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Strawberry lovers who grow their own berries may be of two types. Some people like the bigger strawberries that come out in June, while others would rather give up some of that size for everbearing varieties that produce more than one crop all season long. There is no right or wrong answer, but if you live in the north or higher elevations in the south and want to grow crops over and over, try growing Ozark Beauties. What are Ozark Beauty strawberries? Keep reading to learn how to grow them and how to take care of them.
Ozark Beauty is an extremely popular everbearing strawberry cultivar, prized for its vigor, cold hardiness, and abundant harvests As a prolific variety, Ozark Beauty strawberry plants produce a fair amount of runners. But what exactly are runners, and how do they impact growing Ozark Beauty strawberries? Let’s take an in-depth look
What Are Strawberry Runners?
Strawberry runners are a form of vegetative reproduction unique to strawberry plants. The mother plant sends out horizontal stems called stolons that can root at the tips to form new, genetically identical daughter plants.
These runner plants are clones of the parent and can be snipped off and transplanted to propagate more strawberry plants. Runners emerge from the crown of established strawberry plants and are most active in early to mid summer.
Why Do Strawberries Produce Runners?
For strawberries sending out runners is a survival mechanism. Under natural conditions the parent plant will eventually fade. But by creating clones, the plant’s genetic code lives on via the daughter plants.
Runners also allow strawberries to propagate quickly and colonize an area. Each runner can produce around 5-6 daughter plants per season This allows for a strawberry patch to fill in rapidly given ideal conditions.
Ozark Beauty Strawberry Runners
Ozark Beauty is known for being a particularly vigorous variety that generates a high volume of runners. The abundant runner production allows for plants started from just a few crowns to spread over a wide area in a single growing season.
These daughter plants can then be propagated further, making Ozark Beauty an ideal variety for quickly establishing sizeable strawberry patches.
Managing Ozark Beauty Strawberry Runners
The profuse runner production of Ozark Beauty gives you options when it comes to planting systems:
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Matted Row System – Allow runners to root and fill in densely planted rows to form wide matted beds.
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Hill System – Space plants farther apart and regularly snip runners to contain plants.
Regardless of planting method, some basic runner management will optimize growth:
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Cut off the first flush of runners that emerge to encourage establishment of the mother plants.
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Snip excess runners to control spread and stimulate fruit production once plants are established.
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Transplant the most robust runners to propagate new plants.
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Avoid overcrowding, which leads to small berries and foliage disease.
Transplanting Ozark Beauty Runners
The daughter plants generated by Ozark Beauty runners can be used to expand your strawberry patch or share these prolific plants with gardening friends and neighbors.
To successfully transplant runners:
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Allow runner tips to root in place while still attached to the mother plant.
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Once rooted, use a sharp knife to sever the runner several inches below the daughter plant.
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Carefully dig up new plant and root ball and immediately transplant to a prepared bed.
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Water well and keep new transplants moist until established.
Optimal Growing Conditions for Ozark Beauty
To achieve the full potential of Ozark Beauty’s exuberant runner production, provide optimal growing conditions:
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Sunlight: At least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
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Soil: Well-draining loam with lots of organic matter. Prefers slightly acidic pH of 5.5-6.5.
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Water: Consistent moisture, about 1-2 inches per week. Avoid saturated soil.
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Nutrients: Moderate fertilization with a balanced 10-10-10 formula or all-purpose vegetable food.
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Protection: Shelter from harsh winds and cold. Cover or heavily mulch plants in winter.
The Payoff of Ozark Beauty Runners
While runner production may seem aggressive in Ozark Beauty, this trait pays off in the form of bountiful fruit production. The daughter plants generated by runners develop strong root systems and go on to bear heavy crops.
In fact, Ozark Beauty is considered one of the highest yielding everbearing varieties, producing large, conically-shaped berries with excellent aroma and flavor.
So while the runners may require some management, the payoff is prolific harvests of juicy, sweet berries over an extended season. The impressive productivity of runners makes Ozark Beauty an ideal choice for home gardens and market growers alike.
One of the defining traits of Ozark Beauty strawberry plants is the abundant runner production. While this requires pruning and transplantation of daughter plants, it allows these robust cultivars to quickly colonize and generate heavy fruit yields.
With the right growing conditions and proper runner management, Ozark Beauty is a nearly unstoppable fruiting machine! The bountiful harvests of large, flavorful berries make wrangling the runners well worth the effort.
So if you’ve got the space for a rapidly expanding strawberry patch and a penchant for plump, sweet berries, Ozark Beauty and its legion of runners won’t disappoint! Just provide this vigorous variety what it craves, and you’ll reap remarkable rewards.
What are Ozark Beauty Strawberries?
The Ozark Beauty strawberry was created in Arkansas. It does well in cooler climates and is hardy in USDA zones 4–8. With extra care, it may even do well in USDA zones 3 and 9. This strawberry cultivar can survive winter temps down to -30 F. (-34 C. ). Ozark Beauty strawberries are considered to be one of the best everbearing varieties. They are vigorous and extremely prolific producers. For an everbearing, they make pretty big berries that are deep red and sweet like honey. These are great for making jams and jellies.
How to Grow an Ozark Beauty
If you want to grow Ozark Beauties, keep in mind that they won’t usually bear fruit in their first year, and if they do, they will only bear a few. This strawberry variety produces very long runners at the same time as it is blooming and producing fruit. Like all strawberry types, “Ozark Beauty” does best in full sun and slightly acidic soil (pH of 5). 3-6. 5. Because they produce quite a few runners, they can be planted in a matted row or hill system.
Ozark Beauty Strawberries: A Comprehensive Growth Profile
FAQ
Do Ozark strawberries have runners?
Which strawberries do not have runners?
Do ever bearing strawberries produce runners?
Do Ozark beauty strawberries have long runners?
This strawberry variety produces very long runners at the same time as it is blooming and producing fruit. As with all strawberry varieties, ‘Ozark Beauty’ prefers full sun and slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.3-6.5. Because they produce quite a few runners, they can be planted in a matted row or hill system.
Does Ozark beauty produce strawberries?
The strawberry plant Ozark Beauty will produce runners, blooms, and fruit simultaneously at times. In fact, one large strawberry plant provider noted in a trial over 200 blossoms, buds, and strawberries on a single plant over the course of a season.
How much sun do Ozark beauty Strawberries need?
Like all strawberries, Ozark Beauty strawberry plants prefer full sun, about an inch of water per week, and slightly acidic soil. While a pH of 5.3 to 6.5 is ideal for this variety, they will still do well in soil with a pH anywhere from 5.0 to 7.0.
Do Ozark beauty strawberries succumb to anthracnose?
Additionally, Ozark Beauty strawberries also will succumb to anthracnose. Ozark Beauty strawberry plants are vigorous, everbearing, and may be the overall best of all everbearing strawberry varieties (for more details, see the Strawberry Varieties page).