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.