Growing strawberries is an easy way to invite whimsy into your garden. This rewarding crop provides a perennial harvest of delicious berries and spreads over time, increasing your harvest each year! There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which types of strawberries to grow in your garden. This article will walk you through the main types of strawberries, highlight the strawberry varieties available, and help you decide the best strawberries to grow for your garden.

The Three Main Types of Strawberries

There are three different types of strawberries that all offer special considerations depending on their purpose in your garden. Understanding the differences between these types is the key in making all of your strawberry dreams come true. 

June-Bearing Strawberries

Some of the most popular strawberries out there hold the title of June-bearing. They are certainly an impressive bunch and are easy to come by. 

Typically, they produce strawberries over a period of two to three weeks. Most of the time this period is in or around the month of June - hence the name. This is really great for folks who are interested in making a large batch of jam or pie filling all at once. 

Ever-Bearing Strawberries

Ever-bearing varieties (unlike June-bearing) are not honestly true to their name. They don’t actually bear fruit throughout the entire season but produce usually two major harvests per growing season. Both of these harvests are typically smaller than a whopping June-bearing yield. That being said, you also won’t have to handle who knows how many buckets of strawberries all at once! 

Ever-bearing strawberries put out fewer runners than June-bearing strawberries which makes them great for gardens of a smaller size or lower effort. 

Day Neutral

Day-neutral strawberries are a special bunch. They typically produce a decently sized yield the first year they are planted, whereas other types can take a year or more to produce. Their fruit does tend to be smaller than other types but they’ll produce a moderate yield about three times a season.

Strawberry Cultivars to Consider: From Big and Juicy to Small and Sweet

Do you have a better idea of what you’re looking for? That’s a great start! Now let’s consider the best strawberry cultivars of each type to grow in your home garden! 

June-Bearing Strawberry Varietals

Sparkle Strawberries

This June-bearing heirloom cultivar is thought by many to be the best strawberries to grow for jam and freezing. You’ll be rewarded with a nice crop of flavorful, high quality strawberries year after year if you manage your bed and don’t allow it to become too cramped. It’s a great beginner variety as well.

Jewel Strawberries

The cultivar Jewel is an excellent performer, doing well in a wide range of growing conditions. This June-bearing variety is recommended for commercial growers and home gardeners alike because of its sweet and uniform fruits. These big strawberries have amazing quality and flavor. 

Ever-Bearing Strawberry Varietals

Ozark Beauty Strawberries

The Ozark Beauty cultivar was developed in Arkansas and is well suited for cooler regions of the North and higher elevations in the South. Ozark Beauty strawberries are considered to be one of the best ever-bearing varieties. They are vigorous and extremely prolific producers. They produce fairly big strawberries that are deep red and honey sweet. 

Seascape Strawberries 

This ever-bearing variety was developed at the University of California and produces a high yield of firm, large, flavorful berries. These well-shaped berries have a superb flavor and bear fruit over a long season. They’re one of the most productive and disease resistant varieties out there! Their shallow roots make them ideal for containers.

Day Neutral Strawberry Varietals

Albion Strawberries

This day neutral variety is very disease resistant and produces fairly large, firm fruit. Its heat tolerance has been show stopping and makes them great for gardeners with very hot summers. Compared to other Day Neutral varieties, this one does send out a decent number of runners and will spread well if allowed to. 

Elsanta Strawberries

This vigorous strawberry has deep green foliage and large flowers and berries. It is a dutch variety that has risen in popularity and has a long shelf life and lasting firmness. The berries are so easy to harvest which makes them great for new or young gardeners. Their flavor is rewarding as well.

How to Choose the Best Strawberries to Grow

While most strawberries are suitable for temperate climates in general, there are certainly some things to consider about your garden and climate when selecting strawberry cultivars to grow. 

Climate and Growing Zone

Strawberries can grow in a wide range of climates but tend to do best when they have access to cooler temperatures. In Northern climates, strawberries are planted in the spring so they can be well-established before the following winter. In very hot climates strawberries will benefit from some shade during the hottest part of the year or can be planted in the fall. If you live in a warmer climate, consider planting a heat tolerant strawberry cultivar like Albion! 

Container vs. In-Ground Garden

Strawberries do great in containers or in in-ground garden beds. They tend to spread, so if you’re limited on space and time, keeping strawberries in containers can keep them under control. That being said, strawberries in containers are more prone to freezing in winter, which can negate their perennial qualities. When planted in containers, if you want to preserve them as perennials, strawberries should be brought inside and protected from hard freezes. Ozark Beauty is a great variety for cooler regions and withstanding cooler temperatures. 

Disease Resistance

Like all crops, strawberries have their share of diseases and issues that they’re plagued by. If this is an issue that you face with your pre-existing crop, you may consider planting disease resistant varieties. Seascape is one strawberry cultivar that shows good disease resistance while also being highly productive. 

Growing Purpose

Perhaps the most important reason to grow strawberries is to eat them! Whether you fancy yourself a baker, a homesteader, or simply an enjoyer of a sweet snack from the garden every once in a while, certain strawberry varieties can fit your needs. June-bearing varieties tend to be preferable for jam-making and canning as they tend to have large flushes all at once rather than fruits ripening in succession. The June-bearing variety Sparkle produces beautiful and flavorful fruits that are perfect for jam making and freezing.

FAQ

What is the difference between ever-bearing strawberries and day-neutral strawberries?

Unlike ever-bearing strawberries, day-neutral strawberries are not influenced by day length and can fruit and flower throughout the summer months. Ever-bearing plants would be better referred to as twice-bearing, while day-neutral strawberries can produce fruit more regularly. That being said, production does slow down in the hottest part of the year.

Which strawberries are best for containers or small gardens?

Ever-bearing strawberries tend to produce fewer runners than June-bearing which can make them better for containers or smaller gardens.

How many strawberry plants come in a bundle from Sow True Seed?

There are ten bare root strawberry plants in every bundle from Sow True Seed! 

As you can see, there are many amazing types of strawberries to choose from and grow successfully. And, if we’re being honest, you really can't go wrong. Try a couple or try them all, have a taste testing contest, choose YOUR favorite. And then let us know what you think!

	Article Written by: Hannah Gibbons
	About the Author: Hannah Gibbons, an employee at Sow True Seed since 2020, has nearly a decade of experience in the agricultural industry. Their passion for environmental education and regenerative agriculture has been the cornerstone of their work, aimed at making gardening accessible to all.