5 Fort Laramie Strawberry Bare Roots – Everbearing, Cold Hardy, USDA Zones 3-9

Overview

Discover the exceptional resilience and delicious flavor of Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots. This offering includes 5 high-quality bare roots of the ‘Fort Laramie’ variety, a highly acclaimed everbearing strawberry known for its sweet, juicy, and firm fruit. Developed by the USDA Cheyenne Experiment Station in Wyoming, this particular strawberry variety was bred to excel in challenging, cold, and dry climates, making it an ideal choice for gardeners in northern regions or anyone seeking a robust and reliable strawberry plant. If you’re looking to grow Fort Laramie strawberries that produce abundantly and withstand harsh conditions, these bare roots are an excellent starting point for establishing a thriving strawberry patch.

The ‘Fort Laramie’ (Fragaria × ananassa) stands out as one of the toughest strawberry varieties available, offering incredible winter hardiness. Its ability to perform well across a wide range of USDA zones, from 3 to 7, and even extending to zone 9 with proper care, speaks volumes about its adaptability. These everbearing strawberry plants will provide a continuous harvest throughout the growing season, ensuring a steady supply of fresh, homegrown berries for snacking, desserts, or preserves.

Key Benefits

The ‘Fort Laramie’ strawberry offers a multitude of benefits for both novice and experienced gardeners, making it a highly desirable addition to any edible landscape. These Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots promise a rewarding gardening experience and a bountiful harvest.

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: Bred specifically for challenging, cold climates, this variety is incredibly winter hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 3-7 and often performing well up to Zone 9. It’s an ideal choice for northern gardens where other strawberries might struggle.
• Everbearing Production: Enjoy a continuous supply of fresh strawberries from late spring through fall, unlike June-bearing varieties that produce a single, large crop. These everbearing strawberry plants offer prolonged harvesting.
• Sweet & Juicy Fruit: The ‘Fort Laramie’ produces medium to large berries that are renowned for their excellent flavor profile – sweet, juicy, and firm, perfect for fresh eating or culinary uses.
• Disease Resistance: This robust variety exhibits strong resistance to many common strawberry diseases, contributing to easier care and more reliable yields.
• Adaptable Growth: While excelling in cold and dry conditions, its adaptability allows it to perform well in various climates, making it a versatile choice for many gardeners.
• Easy to Grow: Even with its specialized hardiness, the ‘Fort Laramie’ is considered relatively easy to cultivate, especially when provided with proper care, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
• High Yield Potential: With its everbearing nature and strong growth, this variety offers a consistently high yield of delicious berries throughout the season.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To successfully cultivate your Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots and enjoy a plentiful harvest, proper care is essential. Strawberries thrive in full sun, meaning they require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location in your garden that receives ample sun exposure throughout the day. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal diseases. Prepare your soil by ensuring it is well-draining and rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5 to 6.8) is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage, and sandy soils with compost to enhance water retention and nutrient availability.

When planting your bare roots, ensure the crown (the point where the roots meet the leaves) is level with the soil surface. Burying the crown too deep or leaving it too exposed can hinder growth. Space plants about 12-18 inches apart in rows, with rows 3-4 feet apart to allow for runner development and easy harvesting. Water immediately after planting and keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. Avoid overhead watering if possible to minimize leaf diseases. Fertilize with a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting time and again in late summer after the main fruiting period. For established everbearing strawberry plants, a side dressing of compost in spring can also be beneficial. Protect plants from extreme winter cold in colder zones with a layer of straw mulch after the first hard frost. This helps insulate the plants and prevent frost heave.

Size & Details

This product includes 5 Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots, ready for planting upon arrival. Bare root plants are dormant and ship without soil or foliage, making them an economical and efficient way to start a new strawberry patch. Upon planting, these bare roots will quickly establish themselves and begin to produce foliage, flowers, and fruit. The ‘Fort Laramie’ is an everbearing variety, meaning it will produce fruit from late spring through the fall, offering a continuous harvest. Expect mature plants to grow approximately 6-12 inches tall with a spread of 12-18 inches, forming a dense groundcover over time as runners establish new plants. These plants are incredibly winter hardy, performing well in USDA zones 3-7, and can even be grown in zone 9 with appropriate care and mulching. With proper care, you can expect to grow Fort Laramie strawberries that are both delicious and prolific.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many bare roots are included in this order? A: This order includes 5 Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots, providing a great start for your strawberry garden.
• Q: What is an everbearing strawberry? A: Everbearing strawberries, like the ‘Fort Laramie’, produce fruit throughout the growing season, typically from late spring until fall, rather than a single large crop like June-bearing varieties.
• Q: What USDA zones are suitable for Fort Laramie strawberries? A: The ‘Fort Laramie’ is highly cold-hardy and performs well in USDA Zones 3-7, with potential success in Zone 9 with proper care. It’s an excellent choice for a cold hardy strawberry.
• Q: How much sun do these strawberry plants need? A: Fort Laramie strawberry bare roots require full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Q: What type of soil is best for planting Fort Laramie strawberries? A: These strawberries prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-6.8).
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The ideal time to plant strawberry bare roots is in early spring, after the danger of hard frost has passed, allowing them to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: How big will the mature Fort Laramie strawberry plants get? A: Mature ‘Fort Laramie’ plants typically reach 6-12 inches in height and can spread 12-18 inches, with runners forming new plants.
• Q: Are these strawberries good for fresh eating or preserves? A: Yes, the ‘Fort Laramie’ produces sweet, juicy, and firm berries that are excellent for both fresh consumption and for making jams, jellies, and other preserves.
• Q: What kind of winter protection do these plants need in colder zones? A: In colder zones (e.g., USDA Zone 3-5), it’s recommended to apply a layer of straw mulch over the plants after the first hard frost to provide insulation and protect them from extreme cold.
• Q: Can I grow Fort Laramie strawberries in containers? A: Yes, these everbearing strawberry plants can be successfully grown in containers, provided they have adequate drainage, sufficient sunlight, and consistent watering.