Fragaria × ananassa Toscana (Everbearing Strawberry)

Both ornamental and edible, Fragaria x ananassa 'Toscana' (Everbearing Strawberry) produces abundant clusters of five-petaled, brilliant pink flowers, 1.5 in. across (4 cm), adorned with yellow centers from spring until first frost. They are followed by a rich harvest of dark red, juicy fruits with a genuine ‘strawberry taste’. 'Toscana' has restrained runners, which makes it ideal for patio or terrace pots. It can also be used creatively as a bedding plant, and best of all, is an edible jewel on any balcony. First flowers after 14-15 weeks after sowing, ripe fruit harvestable from 17-18 weeks after sowing. Often semi-evergreen in frost-free climates.

• Grows up to 10-12 in. tall (20-30 cm) and 12-16 in. wide (30-40 cm).
• A full sun lover, this plant is best grown in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Prefers organically rich, sandy loams. Easy-care plant that continues to flower and produce fruit providing sufficient water and fertilizer are available.
• Strawberries are susceptible to quite a few issues such as foliage diseases, root rots (red stele, black root rot), fruit rots (anthracnose, leather rot), verticillium wilt, gray mold, viruses and scorch. Tarnished plant bug, mites, aphids, leafrollers, slugs, nematodes and strawberry weevils are occasional insect pests.