Charlotte Strawberry - Fragaria x ananassa 'Charlotte'

Savour the ultimate garden treat with the 'Charlotte' strawberry. Renowned for its intoxicating aroma reminiscent of wild strawberries, this everbearing variety is a top favourite among Canadian gardeners. Grow a vigorous and productive plant that delivers sweet, firm, bright red berries from late June until the first autumn frosts.

Characteristics and Flavour Profile

• Taste and Texture: The fruit stands out with high sugar content and very low acidity. The flesh is firm, juicy, and gives off an irresistible woody aroma.
• Fruiting: An everbearing variety, it produces a heavy crop in June followed by successive waves throughout the summer.
• Foliage: Beautiful dark green, dense, and glossy foliage that provides good protection for the berries from direct sun.
• Dimensions: Reaches approximately 25 to 30 cm in height with a spread of 30 to 40 cm.
• Hardiness: Very hardy (Zone 3), surviving harsh winters remarkably well with minimal protection.
• Resistance: Naturally resistant to foliage diseases and powdery mildew.

Usage: Beauty and Productivity

• Vegetable Gardens and Borders: Creates beautiful edible borders along paths or in raised beds.
• Container Gardening: Ideal for pots and window boxes on balconies due to its compact habit.
• Consumption: Exceptional for fresh eating, fruit salads, or topping fine desserts where its wild strawberry aroma can truly shine.

Maintenance and Fertilization

• Watering: Requires regular watering to keep the soil moist. Avoid wetting the foliage to prevent fungal diseases.
• Fertilization: To support continuous production, apply a natural potassium-rich fertilizer every 15 days during the fruiting season.
• Cleaning: Remove runners to focus the plant's energy on producing large, high-quality berries.
• Winter Protection: In the ground, cover plants with a clean straw mulch once the ground has frozen.

Companion Planting

Maximize the vigour of your 'Charlotte' strawberry by creating a beneficial guild alongside it. Garlic (Allium sativum) or Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) act as natural guardians, deterring certain pests and helping to prevent fungal diseases. To boost pollination, plant Borage (Borago officinalis) nearby; it attracts bees and is said to enhance the flavour of the berries. In containers or garden beds, French Marigolds (Tagetes patula) will protect the roots against soil-borne nematodes.