50 Sparkle Strawberry Bare Root Plants – June Bearing, Heirloom Variety

Overview

Embark on a delightful gardening journey with these Sparkle strawberry bare root plants, offering a bountiful harvest of exceptionally sweet and juicy berries. The Sparkle variety is renowned for its robust flavor and reliable yields, making it a favorite among both home gardeners and commercial growers. These June-bearing strawberry plants produce a concentrated crop of large, vibrant red strawberries in late spring to early summer, perfect for enjoying fresh from the garden or preserving for later. Known for their heirloom quality and dependable performance, Sparkle strawberries are an excellent addition to any fruit patch, raised bed, or container garden.

These bare root plants are carefully selected for their vigor and health, ensuring a strong start and quick establishment in your garden. With proper care, these plants will reward you with an abundance of delicious fruit year after year. The ease of growing, combined with their cold hardiness and disease resistance, makes the Sparkle strawberry bare root plants a superb choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

Key Benefits

Discover the numerous advantages of cultivating this exceptional heirloom strawberry plant variety in your own backyard:

• High-Yield June-Bearing Variety: Enjoy a prolific harvest of sweet, flavorful strawberries concentrated over a few weeks in late spring to early summer, ideal for making jams and preserves.
• Exceptional Flavor & Texture: Sparkle strawberries are celebrated for their sweet, juicy, and firm berries, making them perfect for fresh eating, baking, and desserts.
• Cold Hardy & Adaptable: These plants thrive reliably in USDA Zones 3–8, demonstrating excellent resilience to cooler temperatures and ensuring consistent production across diverse climates.
• Disease Resistant: Known for their resistance to common strawberry diseases like verticillium wilt and red stele, these plants are easier to grow and maintain, reducing the need for intensive care.
• Versatile Planting Options: Whether you prefer traditional garden beds, raised beds, or containers, these June bearing strawberries adapt well to various planting environments, making them suitable for any space.
• Non-GMO & Robust: Cultivate confidence knowing you’re growing non-GMO plants that are vigorous and healthy, establishing quickly for strong growth and high yields.
• Perfect for Culinary Uses: Beyond fresh eating, these berries are excellent for smoothies, pies, tarts, and freezing, allowing you to enjoy the taste of summer long after the harvest.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for a successful harvest of your Sparkle strawberry bare root plants. Begin by soaking the bare roots in water for 30–60 minutes prior to planting; this crucial step ensures proper hydration and encourages robust root development. Select a sunny location that receives at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily, as ample sun is vital for optimal fruiting and flavor development. The soil should be well-draining with a pH between 5.5–6.5. Enriching the soil with compost or other organic matter will significantly improve its structure and nutrient content, providing an ideal environment for your plants to flourish.

When planting, ensure the crown of the plant is at soil level, with the roots spread out and not buried too deeply. Space plants 12–18 inches apart within rows, allowing 3–4 feet between rows to ensure good air circulation and sufficient room for growth. Regular watering is key, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged, which can lead to root rot. During the first year, it’s recommended to remove any flowers that appear; this diverts the plant’s energy into developing a strong root system and healthy foliage, which will result in a much more abundant harvest in subsequent seasons. Expect your first significant crop of these delicious growing Sparkle strawberries starting in the second year, with reliable production for many years to come.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 Sparkle strawberry bare root plants, carefully packed to ensure they arrive healthy and ready for planting. These bare roots are fresh and vigorous, designed to establish quickly in your garden. Once established, Sparkle strawberry plants typically grow to a height of 6-12 inches and spread about 12-18 inches wide, forming a dense ground cover over time. As a June-bearing variety, you can anticipate a concentrated harvest period in late spring to early summer, usually starting in the second growing season after planting. The berries themselves are large, vibrant red, and known for their consistent size and quality. These plants are shipped dormant and are ready for immediate planting upon arrival to ensure the best possible start for your future strawberry patch.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many Sparkle strawberry bare root plants are included in this purchase? A: This package includes 50 individual bare root plants, providing an excellent foundation for a productive strawberry patch.
• Q: What does “June-bearing” mean for these strawberries? A: June-bearing strawberries produce one large crop of fruit over a 2-3 week period, typically in late spring to early summer, making them ideal for harvesting for jams and freezing.
• Q: What USDA Zones are suitable for cold hardy strawberry plants like Sparkle? A: Sparkle strawberries are cold-hardy and thrive in USDA Zones 3–8, tolerating a wide range of climates.
• Q: How much sunlight do these plants require? A: For best fruiting, Sparkle strawberry plants need at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Are these strawberries disease resistant? A: Yes, the Sparkle variety is known for its resistance to common strawberry diseases such as verticillium wilt and red stele.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The best time to plant bare root strawberries is typically in early spring after the last frost, or in late fall in milder climates.
• Q: Can I grow these heirloom strawberry plant variety in containers? A: Yes, Sparkle strawberries are well-suited for containers, raised beds, and traditional garden beds, provided they have adequate space and drainage.
• Q: How long until I can expect to harvest fruit? A: While some fruit may appear in the first year, it is recommended to remove first-year flowers to allow the plant to establish. A bountiful harvest is typically expected starting in the second growing season.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing Sparkle strawberries? A: They prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amending with compost or organic matter is highly beneficial.
• Q: Do I need to remove flowers in the first year? A: Yes, removing flowers in the first year helps the plants develop a stronger root system, leading to higher yields in subsequent years.