Yes, strawberry plants are perennials, meaning they can live and produce fruit for several years when properly cared for. However, their productivity tends to decline after a few years, so gardeners often replace or thin out older plants to maintain high yields.
There are three main types of strawberries: June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral.
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June-bearing strawberries produce one large crop of strawberries in late spring or early summer. After the harvest, the plants focus on producing runners, which are offshoots that can be used to propagate new plants. These strawberries are the most commonly grown type and can live for several years with proper care.
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Everbearing strawberries produce two or three smaller crops throughout the growing season. They typically fruit in early summer, mid-summer, and fall, making them a great choice for gardeners who want multiple harvests in a season.
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Day-neutral strawberries can produce fruit continuously throughout the growing season, as long as temperatures remain between 35°F and 85°F. These strawberries don’t follow the same fruiting cycle as June-bearers and everbearers, making them a great option for consistent harvests.
Caring for Perennial Strawberry Plants: To keep your strawberry plants healthy and productive year after year, it’s important to provide them with regular care. Fertilize them every 6-8 weeks with BigAss Berries fertilizer to ensure they have the nutrients needed for fruit production and overall plant health. After the harvest, remove any dead or damaged leaves and thin out runners if the bed is becoming too crowded.
For regions with cold winters, mulching strawberry plants with straw after the first frost helps protect them from freezing temperatures. Remove the mulch in early spring to allow the plants to start growing again.
With proper care, your perennial strawberry plants can live and produce for 3-5 years or longer, though their fruit production may decline after the third year. Rejuvenate your strawberry patch by allowing runners to root in the soil, or plant new bare-root strawberries to keep the harvests plentiful.