The only thing better than strawberries eaten straight off the plant is strawberries eaten straight off the plant two or three times a year. This is what you get when you plant everbearing strawberries. Good for at least two harvests per year, some growers can get three harvests in perfect conditions. Although a bit more difficult to grow than the average strawberry plant, the bounty of fruit you get from everbearing strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananssa 'Quinault') is worth the effort.
| common names | Everbearing strawberries |
| botanical name | Fragaria × Ananas 'Quinault' |
| Family | rose family |
| Size | 8-10 inches high, 12-18 inches wide |
| sun exposure | full sun |
| soil type | Rich, well draining, moist |
| soil pH | Neutral |
| heyday | Spring, late summer, autumn |
| hardiness zones | 3-10 (USDA) |
| home territory | Variety, no native range |
How to plant everbearing strawberries
when to plant
To get the most out of each day of the growing season, you want to get your everbearing strawberries into the ground as soon as possible. For everbearing strawberries, a good time frame is usually a few weeks before the last frost. If you live in a particularly cold area, you should wait until your evening temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choosing a site
When planting your everbearing strawberries you should find a spot that gets full sun but is protected from the afternoon sun. Dappled afternoon sun is fine, but your plants' leaves will scorch in the harsh sun during the hottest months of the year.
It's also a good idea to keep the area you plan to plant in reasonably manageable; You don't want a sprawling strawberry patch. Give your plants enough space to spread out and roam around to harvest and tend to your plants, but giving them a lot more space will result in constant weeding.
distance and depth
Strawberries are small plants, but they like to spread. They put out stolons, which are a great way to get more plants, but the small plants soon spread much wider than they are tall. Because of this, it's important to plant them with plenty of space to spread out; 15-20 inches between each plant should be enough. As for planting, you should dig the hole twice as wide as the plant's root ball and cut off the dangling roots when the plants are removed from their nursery pots.
A simple way to ensure you have enough space for each plant, and to plant each everbearing strawberry plant deep enough, is to plant them in containers. This also allows you to place them in areas with the right sun at the perfect time.
Everlasting strawberry care
Licht
You want to provide your everbearing strawberries with a spot in your garden that gets full sun. At the same time, it should be mentioned that this needs to be mitigated by limiting the direct afternoon sun that the plants receive. Aim for the dappled afternoon sun to avoid scorching the plants' tender foliage and ensure you get harvests all summer long into fall.
Boden
The soil in which your everbearing strawberries are planted is very important. You must give them the best soil possible to provide copious amounts of these delicious sweet strawberries. It is ideal to aim for an organically rich soil that drains well. The pH should be as neutral as possiblewhich means testing may be required before plantingand adding some changes to increase or decrease acidity or alkalinity as needed.
Water
Juicy strawberries are the best; There's no denying that, and that juiciness comes from giving your ever-bearing strawberries plenty of water. An inch of water per plant generally keeps these plants happy and healthy and produces the juicy fruits that everyone loves. The only thing to watch out for is that your soil drains well, as strawberries are prone to root rot.
temperature and humidity
Temperature and humidity are not so much a factor in the success of everbearing strawberry plants as the amount of sun and watering they receive. If you provide a well-sheltered area in a warm area and plenty of extra watering, your strawberries should do well but may not give you the full three harvests they can.
Stick with the recommendationUSDA Hardiness Zonesfrom 3 to 10, provide ample protection from the harsh sun and provide your plants with plenty of watering to keep them thriving.
fertilizer
It's best to provide your plants with all the fertilizer they need before planting by mixing 1 to 2 inches of compost into your soil while you prepare your garden bed. If you find it necessary to fertilize your plants mid-season, choose a 10-10-10 all-purpose fertilizer.
Harvesting Everbearing Strawberries
With the right care and the right conditions, you may be able to do thisHarvest your everlasting strawberriesat three points during the season: spring, late summer and fall.
Picking your crop is important as it prepares your plant for the next harvest. You want to remove bright red and large fruits. Any fruit that appears undersized and immature should be removed. Your goal is to harvest as much fruit in as small a window as possible and focus your plant on producing more buds, which yields more fruit.
In doing so, you will find that your plants will emit suckers; these should be removed so your plants can put all their energy into fruit production. These stolons can be planted in pots and kept indoors until next season.
Growing everbearing strawberries in pots
A great way to grow everbearing strawberries is to collect the stolons planted in soil. If you are growing everbearing strawberries from stolons, you can skip planting in the ground step entirely andplant directly in potswith full success.
Plant one plant per large pot, leaving room for it to spread; Avoid pre-made strawberry pots as they don't offer much space. It's also a good idea to avoid terracotta pots as they increase the amount of water needed, which already needs to be doubled since the soil in pots doesn't retain the same amount of moisture as it does in the ground.
wintering
Depending on where you are, you may be able to overwinter your plants directly in the ground if you don't get particularly cold winters. There are conflicting reports that Fragaria × ananassa 'Quinault' are frost hardy, but most information points to them not being hardy enough to withstand winters in cold locations.
In such situations it is best to take cuttings from your runners, pot them up and bring them in over the winter and either plant them or leave them potted for the next season.
Common pests and plant diseases
There is no shortage of diseases and pests to attackstrawberries, and everbearing strawberries are no exception. You can encounter various leaf diseases, root rot, wilt, viruses and burns. The best thing you can do is to keep checking for symptoms and staying proactive by taking the best care of your plants, which can limit potential health issues.
Unfortunately, even the best conditions and care don't keep the most stubborn pests away. To do this, you must be the first line of defense, constantly checking your plants for signs or symptoms that indicate you may have unwanted visitors. Most often, strawberries are bothered by slugs, aphids, strawberry beetles and various mites. Any pest canusually be treatedfairly mild, with most not causing too much of a problem if caught early enough.
FAQs
Do I cut back everbearing strawberries? ›
Because everbearing varieties produce all season long, they are never cut back. But even though they keep their foliage in-tact up until the first frost, they still need a bit of protection to get them through winter.
How long do everbearing strawberry plants last? ›You'll probably need to replace everbearing strawberry plants every three years to maintain good production.
How do you prepare everbearing strawberries for winter? ›To winterize strawberry plants, heap a loose mulch over plants to a depth of 3 to 5 inches. Use a material that won't compact heavily. Good choices include straw, clean hay, bark chips, chopped cornstalks or cobs, evergreen branches or pine straw.
Do you cut back everbearing strawberries for winter? ›Cut back after fruiting – After the last summer-fruiting strawberries have been harvested, cut plants back to 3 inches (7.5cm) above the ground to help direct the plant's energy back into their roots and to create space for new shoots to develop before it goes into dormancy. Remove all dead leaves and trimmings.
Should I pinch off everbearing strawberry flowers? ›If you are growing ever-bearing strawberries, here are some guidelines: Pinch off all blossoms from year-old stock planted last April to encourage plant growth and conserve energy for the harvest in late summer or early fall.
Should I remove flowers from everbearing strawberry plants? ›With everbearing and day-neutral strawberries, remove all blossoms until early July. Any flowers which bloom after this period may be allowed to develop into fruit. The first berries should ripen in August and continue until frost.
How many times do everbearing strawberries produce? ›Ever-bearing types produce two crops, one in early summer and the second in early fall. Day neutral plants produce fruit throughout most of the growing season.
When should I renovate everbearing strawberries? ›Renovation is recommended annually for June-bearing strawberries and every two to four years for day-neutral and everbearing. For reference, check out the different types of strawberry plants. Strawberry plants produce best when they are young.
Do you water strawberries everyday? ›How should strawberries be watered and fertilized? Watering. Strawberry plants need regular water to thrive, especially during fruit bearing season, when they need an average of 1-2 inches of water daily. The best way to water strawberries is to use drip or soaker hose placed at least two inches away from the plant.
What do I cover my strawberries with for the winter? ›Straw mulch is by far the more common choice for covering strawberries. Local garden centers and hardware stores often sell straw in rectangular bales for about $5-8 per bale. A rectangular bale is enough to create a 2-3 inch thick cover over a 10-foot-long row of strawberries.
Should I cut leaves off strawberry plants? ›
In late Summer or Autumn, when the plants have finished fruiting it is a good idea to trim away all of the old foliage. Treat each plant individually and give it a good haircut with shears or a large pair of scissors.
What do you put under strawberry plants? ›Unless growing through polythene sheeting, protect the developing fruits from wet soil by tucking straw or 'strawberry mats' under the fruits as they begin to swell. This also helps to keep fruit clean and suppress weeds. Some gardeners prefer to use barley straw as it is soft, but wheat straw is fine to use too.
What to do with strawberry runners? ›Place the strawberry runner on the surface and hold it in place using a u-shaped staple or a piece of wire. Don't snip off the stem linking the new plant to its parent – keep this until the new plant has developed strong roots. Keep the compost moist at all times.
Can I separate strawberry runners and plant them? ›The plants can be divided and transplanted once multiple crowns have been grown (or division of rhizomes), new plants can be grown from strawberry seeds, or the runners that strawberry plants put out can be controlled, guided, and caused to root where clone plants can be utilized most efficiently.
Can you plant everbearing strawberries in pots? ›Best Varieties For Growing Container Strawberries
If you prefer a plant that will continue to produce berries all summer long, look for an everbearing variety, like Quinault strawberries. Both are excellent varieties to grow in a container according to the Bonnie Plant website.
Strawberry plants are small, and they can easily fit into most pots. But, just like most other plants, they like their space and hate to be crowded.
How do you increase strawberry yield? ›All strawberries prefer a humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil which should ideally be slightly acidic (pH 6.5–6.8) and sheltered from wind; they have a shared hatred of waterlogged soil too. An open sunny site will produce the highest yields but a spot of shade won't be too harmful, particularly for woodland varieties.
What happens if the runners of a strawberry plant are not pruned regularly? ›However, after you have filled it out with the first-year runner plants, subsequent runners will overcrowd and choke out all the plants so that the harvest declines precipitously and the strawberries become much smaller.
Should you fertilize strawberries when they are blooming? ›Repeat the fertilizer every 2-4 weeks while your plants are flowering and fruiting if they're in the ground or pots, less frequently if they're in a raised bed. An inexpensive soil test kit will help you to know If your strawberries are getting all the nutrients they need at the proper time.
What is the best fertilizer for everbearing strawberries? ›Everbearing strawberries need a steady amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer throughout the growing season because they continuously blossom and bear fruit. 10-10-10 fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are the three main nutrients needed for plants to grow.
What is the best everbearing strawberry? ›
Considered by many to be the best everbearing variety, Fragaria 'Ozark Beauty' (Everbearing Strawberry) produces a first crop in spring and another one in late summer or fall. The red berries are large, luscious, very sweet with excellent flavor.
How much room do everbearing strawberries need? ›Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are typically planted in beds consisting of 2 or 3 rows. Rows are spaced 1 foot apart. Plants are spaced 1 foot apart within the rows. A 2-foot-wide path should separate the beds.
When should strawberries be cut back? ›It is best to mow strawberry plants within one week after they produce their last harvest. Mowing strawberries after this week will likely result in damage to new foliar growth.
Do everbearing strawberries multiply? ›Everbearers do not produce many runners. Day neutral strawberries will produce fruit throughout the growing season. These strawberries produce just a few runners. Everbearing and day neutral strawberries are great for gardeners who have limited space.
How do you prune strawberries in the fall? ›Cut the runners down to the ground with pruning shears, or by pinching them off with your fingers, being careful not to damage the strawberry bush or roots. Discard the runners and small plants away from the strawberry bed, preferably in your compost heap.
Do strawberries like to be crowded? ›Strawberry plants are small, and they can easily fit into most pots. But, just like most other plants, they like their space and hate to be crowded.
Is it better to cut strawberries or leave them whole? ›2. Keep them as whole berries. Whole strawberries will resist spoilage longer than cut-up strawberry pieces. Keep the whole basket just like you found them at the grocery store or farmers' market, and leave their green-leaf tops intact.
Should I cut dead leaves off my strawberry plant? ›Step 1 Removing Dead Leaves
Removing those dead leaves can clear out spores or other items on the leaves. That can spread disease to your strawberries or make them mold. And removing the dead leaves, removes homes for slugs and other pest. So they can more easily be removed from the bed.
Types of mulch for strawberries
The most common mulch for strawberries is straw. Straw can be purchased from local garden centers in rectangular square bales. It typically costs about $5-7 per bale, and a bale is enough to cover about a 10-foot-long row of strawberries, 2 to 3 inches thick. You also could use leaves.