Contact: Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture
Posted April 1997
Strawberries come in three basic types depending on their response to daylength. The most common type is the "Junebearer" which produces runners during the long days of summer, forms flower buds during the short days of autumn, and fruits the following spring. The other two types are referred to as "everbearers" in nursery catalogs. Actually, the everbearers come in two types: double-cropping and day-neutral. The double-cropping types form flower buds during the long days of summer and the short days of autumn. The summer buds will flower and fruit in autumn while the autumn buds flower and fruit the following spring.
Day-neutral types, however, are insensitive to daylength and will flower and runner continuously if temperatures remain above 35 degrees and below 85 degrees F. Several named cultivars are `Tribute,' `Tristar,' `Brighton,' `Hecker,' `Aptos,' `Fern,' and `Selva.' `Tribute' and `Tristar' were bred specifically for the northeastern United States while the others are adapted to the West. Day-neutral cultivars are rapidly replacing double-cropping types because of their superior fruit quality and high yields during the planting year.
Day-neutral cultivars do not runner as profusely as Junebearers; therefore, they require a completely different cultural system. Plant 18 inches apart in double rows spaced 36 inches between double row middles. The double row consists of alternating plants with 9 inches between rows. Plants can be set out in mid April to early May. All flowers should be removed until mid July of the planting year so the plant can put energy into vegetative growth.
Weed control is a problem with day-neutral strawberries. Since herbicides cannot be applied within 60 days prior to fruiting, chemicals are virtually eliminated. In addition, day-neutral types are more sensitive to herbicides than Junebearers. Weeds will need to be cultivated by hand. It is important that your strawberries receive an inch of water each week. This can be applied almost any time during the day; however, one should avoid watering in very early morning or late evening with sprinklers so plants are not wet for long periods of time. A drip or trickle system is ideal, but a soaking hose will suffice.
Fertilizer must also be applied regularly because of the constant demand for nutrients. Two pounds of 10-10-10 per 100 feet of row may be necessary every month from June through September.
The major insect pest on day-neutral strawberries is the tarnished plant bug. Because it is so abundant during summer, most berries will be nubby unless the grower sprays in the evening once every 10 days. Contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension for up-to-date control recommendations.
Day-neutral strawberries should be covered with 2 to 3 inches of straw in early to mid December to protect them during winter. Mulch can be left in the row middles after the new leaves have grown 2 inches the following spring. Day-neutrals will fruit again in June of the second year following planting. Day-neutral strawberries are very productive. Plants have been known to yield one pint each the first fruiting year from August through October. Yields may average one quart per plant in the second year. Plantings rarely last more than 3 years because of the difficulty of controlling weeds.
Day-neutral strawberry culture is labor intensive, but the rewards are high. Day-neutral strawberries now provide the opportunity to have fresh strawberries for 5 months of the year.
(Adapted by Jenny Schuster from Growing Everbearing and Day-Neutral Strawberries by Marian Pritts, Cornell University, with modification and updates by Jerry Williams, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Virginia Tech.)
Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension test