Strawberries - The Yumolicious Fruit!
Posted 05-14-2007 at 07:00 AM by mycoupons
Our gardening question chosen this week was submitted by Rose S. from N.J.
Hi Annie,
I've been thinking of planting strawberries. What is the difference between June bearing, Everbearing and Day-Neutral strawberry plants? Do you grow strawberries and if so which ones do you prefer?
Thanks!
Rose S.
Thanks Rose for a great question!
I indeed do grow strawberries. At one time I had 150 strawberry plants in one of my gardens. Over the years however, I've slimmed that amount down to about 60. We were getting so many strawberries that we couldn't eat them or give them away fast enough. Having 60 plants seems to work out great for my family. It supplies enough to make strawberry shortcakes.... YUMOLICIOUS.... and some just for fresh eating or with cereal in the morning.
In my garden, I grow an equal amount of each - 30 Everbearing, 30 June Bearing and 30 Day-Neutral. You can't really tell the difference between the three type strawberry plants just by looking at them. They all look like strawberry plants, but they are different in their production of fruit and the duration period of their fruiting. Which is why I grow all 3 types
The June bearing type bears fruit one time of the year. It's usually a heavy crop during a 3 week period, usually around May for me. A disadvantage with June bearing is the first year that you plant them, you have to pick off all the blossoms from your plants for them to become strong and well established. So you really will not be able to enjoy strawberries from these plants until the second year. A good advantage to them however is, they do shoot off runners. These runners will give you more strawberry plants over the years to replace the older plants. Once the runners have taken root, simply cut them off from the "mother" plant.
The EverBearing variety produces two crops of berries, one in the spring/early summer and one in the fall. They start producing when the days begin to get longer ....more than 12 hours of sunlight. The first crop being heavier than the second. During the first year, remove all blossoms from your everbearing plants until the end of June. Then in Fall, you will be enjoying your first crop. The Everbearing for the most part, does not produce runners. If they do, it will only be a few.
Day-Neutral - This strawberry plant, produces berries throughout the growing season. 3 crops from about June through October. The first crop is usually the heaviest. After that, you will get a few scattered through the summer, and finally a lighter harvest in early Fall. The berries that are produced on the day- neutral variety are usually smaller than the June bearing, but are very sweet. When first planted, make sure you pick off the first set of blossoms. After that, allow the fruit to set and you'll have strawberries all summer long. Like the everbearing variety, day-neutrals also usually do not produce runners and only few if you're lucky.
The everbearing and day-neutral varieties I have grown with much success are Quinault, Ozark Beauty & Tristar.
Thanks again for the great question!
Keep on gardening!
Annie~
If you would like to see your gardening question or tip featured in next week's blog, simply submit it to annie@mycoupons.com. One will be chosen out of all sent in.
Hi Annie,
I've been thinking of planting strawberries. What is the difference between June bearing, Everbearing and Day-Neutral strawberry plants? Do you grow strawberries and if so which ones do you prefer?
Thanks!
Rose S.
Thanks Rose for a great question!
I indeed do grow strawberries. At one time I had 150 strawberry plants in one of my gardens. Over the years however, I've slimmed that amount down to about 60. We were getting so many strawberries that we couldn't eat them or give them away fast enough. Having 60 plants seems to work out great for my family. It supplies enough to make strawberry shortcakes.... YUMOLICIOUS.... and some just for fresh eating or with cereal in the morning.
In my garden, I grow an equal amount of each - 30 Everbearing, 30 June Bearing and 30 Day-Neutral. You can't really tell the difference between the three type strawberry plants just by looking at them. They all look like strawberry plants, but they are different in their production of fruit and the duration period of their fruiting. Which is why I grow all 3 types
The June bearing type bears fruit one time of the year. It's usually a heavy crop during a 3 week period, usually around May for me. A disadvantage with June bearing is the first year that you plant them, you have to pick off all the blossoms from your plants for them to become strong and well established. So you really will not be able to enjoy strawberries from these plants until the second year. A good advantage to them however is, they do shoot off runners. These runners will give you more strawberry plants over the years to replace the older plants. Once the runners have taken root, simply cut them off from the "mother" plant.
The EverBearing variety produces two crops of berries, one in the spring/early summer and one in the fall. They start producing when the days begin to get longer ....more than 12 hours of sunlight. The first crop being heavier than the second. During the first year, remove all blossoms from your everbearing plants until the end of June. Then in Fall, you will be enjoying your first crop. The Everbearing for the most part, does not produce runners. If they do, it will only be a few.
Day-Neutral - This strawberry plant, produces berries throughout the growing season. 3 crops from about June through October. The first crop is usually the heaviest. After that, you will get a few scattered through the summer, and finally a lighter harvest in early Fall. The berries that are produced on the day- neutral variety are usually smaller than the June bearing, but are very sweet. When first planted, make sure you pick off the first set of blossoms. After that, allow the fruit to set and you'll have strawberries all summer long. Like the everbearing variety, day-neutrals also usually do not produce runners and only few if you're lucky.
The everbearing and day-neutral varieties I have grown with much success are Quinault, Ozark Beauty & Tristar.
Thanks again for the great question!
Keep on gardening!
Annie~
If you would like to see your gardening question or tip featured in next week's blog, simply submit it to annie@mycoupons.com. One will be chosen out of all sent in.
Total Comments 0
Comments
Recent Blog Entries by mycoupons
- Wanted: Game Show Contestants!!! (07-03-2008)
- MyCoupons.com merchant of the Day: Heels.com (06-19-2008)
- MyCoupons Merchant of the Day: AmericanTailgator.com (06-11-2008)
- MyCoupons Merchant of the Day: StubBuddy.com! (06-05-2008)
- MyCoupons merchant of the Day: Shoes.com and their new coupon code! (06-03-2008)
