GardenLine | Fruit to Grow and Pick | Strawberries To Grow Here

Ward is on the staff of the Department of Horticulture Science. This column is offered an an extension service by the Division of Extension and Community Relations and the Department of Horticulture, University of Saskatchewan.

Three types of strawberries can be successfully grown in Saskatchewan.

June-bearing strawberries are usually the most productive type, producing only one crop of fruit annually. In our climate the crop is harvested over a three-week period in late June and early July. After harvest, the June-bearing strawberry plant sends out runners; the runners root and the plant prepares itself for winter. At this time, it produces flower buds for the next year's fruit crop. Be sure to cover the plants with straw and snow to protect them from the cold; temperatures below -7C will cause injury to the plants and flower buds.

The two top varieties of June-bearing strawberries are Kent and Bounty. Kent is a firm, very good quality, fairly early variety. Bounty is a slightly softer fruit of very good quality that ripens about 10 days later.

Ever-bearing strawberries also fruit in late June and early July. Unlike the June-bearing types, they produce fruit in the fall just prior to freezeup.

The recommended varieties are Ogallala and Fort Laramie. Ogallala, is hardier and a higher producer. Fort Laramie produces better quality fruit than Ogallala, but often suffers from mildew in Saskatchewan. The mildew lowers spring production and may reduce or eliminate fall production.

Day-neutral strawberries are new to most people in Saskatchewan. These plants, unlike June-bearing and ever-bearing strawberries, are able to set up flower buds during longer days and hotter weather. Day-neutrals will fruit in the spring about the same time as the June- and ever-bearing types. They stop for 2 to 3 weeks in July and begin fruiting again in August until frost stops production. Because they fruit for 1 month in the spring and again the fall, their total production is larger than the other types.

A great advantage of the day-neutrals is that they produce fruit the same year they are planted. In fact, most spring plantings will out-yield the other types during the fall production period of the first year. Because of this ability to produce the first year, day-neutral strawberries can be treated as if they were annuals and can be planted each year. The fall production will more than cover the cost of the plants. So you can have strawberries each year even after a harsh winter that kills strawberry plants or flower buds. The day-neutral varieties, however, are quite hardy and, if properly covered, they will usually come through the winter.

Day-neutrals fruit on newly developed runner plants. If production starts before rooting occurs, only a small amount of fruit will be produced. So, make sure you encourage rooting. Day-neutrals are sparse runner producers, and the amount of new plants will be low compared to other types.

Hecker and Fern are the recommended day-neutral varieties.

Sources of Plants Kent/Bounty/Ogallala - 1. Gilbert W. Allen, R.R.2, Centreville, Kings County, Nova Scotia BOP 1J0; 2. Charles O. Keddy, R.R. 2, Waterville, Kings County, Nova Scotia B0P 1V0; 3. A. Cross & Son, R.R. 10. Bramptom, Ontario L6V 3N2; 4. Apple Berry Farms, Attention Allison Woodworth, R.R. 1, Berwick, Kings County, Nova Scotia BOP 1E0.

Day Neutrals (Produced in California and available from local suppliers: - 1. Dutch Growers, Saskatoon;2. Dieter Martin Greenhouses, Langham;3. Hardy Plant Nursery, Battleford;4. Elsie Semens, Rosthern.

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Sustainable horticultural information, offered free of charge to the public with the support of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division, the Department of Plant Sciences and the Provincial Government.