Strawberry early-season plants

Which strawberry variety is the earliest?

The list below does not include ‘Sonata’, even though it is also an early variety. ‘Sonata’ is sensitive to diseases and pests, which means it requires the use of plant protection products. It also reacts poorly to high temperatures, and early cultivation under covers does not produce good results.

Early-season strawberry plants – varieties:

• Rumba
• Vibrant
• Honeoye
• Christine
• Kent
• Grandarosa

Rumba strawberry plants

It produces abundant yields over a relatively long period. Large, sweet and attractive fruits appear very early, from the end of May until July. It is worth noting that most fruits fall into Class I.
Rumba’s yield can be significantly increased with proper fertilisation.
The variety shows strong resistance to diseases and handles transport and storage well. It tolerates occasional frost and longer periods of cooler weather. It performs well in open ground, greenhouses and tunnels.

Vibrant strawberry plants

Large fruits appear at the very beginning of the season, with the help of good frost and disease resistance. ‘Vibrant’ is considered a very early variety, with fruiting starting at the end of May and typically lasting until the second half of June.
As with Rumba, around 90% of the fruits are Class I. Harvesting is easier because the fruits grow on long stems.
Cultivation can be accelerated with the use of horticultural fleece or tunnels. The low cultivation requirements make ‘Vibrant’ ideal for amateur gardeners.

Honeoye strawberry plants

This variety originates from the USA and has excellent adaptability. It fruits similarly to ‘Vibrant’, from late May until the third week of June. Honeoye strawberries are known for excellent storage tolerance – the fruits remain fresh-looking for a long time.
It can be grown both in open ground and under covers. It is an undemanding variety, suitable even for beginner growers.

Christine strawberry plants

‘Christine’ is relatively new to the market, yet it has gained strong recognition among growers. This positive reception is due to its resistance to most diseases and its good winter hardiness.
Abundant fruiting typically occurs in June, although earlier harvests at the end of May have also been reported.
Like the previous varieties, ‘Christine’ is suitable for professional and amateur cultivation.

Kent strawberry plants

A variety well known to growers due to its potential for accelerated cultivation and very abundant yields. Harvest usually continues throughout June. Large and firm fruits tolerate long-distance transport very well and remain fresh for a long time.
‘Kent’ tolerates low temperatures – flower clusters are not damaged by frost. Sweet, aromatic fruits are highly valued by consumers. It is suitable both for commercial plantations and for garden or allotment cultivation.

Grandarosa strawberry plants

Harvest lasts throughout June. ‘Grandarosa’ grows very well in our climate. It produces exceptionally large fruits, making the yields appear even more abundant.
The variety is not sensitive to frost or diseases. It withstands transport well and has a long storage period. Suitable for professionals and amateurs.

When should early-season strawberries be planted?

Early-season strawberry plants should be planted in late autumn or early spring. For this reason, it is important that they are resistant to frost and longer periods of cold. The situation is slightly different for frigo strawberries. For these, planting takes place in two periods: from March to the end of May, or from July until autumn.

How to grow early-season strawberries?

Early-season strawberries have similar requirements to other varieties, so cultivation does not differ from what most growers already know.
Early strawberry plants must receive enough sunlight and nutrients, and the soil should be slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5–6. Watering is also essential—producing large, sweet fruits requires significant energy from the plant, which is why soil composition, fertilisation and watering are so important.
Attention! Before planting, always check whether the root system is dry. If it is, place the plants in a container of water for about two hours.