Growing Strawberries

Low-growing, perennial strawberry plants can be a colorful and rewarding addition to virtually any home garden. The most commonly grown strawberry plant, by commercial and home growers alike, is Fragaria x ananassa, also known as the garden strawberry. This desirable species of strawberry plant is a complex hybrid species that grows between 4 to 6 inches in height. Nearly all commercial strawberry growers use it in their farming operations. 

Plant Form – Strawberry plants consist of leaves, roots, a crown, runners and daughter plants. Plants spread by stolons, also known as runners.  Runners develop from axillary leaf buds, stretching the plant horizontally. The crown, also known as the mother plant, is where leaves and axillary buds are formed. Daughter plants form at every other node of the runners. Daughter plants are maintained by the runners until they form an independent root system. Once their roots are fully formed, the runners dry up, leaving a completely separate new clone plant. The sweet edible part of the strawberry is actually an accessory fruit, composed largely of swollen receptacle tissue. The real fruit are achenes, which are the small black dots that cover the outer surface. Strawberry fruit ripens anywhere from 20 to 50 days following pollination. When this occurs depends largely on where strawberries are planted. Strawberries grow practically everywhere in the United States, ranging from USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11. Strawberries generally fruit when night temperatures are greater than 50 degrees and day temperatures are less than 80 degrees.

Site Selection – Strawberries thrive in well-drained, sandy loam soil with a high degree of organic matter. The site should receive full sunlight at least 6 hours per day.  Ideally, the soil should have a very gradual slope for better drainage and a pH between 5.8 and 6.2.

Planting - Plants should be set with the middle of the crown level with the top of the soil. In Florida, strawberry plants are generally treated like an annual. New plants are planted ever growing season because of likely pest build-up. In more northern locations, strawberries will likely last around 3 years. Never plant strawberries after the beginning of August. The tender plants are likely to die from frost damage.

Harvest - Strawberries are tender fruit that bruise easily, so they are best hand-picked. Select only berries that are at least three-quarters red and allow the rest to remain in the plant to ripen. If berries are for immediate consumption, select only berries that are completely red. Keep in mind, berries will turn red after being picked, but they will not sweeten off the wine.  Remove any unripened berries to reduce pest infestation or disease outbreak.

References

University of Florida Okeechobee County Extension Service; Strawberry Gardening; Dan Culbert; Nov. 2004

University of Illinois Extension: Growing Strawberries

University of Minnesota Extension; Commercial Strawberry Production in Minnesota; Emily Hoover, et al.; 1990

Strawberry Plants.org: Strawberry Plant

Height of a Strawberry Plant; ehow

How to Identify a Sweetgum Tree

The sweetgum is a very adaptable, fast-growing, deciduous tree with dark green, star-shaped foliage. It is grown throughout USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9, and it will perform equally well in wet or dry soil. Here are just a few distinguishing characteristics that can be used to positively identify this somewhat under-appreciated shade tree.  

Tree Habit/Form – Sweetgum trees grow fairly tall. Mature trees typically grow between 60 to 80 feet tall and 40 to 60 feet in width; however, it is possible for sweetgums to reach 120 feet in height. When young, trees have a very symmetrical pyramidal tree from. The trunk is straight, upright and undivided. In general, side branches are small. With age, sweetgums become increasingly rounded in form as branches expand in diameter and become more dominant.

Buds and Corky projections – Look to trees terminal buds. Sweetgum terminal buds will be shiny, sticky and somewhat bulbous. Sometimes , but not always, sweetgums will have raised corky growth on branches. Corky projections are most often associated with particularly fast-growing trees within the species.

Leaves – The glossy green star-shaped leaves of the sweetgum are somewhat maple tree-like. Leaves are simple, alternately arranged, with 5 to 7 lobes. Leaves are approximately 4 to 8 inches in length. Leaves emit a distinct which hazel aroma when crushed. In the fall, sweetgums display vibrant color.

Fruit – Sweetgum have very distinctive spiky, spherical, brown fruit that is approximately 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Seeds within the fruit emerge through superficial openings. Sweetgum fruit first appears on the tree in a small, green form. As it matures, the fruit becomes hard, brown and woody. Sweetgums are best planted away from hard surfaces or parking lots, since the fruit can cause slip-and-falls.

References:

The Ohio State University: Liquidambar styraciflua    
"Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates"; Bijan Deghan; 1998
University of Connecticut Plant Database: Liquidambar styraciflua
Virginia Technical Institute: Sweetgum  
Characteristics of Sweet Gum

Are Blackberries Self-Pollinated?

Blackberry shrubs are a trailing or upright plant – commonly cultivated for its tasty aggregate fruit. In terms of pollination, some blackberry plants are able to self-pollinate, while others require cross-pollination to set fruit. In general, trailing blackberries require cross-pollination while upright blackberries are able to self-pollinate. It should be noted that while some upright blackberries can self-pollinate, cross-pollinated blackberries tend to produce more fruit. Always try to plant at least two different types of blackberry cultivars with similar blooming times in close proximity to one another.

What is Pollination? Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a flower.  Self-pollinated plants are able to transfer pollen from the anther to the stigma on itself or on a plant of the same cultivar. Cross-pollinated plants require a different plant species for pollen exchange. In the absence of other plant cultivars, fruit will not be produced. In addition, not only must there be other cultivars, but they must within 200 feet of one another, and they must have overlapping bloom times.

How are blackberries pollinated? Blackberries rely heavily on the wind and bees to transfer pollen. Because wild bees can be unreliable, commercial growers will often place bee hives near blackberry crops. Blackberries contain individual pistils within inflorescences, which form the drupelets of the aggregate fruit. A majority of the individual pistils need to be pollinated in order to produce a large, fully formed fruit. Once pollinated, blackberries require between 35 to 45 days on the plant to mature.

References:

University of Florida IFAS Extension; Growing Blackberries, Blueberries, Grapes, and Muscadines at Home; Collin W. Adcock; 2006

University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service; Blackberries - A Luscious Home Grown Treat; Gene McAvoy

University of Florida IFAS Extension; Blackberry and Raspberry; Peter C. Andersen et al.; April 2008

North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service; Growing Blackberries in North Carolina; Gina E. Fernandez et al.; March 2000

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service; Pollination of Fruits and Nuts; B. Rosie Lerner et al.; December 2002

Do I Need Cross-Pollination For Blackberries; Christine McLachlan; March 2011

The Right Way to Grow Leyland Cypress

Leyland cypress are dense, attractive trees commonly used as specimen plants, formal hedges, screens, median plantings or Christmas trees. They are grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6a through 10a. Leyland cypress grow in a variety of soil types, including clay and sandy soils. They are tolerant of sea spray and grow in coastal locations. They are also able to endure severe pruning and tree topping.

Challenges - Even in poor soils, Leyland cypress grow an amazing 3 to 4 feet a year when young and it’s entirely possible that they may obtain heights greater than 50 feet when fully grown. Leyland cypress must be trimmed regularly to manage their form and height, starting their first year in the ground. Fortunately, this cypress tolerates severe pruning, but keep in mind that trimming tall hedges tends to be difficult and expensive. Leyland cypress are relatively short lived - typically living less than 50 years. In addition, the species has a disproportionately shallow root system that may cause the tree to topple over in wet soil or strong winds. This fast-growing evergreen also tends to shade out surrounding vegetation. Leyland cypress are not recommended for residential landscape use because even when routinely trimmed, Leyland cypress grow too large.

Trimming- Trim Leyland cypress early and often in life - during dry weather to minimize disease occurrence. Trim just before or during the growing season to avoid extended periods of brown patches on the plant. During the first few years, before the desired height is reached, trim only long side shoots. As the cypress grows larger, begin to trim the top but maintain an inverted wedge form. This encourages proper light distribution from the base to the top of the plant. Leyland cypress may be trimmed as needed up to three times during a single summer growing season.

Spacing - Avoid planting Leyland cypress too close to one another. Specimen Leyland cypress look best when they are allowed to retain their natural, pyramidal shape. For a continuous hedge or screen, provide at least 10 feet between seedlings. The plants quickly grow together, creating an effective visual screen. Provide as much space as possible from surrounding vegetation and structures, taking into account the mature size of the tree when planting.

References:

University of Florida IFAS Extension; x Cupressocyparis leylandii: Leyland Cypress; Edward F. Gilman, et al.; December 2006

Royal Horticultural Society; Leyland Cypress: Pruning; December 2010

Clemson University Cooperative Extension; Leyland Cypress; Debbie Shaughnessy; November 2007

Ehow: Can You Trim a Leyland Cypress? Christine McLachlan; February 2011