Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa delivers that perfect hit of sun-warmed sweetness that no grocery store berry can ever quite replicate.
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The Garden's Sweetest Reward
The garden strawberry is a hybrid species that arose in 18th-century France from a cross between Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis from Chile. That happy accident gave us the large, flavorful fruit we know today, and breeders have spent the centuries since refining it into hundreds of cultivars suited to nearly every climate.
Strawberries fall into three main groups: June-bearers produce one generous flush of fruit in late spring, everbearers offer two smaller crops in spring and fall, and day-neutrals fruit continuously as long as temperatures stay between roughly 35 and 85 degrees F. Choosing the right type for your goals and climate is the single most important planting decision you will make.
Planting & care
Plant in full sun in well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5) enriched with compost. Space plants 12-18 in apart in rows 24-36 in apart, setting the crown right at soil level - too deep and it rots, too shallow and it dries out. A raised bed or dedicated strawberry patch is ideal for keeping drainage consistent and rotation manageable.
Water deeply and regularly, aiming for soil that stays evenly moist but never waterlogged. Mulch with straw to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep berries clean. Fertilize at planting with a balanced granular fertilizer, then side-dress with a low-nitrogen formula after the first harvest to support runner development. Renovate June-bearer beds right after fruiting by mowing foliage to about 1 in and thinning runners to reinvigorate the planting.
Pinch the First Blooms
For June-bearer transplants, remove all flowers during the first season. It feels counterintuitive, but redirecting that energy into root and runner development pays off with a significantly larger and more vigorous harvest the following year. Everbearers only need their first flush of blooms removed through early summer.
How much sun does Strawberry need?
Strawberry grows best in full sun.
How often should you water Strawberry?
Give it about 1-2 in per week.
When is Strawberry ready to harvest?
Strawberry is usually ready in 60-90 days from transplant; late spring to early summer for june-bearers, spring through fall for everbearers.