The Strawberry varietal refers to a type of strawberry plant and its resulting fruit. There are actually several hundred varieties of strawberries that fall under three general categories: June-bearing, Everbearing, and Day-Neutral. However, regardless of its specific variety, the fruit has common traits.
Generally, strawberries are typically heart-shaped and red when ripe, with small yellow seeds dotting their surface. The size of the fruit can vary, but most strawberry varieties produce medium-sized fruits. The taste of a ripe strawberry is described as sweet, a little tart, and very juicy, with a wonderfully appealing fragrance. Moreover, it contains high amounts of vitamin C and health-beneficial antioxidants.
Strawberry plants are usually small and low-growing with trifoliate leaves (i.e., composed of three leaflets). Most varieties prefer full sun and yield a plentiful crop in the early-to-lid-summer, although there are everbearing and day-neutral varieties that can produce fruit throughout the growing season. Strawberries are best grown in well-drained, sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter.
Amongst the popular varieties are 'Sweet Charlie', 'Chandler', 'Albion', 'Honeoye', and 'Elsanta', each with their unique flavor, size, and growth characteristics.
