Here are our first strawberries of the year. Six white Alpine strawberries.
They are white, a little on the small side, but taste like normal strawberries. In fact they have a really nice and intense strawberry flavor.
I’ve just planted some in the garden, but they won’t produce berries the first year until late in the season. These were grown on our roof. We regularly have birds attack other plants, but not these. The birds can’t see these berries because they aren’t red. We don’t do anything to protect the plants from the birds.
Most strawberries are genetically pre-programmed to give their harvest in one go. This is handy for the farmer, who can plan the harvest in advance, but not really useful for the rest of us who would probably prefer to have a continuous supply of fresh strawberries through the summer. While these plants are not very heavy croppers, the do offer a continuous harvest. They are great for either having a few plants around for that odd handful of berries for the morning cereal, or planting more plants to allow for larger harvests. I have about 8 plants, and at most I usually get about 10 berries at a time.
Unlike most strawberries, these are grown from seed. Seeds are pretty easy to save, just break the berries apart with your fingers in a bowl of water. The seeds will sink to the bottom, and the other material can be rinsed off (this is a little harder than it sounds, and takes some practice). The seeds can be dried on a paper coffee filter. The seeds need a period of cold before they will germinate, so put them in the freezer for about a month or use some other method of stratifying them. They grow slow and get easily lost in the weeds when they are young, so it’s usually easier to start them in weed free medium like potting soil.
If anyone wants some seeds, let me know and I’ll send you some. I have a waiting list right now, and not enough seeds, so it may be a few months before I can actually send them. You can let me know now you want them and I’ll add you to the list.
Hi Patrick, nice piece about a fairly unusual fruit. They sound delicious.
Ian
Patrick, you never cease to amaze me! Strawberries on your roof sounds like paradise to me where I can’t grow them for the heat – try as I might with much money spent on so many different varieties over the years!
Good strawberries are rare. Grow them well and eat them slow!
I have some Alpine Strawberry seeds which someone gave me on little sticks that look like matches – but I’ve never used them.
Although they are small, I still don’t think we have space for them.
Do you need to put straw under them like ordinary strawberries? (Perhaps not on your roof – but in the ordinary way of things?)
Esther
Kate: I never really thought of heat as being limiting with strawberries. At least Alpine strawberries will grow in a pretty shady spot, but you probably already tried this. On my roof they only get about 2 hours of sunlight per day.
Esther: When fully grown, the plants are kind of large. The plants are much taller than ordinary strawberries, and so make good use of vertical space.
I don’t think you would need to use straw. The berries mostly form in the air, and don’t usually touch the ground. In addition, the plants grow densely and do a good job of smothering the weeds once fully established.
Esther, I just planted out some alpine strawberry plants which I started from seed. I tucked the plants into little spaces between perennials in shady spots. I also have some planted in my window boxes where I’ve also planted nasturtium seeds. My regular strawberries seem to seed in crowded spots and even in the lawn so I figured the alpines should do okay.
Hi Patrick,
I never heard of these strawberries. They sound as perfect solution to a strawberry lover 🙂 which I am. And of course I am very unhappy with always too short strawberry season. So please get me on the waiting list for seeds 🙂
Greetings,
Ewa
Hi Ewa, No problem, I’m going to send you an email.
Hi Patrick! just heard that kind of strawberry. It sounds great. i have some strawberries at my garden and would like to add some. So, if you can include me in your waiting list? that would really be great.
Best regards,
Edna
Hi Edna, no problem. I’ll send you an email to get your address from you.
Hiya! I know im late to jump on the bandwagon here, but if you do have any leftover seeds, i would love to try growing them here in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. We are very high altitude. Send me an email if you happen to have any seeds left, or any other seeds that might do well in high altitudes. Would love to experiment and let you know what happens!
Thanks!
Emily
I am looking for some white alpine strawberries. I would prefer plants if anyone has them and if not, I would consider seeds. Thanks in advance!!!
***Andrea***
Hi Andrea,
I don’t know if they will send them in the mail, but Bishop’s Homegrown has plants for sale:
http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com/2009/03/spring-is-sprung.html
Since I’m in Europe, I can’t send you a live plant. But I’ll send you an email to find out if you want some seeds from me.
hi Patrick, if you have any this year (2009) I would love to try these white strawberries. Thanks.
betti fletcher
10 pinewood rd
howell, nj 07731
Hi Patrick, I think my wife would love to try growing your White Alpine strawberries. If you’re still checking this tread and still have some seeds available please let us know. We live in Hong Kong and our strawberry growing season is from December to April.
we had the white strawberries on the family farm in Scandia,Pennsylvania. I never knew they were called alpine, makes perfect sense. i still pick some now and then.
Hi Patrick,
I’ve just started a flat of red Alpine strawberries from seed. I came on this blog doing a search on Alpine strawberries. But I giggled seeing your webaddress. I believe I’ve heard you on the AKG podcasts.
I found your discussion here very helpful. If you are still offering seeds of the white Alpine strawberries, I’d be thrilled to get them. I’m in the U.S. Send me an email with your address and I’ll send you a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope to send the seeds.