June-Bearing Strawberry

June-bearing strawberries produce a concentrated seasonal crop, not necessarily in June everywhere.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Water deeply during establishment; adjust to rainfall and soil

Spacing

18 in

First harvest

Usually the year after planting; system-dependent

Tips

• Manage runners in a controlled matted row; renovate after harvest only where locally recommended.
• Choose nursery stock adapted to local hardiness, season length and disease pressure.
• Use cultivar- and rootstock-specific spacing rather than treating a planning value as universal.
• Water during establishment and avoid overcropping young plants.
• Set bare-root plants with roots spread downward and the crown midpoint level with the soil surface.
• Provide about 1 inch of water weekly, increasing as needed in heat, and use clean straw to keep berries off soil.
• For June-bearers, apply maintenance fertilizer after harvest rather than heavy nitrogen during fruiting.
• Remove June-bearing flowers in the planting year; for day-neutrals, remove flowers for the first several weeks and trim runners.
• Pick fully red fruit with caps attached and promptly remove moldy berries to reduce gray mold.

Use local perennial planting guidance; spacing and bearing age vary with cultivar, nursery stock and training system.

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