The Benton Strawberry is a june-bearing cultivar with shelf stable, medium to large fruit with great flavor. This is an upright hardy plant and is perfect for small spaces. Benton strawberry plant is named after Benton County where Oregon State University is located in Corvallis, Oregon. Fruit is very bright, has excellent keeping quality, is conic in shape, and the has good flavor. Fruit is medium to large in size and is recommended for all parts of the Pacific Northwest. Benton appears to have excellent winter hardiness and excellent fruit quality with vigorous growth. The upright habit makes Benton a good bet for home gardeners as well as the commercial grower. It is more drought resistant than Rainier. Virus tolerant. Also tolerant to red stele. Ripens late.
Latin Name: Fragaria x ananassa
Site and Soil: Strawberries like 1/2 day to full sun and well drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Strawberries are self fertile.
Hardiness: Benton Strawberry is hardy to minus 10 F. or below.
Bearing Age: 1st year after planting.
Size at Maturity: 6-8″ in height.
Bloom Time: March – April
Ripening Time: June
Yield: 1 pint
Pests & Diseases: Strawberries are not bothered by insect pests or diseases. Use straw mulch to keep berries off of soil and to deter slugs.
USDA Zone: 6