If I were to pick a specific plant to grow in our School Community Garden, it would have to be strawberries. It is best grown from already growing plants, that way the strawberries can be grown more quickly. Starting a strawberry plant from the seeds, will supposedly bear fruit the second spring since it started growing. The strawberry plants should be able to grow throughout the year but will produce fruit in late spring. According to my Be Wise Ranch, local organic farm, and another source it seems the June Bearing Strawberries would be best to grow. I also found that strawberries should be planted where they can get six or more hours of direct sunlight per day, basically the more sun the better. Make sure to have soil that retains moisture but not too much and is not too dry, otherwise the strawberries will not be successful since they do not tolerate droughts or standing in water. Optimal pH level for planting the strawberries is 5.3 to 6.5 pH. Rid the site of weeds, grubs and soil-born diseases. Make sure that no plants or trees compete with the strawberries needed “food supplies and water”. Strawberries should not be planted near tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes which often carry disease that they are susceptible too.
Interesting facts about strawberries are:
-Eight strawberries have 20% of the folic acid you need everyday.
-The average straeberry has 200 seeds.
-Ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated many symptoms like melancholy, fevers and many other diseases.
Direct Sources:
http://www.bewiseranch.com/harvestschedule.htm
http://www.gardenguides.com/547-strawberries-fragaria-x-ananassa-information.html
http://www.pickyourown.org/strawberryfacts.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2242620_start-strawberry-container-garden.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4851759_grow-strawberries-seed.html
http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1570_2468_2471-38102--,00.html
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