Alpine Strawberry
The wild woodland strawberry of Europe, selected for runnerless bush habit, larger fruit (but still much smaller than the cultivated strawberry) and intense flavor. The fruit are typically thrumbnail size. These are more perennial and more compact than the common cultivated strawberry, (which makes runners and must be propagated by division.) Alpine strawberries grow true from seed, and bear all summer. Likes rich woodsy soil in part shade (full sun on the coast). Containers are great for these, as the foliage is not dense enough to shade out weeds, so start with a weed-free bed. Plants grow only 8-12" tall, and are dainty with starry white flowers and red fruit. Like all berries, you will need to keep the birds from getting there first, but their small size makes them easy to net. A beautiful and tasty addition to the permaculture landscape. Hardy to zone 4.
Growing instructions: Tiny seeds are easy to lose or bury too deep: Fill pots with moist soil, tamp very well to a firm flat surface. Mix seeds with a tablespoon of fine potting soil or sand, and strew on the surface of the pots. Tamp again and keep moist, watering from the bottom or with a mister. Should sprout in 2 weeks at room temperature. Keep pots in dappled shade or filtered light until they are well established. 40 seeds