Marshall Strawberry

Marshall Strawberry

Description

USDA Zone: 5-9

Grow Height:  1' or smaller (Groundcover)

Sun: Full Sun

Ripening Time: June - October

Pollination: Self Fertile

Origin

The variety was discovered by Marshall F. Ewell of Massachusetts in 1890 and flourished in the Pacific Northwest throughout the early part of the 20th century, where it was an important crop in the region's berry industry. Famous food connoisseur James Beard called Marshall the most delicious strawberry ever grown. Discovered in Massachusetts before 1900, it was grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest until the 1960's.

Characteristics

The Marshall strawberry is a midseason variety. It has relatively large leaves and large, deep red fruit with soft flesh. While drought tolerant, as noted above it has a high susceptibility to the crinkle virus.

Contemporary status

The Marshall Strawberry is currently being maintained at the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon, and by very few private growers. Renewing America's Food Traditions, a coalition of sustainable agriculture organizations, has listed the Marshall strawberry as one of "700 plant and animal foods at risk of extinction".

Marshall Strawberry

Nomenclature

Common Name

Name Strawberry
Cultivar June-bearing
Variety Marshall

Botanical Name

Family Rosaceae
Genus Fragaria
Species ananassa 'Marshall'

Planting Guide

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Sow Indoors
Plant Out
Flowers
Fruits
Divide
Cut Back
Harvest

Cultivation

Time from sowing until...

Germination 7-42 Days
Bloom/Harvest Days

Size

Height 1 Foot
Width 1 Foot

Spacing

Between Plants 12 Inch
Between Rows 12 Inch
Sowing Depth 0 Inch
Thin to.. 4-6 Inch

Hardiness

Hardy

Other Notes

Typically sold as live plants or bare root crowns. By the beginning of fall, strawberry plants have begun forming the perennating buds within their crowns that will turn into next year's flowers. The flowers turn into strawberries subsequently. Apply an appropriate fertilizer (10-10-10 conventional, or an equivalent organic fertilizer) in August at a rate of approximately 1/3 of an ounce per square foot.

Plot Sowing Date Bloom/Harvest Start

Containers View Record

Light

Prefers / Can Tolerate

Full Sun

Moisture

Prefers / Can Tolerate

Average

Temperature

Prefers / Can Tolerate

Low Fahrenheit High Fahrenheit

Wind

Prefers / Can Tolerate

Light Winds / Some Shelter

Soil Type

Prefers / Can Tolerate

Loam

Soil Chemistry

Prefers / Can Tolerate

4.5+ 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.+
Very Acid Very Acid Acid Acid Slightly Acid Neutral Slightly Alkaline Alkaline
The soil pH is a number that describes how acid or alkaline your soil is. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. An acid soil has a pH value below 7.0 and above 7.0 the soil is alkaline. You may need a soil testing kit to assess this accurately.