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Ozark Beauty Everbearing Strawberries were developed in Arkansas. They are one of the best strawberries available. They can adapt to a wide range of gowning environments in zones 4-8 where they grow best. The plants are vigorous and procure an incredible amount of strawberries. They are self-pollinating and will fruit the first year, and they can produce a crop in early summer than again in the fall.
The strawberries are big and very sweet and have a nice red color. Their sweetness, color and high yields have made Ozark Beauty one of the best selling commercial strawberries.
Strawberries are herbaceous perennials, although they tend to decline a bit faster in the Deep South, where they are usually treated as annuals. A well-maintained, disease-free crop can grow well for three to four years, after which the quality and yield can decline.
Many improvements have been made with the Strawberry. Hybrids have been developed that yield larger crops and produce larger berries, which last longer. Although Day-neutrals produce better quality fruit and higher yields, Everbearing are better for climates with high temperatures.
We grow our Ozark Beauty Everbearing Strawberries in our Strawberry #4 size category. We also grow Strawberry Gasana in our #4 Peace Farm Organics category.
Plant Ozark Beauty Strawberries in full sun 12″ apart in a matted row or hill system. They grow 8-12″ tall and spread out 10-12″ wide. They can also be grown in containers.
They prefer a soil pH between 5.3 and 6.5 but will still do well in soil with a pH between 5.0 and 7.0. Make sure that the soil has lots of available nutrients and that the plants are well watered for the first two weeks after planting. The amount of fertilizer your plants need depends on the fertility of your soil and the health of your plants.
Mulching is very important. Mulch well with 3-4″ of mulch. Mulching helps maintain moisture, keeps the leaves, stems and berries off the ground, helps regulate the soil temperature and prevents weeds from sprouting.
Everbearing Strawberries need 1 to 1½ inches of water a week. Soaker hoses or trickle irrigation is best for Strawberries because they keep water off the foliage, which helps discourage diseases.
Berries ripen about 30 days after first bloom. For the best-tasting berry, pick them a day or two after the whole berry turns red. Remove all ripe berries because overripe, rotting fruit will encourage diseases and insects. Ozark Beauty Everbearing Strawberries are resistant to leaf spot and leaf scorch.
