Everything about June-bearing Strawberries

Belonging to the family of Rosaceae, the strawberries are known by the botanic name of Fragariaananassa. There are possibly more than a hundred varieties of strawberries having different attributes, flavors, and coloring. However, a broad classification of this fruit depending upon its type yields three different types of strawberries – namely, everbearing, June-bearing, and day-neutral strawberries. In this article, you will find all the information related to the June-bearing strawberries.

June-bearing Strawberries

The plants of June-bearing and everbearing strawberries are almost the same. Therefore, the fruit itself is regarded as the major distinguishing factor between the two. June-bearing strawberries are very sweet and juicy. The plants of this type of strawberries can produce a single but large crop every year. June-bearing strawberry plants produce fruit during spring and early summer.

The plant of this type of strawberries bears little flower buds during late summer – especially when the day length is longer. The flower buds then bloom during the early days of spring and then yield one of nature’s amazing and sweetest fruits. Everbearing strawberry plants require up to 12 hours of daylight as compared to the June-bearing plant.

June-bearing strawberry plants are not very prone to colder temperatures or climates. This is why the fruits of June-bearing strawberry plants are damaged during the later days of spring in the cold regions. To maintain a year-round production of strawberries, most of the gardeners plant both the June-bearing and everbearing strawberry plants together.

Information about Growing June-bearing Strawberry Plants

  • This strawberry plant is planted in rows with a distance of 4 feet.
  • The plants are spaced by 18 inches in a single row.
  • For keeping the fruits from touching the soil, a strawberry mulch is laid under the plants. This mulch also helps to lock the moisture in the soil and discourage the growth of weeds.
  • The strawberry plant has to be submerged about an inch in water every week – especially during the peak season.
  • These plants should be frequently fertilized every fifteen days.
  • Creating or building a raised bed for your June-bearing strawberry plant helps the plant obtain more sun and warmth – which results in getting an early start for growing flower buds.
  • A raised bed for the plant is also an effective way of maintaining proper drainage.

Varieties of June-bearing Strawberries

1. Earligrow

This variety of June-bearing strawberries is amongst the top choices of home gardeners due to its ease of plantation and high productivity rates. The fruits of this variety of strawberry are red and large. They are very juicy and have the characteristic taste of strawberry.

Growing Earligrow plant is not high-maintenance at all. This variety of strawberry is harvested earlier than other varieties of June-bearing plants. They are also grown in rows with about 12 inches of gaps. These plants need regular watering and mulch to keep the soil hydrated. This helps in the over-drying of the plant during the heat.

Pro tip: if you are an avid home gardener but lack outdoor space, Earligrow can easily be grown in containers.

2. Delmarvel

This variety of June-bearing strawberries has ha firm texture. It is very juicy and sweet with a distinctive strawberry fragrance. These also produce fruit during the later days of spring. The fruit produced from this variety of strawberries is quite resistant to the stem and leaf diseases and also survives the attack by the fungus Phytophthorafargariae – a deadly disease of the strawberry plant.

The Delmarvel strawberries can grow up to 6-8 inches. They are best consumed fresh and raw. Moreover, they are also utilized in making strawberry flavoring and preserving the fruit.

3. Jewel

Jewel strawberry plants produce quite a large amount of fruits. They are the most tolerable among other varieties of June-bearing strawberries as they can even survive a little cold as compared to the other varieties.

Jewel strawberries are the true depiction of what you imagine a strawberry should be. They are deep red with extremely juicy and sweet flesh. From the outside, these are firm. They have a tantalizing fragrance that is a characteristic of fresh juicy strawberries.

As this is a hybrid variety of June-bearing strawberries, the jewel strawberries are widely produced commercially. They are more of a low-to-the-ground plant, and they start to give off fruits within one year of planting. They typically ripe in June – hence a variety of June-bearing strawberries – and are super easy to manage and maintain.

4. Allstar

This variety of June-bearing strawberries is very suitable for growing at home. They are not grown commercially as they have very delicate skin, which makes their shipping very difficult. Growing these at home requires that the soil is very moist, and there is ample sunlight for the plant. If you have any problems regarding the soil drainage, you can consider planting them in a high-raised container.

The Allstar strawberry plants need to be watered regularly as they should always be submerged in about an inch of water throughout the peak season. This extra moisture is beneficial for the plant to survive the hot weather. The best time to harvest these strawberries is in the morning as the air is cool. Berries do not continue to ripen once they are picked, so it is important to pick fully ripe strawberries.

5. Annapolis

Annapolis strawberries are light-colored with an attractive scent. They are large and have a high resistance to red stele (Phytophthorafragariae). They have a firm texture with soft juicy flesh. They are perfect for picking and eating fresh and raw.

6. Honeoye

This plant of the strawberry variety was developed more than three decades ago by the Cornell Research Station, Geneva, New York. This variety of June-bearing strawberries has high hardiness for winter and hence can easily be planted in areas with colder climates.

These strawberry plants are vigorous fruit producers and can produce fruits for a long time. They are very flavorful and have a distinct strawberry aroma. Moreover, they are widely consumed fresh and are also utilized in the commercial preparation of strawberry flavoring.

7. Seneca

Seneca is another most flavorful and famous variety of June-bearing strawberries. It was produced during one of the small fruits breeding programs run by the Cornell University in Geneva, New York. Seneca strawberries are large and firm (more of a block-shaped) with bright red skin. Moreover, they are commercially grown in the United States and are very sweet.

Final Words

June-bearing strawberry plants are quite similar to the everbearing ones. Both of the types of strawberries are loaded with various nutrients that make them an excellent choice to be included in our daily diet. June-bearing strawberries are generally very easily grown at home, and their varieties do not require a lot of strict maintenance.