Can I harvest strawberries in their first year?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.The yield of strawberries in the first year depends on the type of *variety*. *Albion*, my day-neutral plants, produced fruit 11 weeks following planting in spring. Meanwhile, June-bearing varieties were 14 months in producing fruit. If first-year yields are important, I would choose day-neutral or everbearing varieties first.
Day-Neutral Varieties
- Planting: Early spring after frost
- First harvest: 10-12 weeks
- Yield: 1 lb/plant with staggered picking
June-Bearing Risks
- First-year flowers: Remove all
- Consequence: 50% yield drop if kept
- Alternative: Container everbearing hybrids
Early fruit development has implications for crop longevity. For example, I allowed *Seascape* berries to fill in early, and the plants became stunted in growth and produced in Year Two 60% less than plants which I held pinching the initial blooms on the established varieties (except alpine). Well-established roots will provide you with productivity over several years.
Soil Prep
- pH 5.8-6.2: Test 2 weeks pre-plant
- Amendments: 3" compost + perlite
- Avoid: Fresh manure (burns roots)
Pruning
- Remove runners: First 8 weeks
- Trim flowers: June-bearing only
- Tools: Sterilized micro-tip snips
Microclimates change timelines. For my urban condo with a heat island, I can harvest *Mara des Bois* 3 weeks earlier than rural plots. I use soil thermometers and plant when the ground temperature is at least 45°F. Container plants in black pots gained me 10 - 14 days over in-ground crops.
Read the full article: How to Grow Strawberries: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
