Summer Breeze™ Snow Strawberry - Fragaria x ananassa

The Summer Breeze™ Snow strawberry revolutionizes the ornamental edible garden with its striking, pure white double flowers that resemble miniature gardenias. This everbearing variety is more than just a visual treat; it produces an abundance of sweet, juicy berries from late spring until the first autumn frosts. Its compact habit and neat appearance make it the perfect candidate for elevating containers and hanging baskets while keeping a gourmet harvest within easy reach.

Characteristics

• Foliage : Dark green, glossy trifoliate leaves forming a dense, compact mound that beautifully frames the blooms.
• Flowers / Fruit : Exceptional snowy white double blossoms followed by conical, bright red, flavorful strawberries.
• Light Requirements : Full sun is essential to maximize fruit sweetness and ensure prolific flowering.
• Habit : Bushy, compact, and slightly trailing, making it ideal for spilling elegantly over the edges of pots.
• Growth : Fast-growing; reaches approximately 30 cm in height with a 30 to 40 cm spread.
• Soil : Prefers soil rich in organic matter, loose, and above all, well-drained.
• Temperature : Excellent hardiness, well-suited for Canadian Zone 3.
• Resistance : High resistance to common foliage diseases and handles summer heat well if soil moisture is maintained.

Use

• Types of Use : Perfect for containers, hanging baskets, raised beds, or as a decorative edible border in the garden.
• Ornamental Benefits : Blends the aesthetics of a flowering plant with the productivity of a small fruit; the double white flowers create a stunning contrast against the red berries.

Maintenance

• Watering : Maintain regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during fruiting and heatwaves. Avoid wetting the foliage.
• Fertilization : Apply a natural fruit fertilizer high in potassium at the start of the growing season and repeat according to instructions to support continuous production.
• Pruning : Remove runners (stolons) to direct the plant's energy toward flower and fruit production. Clean away old foliage in early spring.
• Planting : Set the crown at soil level (do not bury it too deep) with a 30 cm spacing between plants.
• Winter Protection : In the ground, apply a thick layer of straw mulch after the first hard frost. In containers, provide protection against freeze-thaw cycles or bury the pot.