Do Strawberries Ripen First in the Spring?

June Bearing

• June-bearing strawberries produce the largest fruit of the three commonly cultivated types. They produce fruit early in the spring for two to three weeks. These spreading plants send out numerous runners and require a large plot. For the first year after planting June-bearing strawberries, remove all flowers as they appear. This will ensure good root development and a larger crop in the following years. June-bearing strawberry beds require renovating after every harvest. Cut plants down to 1 inch above the crown and clean up all leaf litter, debris and weeds. Apply 1 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 feet of soil. Thin to 4 to 6 inches between plants and supply 1 inch of water per week until winter. A planting of June-bearing strawberries will last for three or four years.

Everbearing and Day-Neutral

• Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries produce smaller fruit but have three fruiting periods throughout the year in the spring, late summer and fall. The plants are smaller, require less space and can be grown in containers, making them ideal for home gardeners with small garden plots, porches, patios or balconies. Plant in early spring and remove all flowers until the first day of June. Allow them to flower and fruit normally for the rest of the season, removing any runners the plants produce. Renovation is not necessary for these varieties of strawberries. Replace your plantings every three to four years.

Planting Systems

• June-bearing strawberries are often planted in matted or spaced rows. In a matted row plants are set 18 to 30 inches apart in rows 3 or 4 feet apart and allowed to freely set runners and root daughter plants. Spaced rows are similar but the majority of runners are cut and only a few daughter plants are allowed to root. Spaced rows require more care but produce higher yields and plants with fewer disease problems. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are commonly planted in hills spaced 1 foot apart. Rows of hills are about 2 feet apart. All runners are removed to encourage flower production. Everbearing and day-neutral types can also be planted in containers, used as flower bed edging or grown as ground cover.

Care

• Before you plant, amend the soil with compost or other organic matter. Ensure strawberries are planted where they will receive at least six hours of sun per day. During the winter and early spring strawberries are susceptible to frost. Use a 6-inch layer of straw mulch to cover your plants during the winter. In the spring move the mulch to the space between rows so you can recover the plants if a late frost is predicted. During the growing season, use an organic mulch to conserve water and control weeds. Plastic mulches will warm the soil too much. Give your strawberries 1 inch of water per week.