Strawberries are from the Rosaceae family, and are from the Fragaria genus. They are rich in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, fiber, and vitamin b6. Strawberries are also non-fat and low in calories. Like many other berries, strawberries are a rich source of anti-oxidants such as anthocyanins type 2 and ellagitannins. Without a doubt, strawberry is a favorite snack choice of many American households. In addition to having a very important nutritional value, strawberries also have a rich and flavorful history.
During the Christian era, strawberries were widely spread in the Roman culture at which they were the food of choice in festivals symbolizing prosperity, peace and perfection. Also in the early ancient history, strawberries were believed to be a cure of a wide variety of ailments. According to the University of Illinois Extension, strawberries were considered to be a medicinal food during the Medieval times. The ancient Romans considered strawberries as a cure to inflammation, fever, throat infection, kidney stone, halitosis, diseases of the blood, liver and spleen. However, berries were not as tasty as they are today and this hampered their popularity back in the ancient days. In the year 1588, European colonists discovered strawberry in North America. Since the fruit was abundant in the wild, the local Americans didn’t cultivate it commercially. It was only after the demand of the European settlers that American Indians started its cultivation. The Native American strawberry bread inspired the European colonists to develop their own version, the strawberry shortcake. In the 18th century, strawberries were mutated so as to improve their taste and appearance. The mutation gained berries widespread acceptance as a tasty and healthy fruit in the modern times. Eventually, the cross breeding of American and European strawberries resulted in today’s popular sweet taste and perfect-sized berries. Until about 1850, strawberries were only enjoyed by wealthy people. But due to the development of efficient transportation methods, strawberries became accessible to the lower group of the society. Eventually, scientific studies during the 20th and 21st century prove that strawberries have high nutritional value hence helped improve their popularity.
The strawberries you buy in the supermarket have usually travelled a long way. Unfortunately, their flavor gets sapped over a long travel. Perhaps the best way to enjoy its freshness is to plant and grow them yourself. Nowadays, strawberry plants are grown by many backyard gardeners. To grow strawberries at a home garden, you should be aware that certain plants such as eggplants, tomatoes and potatoes carry dangerous Verticillium that may spoil your strawberry plant eventually. For this reason, you should ensure that you grow your strawberry far from any of the mentioned vegetables. Also, strawberries are very particular about the acidity of the soil where they will efficiently grow. A well-drained, sandy loam with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 6.3 is the ideal setting. Moreover, strawberries need a lot of sun to grow. They should be exposed to the sunlight for at least six hours per day.