Fragaria vesca 'Baron Solemacher'

The 'Baron Solemacher' Strawberry is a woodland strawberry native to Germany, whose fruit, larger than that of the typical woodland strawberry, is oblong in shape with prominent seeds. This cultivar, created in 1935, is perpetual, offering continuous flowering from early spring until the end of summer. It is a delight to pick and consume the fruits directly from the plant, as their flavor is delicate and aromatic. This is sure to excite children!
The flowers charmingly dot the edges of vegetable garden pathways, balconies, and patios. The harvest begins in late spring and continues until the first frost. This variety does not produce any runners and only propagates through sowing.

The strawberry is a perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. Known throughout Europe since ancient times, it naturally grows in all the undergrowth of temperate regions. However, most of the juicy strawberries cultivated in our gardens are hybrids derived from a species native to Chile, brought back by the navigator Amédé François Frézier. There are indeed several species of strawberries, the main ones being: Fragaria vesca, or Woodland Strawberry, known for producing particularly aromatic small fruits; Fragaria moschata, or Musk Strawberry; Fragaria viridis, or Green Strawberry - also known as Valley Strawberry - less desirable due to the acidity of its fruits; and finally, Fragaria chiloensis, or Chilean Strawberry. These are wild strawberries. The large-fruited strawberries cultivated today are mostly derived from Fragaria x ananassa species, which originated from Fragaria chiloensis and another American species, Fragaria virginiana.

The strawberry has a spreading habit that can reach 40cm (16in) in width and height. The evergreen leaves are trifoliate, obovate, with well-toothed edges, and form dark green rosettes. Its flowering is characterized by a multitude of small white, yellow, or pink flowers with golden hearts. Then, depending on the varieties, they produce mostly red fruits, but recent cultivars offer pink, yellow, or white strawberries. Botanically speaking, strawberries are considered pseudocarps, with the achenes (seeds) protruding from the epidermis.

The flavour of the strawberry is very delicate and is characterized by a sweet and fruity aroma, sometimes with a slight tangy note in the background. We can distinguish non-perpetual varieties that flower only once a year in spring from perpetual varieties that flower twice a year or continuously from spring to autumn. Strawberries are a fruit rich in vitamins B8 and B9, very rich in vitamins C and E, and provitamin A. They are known for their remineralizing, hypotensive, and purifying properties. It is worth noting that they can cause skin irritation for some people, as they stimulate the release of histamine in the body.

Harvesting: pick the fruits as they ripen on the plants. Strawberries are delicate, so pick them with their peduncle by pinching the stem 1 to 2cm (0 to 1in) above it. The texture of the fruit is a good indicator of its ripeness. It should be firm and yield slightly to pressure.

Storage: strawberries are best consumed fresh, either on their own, with cream, or as a topping for tarts. They can be stored for about a week in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. When they have been bruised or scratched, they will not keep as long. If you have a large harvest, keep in mind that strawberries are delicate fruits. To extend their shelf life, consider using sugar, the best friend of fruits. Naturally, you can make jams, marmalades, compotes, or syrups. Of course, you can also make ice cream or sorbet, but they will not keep as long. Another option is to dry the strawberries in the oven, slicing them into thin slices of at least 1mm, which can be added to your muesli. Finally, strawberries freeze very well. Small containers for freezing are now available for small fruits like strawberries, raspberries, or currants, etc.

Gardener's tip: strawberry plants are good companions for garlic, beans, lettuce, onions, leeks, thyme, and spinach. However, they do not appreciate the company of cabbage and other brassicas.