Red strawberries are delightful but revived. Old pineberries are a better dietary and flavor choice. They are difficult to obtain in stores but simple to cultivate at home.
Little red strawberries were initially introduced to Europe around 1650 thanks to a sailor who brought them from North America (red scarlets). Once again, a European sailor returned to Europe with the first white strawberries from South America over a century later.
Around the year 1750, a chance hybridization between two distinct strawberry species resulted in Fragaria Ananassa, the ancestor of all contemporary strawberries. It had both white and red seedlings available.
Since the white berries were fertile females, they were given the name pineberries, whereas the red berries, since they were fertile males, were given the name strawberries.
Due to the red strawberry’s superior yields and ease of pollination, it replaced the pineberry as the most popular commercial berry.
In the past 20 years, pineberries have exploded in popularity because of a trademarked variety developed by Dutch breeder Hans de Jongh. The tiny berries seem like regular strawberries on the outside, but their flesh is a soft white pink, and their seeds are red instead of yellow.
There have been rumors that their taste combines elements of both pineapple and red strawberries.
Some argue that pineberries are healthier and tastier than conventional strawberries because they contain more vitamins A, antioxidants, and C. Waitrose, a British supermarket company, said the berries are making a comeback a decade after their first release.
Pineberries, because of their lower yields and short shelf life, are difficult to locate in U.S. grocery shops, with the exception of a few specialty merchants in NY, California, and Washington.
- They are surprisingly simple to cultivate.
- Pineberries are fairly similar to strawberries to cultivate, with the exception that they won’t self-seed.
- Pineberries can only produce fruit if there are adjacent strawberries to pollinate them.
- Planting pineberries among several different kinds of red strawberries can assure the success of the pineberries and extend the harvest season for the strawberries.
- Pineberries thrive in USDA hardiness zones 4-8, covering most of the United States, and may be grown in containers to avoid the effects of harsh weather.
- They must have a consistently wet environment with adequate drainage.
Either purchase a high-quality soil mix specifically designed for growing strawberries or combine the following ingredients to create your own:
- Potting soil, sterilized, ten parts
- Ten parts peat moss
- 8 parts perlite
- Composting: 4 parts yard waste
- An Equivalent Amount of Sand
Pineberries thrive in the shade of trees and do best on soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
Plant containers or a garden where they will get 8-10 hours of strong indirect light in addition to the 6 hours of direct sunshine.
Leave a distance of 12 inches between each plant for the runners to spread. Continue summertime feedings with a liquid fertilizer. Gather when they are plump and a light pink color.
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