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Legend
- Start Indoors
- Transplant
- Start Outdoors
- Care
- Harvest
- Succession Plant
Strawberry : Gurney's Whopper Strawberries
Early season
Sweet and Delicious Berries as Big as Peaches!
Hardy
Multiply Rapidly
Produce Prolific Crops
These hardy, prolific plants produce dozens of sweet, delicious berries as big as peaches.
When the first plants of this variety were introduced to European gardeners several years ago, most everyone was skeptical. Giant-sized fruits of many kinds had been offered before. While they often grew like weeds, most often the fruits they produced had about as much taste as a piece of cardboard. And, even if there was some value to the fruit, all too often the plants put on a single show and then died away quickly, never to return.
But the venturesome European gardeners who decided to try Whopper Strawberries quickly lost all skepticism. Not only did the plants grow with special vigor, but the giant berries they produced—four times the size of normal strawberries—were exceptionally sweet, juicy and delicious.
Even after some of the especially harsh winters Europe experienced, the original plants kept multiplying and proved to be extremely hardy, producing an ever-increasing crop of delicious fruit year after year.
Gurney’s experts followed the development of these amazing plants. As soon as reports of great success in home gardens throughout Europe began coming in, we arranged to obtain a quantity of select growing stock. Now, this growing stock has produced a sufficient quantity of plants, so we can offer these amazing Whopper Strawberries to selected American gardeners.
Easy to Grow
You’ll find Whopper Strawberries easy to grow in nearly any sunny garden. Or you can plant them for their outstanding, decorative beauty in a bed alongside the house or patio, or to edge a walk or driveway. Many gardeners report they make one of the finest ground covers they’ve ever planted.
Whopper Strawberries are extremely hardy and disease free. They have survived in all kinds of climates and multiply rapidly year after year.
Rosaceae Fragaria x ananassa
This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.
Strawberry: June Bearing
Gurney's Whopper Strawberries
These were the original garden strawberries and produce a single large crop over a period of several weeks in early summer (which is why they are called June bearers). You may be able to extend the harvest season to a couple of months by planting several varieties (early, mid-season and late). A single large crop may be a problem if you only like fresh berries, but it's fine if you are growing for sale or preserving.
Be aware that they don't produce a crop until their second season of growth.
The June bearers have declined in popularity with the introduction of the more versatile, longer bearing types, but they can produce exceptionally flavored fruit.
Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Perennial
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Strawberries are hardy during the Winter and can withstand frost. It is important to plant your berries in a place that is sheltered from Spring frosts, as strawberries become very tender once they blossom.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant, Fall Transplant
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- Early
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot
Strawberries love sunshine. They will tolerate moderate shade, but they produce significantly better when they are planted in an area that receives full daytime sun. Plants will tolerate frost, but should be protected before.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 60°F - 90°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 60°F
Plant strawberries as early as you can so you can get growth going. You'll have to wait until the soil is at least 60F.
- Start Indoors
- No
- Start Outdoors
- No
- Light
- Water
- Moderate
Strawberries must have a steady supply of water at all times, but especially during flowering and fruiting. Water is also very important in fall when next year's flower buds are developing. If they are dry at this time it can affect the following year's crop.
The plants should receive at least 1" of water per week, though of course the exact quantity needed will depend upon the growing conditions. Drip irrigation works best as it keeps leaves and fruit dry, which reduces the potential for serious fungus and disease problems.
- Feeder
- Heavy
Strawberries are fairly hungry plants and should be given plenty of nutrients (especially phosphorus and potassium) for maximum fruit production.
- Suitability
- Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Needs summer shade
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- Yes
Strawberries are an excellent candidate for container growing, and will thrive in almost any size container so long as it drains well. Fill the container with a good, loamy potting mix and add fertilizer as necessary. Plant the strawberries so that the root is fully covered and the crown is just above the soil line.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- Yes
- Color
- Red
- Fruit Size
- 1.0 - 2.0"
- Plant Height
- 6.0 - 8.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 10.0 - 12.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-10
- Disease Resistance
- -
- Taste Profile
Dark red, sweet fruit.
- Rotation Group
- Perennial
Last Frost Date (LFD) refers to the approximate date of the last killing frost of spring.
Example first frost date on April 08.
First Frost Date (FFD) refers to the approximate date of the first killing frost of winter.
Example first frost date on November 01.
