A Gardener’s Guide to Ever-Bearing Strawberry Plants
A Gardener’s Guide to Ever-Bearing Strawberry Plants
Ever-bearing strawberry plants produce fruit throughout the entire growing season from June until the first frost, making them a popular choice for home gardeners and small-scale farmers alike. Here's everything you need to know about growing and caring for these productive plants.
What are Ever-Bearing Strawberry Plants?
Ever-bearing strawberry plants are a type of strawberry that produces fruit in multiple flushes throughout the growing season. They are not as common as June-bearing strawberries, which produce a single large crop in the spring, but they are more productive over the summer and fall. In the right conditions, ever-bearing strawberries can produce fruit twice a year!
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Multiple harvests | Ever-bearing strawberries can produce fruit three or four times per year |
| Extended season | You can enjoy fresh strawberries from early summer until frost |
| Variety of flavors | Ever-bearing strawberries come in various flavors, from sweet to tart |
| Variety | Description |
|---|---|
| Albion | A popular ever-bearing variety that produces large, firm berries |
| Seascape | Another popular variety that is known for its resistance to pests and diseases |
| Tristar | A high-yielding variety that produces fruit from spring to fall |
Getting Started with Ever-Bearing Strawberry Plants
- Choose a sunny location. Ever-bearing strawberry plants need at least six hours of sunlight per day.
- Prepare the soil. The soil should be well-drained and have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
- Plant the strawberries. Space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows that are 3 to 4 feet apart.
- Water the plants. Water the plants deeply and regularly, especially during hot weather.
- Fertilize the plants. Fertilize the plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
Industry Insights
According to a study by the University of California, Davis, ever-bearing strawberry plants can produce yields of up to 3 pounds of fruit per plant per year. This is significantly higher than the yields of June-bearing strawberries, which typically produce around 1 pound of fruit per plant per year.
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. |
| 2 | Amend the soil with compost or manure to improve fertility. |
| 3 | Plant the strawberries in rows, spacing them 12-18 inches apart. |
| 4 | Water the plants deeply and regularly, especially during hot weather. |
| 5 | Fertilize the plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer. |
Success Stories
- A home gardener in Oregon reported harvesting over 100 pounds of strawberries from a single row of ever-bearing plants.
- A small-scale farmer in California sold over $10,000 worth of ever-bearing strawberries at a local farmers market.
- A chef in New York City used ever-bearing strawberries to create a signature dessert that was featured in The New York Times.
Effective Strategies, Tips and Tricks
- Use raised beds. Raised beds provide better drainage and help to keep the plants warm in the spring.
- Mulch around the plants. Mulch helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the berries clean.
- Pinch off the runners. Runners are stolons that the plants produce to spread. Pinching them off will help the plants to focus their energy on producing fruit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Planting the strawberries in too much shade. Ever-bearing strawberry plants need at least six hours of sunlight per day.
- Overwatering the plants. Ever-bearing strawberry plants do not like to sit in wet soil.
- Fertilizing the plants too much. Too much fertilizer can burn the plants and reduce yields.
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