20 Cardinal Strawberry Bare Roots – June-Bearing Fruit Plants for Gardens

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our 20 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots. The Cardinal strawberry plant, known scientifically as Fragaria x ananassa ‘Cardinal’, is a highly sought-after June-bearing variety renowned for its robust growth and prolific production of large, sweet, and firm strawberries. Developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, this resilient plant is particularly well-adapted to the Southern United States and Ohio River Valley regions, thriving even in humid summer conditions. These June-bearing strawberry plants are perfect for home gardeners looking to harvest a single, generous crop of berries over a 4-5 week period, typically from late spring to early summer. Planting Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal bare roots offers an economical and effective way to establish a productive strawberry patch, ensuring a bountiful harvest for fresh eating, preserves, or baking.

Each order provides 20 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots, ready to be planted directly into your garden or containers. These bare roots are a fantastic starting point for both novice and experienced gardeners, promising vigorous growth and a delicious yield. The Cardinal variety is celebrated not only for its fruit quality but also for its strong, upright growth habit and its tendency to produce runners freely, making it an excellent choice for the matted row growing system. Whether you’re aiming to create a sprawling strawberry bed or cultivate a compact container garden, these bare roots provide the foundation for a successful and satisfying harvest of homegrown strawberries.

Key Benefits

The Cardinal Strawberry bare roots offer numerous advantages for the home gardener, promising both ease of cultivation and a delicious yield. This particular variety stands out for its adaptability and the quality of its fruit, making it a favorite among berry enthusiasts. Enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own produce with these high-performing plants.

• Abundant June Harvest: As a June-bearing variety, the Cardinal strawberry produces a single, concentrated, and large crop over a 4-5 week period in late spring to early summer, ensuring a plentiful supply for fresh eating, freezing, or making jams and jellies.
• Superior Fruit Quality: The strawberries produced by these June-bearing strawberry plants are known for their large size, firm texture, and wonderfully sweet flavor, making them ideal for a wide range of culinary uses.
• Vigorous Growth: The Cardinal strawberry plant is noted for its vigorous, upright growth habit, which helps keep berries off the ground, reducing rot and making harvesting easier. This robust growth contributes to a healthier and more productive patch.
• Excellent for Matted Row System: These plants freely produce runners, which is perfect for establishing a dense matted row system, maximizing your yield per square foot. This natural spreading makes cultivating growing Cardinal strawberries very efficient.
• Adaptable to Various Climates: While particularly well-suited for the Southern US and Ohio River Valley due to its tolerance for humid summers, the Cardinal strawberry is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, showcasing its broad adaptability.
• Container Gardening Friendly: Though it requires more frequent watering, the Cardinal strawberry can also be successfully grown in containers, offering flexibility for those with limited garden space or who prefer portable plantings.
• Disease Resistance: This variety generally exhibits good resistance to common strawberry diseases, contributing to a healthier patch with less need for intervention. This makes strawberry plant care more straightforward.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for maximizing the yield and health of your Cardinal Strawberry bare roots. When planting, choose a site that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Strawberries thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-6.8) that is rich in organic matter. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage and aeration. Plant the bare roots with the crown (where the leaves emerge) at soil level, ensuring that the roots are spread out and not curled. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. For optimal growth and fruit production, consider planting in a matted row system, allowing runners to root and form new plants, which is a key aspect of growing Cardinal strawberries successfully.

Consistent watering is crucial, especially during dry spells and when the plants are fruiting. Aim for about 1-1.5 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Mulching around the plants with straw or pine needles helps to conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep berries clean. Fertilize your Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal plants in early spring before new growth begins and again after the harvest, using a balanced fertilizer or one specifically formulated for berries. Protect plants in colder zones (USDA 4-5) with a layer of straw or other mulch after the first hard frost to prevent winter damage. Remove this mulch in early spring as new growth emerges. Regular weeding is important to prevent competition for nutrients and water, contributing to easier strawberry plant care.

Pest and disease management is an ongoing part of strawberry plant care. Keep an eye out for common issues such as slugs, birds, and fungal diseases. Organic deterrents like bird netting can protect ripening fruit, while good air circulation and proper plant spacing can reduce the incidence of fungal problems. Removing old, diseased leaves and spent fruit also helps maintain plant health. By following these guidelines, your Cardinal Strawberry bare roots will establish into a thriving patch, providing you with delicious berries for years to come.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots, which are dormant plants without soil or foliage, making them ideal for shipping and immediate planting. Upon arrival, these bare roots are typically small, with a developed root system and a visible crown. Once planted, these vigorous June-bearing strawberry plants will quickly establish themselves. Mature Cardinal strawberry plants typically reach a height of 6-12 inches and spread about 12-18 inches wide, forming a dense ground cover when grown in a matted row system. Expect your first significant harvest in the late spring to early summer of the year following planting, though some fruit may be produced in the first year under ideal conditions.

The Cardinal variety is known for its strong runner production, allowing it to spread and fill in garden beds effectively. Each bare root has the potential to develop into a full-sized, productive plant, contributing to a bountiful yield. These Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal plants are designed for outdoor cultivation within their recommended USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, thriving in garden beds, raised beds, or larger containers. The June-bearing nature means a concentrated burst of fruit, perfect for processing or enjoying fresh during peak season, making growing Cardinal strawberries a highly rewarding endeavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Cardinal Strawberry plants get? A: Mature Cardinal strawberry plants typically grow to about 6-12 inches tall with a spread of 12-18 inches. When grown in a matted row system, they can form a dense patch.
• Q: When is the best time to plant the Cardinal Strawberry bare roots? A: The best time to plant Cardinal Strawberry bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and after the danger of hard frost has passed. This allows them ample time to establish before summer.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Cardinal strawberry is primarily an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds, raised beds, or large outdoor containers. It requires full sun for optimal fruit production.
• Q: How much sunlight do Cardinal Strawberry plants need? A: For the best fruit production, June-bearing strawberry plants like the Cardinal variety require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Cardinal strawberries are relatively easy to care for, especially with good soil preparation and consistent watering. They are vigorous growers and a good choice for beginner gardeners interested in growing Cardinal strawberries.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: The 20 Cardinal Strawberry bare roots will arrive dormant, without soil or leaves. They are carefully packaged to ensure they are healthy and ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until I get fruit from these bare roots? A: You may get a small harvest of berries in the first year, but a significant crop from your Fragaria x ananassa Cardinal plants is typically expected in the late spring to early summer of the second year after planting.
• Q: Will these plants survive winter in my zone? A: Cardinal strawberries are hardy in USDA Zones 4-8. In colder zones (4-5), they may require extra winter protection with a layer of straw mulch after the first hard frost.
• Q: Can I grow these in containers? A: Yes, Cardinal strawberries can be grown in containers, but they will require more frequent watering than those planted in the ground. Ensure containers have good drainage.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for strawberry plant care? A: Strawberries prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-6.8). Good drainage is key to preventing root rot.