Day Neutral Strawberries

Day neutral strawberries are making a comeback.

What is a day neutral strawberry? Most people are familiar with strawberry varieties that are called short-day or June-bearing varieties. These strawberry plants are sensitive to day length, and form fruit buds from mid August to September when days are short and nights are cool. These plants produce fruit the following year, in June and early July.

In contrast, day neutral strawberries initiate fruit buds regardless of day length, as long as temperatures are moderate and mostly below 25C. Day neutral varieties planted in early spring will produce blossoms and fruit from mid-July through October. To home gardeners, these varieties are known as "ever-bearing" strawberries.

Day neutral varieties became popular in Ontario about 25 years ago when the varieties Tribute and Tristar were introduced. Tristar is known for its exceptional flavour. Both varieties produce well, but the fruit is too small and somewhat soft for larger markets, and growers lost interest in these varieties.

Today, there are several better day neutral varieties available, including Seascape, Albion and Evie 2. These varieties have good size, good quality and great flavour.

Day neutral varieties require a different type of management from June bearing varieties. They respond well to mulch and are often grown on raised beds with plastic mulch in a plasticulture system. The pests are different and require different pest management strategies. Crop nutrition is quite different than it is for June bearing varieties. Day neutrals have a greater need for potassium as well as nitrogen and are usually fertilized with drip irrigation systems. The exact program is worked out by each grower based on soil type and planting system.

If you are interested in trying day neutral strawberries, you will do best if you have an on-farm market or other direct market to the consumer. Order your plants early as the best varieties are often in short supply. Plant enough that you will pay attention to your new venture every week, but just enough to get used to this type of production. Remember day neutrals require intensive management and marketing for a much longer period than June bearing varieties. Think of them not as a different strawberry variety, but as a different crop that you will have to learn how to grow.

Meanwhile, Ontario strawberries are available now from just a few growers who are using very intensive techniques to extend the season. Expect more Ontario grown strawberries in mid June. With increasing acreage of day neutral varieties, you can enjoy Ontario-grown locally-grown strawberries all summer long. Check for the Foodland Ontario logo.