Basically, almost all strawberries are perennials. This means they’ll keep pumping out delicious fruit for up to four years in a row! Instead of “annual vs. perennial,” we usually categorize them by how often they produce: June-bearing (once per season) or everbearing/day-neutral (multiple times per season).
June-bearing vs. Everbearing Strawberries
The strawberry genus is actually super diverse. The main difference is when—and how often—you get to pick them. June-bearing varieties usually hit their peak in June and July. On the other hand, everbearing types have a much longer window. You’ll get an initial harvest in May or June, but they keep going with a second wave in August and September.
Then there are “alpine strawberries,” often called wood strawberries. These aren’t actually related to your typical garden strawberry; they’re descendants of wild varieties. They’re famous for blooming for a long time and keeping their fruit hanging on well into late autumn.
June-bearing Strawberries
June-bearing strawberries usually hit their harvest peak in their second and third years after planting. My pro tip? Keep an eye out for the plants that produce the biggest, most flavorful berries. You can easily propagate these using their runners (those little “arms” they send out) to make sure you have a steady supply of amazing berries for years to come.
If you’re looking to start a patch, here are some fantastic June-bearing varieties to try in your garden:
- Avanta
- Elvira
- Senga Sengana
- Elsanta
- Polka
- Thuriga
- Korona
- Tenira
- Salsa
Everbearing (Remontant) Strawberries
If you want to be snacking on berries all summer long, you’ll want to look into “remontant” or everbearing varieties. You’ll typically get a huge flush of fruit in the spring, followed by a slightly smaller harvest in the summer. Don’t worry, though—those summer berries are just as tasty! They are absolutely perfect for whipping up a batch of homemade strawberry jam.
Here are some great everbearing varieties to plant in your backyard:
- Evita
- Sweetheart
- Mieze Nova
- Rapella
- Ostara
- Mara de Bois
