Cottage Farms M89430 Eversweet Strawberries Live Plants User Guide

June 9, 2024
Cottage Farms

Cottage Farms M89430 Eversweet Strawberries Live Plants

*Image on cover is representative of the type of plant(s) in this offer and not necessarily indicative of actual size or color for the included variety.

QUICK REFERENCE PLANTING GUIDE

LIGHT/SUN EXPOSURE|

Full sun.

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USDA HARDINESS ZONES|

4 to 8.

PLANT TYPE| Perennial.
PLANTING DISTANCE IN-GROUND|

At least 12 inches apart.

CONTAINER SIZE

| One plant per 6 inch or larger container.
MATURE HEIGHT/SPREAD| 10 to 12 inches tall with a 12 to 18 inch spread.
BLOOM TIME| Spring to summer.
TIME TO REACH MATURITY|

12 months.

FACTS OF NOTE

| Edible berries. Everbearing.

Great for eating fresh or adding to desserts.

SOIL PREPARATION

SOIL PREPARATION

We recommend having your soil tested periodically by your local County Extension Office (www.nifa.usda.gov/extension or by calling 1-800-333-4636). A soil test can determine if your soil needs any amendments to enhance the growth and performance of your plants.
Ideal garden soil is easy to dig in and drains well while still holding the nutrients and water vital to plant growth. To prepare a bed for in-ground planting, spade or till the soil to a depth of roughly 12-18 inches. Next, spread a 2-4 inch layer of organic matter such as compost, shredded leaves or peat moss over the soil and mix well.

Thank you tor your order.
Your satisfaction is of primary concern to us. Please use the tollowing resources tor questions regarding your order:

cottagefarmsdirect.com
help@cottagefarmsdirect.com
facebook.com/cottagefarmsdirect
@cottagefarms
pinterest.com/cottagefarms
@cottagetarmsdirect
888-593-3644
9960 Padgett Switch Rd. Irvington, Alabama 36544

Cottage Farms Guarantee

We aren’t happy if you aren’t happy. Cottage Farms warrants its perennials for one year and annuals for 90 days from the time of the shipment. If for any reason you are dissatistied, Cottage Farms will replace your plant with a similar or comparable one at no charge. It your replacement is not available or it is too late in the season to ship, it will ship the following shipping season.

Caution: Do not assume any plant is safe to eat. Only parts of plants expressly grown to be eaten should be considered edible. As with any product that is not food, care should be taken to make sure that small |children and pets do not ingest any part of a plant that is not expressly grown to be eaten.
Unless specifically stated, this product is intended for ornamental horticultural use only and is not intended toor consumption or ingestion by humans or pets. Most plants are harmless but some contain toxic substances which can cause adverse heath effects. Furthermore, some individuals and some animals are sensitive or allergic to certain plants and precautions should be taken to limit or avoid physical| contact with particular plants. Some plants have thorns or spines that can be painful if handled.
In case of ingestion, contact a poison control center immediately. 1-800-222-1222

OUT OF THE BOX

STRAWBERRIES SKU #M89430
Your plants have been shipped to you in bare root form. Please remove the plants from the packaging right away and plant them as soon as possible following the planting instructions below. If it is not possible to plant them right away, follow these important steps.

  1. Place the plants in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator, unheated garage or basement.
  2. Keep the roots moist by using a spray bottle to mist them.
    Note : Occasionally, bare root plants may arrive with a small amount of mold on them. This is caused by temperature changes encountered in shipping and does not harm the plant. As long as the bare root divisions are firm, simply wipe any mold off with a paper towel and plant them.

SHIPPED AS BAREROOT DIVISIONS.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

Important: It is crucial to plant bare root strawberries correctly. Planting too deeply can damage the crown and kill the plant. Dig a shallow hole roughly 6 inches wide and spread the roots flat over the soil. Carefully adjust the height of the crown to ensure it is just above ground level. Cover with soil so the planting area is level, then water thoroughly.

CONTINUING CARE

WATERING| Adequate and consistent watering is essential during your plant’s first year in the garden. Infrequent, long soakings of water that thoroughly saturate the soil are more effective than frequent, light applications of water.

Due to variable geographical and environmental conditions, a specific watering schedule is difficult to define. However, as a rule of thumb, you should not allow the soil or the original root ball to completely dry out. During the first summer, you may need to water as often as every few days in periods of drought and extreme summer heat. To determine if your plant needs water, dig a few inches into the soil next to the plant. If the soil is dry 2-3 inches below the surface, it is time to water.

Over-watering can be as damaging as under-watering. Be sure that the area surrounding your plant has adequate drainage to move water away from the plant. If you choose to plant in a container, always select one with drainage holes to prevent your plant’s roots from sitting in water.

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MULCHING| Apply a 2-4 inch layer of shredded bark, compost, leaves, straw or other organic matter around your plants to promote moisture retention, maintain even soil temperatures and discourage weed growth.

Replenish the mulch as needed.

WEEDING| Keep the area around your plants free of weeds. Weeds compete with surrounding plants for food, water and light. Walk around the garden periodically and pull weeds, including the roots, as soon as you

see them.

FEEDING| Feed your plants once every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Cottage Farms’ Bud-N-Flower Booster for Fruits and Vegetables (SKU #M11912). Discontinue feeding after September 1st so your plants can harden off for winter dormancy. Resume fertilizing when new

growth appears in spring.

PRUNING| In the first year, strawberries may produce flowers that result in few berries. Some gardeners choose to pinch off any blooms that emerge the first year. This allows the plants to devote their energy to developing a stronger root system rather than bearing fruit, resulting to sturdier plants and better fruit production in subsequent years.

Once the foliage has died back in fall, cut each plant back to four inches or less. New growth will emerge in spring as temperatures rise.

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HARVESTING| Pick strawberries when the fruits have changed from green to red but still feel firm. Cut or pinch the stems to gently remove the berries from the plant. After picking, store the berries in the refrigerator and do not wash them until you are ready to use them. The sweet, nutritious berries can be eaten fresh, preserved or used for cooking. Do not consume any

other part of the plant.

WINTERIZING| Watering thoroughly in late fall will greatly enhance your plant’s cold tolerance once the ground has frozen.

The time to winterize your plants is in late fall. When winterizing perennials, keep in mind that the root system is the most vulnerable to cold damage. Mulch heavily by mounding a 6-8 inch layer of shredded bark, compost, leaves, straw or other organic material over the crown of each plant to prevent winter damage.

In very cold areas, containerized plants can be brought into an unheated, protected area such as a garage or cellar before temperatures drop below freezing. Check soil moisture every 2-3 weeks and water as needed during winter.

In spring, remove mulch from in-ground plantings. Containerized plants should be moved back  out into the garden sunlight where they will begin to repeat their yearly garden performance.

2023 Cottage Farms Printed in USA

References

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

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Download This Manual (PDF format)

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