From: gwv@eastrg2.cray.com (George Vandenberghe)
Subject: Re: Strawberries
Date: 20 Jul 93 17:26:48 CDT

Strawberries are divided into June Bearers, Everbearers and
Day-Neutral varieties.  June bearers bear once in late May or June and
then spend the rest of the season making runners which will fruit next
year.  Everbearers make a smaller June crop and a seconds small crop
in late summer or fall.  They occasionally produce the odd berry in
midsummer also.  Day-Neutral varieties produce a small spring crop and
then bloom and rest in four to six week cycles.  If you want
continuous strawberries and have enough room they are the best.
However no strawberry produces good fruit in continuous hot humid
conditions and the large single crop of june bearers ripens before the
worst summer heat.  Everbearers also produce more at the moderate
boundaries of summer and avoid fruiting during periods when the fruit
isn't worth picking.  Day-Neutral varieties are excellent for areas
with cool summers or long slow springs.


The total yield per year is larger for june bearers.

I don't grow June bearers but am going to start next year.  Tristar is
the Day-Neutral variety that I am most familar with.  Sweetheart is
another Day-Neutral variety which can be grown from seed (Germination
is sometimes difficult however) and it makes decent plants which can
then be propagated from runners for several years; it isn't a novelty!
Unfortunately I can't recommend good June bearers and wouldn't even if
I grew them because there are many varieties adapted to various
climates and I've never lived in the midwest.

A very common everbearer is Ozark Beauty but I have no experience with
that one either.

The strawberries will need a little winter protection where you are, a
little straw or some leaves will be enough.  Alternate freezing and
thawing and standing water around the roots in soil warmer than 40
degrees are more of a threat than absolute winter cold.  They also
should not be exposed to winter sun (Mulch helps there too) otherwise
there will come the nice day when the soil is still frozen and the
plants will wilt from water stress.

Good luck!