Updated on February 10, 2025 by Ruth
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As spring blooms and the days warm, one of the most anticipated seasons arrives: strawberry season. These bright red gems, bursting with sweetness and flavor, are a hallmark of the season, tempting us with their juicy allure. While strawberries are available year-round in supermarkets, there’s nothing quite like the flavor of a locally grown, freshly picked strawberry. In this blog, we’ll explore when is this delightful season and why the strawberry season can vary.
Table of Contents
When is strawberry season?
The type of strawberry will also determine when the harvest season is. There are June bearing strawberries, day-neutral, and every bearing.
The classic June strawberries have the largest berries and produce over a period of 2-3 weeks. There are Early, Mid-Season, and Late Season June strawberries. By planting varieties of each part of the season, you can try to extend your crop to 4-6 weeks. These varieties do best with 12 hours or more of daylight each day.
Ever bearing plants will have two crops of strawberries, one in the spring and a second crop in the late summer-early fall. The second crop will depend on how well the plants were watered and fertilized during the summer. The berries are not as large as the June bearers, and the plants need 10-12 hours of daylight.
Day neutral strawberries can handle the lower light levels of winter or early spring growing, and will produce strawberries when the temperatures are between 35F and 85F. The berries are smaller than either the June or ever bearing plants.
Strawberry season in Delaware
In Delaware, our June berries are often ready by the middle of May. By June, we are watching the weather. Three days of temperatures in the 90s means the plants will not set any more flowers, thus no more berries. Some years, we only have strawberries for 3 weeks. If we are fortunate and the weather cooperates, we can have strawberries for 6 weeks, typically mid-May through early June.
What is the best tasting strawberry?
While many varieties such as Camarosa or Sweet Charlie can boast excellent flavor and sweetness, the very best strawberries depend on the weather. When the weather is dry, the sweetness in the berry is concentrated. There needs to be enough water so that the berry plants can grow and the berries can be juicy. It is a delicate balance, for sure! Farmers like to be able to put some water on, through irrigation, rather than worry about too much rain which dilutes the flavor of the berry.
If you are growing strawberries, you want to select the variety which is best for your growing season and environment, levels of humidity, daylight hours, temperatures, etc.
10 Fun facts about strawberries
Strawberries are teeth whiteners because of the Vitamin C which helps fight plaque
Strawberries are the only fruit with the seeds on the outside
There are about 200 seeds on each berry
8 strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange
Strawberries and raspberries are members of the rose family
Strawberries are full of ellagic acid, which can help fight some cancers
Strawberries are grown in every state in the US
Strawberries were used to treat depression, fever, and sore throats in ancient Rome.
There are over 600 varieties of strawberries in the world.
Strawberries can be red, white, pink, yellow, and golden in color.
Why do strawberries that are shipped have no flavor?
Strawberries that are shipped over long distances are often grown for durability and shelf life rather than flavor. These varieties are picked before they are fully ripe to withstand the rigors of transportation, which means they don’t have the chance to develop their full flavor. Additionally, the cold storage and transportation conditions can further degrade their taste and texture. On the other hand, locally grown strawberries are usually picked at peak ripeness, ensuring they are full of flavor and sweetness, as they are allowed to fully develop on the plant before being harvested.
FAQs
Q: Why are they called June berries when they can ripen in May, June, or July?
A: They should probably be called “spring berries.” Exactly when the “spring” berries ripen depends on how long winter lasts, any extra protection that the berries receive, and how warm or cool the spring weather is.
Q: Are the small berries the sweetest?
A: The sweetness of the berry depends a lot on the weather. If it is a dry year, then the sugar is more concentrated. If it is a rainy year, the berry will swell more and the flavor is a bit diluted. The most popular varieties for growing have all been developed for high sugar content, and size is not a factor.
Q: Why will the same plants produce some large berries and some small berries?
A: The first picking of berries is always the largest size fruit. The next berries will be a bit smaller, and the size continues to decrease as the season continues unless you add fertilizer and water to the plants to help them grow.
Q: How long does strawberry season last?
A: It can be as short as 2 weeks or as long as 8 weeks. Hot weather over 90F for 3 days or rainy weather of 2-3 days straight will end the season early.
Conclusion
Eating strawberries when they are in season and locally grown is not just about enjoying their superior flavor; it’s also about supporting local farmers, reducing environmental impact, and prioritizing freshness and nutrition. By choosing local strawberries, you’re not only treating yourself to the best-tasting berries but also contributing to a more sustainable and vibrant food system. So, next time strawberry season rolls around, be sure to seek out your local berry patch and indulge in the deliciousness of fresh, ripe strawberries.
If you are close to our farm near Wilmington, Delaware, I invite you to come visit our farm market. We grow in all four seasons, so we are open all year. If not, please find a farm close to you that grows strawberries so that you can experience how fabulous strawberries are. Thank you for your support of local farms.
~ Ruth
Additional resources
https://www.sagroup.global/our-news/10-things-you-didn%E2%80%99t-know-about-strawberries
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/strawberry-facts
https://strawberryplants.org/strawberry-varieties/
