The plants we know as garden strawberries are nearly all cultivars of a hybrid plant known as Fragaria x ananassa, which was first bred during the mid-1700s in France by crossing a North American strawberry, F. virginiana, and a Chilean strawberry, F. chiloensis. Technically speaking, the strawberry isn't a true berry with internal seeds, but rather an "aggregate accessory fruit" with seeds on the outside of the fleshy portion of the fruit.
Garden strawberry is an easy-to-grow perennial fruiting plant that will reward the home gardener with ample harvests for many years. It has a low-growing and spreading habit, with plentiful deep-green, ridged leaves, and diminutive white flowers. The fruits grow from the ends of delicate leafless shoots. Individual plants are not particularly fast-growing, but they quickly spread outward with runners.
With favorable conditions, each strawberry plant can produce up to one quart of strawberries per season. Garden strawberries produce their fruit from late spring to early summer months, and even into fall, depending on the variety, though they may begin producing fruit in early spring in the warm, southern states. In cooler climates, new plants should be started in spring; in warmer areas, plants can be started in spring or fall.
| Botanical Name | Fragaria x ananassa |
| Common Name | Strawberry, garden strawberry |
| Plant Type | Fruiting perennial |
| Mature Size | 4 to 12 inches tall, 6 to 24 inches wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Loamy, rich, well-drained soil |
| Soil pH | Acidic (5.8 to 6.2) |
| Bloom Time | Late spring, early summer |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | 4 to 9 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Europe |
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How to Plant Garden Strawberries
Strawberry plants are generally planted in rich, moist soil, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart, as they will shoot out runners quickly. In zone 6 and further north, plant them outside during the spring months to ensure the plants are well-rooted by the following year. It's generally recommended to pinch off all blooms the first year (especially the June-bearing varieties), which encourages the plants to put their energy into root growth. Garden strawberries planted in zone 7 and farther south can be planted in the fall and will produce edible fruit by the following spring.
Mulch between plants after planting to keep the soil temperature cool, retain moisture, deter weeds, and keep the fruit above the soil. Straw is the traditional strawberry mulch. Do not use black plastic, since it will raise the soil temperature, and optimal fruit production requires cool soil.
Don't plant strawberries where tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants have grown, as these plants are susceptible to verticillium wilt, which can affect strawberries.
Garden Strawberry Care
Light
Garden strawberry plants ideally need eight hours of full sun per day but can be planted anywhere that gets between 6 to 10 hours of sunlight daily. If planted in less light, the harvest will be smaller.
Soil
Garden strawberry plants prefer soil that's rich and loamy with a pH between 5.8 to 6.2 for maximum production. Plant the strawberries so that the roots are covered in soil but the crown is exposed to fresh air and light. If buried deep, the plant will rot.
Water
For juicy strawberries, provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Regular watering is especially important while the fruit is forming, from early bloom to the end of harvest.
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature for garden strawberries is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as the plant is protected from frost.
High humidity can encourage the development and spread of powdery mildew, so provide plenty of air circulation for the plants.
Fertilizer
Start with compost-rich, organic soil, and apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting time, at the rate of one pound per 100 square feet. Fertilize again after the renovation of June-bearers or after the second harvest of day-neutrals and everbearing types.
Do not over-fertilize, which leads to excessive leaf growth and poor flowering. Additionally, don't fertilize strawberries late in the season in colder climates, as you want to prevent new growth that will be damaged by frost.
Garden Strawberry Varieties
Strawberry plants are grouped by their fruiting habits. Be sure you know what you are planting because the type of plant will determine when and how much you harvest.
- June-bearing: This variety produces one large crop per year during a two- to three-week period, usually around June, though they'll begin bearing earlier in warmer climates. These plants particularly benefit from removing all their flowers the first year, to increase future yields.
- Everbearing: These strawberries do not continually bear fruit, as their name might imply. Everbearing strawberries produce buds when the days are long, which usually results in two main harvests—one in June and another in early fall.
- Day-neutral: These strawberries produce fruit throughout the growing season but in smaller quantities than June-bearing plants. They don't rely on day length for fruit production, Instead, they form fruit based on temperature—even forming buds when temps are as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when temperatures exceed 75 degrees, production stops. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries have a longer season of harvest, but the fruits are usually somewhat smaller than June-bearers. Day-neutral varieties typically produce only a few runners.
Harvesting
Garden strawberries will begin to produce fruit over a period of about three weeks in the late spring, though the fruit will appear earlier in warmer climates. Strawberries are the sweetest when fully ripened on the plants. For most varieties, this means leaving the berries on the plant for a day or two after they are fully colored, though the only way to know for sure is to taste them.
Strawberries bruise easily, so be gentle when pulling the fruit from the plants. Snap or cut the stem directly above the berry rather than pulling on the berry itself. Keep harvested berries in a cool, shady location.
Pruning
June-bearing strawberries produce a number of runners, which should be left in place, but everbearing and day-neutral varieties produce only a couple of runners that produce inferior fruit. On day-neutral and everbearing varieties, snip off these runners.
During the first year, pick blossoms off the plants. This will increase the yield significantly in the second year because the plant will devote energy to developing healthy roots instead of fruit in the first year.
Propagating
Strawberries naturally spread by means of stem runners that spread out from the parent plant and root themselves in surrounding soil. As these runners take root, the connecting stems can be snipped, and the resulting plantlet can be carefully dug up and transplanted in a new location. Pinning the runners down into the soil will hasten the rooting process. Early fall is generally the best time to dig up and move these plantlets.
Overwintering
In colder climates, mulching over the strawberry plants in winter will prevent injury to the crowns. Wait until the temperature drops to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, then cover the bed with several inches of straw (the best option), pine needles or shredded leaves. Be sure to use a mulch that can be easily removed in the spring.
Common Pests and Diseases
Strawberries are fairly high-maintenance plants, so be prepared for a variety of problems, including leaf spot and other foliage diseases, root rots, fruit rot diseases (such as anthracnose), gray mold, viruses, and sun scorch. Common pests include tarnished plant bug, mites, aphids, leafrollers, slugs, nematodes, and strawberry weevils. Birds can devastate a crop, unless the patch is protected with netting.
As with any edible plant, it's best to look for the least toxic solutions possible when treating diseases and pests. Many gardeners resign themselves to the reality that they will always lose some portion of the crop to such problems.
Many cultivars are bred to be resistant to common diseases, so consult a local expert for recommendations on the best varieties for your region.
How to Grow Garden Strawberries in Pots
If you don't have outdoor space for a garden or if you live in an area with soil that is naturally alkaline, it might be a good idea to grow garden strawberries in a container that's full with compost-enriched quality potting soil.
Garden strawberries grown in containers can be replanted in the late summer months. Move them to a cool, protected place, like an unheated basem*nt or garage, during chillier months.
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Verticillium Wilt of Strawberry. College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University.
Powdery Mildew of Strawberries. North Carolina State Extension.
California Fertilization Guidelines: Strawberry. Fertilizer and Education Research Program, UC Davis.
Fragaria'Cavendish. Missouri Botanical Garden.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
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Regarding the concepts mentioned in this article, here is the information I found:
Garden Strawberries and Their Origins
The plants we commonly know as garden strawberries are mostly cultivars of a hybrid plant called Fragaria x ananassa. This hybrid was first bred in France during the mid-1700s by crossing a North American strawberry species called Fragaria virginiana and a Chilean strawberry species called Fragaria chiloensis [[1]].
Technically, strawberries are not true berries with internal seeds. Instead, they are classified as "aggregate accessory fruits" because their seeds are located on the outside of the fleshy portion of the fruit [[1]].
Characteristics of Garden Strawberries
Garden strawberries are easy-to-grow perennial fruiting plants. They have a low-growing and spreading habit, with deep-green, ridged leaves and diminutive white flowers. The fruits grow from the ends of delicate leafless shoots. Each strawberry plant can produce up to one quart of strawberries per season under favorable conditions [[1]].
Garden strawberries typically produce fruit from late spring to early summer, and even into fall, depending on the variety. In warmer regions, they may begin producing fruit in early spring. New plants should be started in spring in cooler climates, while in warmer areas, they can be started in either spring or fall [[1]].
Planting and Care of Garden Strawberries
To plant garden strawberries, it is generally recommended to use rich, moist soil and space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart. The plants tend to shoot out runners quickly. In colder regions (zone 6 and further north), it is best to plant them outside during the spring months to ensure they are well-rooted by the following year. In warmer regions (zone 7 and farther south), they can be planted in the fall and will produce edible fruit by the following spring [[1]].
Garden strawberries prefer full sun exposure, but they can tolerate 6 to 10 hours of sunlight daily. They thrive in loamy, rich, and well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH between 5.8 and 6.2. It is important to provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week, especially while the fruit is forming. The ideal temperature for garden strawberries is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can tolerate temperatures as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit if protected from frost. Adequate air circulation is important to prevent powdery mildew [[1]].
When it comes to fertilization, it is recommended to start with compost-rich, organic soil and apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting time. Over-fertilization should be avoided, as it can lead to excessive leaf growth and poor flowering. In colder climates, it is advisable to avoid late-season fertilization to prevent new growth that may be damaged by frost [[1]].
Varieties and Harvesting of Garden Strawberries
Garden strawberry plants are grouped into different types based on their fruiting habits:
- June-bearing: These varieties produce one large crop per year during a two- to three-week period, usually around June. It is beneficial to remove all their flowers in the first year to increase future yields [[1]].
- Everbearing: Contrary to their name, everbearing strawberries do not continually bear fruit. They usually produce two main harvests—one in June and another in early fall. They produce buds when the days are long [[1]].
- Day-neutral: Day-neutral strawberries produce fruit throughout the growing season but in smaller quantities compared to June-bearing plants. They do not rely on day length for fruit production but instead form fruit based on temperature. However, production stops when temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Day-neutral varieties typically produce fewer runners [[1]].
Garden strawberries are typically harvested over a period of about three weeks in late spring, with the fruit appearing earlier in warmer climates. The berries are sweetest when fully ripened on the plants. It is recommended to leave the berries on the plant for a day or two after they are fully colored. Strawberries should be gently pulled from the plants by snapping or cutting the stem directly above the berry. Harvested berries should be kept in a cool, shady location [[1]].
Pruning, Propagation, and Overwintering
For June-bearing strawberries, it is common for them to produce runners, which should be left in place. However, everbearing and day-neutral varieties produce only a few runners that produce inferior fruit. These runners can be snipped off. During the first year, it is advised to pick off blossoms to increase yield in the second year by allowing the plant to develop healthy roots [[1]].
Strawberries naturally spread through stem runners that root themselves in the surrounding soil. These runners can be carefully dug up and transplanted to propagate new plants. Pinning the runners down into the soil will help expedite the rooting process. Early fall is generally the best time to dig up and move these plantlets [[1]].
In colder climates, it is recommended to mulch over the strawberry plants in winter to protect the crowns. This can be done by covering the bed with several inches of straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves. The mulch should be easily removable in the spring [[1]].
Common Pests and Diseases
Strawberries can be susceptible to various pests and diseases, including leaf spot, root rots, fruit rot diseases (such as anthracnose and gray mold), viruses, and pests like tarnished plant bugs, mites, aphids, leafrollers, slugs, nematodes, and strawberry weevils. Birds can also pose a threat to the crop. It is advisable to consult local experts for recommendations on disease-resistant varieties and to explore least toxic solutions for treating diseases and pests [[1]].
Growing Garden Strawberries in Pots
If you don't have outdoor space or have naturally alkaline soil, growing garden strawberries in containers can be a good option. Use compost-enriched quality potting soil and replant the strawberries in late summer. During colder months, the plants can be moved to a cool, protected place like an unheated basem*nt or garage [[1]].
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
