When it comes to fruit, the strawberry is one of the most adaptable. It grows around the world, from the tropics to near the Arctic Circle.
Unfortunately, Utah's commercial strawberry industry has disappeared, but home gardeners can still enjoy these tasty treats.
Strawberries' appeal is the same as it has always been — flavorful berries that grow well in a variety of conditions. Home gardeners can plant them in traditional rows, raised beds, decorative pots or even hanging baskets.
Strawberries are also popular because they produce the earliest fruit of the season, and they produce the first or second year after planting.
A well-maintained bed produces about one half pound of berries per square foot of ground or a quart of berries per plant, depending on the growing system.
Success starts with the right spot. The planting area needs to get at least eight hours of direct sun each day for maximum production. Strawberries grow best in loamy or sandy soils.
If your soil is not well drained, add organic matter to improve the drainage. If possible, avoid planting your berries where peppers, tomatoes, potatoes or eggplant have been growing because these harbor Verticillium wilt disease.
Strawberry varieties fall into three categories, according to their flowering and fruiting habits.
June-bearers form flower buds when the days get shorter in the fall. These buds bloom the following spring, with fruit ripening in late May and June.
Everbearing varieties form flower buds under long days of summer. These produce a small crop in the spring and fruit again in the fall.
Day-neutrals form flower buds no matter what the day length is, if temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In cool-climate areas of the state, day-neutrals will produce a light crop throughout the summer, but in most areas, the summers are too hot for continuous production.
In your garden, everbearers and day-neutrals grow similarly. The terms are often used interchangeably, and many newer varieties sold as everbearers are actually day-neutrals.
Because of the wide range of climate conditions, exposures and soil types, it is difficult to name the best variety for every situation. Strawberry flavors vary, too, adding another dimension to your choices.
These varieties grow well under a many conditions:
June-bearers: Earliglow fruits very early and is considered to be the standard in flavor, but the berry not as large as some varieties.
Chandler is a California berry that has a high yield and large berries. It may not be fully hardy in colder areas of the state.
Honeoye is the most popular home variety nationally because it yields large quantities of larger fruits. Unfortunately, it does not grow well in heavy soil, and the fruit gets an off-flavor if the weather is hot.
Allstar has large, sweet fruit and tolerates the heat.
Jewel has large, excellent quality fruit and is cold hardy. But it is susceptible to root rot.
Sparkle has long been a favorite home-garden variety and produces medium-size, flavorful berries.
Everbearers and Day-neutrals: Ogallala is a widely planted, cold-hardy everbearer with flavorful, medium-size dark-red fruit. The plants are vigorous and productive.
Seascape is a California day neutral that tolerates a wide range of climatic conditions.
Tribute is a day-neutral Eastern U.S. variety that produces medium-size, tasty berries on highly disease resistant plants.
I just saw Evie 2 plants growing in England, and they come highly recommended, if you can find them. Plants have now been imported to the U.S., and they are believed to be a higher yielding, more heat-tolerant, day-neutral variety.
Keep in mind that there are dozens of varieties of strawberries on the market. You will find others available in local nurseries and by mail order. It is always best to do additional research before selecting your varieties.
It is best to purchase disease-free plants. It is tempting to get "free" plants from existing beds, but these are likely to have root rot or virus diseases that will prevent your plantings from being productive.
Bare-root plants are still available in some nurseries. Get them planted as soon as possible, and with the everbearers and day neutrals, you can still get some tasty berries this fall.
Larry A. Sagers is a horticulture specialist for the Utah State University Extension Service at Thanksgiving Point.