Types of Strawberries

There are 3 types of strawberries namely Spring-bearing (Known as June-bearing in the Northern Hemisphere), Ever-bearing and Day Neutral. In the Northern Hemisphere Spring-bearing is called “June-bearing”, because June is the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Since South Africa’s Spring starts in September, I make use of the term Spring-bearing as opposed to June-bearing, to avoid confusion.

Spring-bearing Strawberries

• An example of a Spring-bearing Strawberry is the Garden Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)
• Spring-bearing strawberries are the traditionally grown strawberries that produce a single, large crop per year during a 2 – 3 week period.
• They are classified into early, mid-season and late varieties.
• Spring-bearing strawberries produce many runners, their fruit are larger than the other 2 types and they produce their crop at once.
• They need space and will grow as a groundcover.

Ever-bearing Strawberries

• An example of an Ever-bearing Strawberry is the Strawberry Fragissimo (Fragaria x ananassa).
• Ever-bearing strawberries are very productive and produce three periods of flowers and fruit during spring, summer and autumn.
• They do not produce many runners and instead focus their energy on producing multiple harvests.
• The fruits are usually somewhat smaller than those of the spring-bearers and they are excellent to eat fresh.
• Ever-bearing strawberries are ideal for gardeners who have limited space – they can be grown in terraced beds, barrels or pyramids.
• They can also be used as an edging plant or a groundcover.

Day Neutral Strawberries

• Two examples of Day Neutral Strawberries are from the (Fragaria vesca) cultivars, namely Alpine Strawberry Yellow Wonder and Alpine Strawberry White Soul.
• Day neutral strawberries are similar to the Ever-bearing types, except that they do not produce runners and they produce fruit ongoing throughout the growing season.
• Four to 6 plants will provide a handful of strawberries on a regular basis.
• They are ideal for edgings, in the rock garden, containers or narrow rows in the vegetable garden.