Signs to Recognize for Gardeners When to Harvest Strawberries
In the world of gardening, few fruits evoke the sweet scent of summer quite like strawberries. With their juicy, vibrant red colour and delightful flavour, these versatile berries are a staple in many gardens. To ensure a bountiful harvest and the best possible eating experience, it's essential to understand the different types of strawberries and their growth patterns.
There are three main types of strawberries: June-bearing, Day-neutral, and Everbearing. Each type offers unique advantages, and choosing the right one for your garden depends on your preference for one-time large harvest or continuous fresh picking.
June-bearing strawberries, as the name suggests, produce one large, concentrated crop typically in June and July. Varieties like ‘Hood’ are known for their excellent flavor and quality. These plants are ideal if you want a large quantity of strawberries at once for making jam, freezing, or preserving.
Day-neutral strawberries, on the other hand, bear fruit continuously throughout the growing season (spring to fall). They tend to have better fruit quality than everbearing types and provide fresh strawberries over a longer period. Varieties like ‘Albion’ have large fruit and good storage qualities, and ‘Seascape’ is also popular in certain regions like Oregon.
Everbearing strawberries produce multiple, smaller harvests spread through the season, offering a steady supply of medium-sized berries from late spring until frost. Varieties like ‘Albion’ and ‘Diamante’ (trial) are recommended, with ‘Quinault’ being an older but still popular choice.
If you want seasonal blockbuster yields for one-time processing, go with June-bearers. If you desire fresh fruit throughout the season and better eating quality, day-neutrals are preferable. If you want an intermediate solution with multiple harvests but perhaps slightly smaller fruit, everbearing strawberries may work well.
Strawberries are self-pollinating and benefit from bee activity, so maintaining a bee-friendly garden will help maximize yield and berry size regardless of variety. Additionally, consider your local climate and region because varieties like ‘Seascape’ thrive better in specific areas. Planting in early spring is the best timing. For Florida gardens, varieties such as 'Camarosa,' 'Sweet Sensation®,' and 'Festival' are recommended.
In summary, selecting the best strawberry variety for your garden based on growth patterns and seasonal offerings will help you enjoy a bountiful harvest of juicy, flavourful strawberries. Whether you prefer a one-time large harvest or continuous fresh picking, there's a strawberry variety to suit your needs. Happy gardening!
- For those who prefer a one-time large harvest of strawberries for making jam, freezing, or preserving, June-bearing strawberries like 'Hood', which are known for their excellent flavor and quality, would be an ideal choice.
- If you wish to enjoy fresh strawberries throughout the growing season (spring to fall) and also appreciate better fruit quality, day-neutral strawberries such as 'Albion' and 'Seascape' might be the perfect addition to your home-and-garden landscape and lifestyle.
