50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots – Heirloom, Cold-Hardy, Sweet Berries

Overview

Bring the joy of fresh, homegrown fruit to your garden with 50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots. The ‘Sparkle’ strawberry is a highly regarded, cold-hardy, June-bearing heirloom variety, cherished for its intensely sweet, rich, and classic strawberry flavor. These vigorous plants are known for producing a single, generous crop of medium-sized, deep-red berries from late spring to mid-summer. Ideal for gardeners seeking a reliable and delicious strawberry, the ‘Sparkle’ variety thrives in a range of climates, particularly excelling in northern regions due to its exceptional cold tolerance. Planting these sparkle strawberry bare roots is an excellent way to establish a productive and long-lasting strawberry patch, ensuring a delightful harvest year after year. As a june-bearing strawberry, it offers a concentrated period of fruit production, perfect for canning, freezing, or enjoying fresh.

Our sparkle strawberry plants arrive as bare roots, ready for planting, offering an economical and effective way to start a large strawberry bed. This method allows the plants to establish quickly and strongly in their new environment. The ‘Sparkle’ variety, scientifically known as Fragaria × ananassa ‘Sparkle’, is a testament to traditional breeding, offering a taste that many modern varieties simply cannot match. Its robust nature and abundant yield make it a favorite among home gardeners and small-scale farmers alike. Prepare to be delighted by the sweet aroma and succulent taste of your very own ‘Sparkle’ strawberries.

Key Benefits

The ‘Sparkle’ strawberry offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, making it a standout choice among fruit-bearing plants. From its exceptional flavor to its ease of growth, these sparkle strawberry bare roots provide a rewarding gardening experience and a delicious yield.

• Intensely Sweet Flavor: Experience the true taste of an old-fashioned strawberry with ‘Sparkle’s’ incredibly sweet and rich flavor, perfect for fresh eating, jams, and desserts.
• Exceptional Cold-Hardiness: Highly tolerant of cold temperatures, this variety is particularly recommended for northern climates, thriving in USDA Zones 3–8.
• Vigorous Growth: These sparkle strawberry plants are known for their robust and healthy growth, leading to a strong, productive patch.
• Abundant June-Bearing Crop: As a june-bearing strawberry, it yields a large, single harvest of berries in late spring to mid-summer, ideal for processing or enjoying fresh.
• Heirloom Quality: Grow a classic heirloom strawberry variety that has stood the test of time, known for its consistent quality and delicious fruit.
• Versatile Use: The medium-sized, deep-red berries are excellent for eating fresh, baking, making preserves, or freezing for year-round enjoyment.
• Disease Resistance: ‘Sparkle’ generally exhibits good resistance to common strawberry diseases, contributing to easier maintenance and healthier plants.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your 50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots is straightforward, and with proper attention, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest. These plants prefer a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for fruit development and sweetness. While they are adaptable, a sunny spot will ensure the best possible yield and flavor for your sparkle strawberry plants. Prepare your soil by enriching it with organic matter to improve fertility and drainage. Strawberries thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. Well-draining soil is paramount to prevent root rot.

When planting your sparkle strawberry bare roots, ensure the crown (the point where roots meet the leaves) is level with the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting. Consistent moisture is key, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering if possible, as this can encourage fungal diseases; drip irrigation or soaker hoses are ideal. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer, and again after the main harvest if desired. Remove any runners that form in the first year to encourage stronger root development and fruit production in subsequent years.

Winter care for this cold-hardy strawberry involves mulching after the ground freezes in late fall. A layer of straw or pine needles will protect the crowns from freezing and thawing cycles, which can heave plants out of the ground. Remove the mulch in early spring when new growth begins. Keep an eye out for common pests like slugs and birds, and use appropriate organic controls if necessary. With these simple tips, your heirloom strawberry variety will flourish and provide many seasons of delicious fruit.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots, providing a substantial quantity to start or expand your strawberry patch. Each bare root is a dormant plant, carefully harvested and prepared for shipping without soil or foliage, which minimizes transplant shock and allows for efficient establishment. Once planted, these sparkle strawberry bare roots will quickly emerge from dormancy, developing into robust plants that typically grow to a height of 6-12 inches and spread about 12-18 inches wide. The ‘Sparkle’ variety is a June-bearing type, meaning it produces one large crop per year, usually in late spring to mid-summer, depending on your local climate and planting time. Expect the first significant harvest in the second year after planting, as the plants spend their first season establishing a strong root system.

These sparkle strawberry plants are known for their medium-sized, deep-red berries. The vigorous growth habit ensures a good return on your planting efforts. They are shipped without pots and are ready to be planted directly into your garden beds or raised planters. The plants are highly resilient and well-suited for a wide range of growing conditions within their recommended USDA Zones 3–8. While individual berry size can vary, the ‘Sparkle’ consistently delivers flavorful fruit, making it a reliable choice for any gardener interested in a productive and delicious june-bearing strawberry crop.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Sparkle Strawberry plants get? A: Sparkle strawberry plants typically grow to a height of 6-12 inches and spread about 12-18 inches wide. They are vigorous growers once established, forming a dense patch over time.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The ‘Sparkle’ strawberry is an outdoor plant, specifically bred to thrive in garden settings. It requires full sun and is a cold-hardy strawberry, making it suitable for temperate climates.
• Q: How much sunlight do these bare roots need? A: For optimal growth and fruit production, your sparkle strawberry bare roots need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Full sun exposure is crucial for developing sweet berries.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, the ‘Sparkle’ strawberry is considered relatively easy to care for and is an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. Its robust nature and cold-hardiness contribute to its ease of growth.
• Q: What condition will the 50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots arrive in? A: The 50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Roots will arrive dormant, without soil or leaves, packaged to ensure they stay moist and healthy during transit. They are ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? When is the best time to plant? A: While some fruit may appear in the first year, a significant harvest from your heirloom strawberry variety is usually expected in the second year. The best time to plant is in early spring after the last frost.
• Q: Will this cold-hardy strawberry survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, the ‘Sparkle’ is a cold-hardy strawberry, thriving in USDA Zones 3–8. With proper winter mulching, it will readily survive cold temperatures and return in the spring.
• Q: Can I grow this June-bearing strawberry in containers? A: While traditionally grown in garden beds, this june-bearing strawberry can be grown in large containers or strawberry pots, provided they have good drainage and receive ample sunlight.
• Q: What type of soil is best for Sparkle strawberries? A: ‘Sparkle’ strawberries prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-6.8) is ideal for these sparkle strawberry plants.
• Q: What does “bare root” mean? A: “Bare root” means the plant is shipped without soil around its roots, typically in a dormant state. This method is efficient for shipping and allows the plant to establish quickly once planted in your garden.