The frequency and timing of strawberry production depend entirely on the specific cultivar planted. Strawberries are perennial plants, but their fruiting schedule is genetically programmed. This variability often confuses new growers expecting a steady supply of berries throughout the season. Understanding the plant’s biological response to environmental cues is necessary to predict the harvest time.
Defining the Fruiting Cycles: The Three Types of Strawberries
The primary factor determining a strawberry plant’s fruiting frequency is photoperiodism, its response to day length. This response separates strawberry varieties into three distinct categories based on how they form flower buds.
June-Bearing Varieties
The most common type is the June-bearing variety, which produces a single, concentrated harvest over a two-to-three-week period. These are “short-day” plants that initiate flower buds in the previous autumn when daylight hours drop below 12 hours. The plant enters dormancy over winter, and the fruit matures quickly in the following spring or early summer, providing a large volume of berries.
Everbearing Varieties
A second type is the everbearing strawberry, which typically yields two smaller crops per growing season. The first flush of fruit appears around the same time as June-bearing varieties. This is followed by a second, lighter harvest in the late summer or early fall. Production often slows during the intense heat of mid-summer, as high temperatures can inhibit flower and fruit development.
Day-Neutral Varieties
The third category is the day-neutral strawberry, representing the most modern cultivar. These plants are not significantly influenced by day length to initiate flowering. Instead, they produce flowers and fruit almost continuously throughout the entire growing season, from late spring until the first heavy frost. This steady production relies on temperatures remaining within a moderate range, generally between 35 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Establishing Production: What to Expect in the First Year
New strawberry plants require time to establish a robust root system before they can support a full harvest. Newly planted crowns have limited energy reserves, and allowing them to fruit immediately compromises the plant’s long-term health and subsequent yields. Therefore, the first year rarely yields a significant crop.
June-Bearing First Year Management
For June-bearing varieties, remove all flowers and blossoms that appear during the entire first growing season. Pinching off these early flowers redirects the plant’s energy away from fruit production. This energy is instead used to develop a larger crown and stronger roots, ensuring a more substantial harvest starting in the second year.
Everbearing and Day-Neutral First Year Management
The practice is slightly different for everbearing and day-neutral types, allowing for a small harvest in the first season. Growers should remove all blossoms for the first four to six weeks after planting. After this initial period of energy redirection, the plant is established enough to allow subsequent flowers to set fruit, providing a modest yield in the late summer and fall.
Ensuring Consistent Annual Yields: Maintenance and Renovation
Maintaining high-volume production in subsequent years requires specific post-harvest maintenance, particularly for June-bearing varieties. These plants aggressively produce runners, which root to form new daughter plants. Excessive runner growth leads to overcrowding, which dramatically reduces the size and number of berries the following season.
To prevent this decline, the strawberry bed must be renovated immediately after the harvest is complete. Renovation begins by trimming the foliage down to one to two inches above the plant crowns, removing old or diseased leaves. The rows are then thinned using a tiller or hoe to narrow the matted rows. This concentrates the most vigorous young plants in an eight to twelve-inch strip and removes older, less productive parent plants.
Following renovation, the bed is fertilized and watered consistently. This encourages the development of new leaves and the flower buds that will become the next year’s fruit. Proper management and annual renovation ensure the strawberry patch remains productive for three to five years.