Sparkle Strawberry Plant

Sparkle Strawberry is the perfect June-bearing strawberry to grow in colder zones. The flowers are late to bud and open, making them less likely to be harmed by late-season frosts. For over 60 years, Fragaria ananassa ‘Sparkle’ has been a favorite for those wanting to grow fruit both to eat fresh and preserve for the winter. The bright red fruit is medium sized and very sweet, perfect for jams, pies, and freezing for winter smoothies.  

Sparkle Strawberry Care Plant 

Plant strawberries early in the spring as soon as the soil warms and is dry enough to dig. Plant the strawberries in well-draining soil with plenty of organic compost added to make it friable and moisture retentive. Space plants at least 12 inches apart on center and in a zig-zag pattern down a 3-foot row. This configuration allows for daughter runner plants to fill in later in the season. Watering with drip irrigation or soaker hoses is perfect for keeping the foliage of strawberries clean and disease-free. Mulch with clean straw or pine straw mulch to keep plants warm during cold weather and keep the fruit from getting muddy as it ripens. 

Growing Sparkle Strawberry Plant

June-bearing strawberries should not be harvested until the second year after planting. Deadhead flowers the first year so that the plants will send energy to the roots. June-bearing strawberries produce well for 3-5 years, after which the bed should be renovated. Runners should be limited to 2-3 per plant. More daughter plants will sap the energy from the main plant.

Sparkle Strawberries can be successfully grown in pots and hanging baskets for use in a smaller garden or even on the patio of an apartment. Use a soil-based potting mix that has added perlite for drainage and lightness. Fertilize plants with a diluted liquid fertilizer from April to June once a month. Strawberries can also be added to mixed planters for a unique splash of foliage and color. Since strawberries are perennial, they will benefit from regular repotting in the early spring. 

Watering Sparkle Strawberry Plant

Strawberries prefer consistently moist soil. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, and continue watering in the fall while temperatures are over 50 degrees F.

Feeding Sparkle Strawberry Plant

Strawberries are not hungry plants but benefit from a seasonal application of granular fertilizer. Early in the spring, scratch in fertilizer made for tomatoes over the root zone. 

Sparkle Strawberry Plant Information