Strawberry plants are an edible gardening giving that keep on giving well beyond Valentine ’s sidereal day , accord to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert .
David Rodriguez , AgriLife Extension horticulture specialiser , San Antonio , say the new Texas Superstar extract – Festival Strawberry – provides some of the in force characteristics on the securities industry .
The Festival Strawberry compound prolific production and quality taste as the a la mode Texas Superstar uncommitted for leverage in retail garden centers and nurseries , according to the Texas Superstar administrator board .
Festival Strawberry is the latest Texas Superstar release from Texas A&M. Hanging baskets have been transport statewide and should be usable at retail and independent glasshouse . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by David Rodriguez )
The strawberries are conically shape and business firm - fleshed with large , showy calyces . They are recondite red on the outside and bright red inside . Typical return are around 1.5 pounds per works , Rodriguez said .
The initial Texas Superstar packaging for Festival Strawberries in September came in time for evenfall plant through November , which experts say is the skillful time to plant the sort for springtime fruit yield .
But early February is also a good time to look for strawberries , Rodriguez said .
“ They wo n’t bring about as well as those constitute in the fall because the root systems are n’t as give , but Festival Strawberries are an unconventional but colourful and comestible gardening gift idea for Valentine ’s Day , ” he say .
Rodriguez state nurseries have good supply of Festival Strawberry advert basketful with yield on them . yield will begin mature in fourth dimension for Valentine ’s Day and produce through the end of May .
Most garden eye and independent baby’s room should have the hanging field goal usable , Rodriguez said . Many have already been shipped , and they have been selling well .
“ The growers have been ship a wad of hanging baskets , so there should be bass inventory until mid - March , ” he enjoin . “ They look amazing and have a lot of fruit on them that should be nice and ripe and red for Valentine ’s Day . ”
Rodriguez pronounce plants can be bequeath in attend basketful or transpose into 20 - column inch containers and permit to cascade . Plants should be water with low pressure and around the container ’s lip to debar washing out around their base .
The chief concern consumer should consider with Festival Strawberries that were not planted in the capitulation is cold sensitivity , Rodriguez order .
“ The industrial plant themselves are very cold hardy , but whether they ’re kept in the hang basket or transplant to a container , the develop fruit is cold sensitive , so plants should be go to a protected area or covered when temperature are going to dip below 25 level , ” he said .
The Festival Strawberry variety was named a 2018 Texas Superstar plant by Texas A&M AgriLife Research , AgriLife Extension and Texas Tech University horticulturists after four year of arena trials around the state .
To be designated a Texas Superstar , a plant must be beautiful and perform well for consumers and raiser throughout the commonwealth .
Source : AgriLife Today ( Adam Russell )
