What Is a Mock strawberry?
A mock strawberry is no botanical relation whatsoever to real strawberries, wild or domestic. Hence the “mock” part of the plant’s name, but it produces consistent results, unlike the wild one, which produces fruit every year. They are small in size and bear fruits earlier than the common strawberries, which explains why they’re also known as June bearers.
The mock types of strawberries form runners naturally when they grow close to each other; there is no need to dig these up because they will never become invasive in your garden plants either way.
Because of their resistance against pests, you can leave them unattended for long periods without worrying about them getting damaged by insects or disease; however, some gardeners like growing those that have been fortified with plant growth just in case.
Most of these types of strawberry plants can bear fruits for up to five years if properly taken care of, making them a practical choice for people who love fresh strawberries but don’t have much space or time to do gardening.
Mock strawberry Care & Maintenance:
Like most other kinds of strawberry plants, the mock types need well-drained soil to grow in. They are also tolerant of different light conditions, and they can even withstand cold weather changes, so you don’t have to worry about overwintering them after a season.
Consistent watering is important for the mock strawberries; if you let them wither excessively during hot seasons, they will stop producing fruits quickly. It’s best to water these plants once every two weeks during the summer months to keep their growth rate consistent.
Fertilizer is optional but recommended because it guarantees better production rates, especially for those with plant growth hormone fortified into their roots; however, make sure not to use too much fertilizer, or the fruits will taste bitter.
Where To Buy:
Light Requirements:
Since mock strawberry plants are tolerant of different light conditions, you can grow them in your backyard if they get enough sunlight, and there will be no worries about their growth as long as you take good care of them.
Because they’re similar to the wild strawberries, they will have better chances of producing fruits is grown under full sunlight; however, if possible, try letting them get bright sunlight from morning until afternoon. Ensure there is ample shade for the plants to grow during midday, or you’ll end up burning their leaves and branches easily.
As mentioned before, mock strawberry plants can withstand cold weather changes, so feel free to let them go outside when the summer comes around; in fact, doing so will give you an earlier harvest because these strawberries love growing outdoors!
The only problem that many seasoned gardeners encounter with mock strawberry types is that they don’t produce many berries; this happens when the plants are too young, and it can also be prevented by giving them enough care.
It’s best to wait until the plants reach full size before harvesting anything from them so you’ll be able to get more fruits out of your investment; make sure to water them multiple times during hot months, or else they might dry up easily!
Water Requirements:
These plants don’t need too much water, but the soil should be kept slightly moist at all times to give them enough nutrients and prevent them from withering.
Even though they’re tolerant of dry weather conditions, they tend to lose their leaves easily if the soil stays too damp for several days; this results in your harvest being smaller than expected.
Mock strawberry fruits are also similar to the ones you’ve learned about before; make sure not to eat them until after a day or so since they taste bitter otherwise. You can store them in the fridge for up to two weeks and treat yourself to some fresh strawberries whenever you want!
Soil Requirements:
Mock strawberry plants need well-drained soil to grow in. They will wither easily if the soil is too wet most of the time, and they tend to have a smaller harvest than expected because of this problem.
If you want to plant your own mock strawberry varieties, ensure that the soil you’re using for them has been thoroughly prepared beforehand; add some peat moss or organic material into it before planting to improve its drainage level and prevent molds from growing after a few days.
Mock strawberry Temperature and Humidity Requirements:
Unlike other plants, the mock strawberry can tolerate colder weather. They are hardy enough to withstand a cold winter and even frost because of their thick stems, but they will have better survival chances if you give them some protection from heavy frosts.
If possible, protect your leaves with plastic sheets or cardboard boxes that you can find around your yard so they won’t get damaged by harsh weather conditions during summer; remember to do this on hot days too!
Now that you’ve learned about these four types of mock strawberries, it’s time to talk about how they are different from the original ones! Because the term “strawberry” is used loosely for all sorts of similar-looking fruits in our time, most people don’t know the difference between them unless they’re experts in plant cultivation.
Regardless of their appearance, some specific features separate original strawberries from mock strawberry varieties; by knowing these differences, you’ll be able to grow a real berry patch if you have enough time and space available!
If you look at your typical strawberry fruit, you can easily see how different it is from its upright cousins like the gooseberries or loganberries. The leaves on this berry are smaller than other plants, and the stems aren’t too long either. In fact, even though it looks similar to other berries when viewed from afar, once you get close enough to it, all doubts about whether or not this is an actual strawberry disappear.
Mock strawberry Fertilizing Requirements:
Both original and mock strawberries are fairly easy to grow in most conditions. They tend to be quite resilient, but fertilizing them is a good way to increase their harvest if you want them to thrive.
Because they’re similar in appearance to bunch berries, both original and mock strawberry plants, need the same treatments.
Potting and repotting Requirements:
Unlike other plants, they don’t need frequent repotting to achieve optimum size and quality. They are small enough to be kept in pots for a longer time with minimal problems.
Try using soil with a good drainage level if you want your plants to fit perfectly into your pot without having them wither easily; make sure that the soil has been properly prepared before using it!
Mock strawberry Propagation info:
Mock strawberry plants can be propagated via stem cuttings; you’ll find it easier to grow them in small containers, though.
You can easily tell the difference between original and mock strawberry varieties by looking at their leaves. Original strawberries have smooth-edged leaves instead of jagged ones like mock varieties do; their stems are also pretty strong and thick, unlike the more fragile ones that other plants possess.
Locating your berry patch is easy if you know how to recognize real berries from fake ones! Just make sure to check all these details first before planting so you won’t get tricked into buying impostor fruits and will eventually reap the harvest you’ve been working on for years!
Mock strawberry Problems:
The most common problem you’ll see from these fruit-bearing plants is their susceptibility to cold weather. If it’s too cold, they will wither easily; but if the weather during summer gets too hot, their fruits won’t have the chance to mature and ripen fully before spoiling due to lack of water or oxygen!
In addition, molds can also affect mock strawberry plants depending on their location; try hanging some fans near your windows so air circulation can help prevent this problem from occurring too often!
