines ornamental beauty with delicious fruit production. This variety is a rewarding choice for home gardeners, adding visual interest and fresh, homegrown berries to any garden space, in beds or containers.
Unique Features of Summer Breeze Cherry Blossom Strawberry
This strawberry variety stands out for its striking aesthetic and continuous fruiting. Unlike typical strawberries, it produces bright pink, semi-double flowers resembling small cherry blossoms. These blossoms appear even as the plant fruits, creating a prolonged display from midsummer until frost. The plant has glossy green foliage and grows compactly, 10-12 inches tall and 12-16 inches wide. As an everbearing variety, it yields a consistent supply of sweet, juicy berries throughout warmer months, not in a single flush. Its continuous production and ornamental flowers make it suitable for patio containers or window boxes, offering both beauty and harvest.
Planting Your Strawberry Plants
Selecting an appropriate site is key for ‘Summer Breeze Cherry Blossom’ strawberries. They thrive in full sun, needing at least six to eight hours daily; ten or more hours are ideal for optimal fruit production. Well-drained soil is important to prevent root rot. Soil should be slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5-6.8. Avoid planting where tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes have grown in the last four years, as they can harbor strawberry diseases.
Before planting, enrich soil with one to two inches of well-aged compost or organic matter into the top six inches. This improves fertility and drainage, suiting the shallow root system. When planting bare-root or potted starts, ensure the crown (where stems meet roots) remains at the soil surface. Planting too deeply causes rot; too shallowly dries out roots. Space plants 12-15 inches apart for healthy growth and air circulation.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Consistent moisture is important for healthy plants and plump berries. They need about one inch of water weekly, especially during fruit development. Direct water to the plant base to avoid wetting foliage, which can cause fungal diseases. Watering in the morning allows leaves to dry quickly. Check soil moisture by hand; ensure it’s moist but not waterlogged to prevent drought stress and root issues.
Everbearing varieties benefit from regular fertilization for continuous fruiting. Incorporating organic compost before planting provides an initial nutrient base. During the growing season, apply a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) every four to six weeks or after the first main harvest. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it promotes leafy growth over fruit production and increases disease susceptibility.
Applying straw mulch offers several advantages. Mulch retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps berries clean by preventing soil contact. It also reduces splash-back of soil-borne pathogens, preventing disease. ‘Summer Breeze Cherry Blossom’ produces few runners (horizontal stems forming new plantlets). For optimal fruit production, remove any runners to direct energy towards berries.
Protecting Your Plants
Protecting plants from common pests and diseases ensures a productive harvest. Slugs are a nuisance; use copper tape or diatomaceous earth around plants as a barrier. Birds are attracted to ripening berries; deter them with fine netting. Aphids and spider mites can be managed with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Strawberries are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spot, and gray mold (Botrytis blight). High humidity and poor air circulation worsen these fungal issues. Preventative measures include adequate plant spacing for airflow and avoiding overhead irrigation, which keeps foliage wet. Watering in the morning allows leaves to dry before nightfall.
Regularly remove diseased leaves or rotting fruit to limit pathogen spread. Straw mulch keeps berries off damp soil, reducing fruit rot.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Berries
Harvesting at the right time ensures best flavor and sweetness. Berries are ready when fully red with no white areas, as they won’t sweeten after picking. Due to their everbearing nature, check plants and harvest ripe berries every one to three days throughout the season. Mornings, when berries are cool, are often best for picking.
To harvest, gently pinch the stem about a quarter-inch from the berry, leaving a small piece attached. This prevents bruising and extends freshness. Avoid pulling berries directly from the plant. Once picked, place berries carefully into a shallow container to prevent crushing.
Do not wash berries until just before use, as excess moisture accelerates spoilage. Store unwashed berries in the refrigerator, ideally in a ventilated container or one lined with a paper towel, where they remain fresh for three to seven days. These sweet, juicy berries are delightful fresh, in desserts, or in preserves.