Strawberries get their name from the mulch traditionally used to protect them from weeds, dry soil, and cold temperatures - straw. They not only produce amazingly sweet and desirable fruits, but the plants are also attractive enough for landscaping in flowerbeds, containers, or as a ground cover. The plants have white flowers and toothed, rounded green leaves. Strawberries are categorized into 3 main groups: June bearing, everbearing, and day neutral (descriptions of each type follows). They grow about 6-8 inches tall and spread by runners to about 16-18 inches. Some varieties will grow well in a variety of different climates, but tend to grow best in specific regions of the country. In alkaline soils they tend to become iron deficient, and they don’t tolerate soils with high salinity.
June bearing types will only produce one crop a year, generally in early summer (late May or June). They are recognized generally as the largest fruits, and also the highest quality berries. Everbearing strawberries consistently bear a summer crop (June) as well as a fall crop (September). Day Neutral begin producing in late spring, and then continue producing fruits through fall. Both everbearing and day neutral varieties tend to be smaller than June bearing varieties, and don’t produce as many runners. Hot summer temperatures above 85-90 degrees tend to limit fruit production.
Location
Plant in an open site in full sun, or a little late afternoon shade. In very cold areas, plant on a south facing slope to assist with hardiness. Pick a location with good soil drainage.
Soil
Strawberries prefer deep, well-drained soil with a high organic matter content - the less clay the better. Sandy soils work fine, but avoid heavy clay soils if possible. Plants are susceptible to iron chlorosis if planted in alkaline soils. Acidifying soil each year with sulfur will assist with fruit production.
Planting
Plant in early spring, after the last hard frost in cold climates. In sandy, well-drained soil it is unnecessary to mound the soil, but essential for good drainage if you planting in heavy or clay soils. Make sure to position crowns slightly above the surface when backfilling. Space plants 12-18 inches apart and rows should be 2-3 feet apart. June bearing varieties will not produce the first year (and can also be planted in fall of the previous season to produce a crop the next summer), and everbearing and day neutral varieties can produce a nice crop the first season. Mulch the plants with a light compost to deter weeds and help maintain a consistent soil moisture. Strawberries grow very well in containers - use a lightweight, high quality potting soil like Fertilome Ultimate Potting Soil. In containers, the plants will need extra protection to survive cold winters. See attached bare root and container planting guide
Water
Make sure to provide regular water throughout the growing season - usually a deep watering every 5-10 days depending on heat and sun exposure. As the plants mature and begin to fill in, maintain soil moisture during the growing season. Drip or soaker systems are preferable, but overhead sprinklers will work fine as well.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer with micronutrients in mid to late spring before bloom time to maintain consistent growth and fruit production. We recommend Anderson’s Best: That’s All It Takes, Fertilome Fruit, Nut and Pecan food, or Natural Guard Organic Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer. Plan on 1 pound (about 2 cups) for a 30 foot row. A second, light application just after fruit set will help keep the plants growing and boost productivity. Everbearing varieties prefer lighter, more frequent applications, so we suggest 1/2 pound per 30 foot row once a month during the growing season. If iron chlorosis occurs, use a chelated iron supplement like EDDHA 6% Iron. Strawberries prefer a more acidic soil, so yearly or even bi-annual applications of sulfur can help maintain a lower pH.
Pruning
Since strawberries reproduce from new runners each year, you have two options on how to prune. For larger fruit and plants, but possibly a smaller crop, pinch off new runners early in the season to retain the strength in the producing plants. For a heavier crop, but with potentially smaller berries, let the runners grow 7-10 inches apart, then remove the additional runners that shoot out afterwards. Renovate your strawberry patch (especially June bearing varieties) every few years by mowing down the heavy foliage after harvest season and removing older plants to allow more room for new runners to develop. Some growers will till under older patches and completely replant every 3-5 years to help keep plants under control and reduce weeds and diseases from becoming problematic.
Harvest and Yield
Pick fruit when berries are fully developed, have deep, mature color, and are sweet to the taste. Pinch the stem of the fruit from the plant with thumb and fingernail to harvest. Fruit can get crushed easily if piled too deep on top of each other, so harvest with a broad, shallow container to prevent damage. Anticipate 5-10 quarts of fruit per 10 feet of row.
Pests
Multiple diseases attack strawberries each year and can severely damage your crop: botrytis, anthracnose, mildews, leaf spot, root rot and others. As needed, apply a general-purpose fungicide like Copper Soap from Natural Guard or Complete Disease Control from Monterey (both products are organic and very safe to use on edibles right up until harvest) to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The Complete Disease Control can also be applied as a soil drench in early spring and again once a month during the growing season to prevent many of the most damaging diseases that affect strawberries.
Root weevil, aphids, mites, slugs and snails are the most common insect pests that damage strawberries. Avoid over watering, watch for telltale signs on the leaves of insect damage, and apply insecticides only as needed to control the most difficult of pests. Sevin, Permethrin, and Spinosad Soap have the broadest range of control, but are the safest to use closer to harvest season. Read each label specifically for harvest intervals after application.
Varieties
Albion
The perfect dessert strawberry due to its high sugar content and amazing flavor! Bursting with sweetness, this everbearing/day-neutral berry has a conical, symmetrically shaped fruit with firm texture and average to large size. Albion is high yielding, tolerates heat and humidity, and has excellent disease resistance. May remain evergreen in frost-free areas
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: Day-Neutral/Everbearing
Flavor: Sweet, firm texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
All-Star
A top-performing variety! This easy-care plant is very vigorous, giving you crops of large, glossy, firm berries with an exceptionally sweet taste and that perfect strawberry shape. Plant plenty of extras plants to ensure a large enough crop for freezing or making preserves; this variety produces a lot of high-quality berries over a short harvest season. Disease-resistant to verticillium wilt, leaf scorch, powdery mildew, and tolerates botrytis rot. Cold hardy. Ripens in June.
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: June Bearing
Flavor: Sweet, mild flavor, firm texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
Eversweet
One bite and you’ll love the exceptionally sweet and flavorful taste of the firm, bright red, cone-shaped berries This everbearing plant produces sweet, long, cone-shaped strawberries in its very first year! It will continue producing, even when temperatures exceed 80ºF. Perfect for patio gardens. Ripens each summer and continues to fruit into fall. They are recommended for fresh eating and freezing. Grow these plants in strawberry jars, hanging baskets, traditional gardens, or in raised beds.
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: Day-Neutral/Everbearing
Flavor: Sweet, firm texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
Honeoye
A hardy, consistent producer. This vigorous plant bears crops reliably, with good runner production. The strawberries are delicious fresh, frozen, or in jams and wines. This variety produces a lot of high-quality berries over a short harvest season, making it a perfect choice for processing large batches of jam or syrup. Cold hardy. Ripens in Late May – Early June. Self-pollinating. A licensed variety of Cornell University.
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: June Bearing
Flavor: Sweet, mild flavor, firm texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
Quinalt
One of the most popular varieties of everbearing strawberry! Large, soft, deliciously sweet fruit ideal are for fresh eating or preserves. Produces consistent smaller crops from late spring through fall. Developed by Washington State University, this variety is popular everywhere for its delicious berries that are perfect for home gardens. Great for containers.
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: Day Neutral/Everbearing
Flavor: Sweet, soft texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
Seascape
Enjoy these large, delicious, bright red strawberries in spring, summer and fall--three seasons of sweet deliciousness. This new day-neutral strawberry starts fruiting about 3 months from planting. The hard-working plants produce an abundance of sweet, juicy berries. The 12-18” plants are easy-growing, and perform well in matted rows, high density raised beds or in containers. They grow everywhere! They are heat-tolerant and disease resistant. High-yielding and good strawberries for any garden soil.
Zones: 4-8
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: Day Neutral/Everbearing
Flavor: Sweet, soft texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating
Wasatch
Wasatch Everbearing Strawberry is another introduction from Michigan State and improves upon traditional everbearing strawberries, producing higher yields, shows increased vigor, and rewards the grower with more flavor than most. While Wasatch fruit is not as firm and smaller sized compared to Albion, it has higher yields, better fruit color and excellent flavor compared to Albion. This is a very new introduction, and availability is still limited.
Zones: 3-9
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Type: Day Neutral/Everbearing
Flavor: Sweet, firm texture
Pollinator: Self-pollinating