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Herbs & Plants

Strawberry

Botanical Name: Fragaria × ananassa
Family: Rosaceae
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Genus: Fragaria
Species:F. × ananassa

Synonyms: F. grandiflora.

Common Name: Strawberry or Garden Strawberry.

Habitat : It is basically an wild fruit. The first garden strawberry was grown in Brittany, France during the late 18th century.Prior to this, wild strawberries and cultivated selections from wild strawberry species were the common source of the fruit.

The strawberry fruit was mentioned in ancient Roman literature in reference to its medicinal use. The French began taking the strawberry from the forest to their gardens for harvest in the 14th century. Charles V, France’s king from 1364 to 1380, had 1,200 strawberry plants in his royal garden. In the early 15th century western European monks were using the wild strawberry in their illuminated manuscripts. The strawberry is found in Italian, Flemish, and German art, and in English miniatures. The entire strawberry plant was used to treat depressive illnesses.

Description & Cultivation :
Strawberry is a perennial plant growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
The strawberry plant has a short thickened stem (called a “crown”) which has a growing point at the upper end and which forms roots at its base. New leaves and flower clusters emerge from “fleshy buds” in the crown in the early spring. From a cultural viewpoint, it is desirable in our region to have the formation of 1-2 “side stems” called branch crowns form during the late fall.

Each branch crown will add to the yield of the main crown by producing its own “flower cluster” or what is technically called an inflorescence. Branch crowns and main crowns are structurally identical, and an inflorescence develops at the terminal growing point of each crown. Crown growth and development occur when temperatures are above 50o F (mainly in the month of October). Average daily temperatures in November below this temperature will slow branch crown formation and floral development. Row covers may be a good option in November for Camarosa to help stimulate further reproductive development.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

A well-balanced Camarosa strawberry plant will form 3-5 branch crowns by the time fruiting season begins in the spring. There is excellent potential for a 2 + lb crop per plant (> 15 tons per acre) when you can see the formation of 1-2 side crowns in addition to the main crown (center) in late fall/early winter. In Chandler and Camarosa it is critical not to plant too early in the fall and run the risk of having too many crowns form (try to avoid the development of more than 6 crowns per plant). There is an important “balance” to keep in mind when growing strawberries on plastic, and this has to do with managing to get enough plant growth for adequate cropping (minimum of 3-4 crowns per plant), but if you go to the other extreme (> 6 crowns) fruit size will potentially decrease to the point where small fruit size becomes a marketing problem. Significant fruit size depression occurs on 8-10 crown plants. When planting in the fall it is important to set the plants so that the midpoint of the crown is level with the soil surface. If the plant is set too deep, the plant may die as the “growing point” (at the tip of the crown) may have been covered in soil. If the plant is set too shallow, the root system of a bare-root fresh dug plant will be exposed.

Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Fruit; Leaves.
Fruit – raw. Fruits of the best cultivars are sweet and succulent with an exquisite flavou. Strawberries are a very popular fruit and are widely available in the summer. The fruit of some cultivars is up to 3cm in diameter. Young leaves – raw.

The Best Way to Enjoy Strawberries:
The great thing about strawberries is that they are delicious by themselves and you can obtain all of their benefits with very little effort. They’re best eaten raw at room temperature.

One can also mix strawberries with other fruits. Pineapples, kiwis, grapes, apples, blueberries, papayas and bananas all go well with strawberries.

To preserve their freshness, it’s best that you store them in the coldest area of the refrigerator. Before eating, first wash them with water and pat them dry with paper towels.

There is a reason why strawberries are easily located and widely loved — they are one of the most versatile and nutritious foods one can consume. They can be prepared in any number of ways but no version tops in flavor or promotes optimal health more effectively than the raw strawberry.

Medicinal Uses:
Despite their diminutive size, strawberries are chock full of vitamins and nutrients essential for optimal health. They possess 129 percent of the daily recommended value of the immune boosting superstar vitamin C. Strawberries also contain phytonutrients that can help fight inflammation throughout your body.

Additionally, strawberries help fight free radicals in our body. A study reported that fisetin, a flavonoid found in strawberries, can kill breast cancer cells without harming healthy, normal cells. Fisetin is also powerful against colon and prostate cancer cells.

Known Hazards:
Strawberries contain fructose, so consume them in moderation. Excessive fructose may be harmful to your health in the long run.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry
*file:///C:/Users/coole/AppData/Local/Temp/w2xpb46b.tmp/Berry%20Plant%20Structure%20Poling.pdf
*http://www.drmercola.com/health-foods-2/strawberry-the-little-fruit-with-big-benefits/

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