We also say'they that they have aromatic fruits with notes of pineapple and rose. We are a long way from sweet, conical, strawberry-red strawberries. We say to ourselves that these are surely very hybridized strawberries. In fact it's quite the opposite.
If hybrid strawberries are the result of complex crosses between wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca), wild strawberries (Virginian Fragaria) and the strawberry from the island of Chiloé, or Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), the cultivars of the Alpine strawberry, which we also call every month strawberry or Alpine strawberry, and, wrongly, wild strawberry, come from fairly pure lines. In fact, it is a natural variety of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), the wild strawberry always in flower, Fragaria vesca var. semperflorens which has been hybridized very little. There are mainly varieties with red fruits and a few others with yellow, cream or whitish fruits. The size of the fruits is between the small wild or field strawberry and the large hybrid strawberry.
What does this information say? Two things. As they are not complex hybrids, the plants can be propagated by seed, unlike large strawberries which can only be propagated by stolons or division. This is why at Jardins de l'écoumène we offer them in the form of seeds. Her name semperflorens indicates that they are still in flower… and therefore in fruit.
Portrait of an unusual strawberry
Like all alpine strawberries, the cultivar 'Yellow Wonder' is a perennial plant which forms a compact clump, with rosettes of bright green, evergreen leaves. Strawberry plants of all months have the particularity of not producing stolons. After 1 to 2 years, the plants are 30 cm high and 60 cm wide. From late spring to late summer, small white flowers appear in very loose clusters. They are followed by small, long fruits, 1,5 to 3 cm (1/2 to 1'') which are harvested from early summer to mid-autumn.
Alpine strawberries grow in full sun. It tolerates partial shade, but fruit production is less abundant. It likes rich, fresh and well-drained soil with a pH close to neutral. Because of its alpine origins, it is very hardy, up to zone 3a.
It can be used as a ground cover, in flower beds or containers. In a pot, like Smart Pot You need approximately 4 liters of potting soil per plant, i.e. a pot 23 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep.
Propagation by sowing
Sowing is done indoors, 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Seeds, which require light to germinate, are sown on the surface. We simply press the soil lightly to ensure that the seeds adhere well to the soil. We maintain a temperature between 18 and 22°C. If necessary, transplanting is carried out. Germination time varies from 7 to 20 days, sometimes more. Plant outside when all risk of frost has passed and the soil has a minimum temperature of 15°C.
An easy culture
When planting, allow for a distance within the row of 60 cm and between rows of 60 cm. For decorative planting, leave between 30 to 40 cm all around the plant. Once established, we ensure that the plant receives approximately 3 cm (1'') of water per week. We generally water during hot and dry periods, avoiding soaking the soil.
This plant loves rich soils, we make a good contribution of compost and biochar before planting. Depending on the richness of the soil before planting. We can make 1 to 2 contributions ofnatural fertilizer during the season. In a container, plant it in rich soil.
As for insect pests and diseases, they are the same as for other strawberries.
A continuous harvest
The first year, the harvest begins 75 to 150 days after sowing depending on the growing region. From mid-summer to early fall. In subsequent years, harvests begin at the beginning of summer and continue until fall and sometimes even until the first frost.
How do you know if fruits, such as alpine strawberries 'Yellow Wonder', are very ripe? You can trust the color. They then take on a more pronounced yellow tint. A good method is to pull on the fruit. If it comes off, it is ripe; if it resists, it is not fully ripened.
Because strawberries stop ripening after picking, they should be picked when ripe. The only drawback of this variety of strawberries is that they do not store well. No matter, we eat them as soon as we pick them… and thus benefit from all their nutritional benefits.
