Different Types and Varieties of Strawberry Plants

There are rules to follow, no matter what kind or variety of strawberry plants you choose. This begins in the nursery when you buy the plants. Make sure they are certified disease free. Don't just grab the plants and run. Check to make sure the leaves have large crowns and the leaves do not have any blemishes or brown patches.

Timing is critical when it comes to putting the plants in the ground. Set them out in the spring after the moisture from the winter melt is gone, the soil is easy to handle and all danger of frost is passed. Fertilize the soil with organic compost.

Dig a hole that is deep and wide enough for the roots to spread out. They do not like to be cramped. Strawberries need a minimum of eight hours of sunlight a day. Do not plant if eggplant, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes were grown in the same place the previous year or the plants will suffer from Verticillium Rot.

The first type is day neutral. These varieties are well suited for small spaces. The berries are sweet, but they are smaller than the other types. Day neutral strawberries will produce fruit anytime temperatures range from 35 degrees to 85 degrees F. Varieties of day neutral strawberries include Tribute, Tristar, Seascape, Kathy Demchak, Willie Lantz and Harry Swartz

Ever Bearing strawberries are very well named. These berries will produce 2 to 3 crops from spring through fall. They do not send out that many runners and are well suited for small spaces. Varieties of Ever Bearing strawberries include Gem, Early Jersey Giant, Red Rich, Ozark Beauty, Arapahoe, Ogallala and Geneva.

As the name suggests, June Bearing strawberries produce only one large crop a year over 2 to 3 weeks in June and are the oldest type of strawberries known. They send out plenty of runners, so they need more space and produce abundant, large, juicy fruits. Varieties include Earliglow, Annapolis, Delmarvel, Allstar, Brunswick, Chandler, Honeoye, Kent, Lateglow, Mohawk, Sable, Seneca, and Winona.

As you can see, the world of the simple strawberry is a large one. Do your homework and have a list of the kinds that would fit you best before you set out to the garden center. They will have the exact varieties that work best in your area and don't be afraid to ask questions. That is what they are there for. Be sure to find out the specific instructions for the types you choose. They need different spacing etc.

Sources:

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Penn State University

The National Agricultural Library

Garden Guide