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June-Bearing Strawberry Varieties

Author: Pam Fisher - Berry Crops Specialist/OMAFRA; Adam Dale - Department of Plant Agriculture/University of Guelph
Creation Date: April 2003
Last Reviewed: 18 October 2006

Table of Contents

Early to Mid-Season

Cultivar
& Origin

Season
& Size

 Characteristics
Strong Points
Weakness
Best Suited To:
Veestar

Valentine x Sparkle

HRIO Vineland, Ontario
1967

Early


Medium

Vigourous plants that runner well. High yielding, medium sized berries. Fruit is dark red. Excellent flavour. Reliable cultivar. Tolerant to Sinbar. Excellent for jam. Moderately soft, poor for shipping. Colour tends to darken in hot weather. Susceptible to red stele. PYO throughout the province.
Annapolis

(Micmac x Raritan) x Earliglow

AAFC, Kentville, N.S.
1984

Early

 

Medium to Large

 Produces medium yields of orange-red, roundish, firm berries. Plant runners well but not excessively, moderately vigourous. Acceptable firmness and shelf life (firmer than Veestar). Resistant to red stele. Not as productive as Veestar. Very susceptible to powdery mildew and angular leaf spot and susceptible to botrytis. Sensitive to Sinbar. Early production for PYO and fresh market. Does better on medium textured soils than heavy soils.

Sable
Veestar x Cavendish

AAFC, Kentville N.S,
1998

Early

 

Medium to large

 

 Produces bright red berries on vigorous, tall plants. Berries are firmer than Veestar but less firm than Annapolis. Berries are bright red, with good flavour. Good winter hardiness. Resistant to red stele. Susceptible to angular leaf spot and Botrytis. Fruit is soft. Early PYO. More popular in eastern and northern Ontario than in Southwest.Trial planting.

Evangeline
(Honeoye x Veestar) x NYUS119

AAFC, Kentville N.S,
1999

Early

 

Medium

 Vigorous healthy plants with flower and fruit clusters held upright, above the ground. Beautiful fruit, good quality, firm skin, nice shape, with large green calyx. Tolerant to leaf diseases. Good flavour. First berries are large but size is variable and drops off quickly. Small berry size overall and low yields. Susceptible to red stele. Early season high-end and fancy markets.
Trial planting

Brunswick
Cavendish x Honeoye

AAFC, Kentville N.S,
1999

Early mid-season

 

Large

 Produces good yields of firm, shiny berries with good quality and average to good flavour. Fruit is uniform in shape, broadly round, larger than Honeoye, smaller than Cavendish. Productive, with good fruit quality. Resistant to red stele. Susceptible to Phytophthora crown rot. Flavour more like Honeoye than Cavendish. Apparently hardy. Likely sensitive to Sinbar. Early shipping and PYO.
Honeoye

Vibrant x Holiday

NYAES, Geneva New York
1979

Early mid-season

 

Medium

 Well adapted, high yielding plants. High yields of medium to large firm bright red berries. Good yields and bright glossy fruit, good quality. Consistent fruit size throughout season. Flavour is variable, sharp or acid taste, depending on site.Colour darkens in hot weather or when overripe. Tip of fruit ripens last. Somewhat sensitive to Sinbar. Susceptible to black root rot. Widely adapted to different soils and conditions. PYO or fresh market.
Glooscap

Micmac x Bounty

AAFC, Kentville N.S,
1983

Early mid-season

Medium

 

 High yields of medium to large dark red fruit, medium firm with good flavour. Good size initially. High yield. Good winter hardiness. Decaps easily. Red flesh. Good for freezing. Dark colour with pale raised seeds. Susceptible to red stele. June yellows has been observed in some clones. Popular for PYO especially in E. Ont. and N. Ont., mid-western provinces and states.

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Mid-Season

Cultivar
& Origin
Season
& Size
Characteristics
Strong Points
Weakness
Best Suited To:
Cavendish

Glooscap x Annapolis

 

AAFC, Kentville N.S
1990

Mid-season

 

Very Large

 High yielding variety with large to very large fruit of medium firmness. Very large fruit. High yields. Resistant to red stele. Can be harvested over a long period. Tends to colour unevenly under some conditions, ie cool springs followed by hot weather at green fruit stage and ripening. White blotches and dark purple red colour may be present on the same berry. Skin can be tender. Becomes soft in hot weather. Sensitive to Sinbar. Very susceptible to angular leaf spot. Better adapted to E. and N. Ontario because of dark colour and uneven ripening in hot conditions. PYO and limited fresh market.
Kent

(Redgauntlet x Tioga) x Raritan

 

AAFC, Kentville N.S
1981

Mid-season

 

Medium

 Large leafy plant with blue-green tinge. Produces high yields of bright red fruit. High yields. Long fruiting season. Skin strength can be weak in hot conditions (not as strong as Honeoye). Very susceptible to leaf spot, leaf scorch, angular leaf spot, botrytis and anthracnose fruit rot. Plants wilt and fruit becomes excessively dark in hot weather. Very sensitive to Sinbar. Produces multi-crowned plants with few runners in hot conditions.

PYO, and fair for shipping from cooler areas of Ontario.

Does well on both sandy loam and clay loam soils. Does not do well on hot sandy soils.


Mesabi
Glooscap x MNUS99

University of Minnesota, MN and USDA Beltsville MD

Mid-season

Large to very large

 Low growing plant with compact foliage. A high yielding variety with large medium to dark red berries, somewhat irregular in shape. Long harvest period. High yields, large fruit size, good flavour. Heart shape, indented calyx, susceptible to fruit rot. Shape not consistent. Susceptible to June yellows and also to spider mites.

PYO.

No longer recommended in Ontario.

Sapphire
(known as 53M54)
319!92 x V7737-2

University of Guelph, Simcoe, Ontario
2002

Late mid-season, similar to
Kent

 

Large


 Consistently shaped bright red large berries with good, sometimes mild flavour and medium firmness. Vigorous plants. Tolerant to Sinbar. Attractive berries. Seeds and prominent. Susceptible to Botrytis, otherwise, disease tolerance unknown. PYO and fresh market, trail only.
Mira

Scott x Honeoye

 

AAFC, Kentville N.S
1996

Mid-season to late mid-season

 

Large

 High yielding, semi-vigourous plant, with bright red conical firm berries, white in center. Uniform shape. Ripens a few days after Kent. Yields are similar to Kent, but berries are firmer and have better quality compared to Kent. Maintains good quality and does not darken in hot weather. Resistant to red stele and most leaf diseases. Maintains good size for several pickings. Flavour fair and may be tart. Berries may be uniformly coloured before they are completely ripe with full flavour. Sensitive to Sinbar.

Suitable for fresh market, not as popular for PYO.

Jewel
(Senga Sengana x NYE58) x Holiday

 

NYAES, Geneva, New York
1985

Mid-season - late mid- season

 

Large

 Semi vigorous plants with good yield and bright glossy red large fruit, conical in shape. Bright and glossy red. Good yield, but not as productive as Honeoye or Kent. Good for freezing.

Susceptible to winter injury. Fruit darkens and softens in hot weather. Bland flavour. Spotty establishment in some years.
Sensitive to Sinbar. Susceptible to leaf spot, red stele, powdery mildew, and Verticillium. Susceptible to black root rot.

 Well adapted to heavier soil types. Suitable for fresh market and shipping.

Cabot
(Elsanta x K79-5) x (ArKing x K7-40)


AAFC, Kentville N.S
1998

Mid season

 

Very Large

 Produces very large, bright red, juicy berries, on large sturdy plants. Very large berries, on average over 20 grams. Primary berries are very irregular in shape. Berries have a thin skin and are susceptible to Botrytis. Plants do not runner well, and are susceptible to crown rot. Flavour is good but not sweet. PYO, and fancy fresh markets.
Trial only.

Seneca
(Redcoat x NY884) x Holiday

NYAES, Geneva, New York
1991

Mid season

 

Medium to Large

 Produces firm round, medium red berries with strong skin that does not bruise easily. Very firm berry, with very good quality. Not vigorous. Not hardy in all regions. Very susceptible to red stele. Not flavourful. Very susceptible to two-spotted spider mite and root diseases. Shipping. Not recommended in Ontario.

Allstar

US 4419 x MDUS 3184

Univ. Maryland and USDA
1981

Late mid-season

Large

 Vigorous plants with orange red berries, uniform in shape and size with raised seeds. Good flavour. Firm fruit. Orange - red colour. Size drops off after 2 pickings. Seeds prominent. Especially susceptible to angular leaf spot.

Very popular in Michigan and U.S. No longer recommended in Ontario
Governor Simcoe

Guardian x Holiday

HRIO, Simcoe, Ontario
1985

Late mid-season

Large

 

 Vigorous plants with light green foliage. Berries are bright and light red in colour with pale interior. Firm berry with strong skin. Acceptable for shipping. Mild, pleasant flavour. Susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf blight. Production can be inconsistent in cooler regions and on heavier soils. Somewhat sensitive to Sinbar. Best suited to lighter textured soils. Performs well in southwestern Ontario.

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Late Season

Cultivar
& Origin

Season
& Size
Characteristics
Strong Points
Weakness
Best Suited To

L'Authentique Orléans

L'Acadie x Joliette

McGill University and AAFC, St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué

Late

 

Very Large

 High yielding with large firm fruit. Bright, medium red berries, roundish to cone shape, with large green calyx and excellent quality. Consistent fruit size, with good flavour. Good shelf life. Anthracnose fruit rot has been observed on fruit. Did not survive in Thunder Bay. Has potential for fresh market and shipping. For trial only.

St. Pierre

Chandler x Jewel

AAFC, St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué 2002

Late

Very large

 High yielding with large bright light red fruit. Large green calyx and excellent quality.

Consistent fruit size, with good flavour. Good shelf life. Vigorous plants in Thunder Bay

Susceptible to anthracnose fruit rot.

Has potential for fresh market and shipping.

For trial only.

Serenity

137A84 x Chandler

University of Guelph, Simcoe, Ontario
2003

Late

 

Large

Conical shaped fruit. Produces high yields of very large, bright soft-skinned fruits. Large berries in early picks Susceptible to anthracnose fruit rot. Tips can be seedy. Berries in later picks are small and pointy. Susceptible to anthracnose. PYO for trial only.
Winona

Earliglow x (Lateglow x MDUS 4616)


University of Minnesota, MN
1996

Late - mid season

Large

 Produces initially large firm shiny red berries on vigourous plants. Late season variety. Winter hardy. Tolerates Sinbar. Resistant to red stele. Good flavour. Berries are uneven in shape, dimpled. Size drops off after first pick. Fruits are close to the ground, on short flower stalks, making this variety difficult to pick. Susceptible to leaf diseases including angular leaf spot.

PYO and fresh market.

No longer recommended in Ontario.

Harmonie

Yamaska x Joliette

AAFC, St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué 2003

Very late

 

Medium

 Low plants with medium vigour, hardy. Bright red round fruit ripening late. Late season, after Jewel and Bounty. Bright red shiny fruit, with concentrated late harvest, high yields. Fruit are medium sized, not large. Maybe soft compared to best shipping varieties. Season extension. Late season PYO and farm markets. Recommended fro trial only.

Ovation

Lateglow x Etna

USDA Beltsville MD
2003

Very late

 

Large

 Large blocky fruit, firm glossy bright red, good quality. Large fruit of good quality. Very late season, after Jewel and Bounty. Resistant to many leaf diseases (except powdery mildew) and red stele. Very susceptible to powdery mildew, especially on fruit. Yields have been poor in southern Ontario. May perform better where fungicides for powdery mildew are applied routinely. Season extension especially plasticulture. For trial only.

Yamaska

Pandora x Bogota

AAFC, St. Jean- sur- Richelieu, Qué 1998

Very late

Large

 

 This late season berry begins producing several days after Bounty. Plants have pale green foliage. Berries are round and bright red. Late season, 5 days after Bounty. Firm medium red attractive berry. Apparently fairly resistant to leaf diseses and Botrytis. Some leaf spot. Mixed reviews on flavour. Flowers are female and must be pollinated by another late blooming variety. Plants seem hard to establish. PYO and late season fresh market
For trial only.

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New varieties on trial:

Cultivar
& Origin
Season
& Size
Characteristics
Strong Points
Weakness
Best Suited To

Darselect

Parker x Elsanta

Darbonne, France
1998

 

Early mid-season

Large

 Very productive, with attractive fruit. The fruit is firm, bright red, white flesh, with large calyx, holds its size well. Very sweet flavor. The plant is vigorous and readily develops branch crowns, but does not produce excess runners. High yielding, good flavour, firm enough for shipping. Very susceptible to powdery mildew. Reported to be hardy to -25C with mulch. For trial on plasticulture, PYO, fresh market or shipping.

Eros

Allstar x Elsanta

HRI, East Malling, UK
1994

Mid-season

Large

Vigorous plant, producing regular conic medium-red fruit. Sweet flavour Poor sepal quality, soft fruit, hollow berries. Very susceptible to leaf disease. Not recommended in Ontario.

Clancy

MDUS4774 x MDUS5199

NYAES, Geneva, New York
2003

Late season

Large

 Productive plants, with round-conic dark red fruit, very firm. Reported to be slightly larger than Jewel and equally productive, although slightly less than Jewel in Ontario trials. Firm fruit, similar quality to Jewel. Very susceptible to angular leaf spot, poor sepal quality. Fruit very firm. For trial only.

L'Amour

(MDUUS5252 x Etna) x Cavendish

NYAES, Geneva, New York
2003

Mid-season

Large

 Bright red fruit large, long conic shape, large calyx. Reported to be cold hardy to at least -25C with straw mulch. Firmer than Honeoye, bruises less easily. Consistent colour and shape, nice sepals. Susceptible to angular leaf spot. For trial only.

Itasca

Seneca x Allstar

Univ. Minnesota, and USDA
2005

Early-mid season

Medium - Large

Bright red, wedge shaped fruit ,moderately firm, with classic strawberry flavors. Tough skin relative to other early cultivars.
Ripens after Annapolis, before Honeoye.
Apparently hardy, good quality early berry. Resistant to leaf diseases. Resistant to red stele. Has not been tested in Ontario. Strong flavour. For trial only.
Bish

FL87-210 x Delmarvel

North Carolina
2005

Mid-season

Large

 

 Vigourous, productive with dark red glossy fruit. Similar yields to Chandler. Quality similar to Camarosa, except better flavour, not quite as firm. Resistant to anthracnose and most leaf diseases. Has not been tested in Ontario. Probably not hardy in most regions of Ontario. For trial on plasticulture.
Set suited to mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions.
La Clé des Champs

SJ89244-6E x SJ8518-11

AAFC, St. Jean- sur- Richelieu, Qué
2003

Mid-season
1-2 days after Kent

Large

 Productive mid-season, large firm, shiny berries,conic or wedge shaped with raised calyx. Reported to have good shelf life and quality. Has not been tested in Ontario. Susceptible to leaf scorch and leaf blight. For trial, fresh markets and shipping.

 

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