Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy' (Strawberry 'Buddy')

Botanical name

Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy'

Other names

Strawberry 'Buddy', Everbearing strawberry 'Buddy'

Genus

Fragaria Fragaria

Variety or Cultivar

'Buddy' _ 'Buddy' is a low-growing, stoloniferous perennial with palmate, toothed, wrinkled, mid- to dark green leaves and white flowers from spring to early autumn followed by large, glossy, deep red fruit harvested from early summer to mid-autumn.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Compact, Spreading

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Colour

Flower

White in Spring; White in Summer; White in Autumn

Foliage

Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

It is best to rotate crops to avoid pest and disease problems.

Specific pests

Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Vine weevil , Woodlice

Specific diseases

Crown rot , Grey mould , Root rot , Verticillium wilt

General care

Pruning

Remove excess runners as needed. If planted in late summer, remove flowers the first year to encourage fruiting next year. After harvest, remove old leaves with hand shears. Leave the crown & new leaves to allow sun into the centre of the plant.

Propagation

Peg down runners growing over the soil surface in summer. Leave attached to the mother plant until autumn. (5 runners at most) Cut new plants from the mother plant and plant out.

Propagation methods

Runners

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy' (Strawberry 'Buddy') will reach a height of 0.2m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Architectural, Cake decoration, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Low Maintenance, Wildlife

Cultivation

Plant crown at soil level in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sheltered & sun. Plant through black polythene or mulch with straw. Stolons on this variety grow long so suitable for hanging baskets or training up a trellis or pole. Self-fertile.

Soil type

Loamy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy' (Strawberry 'Buddy')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy' (Strawberry 'Buddy')

Common pest name

Australian grapevine yellows; Australian lucerne yellows; Australian yellows of grapevine

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense'

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma present in Australia and New Zealand which could be damaging to grapevine and strawberry production; in particular; if introduced to the UK. EU regulations help to mitigate the risk of entry.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Fragaria x ananassa 'Buddy' (Strawberry 'Buddy')

Common pest name

assam thrips; castor thrips; chilli thrips; yellow tea thrips

Scientific pest name

Scirtothrips dorsalis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

EU listed pest for citrus but highly polyphagous and intercepted on a number of hosts. EU legislation should be updated to reflect wider host list.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/