Mara des Bois Strawberries
Mara des Bois Strawberries

Mara des Bois Strawberries

SKU: S29205
6 for $24.00
Quick Facts
Common Name: Woodland Strawberry
Hardiness Zone: 4-7S/9W Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
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Blooms In: May-Sep
Mature Height: 8-10" Spacing: 12"
Read our Growing Guide Ships as: BAREROOT
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Shipping Details Shipment begins in early March 2025, depending on your zone. See shipping tab for details
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Product Details

Product Details

A French nursery introduced ‘Mara des Bois’ back in 1991, and it has become wildly popular in markets in that country, where the Strawberries 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. The berries are too perishable to ship, but fortunately for us a grower on the West Coast began serious production several years ago, making plants available here. In full sun, hybrid 'Mara' bears heavily throughout the season and throws vigorous runners that make it especially productive for home gardens and containers. PP 8,517

The Strawberry Jar is not included with this item.

Shipping

Shipping

HOW PLANTS ARE SHIPPED

The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.

WHEN WE SHIP

We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. We also ship a wide range of containers and planters, tools, supplies, fertilizers, garden wear, garden decor items, as well as indoor decorations like wreaths and dried bouquets when available. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the green Shipping Details box for each item. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at the expected time of delivery.

OUR GUARANTEE

We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at [email protected]. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.

Reviews

Reviews

Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (7 Reviews) Write a Review

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Not alpine strawberries

A viewer from MT

I either misunderstood or since it was in the alpine section thought these were those incredible alpine tiny, but flavorful strawberries. They were not. Huge leaves and large strawberries without much flavor. Granted it is the first year ( for taste), anyway very disappointing.
Response from White Flower FarmCustomer Support, One year ago (08/23/23 10:59AM)

We are sorry for your disappointment and any misunderstanding. Please note, we do not have an alpine section on our Website or in our catalog. Mara des Bois strawberries have small to medium size fruit. Soil, weather and maturity can affect flavor. I see that you recently called and a full refund was issued. Please contact customer service if you need further assistance.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no  Certified buyer


Prolific Producer, Excellent Berries!

A viewer from Warrenton, VA

I purchased 25 of these strawberry plants (bare root) a couple of years ago. I faithfully removed all the blooms the first year (as recommended) to encourage deep root growth. Each plant put out two or three runners with "daughter plants" that first season, so I ended up with about 75-80 plants by the second year. They produced for over a month (May-June), and my total harvest last year was over 30 gallons of berries! Needless to say, since I am not growing them to sell, I thinned out my patch for this year. These berries are delicious, and the plants are hardy. I have had no issues with disease. I will say that if you plant them in raised beds, you will likely need to use netting once the berries start ripening unless you intend to share your harvest with the local birds! :-)

43 of 45 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no


stupid squirrels

A viewer from Milton, MA

These arrived in great shape, top growth was quick and they were healthy. Unfortunately I lost 5 out of 6 because squirrels dug them up. I recommend starting in containers until well established and then transplanting. They are just too delicate to stand up to the destruction of the squirrels as they dig their foolish holes all over.

51 of 52 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no  Certified buyer


Unexpectedly heat tolerant in Central Tx

markincorsicana from Corsicana

I bought these strawberries 2 years ago and they held up very well in the Texas heat. I read that they prefer acid soil so I planted them in soil enriched with a lot of peat. They did great until a family emergency kept me from watering the bed for a week. When the peat dried out they died, as would any plant planted in peat and allowed to dry out in the Texas summer. Surprisingly, they may be worth a try in the south if you keep them watered in well drained soil on the acid side with a little shade.

59 of 61 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no


Very pleased

Julie from Alexandria, Virginia

Ordered on a whim a few weeks ago, planted them in containers, crowns sprouted beautifully in two or three days and I am looking forward to watching them grow. Very healthy looking. I could not have been more impressed with the packing and delivery. This was my first order with WFF and I am so pleased.

45 of 48 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no

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Growing guide

Growing guide
Print Grow Guide

Latin Name Pronunciation: fruh-gare'ee-uh  

The following information covers 4 different types of Strawberries:

  • June bearing ('Allstar,' 'Earliglow,' 'Sparkle') 
  • Everbearing ('Tristar,' Berries Galore® series) 
  • Day neutral (Mara des bois)  mare'uh duh-bwah  
  • and Alpine  (Fraises des bois) frez'duh-bwah 

Basic care for each type is quite similar, but some requirements vary, and we've noted them below.

Dormant plants are not harmed by spring frosts; the sooner you plant them, the sooner they will settle in and thrive. We recommend planting our bareroot Strawberries right away. If you can't plant right away, bareroot plants can remain in their original packing for 5–7 days. Keep them in a cool (but not freezing) place out of direct sun. Stand them upright so that new shoots will grow straight up rather than at odd angles. Check the plants for moisture every day. If the packing material around the roots feels dry, add water and pour off the excess. Do not remove the packing material until the moment you're ready to plant.

Light: Plant Fraises des bois and Mara des bois in full sun or partial shade. Plant other hybrid varieties ('Allstar,' 'Earliglow,' 'Sparkle,' 'Tristar,' Berries Galore® series) in full sun (provide afternoon shade in hot summer areas).

Soil: 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. Strawberries thrive in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Amending your soil with aged manure or about 4″ of compost will supply all the nutrients young plants need to get started. Work the added organic matter into the top 8–12″ of the soil and then water thoroughly. A soil pH of 6.0–6.5 is best. Well-drained soil is essential, so mound the soil to form raised beds, if necessary.

Spacing in a garden: Plant Fraises des bois 1′ apart. Space other varieties 1–2′ apart, with 3–4′ between rows.

Planting in a garden: 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.

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 12–24″ apart in rows that are 48″ apart. Allow the runners to fill out each row to a width of about 12–15″. Keep the plants no less than 6″ 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.

Planting Strawberries in a Hanging Basket: Place a good-quality potting mix in a plastic tub and slowly add water and stir until the mix is moist but not soggy. Then fill the basket's liner with mix to about ½″ away below the rim of the basket. Make 3 evenly spaced holes in the mix and place each plant's crown (the point where stem and roots meet) level with the soil mix in its hole. Firm the plants in place. Add more soil mix if needed, stopping ½″ below the top of the container. Finally, water thoroughly. Place the basket in the shade for a few days to allow the plants to settle in. Then gradually move the basket to its permanent location. Water when the top 1″ of 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 basket inside in fall and keep at 30–45°F. Check plants for moisture each week and water just enough to keep plants from drying out completely. Set the basket back outside the following spring.

Planting in a Strawberry jar: Allow 1 cu 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.

Place the soil mix in a plastic tub and slowly add water and stir until the mix is moist but not soggy. Then fill the pot with mix to the rims of the first 3 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 3 pockets. Plant those pockets as you did the first set. Then add more soil mix, stopping 1–2″ below the top of the container. Put no more than 3 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°F. Check plants for moisture each week and water just enough to keep plants from drying out completely. Set the jar back outside the following spring.

Watering: Strawberries require 1–2″ of water a week. If rain is inadequate, water deeply whenever the top 1″ 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 2″ 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.

Fertilizing: Don't fertilize at planting time. Later, when Mara des bois and Fraises des bois begin to form berries, fertilize with a balanced, timed-release fertilizer. In subsequent years, fertilize in early spring, and once again in late June. Fertilize the June-bearing varieties ('Allstar,' 'Earliglow,' 'Sparkle') in early spring and again when renovating (see below). Fertilize everbearing 'Tristar' and the Berries Galore® series monthly during the growing season.

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 4–6″ 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.

Continuing care: Divide Fraises des bois plants every 3 years or so, as needed, just as growth begins to show in the spring. Dig and cut the crowns into 2–4 pieces, making sure that each piece has a good root system. Replant right away.

You'll find everbearing 'Tristar' and the Berries Galore® series will begin flowering soon after planting. Remove the flowers for 6 weeks to allow plants to become established before fruiting. Allow the flowers to develop fruit during the rest of the season. Pinch off all daughter plants.

For June-bearing varieties ('Allstar,' 'Earliglow,' 'Sparkle'), remove all flower buds the first year as they appear, preventing the plants from fruiting. This will result in more vigorous plants in the years to come. Allow the plants to send out runners freely. Beginning the second year, these varieties benefit from a process called renovation. As soon as the harvest is complete, cut foliage off just above the crown, then till or hoe both sides of each row a week or so later to reduce row width to about 1′. Remove excess plants to achieve a spacing of 3–5″ between plants, and apply a balanced, timed-release fertilizer.

Videos

Videos
How to Plant Strawberries in a Container (Strawberry Jar)
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