If you want the sweetest strawberries for your garden this year, ‘Albion’ is the perfect choice. These day-neutral plants are simple to grow and yield an abundance of tasty fruit. In this guide, horticulture expert Matt Dursum shares his tips for planting, growing, and maintaining these high-producing berries.
‘Albion’ strawberries are exceptionally sweet and effortless to cultivate. They bear deep red, sugary berries all season long. The large fruits are plump, juicy, and packed with flavor, perfect for desserts, jams, or fresh eating.
Even beginner gardeners can successfully grow these prolific strawberries in containers, hanging baskets, vertical planters, or garden beds. They resist many diseases and tolerate heat and humidity well.
Let’s explore how to plant, nurture, and care for these delicious strawberries. With minimal effort, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest from these beginner-friendly plants.
‘Albion’ Strawberry Overview
Plant Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Fragaria
Species
Fragaria x ananassa ‘Albion’
Native Area
North and South America
Exposure
Full sun
Height
6-10”
Watering Requirements
High
Pests & Diseases
Rot, mold, mites, aphids, slugs, nematodes
Maintenance
Low
Soil Type
Well-drained, nutrient-rich
Hardiness Zone
4-9
What Is It?
‘Albion’ is a stunning strawberry variety that produces large, flavorful berries. They have a conical shape and vibrant red color. These fruits are nutrient-dense, rich in Vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
Since they’re day-neutral and everbearing, you’ll harvest fresh fruit continuously. They’re great in desserts, salads, or eaten straight from the plant.
New gardeners will appreciate how low-maintenance these plants are. They require little care and resist many pests and diseases.
Characteristics
These perennials can be planted in containers or on the ground; they produce large fruits and flowers.
These compact herbaceous perennials grow outward from a central crown. They adapt to various soils and containers like vertical planters and hanging baskets. As they spread, they send out runners that root into new plants. Each runner can be propagated into a separate plant.
As ground cover, they act as natural mulch, retaining soil moisture and sheltering beneficial insects.
Before fruiting, they produce delicate flowers that attract pollinators. Including these easy-to-grow strawberries in your edible garden is a fantastic idea.
Native Area
The plants are native to the Americas.
Strawberries are native to the Americas, where Native Americans harvested them for centuries. Europeans first documented them in the 17th century. Wild varieties still grow in fields across North America.
Breeders crossed the South American wild strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) with the North American Fragaria virginiana, creating today’s Fragaria × ananassa. These modern strawberries became global favorites.
The ‘Albion’ variety was developed in 2006, a cross between Cal 94.16-1 and Diamante. Originating in California, it quickly gained popularity in home gardens and commercial farming.
Planting
Planting ‘Albion’ strawberries is simple, even for beginners. They tolerate a range of conditions and handle both warmth and cold once established. Below are key tips for a successful harvest.
Transplanting
Ensure that the top part of the plants is above the soil line, while their crown should be buried in shallow soil.
When transplanting, keep the leafy top above the soil and bury the crown shallowly.
Transplanting strawberry crowns is straightforward, but planting depth matters. Ensure the leafy part stays above the soil, while the crown (where roots meet stems) is lightly buried. Planting too deep hinders leaf growth.
Keep soil moist but not soggy. Overwatering can cause root rot. Provide ample sunlight and monitor for transplant shock.
Growing From Seed
Collect the seeds of the fruits, dry and cold stratify them before planting them in a tray or a small container.
While bare-root crowns or plugs are easiest, you can grow ‘Albion’ strawberries from seed. Collect seeds from fresh berries or purchase them online or at nurseries.
To gather seeds at home, blend strawberries, strain the pulp, and rinse the seeds. Dry them for two weeks in a dark, dry place.
Next, refrigerate seeds for 4-6 weeks to break dormancy. After cold stratification, plant them in loose, well-drained soil on a heat mat (75°F/24°C). Seedlings should sprout within weeks.
How to Grow
Once established, these plants are low-fuss. With basic care, they’ll thrive and produce abundantly.
Light
The plants thrive in full sun exposure to produce their large fruits.
‘Albion’ strawberries require plenty of light for optimal fruiting. Plant them in full sun with minimal shade. They spread quickly as ground cover in beds or lawns.
Indoors, place them near a south-facing window or under grow lights.
Water
Provide the plants with plenty of water throughout their growing cycle.Water regularly, preferably using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to avoid wetting leaves (which can cause disease). Hydroponic systems like vertical planters work well for consistent moisture.
Avoid overwatering, which leads to root rot.
Soil
Plant the perennials in well-drained soil amended with plenty of compost and mulch
Plant in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Avoid clay or poorly draining mixes. For containers, use organic potting mix with slight acidity.
Mulch heavily after planting to retain moisture and support soil microbes.
Temperature and Humidity
Depending on the hardiness zone or climate, the plants can grow as perennials or annuals.
Strawberries growing in different climates.
In zones 4-9, they grow as perennials; elsewhere, treat as annuals.
Young plants need temperatures above 60°F (16°C). Mature ‘Albion’ strawberries tolerate heat better than many varieties, making them ideal for hot regions.
They also survive cold if mulched during dormancy.
Fertilizing
Provide the plants with a well-balanced fertilizer once a week.
These heavy feeders benefit from fertilizing before flowering and after planting. Use organic options like liquid kelp or fish fertilizer.
Follow label instructions and feed 1-2 times yearly during fruiting seasons.
Maintenance
Weeding and harvesting are common maintenance methods that encourage new growth and flower production.
Harvesting encourages more growth and flowering. Stay on top of picking ripe berries to maximize yield.
Weed regularly and mulch to suppress competition.
Propagation
The plants propagate best from their runners.
Runners (offshoots from mother plants) can be trimmed and replanted. Select the healthiest runners, clip them, and plant in well-drained soil. Space them 1 foot apart.
Harvesting and Storage
Harvest the fruits when their color is bright red and store for about a week in the refrigerator.
Harvest only bright red strawberries—immature ones are sour. Frequent picking promotes more fruit production.
Refrigerate fresh berries for a week or freeze for longer storage.
Common Problems
Though disease-resistant, ‘Albion’ strawberries can face some issues.
Pests
Birds, snails, and slugs are pests to watch out for.
Protect berries with row covers, scare tactics, or pets. Control slugs with citrus traps or reduced watering. Handpick pests like leafrollers and treat nematodes with beneficial nematodes.
Diseases
The plant is susceptible to root and fruit rot and blights.
Avoid overwatering to prevent root and fruit rot. Mulch prevents fruit rot, while good spacing and airflow reduce blight risks.
