Mara des Bois

Family: Rosaceae Fruit

Sunlit sweetness bursts first—Mara des Bois berries glow with a soft, glossy scarlet and a gentle, honeyed perfume that lingers like summer roses.

The fruit is tender and juicy, with a balanced, bright flavor and a pleasantly yielding bite that shines in fresh baskets and elegant preserves. Grow this 90-day favorite for a steady stream of fragrant berries that feel as beautiful as they taste, turning beds into a living harvest of color.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Spreading

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Ashburn (Zone 7a).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 20th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 20th
Harvest Begins	Jul 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 20th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Spreading
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Mara des Bois comes at you with a honeyed, rose-floral perfume and a tender, yielding texture—best when you treat it gently. Sugar draws out a fragrant syrup fast, so cook it just enough for jam or let it macerate cold and bright rather than dragging its flavor through long heat.

Best Uses

fresh-eating baskets where aroma stays intact
jam or jelly that captures the perfume without boiling dry
macération with sugar for spoonable syrup over cream
light shortcake or pastry filling that won’t fight the softness

Flavor Profile

honeyed sweetness up front bright, balanced berry tang tender, juicy bite with a soft give rose-like floral perfume

Kitchen Pairings

vanilla whipped cream lemon zest balsamic vinegar dark chocolate

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common problem on Fragaria × ananassa (Mara des Bois) and how do I treat it if my plants get it?

A frequent issue is gray mold (Botrytis) that shows up as brown, fuzzy spots on berries—worse in humid weather and when berries sit on wet soil. Remove and discard infected berries immediately, improve airflow by thinning runners and keeping plants off bare wet ground (use straw or a berry mat), and avoid overhead watering; water at the soil line in the morning. If infections persist, use a labeled fungicide for strawberries and follow the timing on the label.

How often should I water Mara des Bois during the main fruiting/fruit-fill period?

During fruit development (roughly once flower buds open), keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than lightly daily, and adjust so the top few centimeters of soil stay slightly damp. Water in the morning at the base of the plants to reduce disease pressure and keep berry foliage dry.

How can I tell when Mara des Bois strawberries are ready to harvest?

Harvest when berries are fully red all the way through the center—Mara des Bois will taste best at full color, not just at the shoulders. Pick every 1–3 days during peak season because soft, ripening berries can quickly turn overripe. The best indicator is a strong strawberry fragrance plus berries that come off with a gentle tug while the cap and stem remain attached to the fruit.