Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Gasana Strawberry: Pink Blossoms and Berries Through Summer
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Gasana strawberry is the rare plant that earns a spot in both the flower bed and the kitchen garden. Large, bright pink blossoms with golden centers sit just above the leaves, and at the same time, glossy, cone-shaped red berries hang below them. It does this from early summer into fall, which is about as generous as a strawberry gets.
Gasana at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Fragaria × ananassa 'Gasana' |
| Flowers | Bright pink with yellow centers, 1 to 1½ inches |
| Fruit | Sweet, juicy, cone-shaped red berries |
| Size | About 12 inches tall, spreading 2 to 3 feet by runners |
| Bloom and fruit | Starts early June, peaks early July, continues into fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Best uses | Raised beds, containers, edging, groundcover |
A neighbor for the lavender garden
Strawberries and lavender both want full sun, but the similarities stop at the soil line. Lavender wants lean, dry ground; strawberries want rich soil and regular water to keep the berries coming. Put Gasana in a raised bed, a kitchen garden or a patio pot next to the lavender, and you get a sunny corner with purple spikes, pink blossoms and red fruit all in view. The pink flowers draw bees too, so the whole area stays busy. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and summer care
- Crown depth: set the crown level with the soil. Too deep and it rots; too high and it dries out.
- Water: steady moisture, watered at the base, especially while fruit is forming. Fruiting slows in hot spells, so keep up the water and mulch.
- Feeding: keep plants fed through the season to sustain an everbearing crop.
- Mulch: a layer of straw keeps berries clean and off the soil.
- Runners: let some root to fill a bed or spill from a container, and trim the rest.
Keeping plants healthy
Humid, rainy weather invites gray mold on fruit and leaf spots, so space plants for airflow and avoid wetting the leaves. Good drainage helps head off root diseases. Renew the bed every few years with young runner plants and move strawberries to fresh ground when you can. Deer like strawberries as much as people do.
Winter and the harvest
After the ground begins to freeze in late fall, cover plants with 2 to 4 inches of straw and pull it back in spring once growth starts. Pick berries when fully red. They are excellent fresh, in desserts and jams, and they freeze well for later.
Frequently asked questions
What does everbearing mean?
It means the plant keeps flowering and fruiting through the season instead of producing one big June crop.
How is Gasana offered?
As a full 72-cell plug tray of young starter plugs, enough for a large bed or many containers. See the product page for current availability.
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