Strawberry everbearing plants

When should everbearing strawberries be planted?

If you want your everbearing strawberries to produce satisfying yields, you must remember that growing these plants differs slightly from traditional varieties. Most of them are heat-loving, so they must not be planted too early. The best planting time is between late March and April, and the soil temperature should not be below 10°C. It is advisable to choose everbearing Frigo strawberry plants or potted plants suitable for balcony cultivation.

How to grow everbearing strawberries?

Everbearing strawberries, also known as perennial or repeat-fruiting strawberries, are particularly popular among growers who cultivate plants in tunnels. When grown in tunnels, these strawberries produce fruit from June until November. If you plan to grow them in the ground, on a balcony or on a terrace, you can also expect an extended harvesting period, although you must devote some time to proper care and remember that much will also depend on weather conditions. Everbearing strawberries form flower buds throughout the entire season, regardless of day length. It is very important to remove the buds from the first flowering. If, during the second formation of buds, the plants are still weak and have an underdeveloped root system, these buds should also be removed. Remember that before the strawberries begin to fruit, there are more opportunities to apply plant protection products.

During the growing season, runners must be removed regularly. Everbearing strawberries flower and fruit at the same time and also grow very quickly. Removing runners improves yields and prevents competition for water and light. Removing diseased and dry leaves prevents diseases and promotes the formation of more fruits. To achieve abundant yields, everbearing strawberries should be fertilised regularly with nitrogen- and potassium-rich products, and foliar feeding with calcium is also recommended. If the beds are covered with foil, slow-release fertiliser is the best option. The soil in which strawberries grow must not be allowed to dry out. During heatwaves, they may require watering even twice a day, but overwatering exposes them to fungal diseases. For larger plantations, automated fertigation and watering with a low-concentration nutrient solution is recommended. For successful cultivation, everbearing strawberries require suitable soil — humus-rich, not too heavy, and with a slightly acidic or neutral pH. The growing site should be sunny, or slightly shaded in the case of hanging strawberries.

It is generally recommended to grow everbearing strawberries as annuals, although they can be kept for the next year, with the understanding that yields will be lower. Proper winter protection is necessary because these plants do not tolerate frost well. In autumn, after fruiting has ended, everbearing strawberries should be pruned to two-thirds of their length. For winter, they must be covered with foil, straw or horticultural fleece. In the second year of cultivation, it is no longer necessary to remove the first flowers.

How many times do everbearing strawberries fruit?

If you invest in everbearing strawberry plants, you will be able to enjoy their fruits not only in late spring but also in autumn. Everbearing strawberries produce fruit from June until the first frost. From late spring, they can continue forming buds and fruit almost continuously, but they do not tolerate high temperatures — during hot periods, they stop flowering. Therefore, fruiting occurs primarily in late spring, early summer, and again from late August until frost.

If you plant everbearing strawberries in a tunnel, they may flower almost continuously because the climate inside is cooler than outdoors.

A major advantage of everbearing strawberries is that they produce a full crop in their first year. Their extended harvest period and the ability to offer fruit outside the traditional season make them highly valued by growers. Even if you don’t plan commercial production, you will certainly appreciate the benefits of these unique varieties!