A French nursery introduced 'Mara des Bois' back in 1991, and it has become wildly popular in markets in that country, where the berries bring a premium price. This distant relative of the woodland Strawberry produces aromatic fruits about the size of acorns with a rich, sweet flavor and tender flesh. Mara des Bois is a day-neutral hybrid variety, which means it can continue to form flowers in the short daylight hours of spring and fall as well as the longer daylight hours of summer. The heat of summer can slow flowering and fruiting, however. The best temperature range is between 45-85 degrees F for most day-neutral strawberries. You may need to place your strawberry jar where it will be in shade during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Choosing a site. Plant Mara des Bois Strawberries in full sun or partial shade where there will be room for the plants to send out runners (new stems that form additional plants). Strawberries thrive in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Amending your soil with aged manure or about 4in of compost will supply all the nutrients the young plants need to get started. Work the added organic matter into the top 8-12in of the soil and then water thoroughly. A soil pH of 6.0-6.5 is best. Proper drainage is also essential, so mound the soil to form raised beds, if necessary.

Avoid planting Strawberries where Potatoes, Tomatoes, Eggplants, or Peppers have been grown before. Soils in which these plants have grown may harbor the wilt-causing Verticillium fungus, which can affect your plants.

Spacing. Plant Mara des Bois 1ft apart in the ground. Allow 1cu ft of soil per plant in containers, less in Strawberry jars. Plants grown in containers should be protected from hot sun in the summer and from freezing in the winter.

Planting in the ground. Dig a wide, shallow hole large enough to accommodate the roots comfortably. Then spread the roots evenly inside the hole and cover them with soil, setting the crown (the point where stem and roots meet) at soil level. Firm the soil with your hands and water thoroughly. Placing the crown precisely at soil level-rather than deeper or higher-is very important. It keeps the crown from rotting or from drying out.

Planting in a Strawberry jar. Place the soil mix in a plastic tub and slowly add water and stir with your hand until the mix is moist but not soggy. Then fill the pot with mix to the rims of the first three pockets. Push one plant through each pocket, pulling gently on the roots from the inside until the crown (the point where stem and roots meet) is level with the soil mix in the pocket. Firm the plants in place and add soil mix up to the rims of the second set of three pockets. Plant those pockets as you did the first set. Then add more soil mix, stopping 1-2in below the top of the container. Put no more than three plants in the top. Finally, water thoroughly, starting from the top and proceeding to each of the pockets. Place the jar in the shade for a few days to allow the plants to settle in. Then gradually move the jar to its permanent location. Water when the soil mix is dry to the touch. Fertilize with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks until the end of August. In cold-winter climates, move the jar inside in fall and keep at 30-45 degrees F. Check plants for moisture every week and water just enough to keep plants from drying out completely. Set the jar back outside the following spring.

Planting in a garden. Mara des Bois produces runners (side stems with daughter plants attached). This type of Strawberry is often grown in a matted row system, which takes advantage of the runners to increase the number of plants and thus increase the yield of fruit. To create a matted row system, plant your Mara des bois 12-24in apart in rows that are 48in apart. Allow the runners to fill out each row to a width of about 12-15in. Keep the plants no less than 6in apart or they will compete with each other. Runners can be cut off to prevent the plants in the rows from becoming too crowded and less productive. Use a hoe or rototiller to keep the area beyond the width of each row free of plants. The daughter plants at the end of runners can be used to rejuvenate your rows. Over time, Strawberry plants tend to decline as they acquire fungal diseases or diseases spread by insects. Purchase new plants and move your next Strawberry patch to another area of the garden.

Watering and fertilizing. Strawberries require 1-2in of water a week. If rain is inadequate, water deeply whenever the top 1in of soil is dry to the touch. To prevent disease, avoid watering in the evening. Heat and drought bring flowering and fruiting to a halt and may kill plants outright. Mulching with 2in of an organic material (such as straw) helps the soil retain moisture and stay cool, prevents weed seed germination, and keeps the fruits off the soil.

Don't fertilize at planting time. Later, when Mara des bois begins to form berries, fertilize with a balanced, timed-release fertilizer. In subsequent years, fertilize in early spring, and once again in late June.

Harvesting. Fruits taste better when runners are pinched back before they begin to develop daughter plants. Check Mara des Bois frequently for ripe berries and collect them in a bowl or basket as you pick them. Keeping ripe fruit picked will encourage production throughout the summer season. Clean the fragile berries by floating them in ice water and gently rolling them around. Dirt will sink to the bottom of the bowl.

Winter protection. Strawberries overwinter well in mild-climate areas, but where winters are cold and snowy, they need protection from frost heaving. After the ground has frozen, apply 4-6in of a light insulating material such as straw, salt marsh hay, oak leaves, or pine needles around the plants (but place it only lightly on top of the plants, to avoid crown rot). Remove the cover gradually in spring, starting about the time Daffodils bloom.