Plant delicious backyard strawberries

-by Debra Anchors

"One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste."  - JW von Goethe

There are four types of strawberries:  June-bearers, Ever-bearers, Day-neutral and Alpine.  Why not try them all in your garden?

Allstar Strawberry

June-bearers are susceptible to day length and temperature, and produce only one big crop in June. These berries – perfect for eating fresh, and for jam and freezing – are most often planted in large beds and are replanted every few years.

Ever-bearers are similar to June-bearers, but less sensitive to day length.  This variety produces a large crop of berries in June and a smaller crop in the fall.

Day-neutral plants form flower buds and produce fruit from spring through fall; day length is of no concern.  These berries are usually planted as annuals.  The fruit is smaller than typical of other varieties, but is of premium quality.  Plants resist disease but do not grow or produce well in hot climates.

Alpines are selected from wild European strains.  The plants may be started from seed or can be purchased as nursery-grown starts.  The fruit is quite small with intense flavor.  Alpines do not produce runners and prefer shade and cool conditions.

Here are 10 excellent strawberries to grow in your garden:

June-Bearers:
Allstar	Plants produce large, sweet berries and are disease resistant; they grow best in the Northeast, Midwest, and eastern Canada.
Cardinal	Has large, flavorful fruits;  a good choice for the Southeast and Midwest.
Honeoye	Grow well in the Northeast and Midwest; best in light soils.  Great flavor.
Sequoia	Very large, dark red berries with very good flavor. Behaves like an ever-bearer, but is actually an extremely long season spring-Bearer

Ever-Bearers:
Ozark Beauty	Traditional classic with large berries; good for the Midwest and Northeast USA.
Quinault	Berries have a great flavor; plants are very disease resistant and produce best for the Northwest and Northern California.

Day-Neutral:
Tribute	Plants are vigorous, with medium-size berries.  They are resistant to red stele and powdery mildew.
Tristar	Produces fairly small berries but with great flavor; vigorous.  Resistant to red stele and verticillum wilt.

Alpine:
Alexandria	The most common red alpine strawberry; has small mounding plants with no runners.
Rugen Improved	Small, mounding plants produce fruits larger than most; no runners.

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Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever! 
-Debra

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