FRC: Anyone know of a source for Fairfax Strawberries to grow?

M

mariadnoca

Moderator
I was reading an old (not that old) gardening book where they swore these were by far the best tasting (though bad for shipping). Upon looking for the variety it seems they may now be lost, unless someone might be able to source them locally or is "in the know."

Anyone heard of these or know of a source?

Update: I may have answered my own question. I've ordered (requested) some through the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository (ain't that a mouthful?). We'll see if they decide I'm worthy to receive. Still wondering what packets of in-vitro plants might look like.

 
The BEST tasting strawberries I have ever had were in Denmark. They are absolutely the sweetest.

No idea the type; but they were certainly good! Thx for bringing back a fun memory!

 
The elusive berry ...

Well, haven't found anyone that has it*, only those looking, but as in the update in my above post, sorta found/ordered it (requested) through the dept of ag clone repository, which sounds totally sci-fi. We shall see if they decide I'm worthy to receive. (Still wondering what packets of in-vitro plants might look like.)

Fairfax is a hybrid, so unfortunately seeds won't do the trick. Need a plant/runner. It was introduced in 1933, so it's sorta sad it's basically been lost in such a short time. Especially since several well known gardeners said it was the best tasting (the problem is it's only June bearing and doesn't ship well). Ruth Stout devoted a chapter to it which started me on this quest. Sparkle is a cross with it, but from my understanding doesn't compare with taste.

You'd think since there are so many strawberry fields around here I'd be set, but commercial berries aren't at all what they use to be. Farmer's mkt didn't have anything different. Yeah, tell me something is lost and then I'm on a mission to find it.

BTW, it got it's name from Fairfax, VA so thought there might be some folks out in that part of the world who still have these in their garden beds.

*mistral, I saw that blog post, but unfortunately it's a few yrs old and not yet in their inventory.

 
This "cloning" is not so terribly sci-fi, just a way to propagate lots of plants from a small source

of cells. Maybe it's a sign that someone recognizes a need for these strawberries, or maybe they were damaged by a disease, and tissue culture is the only way to breed them disease-free.

You'll probably get small plants growing in little petri dishes--that is if you are chosen!! I've never heard of this particular strawberry but I hope you can find it. Keep us posted, please

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_tissue_culture

 
Maria, I live in Fairfax, VA. Our farmers mkt don't open til April but I will ask then!

I can think of one particular guy that might know something, I will ask others tho too.

 
It's not the cloning so much as the name of the place:

"National Clonal Germplasm Repository" (I've seen to many horror movies, sounds like some place from the X-Files.)

I'm reading Ruth Stout's How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back - that started me looking for it, but it seems not just Ruth, but Laura Simon, Nathan Griffith and other garden writers all say Fairfax is by far the best tasting of all varieties. So when I started looking and it sorta turned into a treasure quest...now I'm on the hunt!

Hoping I get chosen, I've found it nowhere else, and if I'm lucky I'll get them soon, but they do say it might be in the Fall. So it's a waiting game at the moment. If they're really that good, I'd love to get it back into circulation for the home gardener, but that's getting a head of myself!

 
I would love to come for the strawberries---but also to learn about that scary toilet

sounds like the perfect solution to a guest cottage we have that has no water. if we had this toilet and put a water tank in for shower/sink, we could make guests more comfortable.

 
Yep, "Germplasm Repository" doesn't sound like a tempting place to shop smileys/wink.gif

 
Ha! Angie, my mind stopped after "perfect solution to a guest." I thought you might

have some of the cranky, complaining guests that I've had.

Total incineration would have been one solution for them.

 
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