Top 15 Strawberry Varieties to Grow in Your Garden: Best List of Strawberry Varieties for High Profits

Selecting the finest strawberry garden varieties can yield a bountiful harvest and a burst of flavors. This expert guide unveils the top 20 strawberry cultivars, each uniquely suited for your garden. From the renowned sweetness of Alpines to the robust beauty of Tristars, this list offers a scientific perspective on the ideal strawberries to nurture. With a meticulous approach, we present these varieties as a result of thorough research, aiming to provide accurate insights for a successful and fruitful gardening journey.

Basics of Strawberry Cultivation

Species and Cultivars: While many cultivated strawberries belong to Fragaria x ananassa, some are alpine or wild variations of F. vesca. Watch for these distinctions and other species beyond F. x ananassa.
Habit and Growth Patterns: Strawberry plants showcase two key habits: mounding and prostrate. Mounding types grow both vertically and horizontally, making them ideal for containers. Prostrate varieties spread horizontally, suitable for raised beds.
Chill Hours Impact: Chill hours, crucial for blossoming, also affect strawberries. Without adequate chill hours (45-32°F), blossoms may not flourish, leading to lower yields. Most strawberries require 200-300 chill hours.
First-Year Bloom Removal: Initial bloom removal in the first year fosters robust root and runner development. Healthy plants that divert energy from flowering into growth yield better fruit in the subsequent season.
Productivity and Propagation: Most strawberries remain productive for 3-4 years. Propagation from runners or starting new plants every few seasons is common, though not allowed for patented varieties.
Pollination Insights: Self-pollination is only sometimes sufficient for high yields. Wind and insects also contribute to strawberry pollination success.
Harvest Varieties: Three main harvest options exist everbearing (spring, summer, fall), June-bearing (spring), and day-neutral (throughout the growing season).
Planting Timing by Zones: Cold zones (6 and below) plant in spring for winter establishment, while warm zones (7 and up) plant around Labor Day for the following spring harvest.

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List of Strawberry Types

June-Bearing Strawberry Varieties

June bearers are the most prevalent strawberry types. These strawberries yield the largest fruits and produce on average for 2 to 3 weeks. The name “June bearing” stems from their typical harvest time in June. Categorized further into Early Season, Midseason, and Late Season varieties. Garden Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is the typical species for June bearing strawberries.

Commonly planted using the matted row system. Different June-bearing strawberries yield fruit for around 10 to 14 days each. Fruit-bearing starts with Early-season varieties in late spring. Early Midseason, Midseason, Late Midseason, and late-season varieties follow.

Everbearing Strawberry Varieties:

Unlike the name, everbearing strawberries yield two annual harvests – one in spring and another in late summer or fall. Some can produce a third harvest under optimal conditions. Most everbearing types are hybrids of Fragaria x ananassa or species Fragaria vesca. They prioritize multiple harvests, resulting in fewer runners compared to June-bearing types. Suited for the hill system or limited space areas. Learn more about growing everbearing strawberries through dedicated guides.

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Day-Neutral Strawberry Varieties

Day-neutral strawberries are distinctive, offering a good yield in their first year of planting. They blossom and fruit when temperatures range from 35 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Fruit production can extend to October in milder years. Day-neutral varieties typically yield smaller strawberries compared to June-bearing and everbearing types. Their fruit size usually remains small to medium, often under one inch. Planted using the hill system or where space is restricted.

Top 15 Strawberry Varieties to Grow in Your Garden

AC Wendy

AC Wendy is a early-season ‘Evangeline’ cross developed at the Kentville research station of Nova Scotia, known for its high fruit yields and runner production. It thrives in full sun and can be planted in light and heavy soils. The cold-tolerant June-bearing variety produces cone to wedge-shaped large fruits that ripen early and have a firm texture.

The berries are known for holding up well to freezer storage after harvest. However, due to their early production of white flowers, there is a potential for frost damage. The plants are moderately resistant to powdery mildew and red stele fungal disease but susceptible to verticillium wilt and angular leaf spot.

All-Star

‘All Star’ is a strawberry cultivar developed by the USDA and the University of Maryland, originating from a cross between ‘US 4419’ and ‘MDVS 3184’. Introduced in 1981, it features white flowers, a large, sweet, mildly flavored fruit with a firm texture. ‘All Star’ is a midseason June-bearing type, bearing fruit during the middle of the strawberry season.

It is highly resistant to red stele and moderately resistant to verticillium wilt. It can thrive in both clay and sandy soils. Suitable for cultivation in Zones 6 to 8, ‘All Star’ strawberries reach a height of 10 inches and spread out to 18 inches.

Albion

The Albion sweeties are a day-neutral variety with a high sugar content and a delicious flavor. A hybrid of Diamante and Cal 94.16-1 developed from the University of California, ‘Albion’ produces long, conical fruit with a firm texture. It is resistant to wilt, Phytophthora crown rot, and anthracnose crown rot and produces yields of 1 to 3 pints of fruit per plant. ‘Albion’ thrives in full sun in Zones 4 to 8, with fragrant white flowers that attract pollinators. With a mounded growth habit, 500 chill hours are required for good yields, and it takes 90 days to harvest.

Alpine Alexandria

The ‘Alpine Alexandria’ strawberry variety is a charming heirloom alpine strawberry known for its white flowers and distinctive flavor. It is high-yielding and runnerless, making it ideal for space-conscious growers. It thrive in full sun to partial shade within Zones 6 to 8, with a compact height of eight to 10 inches. ‘Alpine Alexandria’ plants are available from Burpee.

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Berries Galore Pink Hybrid

‘Berries Galore Pink Hybrid’ strawberry variety offers a swift and fruitful growing experience, maturing in just 75 days. Its medium-sized pinkish-red berries, complemented by a sweet taste, make it a delectable choice for gardeners. The everbearing nature ensures a consistent harvest pace, allowing you to enjoy fresh strawberries every few days during the growing season.

Suited for Zones 5 to 9, this hardy variety showcases large pink flowers, adding an attractive visual dimension to your garden. With a height range of six to 12 inches and a spread of 18 inches, ‘Berries Galore Pink Hybrid’ holds promise for a satisfying and aesthetically pleasing strawberry cultivation endeavor.

Camarosa

‘Camarosa’ is a midseason strawberry cultivar that thrives in warmer climates, particularly in southern California and hot regions at low latitudes. Its large, flat, wedge-shaped berries have a firm texture and pleasing flavor. Originating from a cross between ‘Douglas’ and ‘Cal 85.281-605’, it was developed at the University of California in 1992.

Its heat tolerance makes it suitable for warmer climates, and optimal growth occurs in Zones 5 to 8. ‘Camarosa’ strawberry plants display white flowers and grow in full sun environments, reaching heights of 10 to 12 inches and spreads of eight to 12 inches.

Chandler

Chandler is a midseason June-bearing strawberry cultivar, best suited for full sun conditions in Zones 5 to 8. It produces firm, large, flavorful berries with a classic conical shape. Born at the University of California in 1983, it is a cross between ‘Douglas’ and ‘Cal 72.361-105.’ It produces good yields in southern states and is adaptable to eastern US regions. It has white flowers and is susceptible to anthracnose disease.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a strawberry cultivar that produces multiple sweet berries from June to the first frost, even in high summer heat. Its magenta-pink flowers attract pollinators. Known for its cold tolerance and resistance to mites and powdery mildew, it thrives in full sun environments within Zones 3 to 8. At maturity, it reaches a height of eight to 10 inches and spreads eight to 12 inches. It requires approximately 500 chill hours for optimal yields and is expected to be harvested within 75 days.

Alpine Yellow Wonder

The ‘Alpine Yellow Wonder strawberry variety offers an unconventional twist with pale yellow ripened strawberries with a gourmet flavor resembling pineapple. This everbearing F. vesca variety produces small, flavorful berries easily plucked from their stems. It thrives under full sun conditions in Zones 6 to 8, reaching a height of eight to 10 inches and a spread of 14 to 18 inches at maturity.

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Alpine White Soul

The Alpine White Soul strawberry variety is known for its ghostly white appearance and unique flavor profile, resembling tropical fruit with grape or rose hints. Birds are less interested in colorless fruits, so protective netting isn’t needed. However, shade covers are recommended to avoid sunburn. These everbearing plants produce abundant yields throughout the growing season and thrive in full sun environments within Zones 6 to 8. They reach a height of eight to 10 inches and have a spread of 14 to 18 inches.

Delizz

Delizz, the first strawberry to win an All-America Selections in 2016, is a container-grown hybrid that produces sweet, medium-sized conical berries on strong stems. This everbearing hybrid is best suited for full sun locations in Zones 3 to 8, with a mounding habit and a height and spread of 10 to 24 inches.

Delizzimo, another everbearing variety, is known for its high yields of sweet fruit and is suitable for early-season harvest. Its compact, everbearing habit and small, white flowers make it a popular choice for growing in full sun in Zones 3 to 8. The plants height, spread of 10 to 24 inches at maturity.

Earliglow and Elan

Earliglow’ and ‘Elan’ strawberry varieties are two types of strawberries. Earliglow is an early-season variety that yields high yields of sweet, cone-shaped berries, suitable for processing and freezing. It has a prostrate growth habit, reaching a height of 12 inches a spread of 24 to 36 inches. It is ideal for full sun in Zones 4 to 8. It is resistant to red stele, root rot, and verticillium wilt.

Its vibrant white flowers attract pollinators. To achieve optimal yields, it requires approximately 500 chill hours. ‘Earliglow’ strawberry plants and bare roots are available from Burpee and Gurney’s via Home Depot. ‘Elan’ is a late-season everbearing variety, providing yields from July to October. It is known for its easily pickable shiny biconical berries and its distinctive feature of the calyx breaking easily when fruits reach ripeness. It maintains consistency in growth and features white flowers.

Eversweet

Eversweet’ strawberries stand out for their exceptional heat tolerance and remarkable flavor. Bred specifically for thriving in the southeastern US, this variety caters to warm climates. Optimal yields are achieved when grown in full sun conditions within Zones 5 to 8. ‘Eversweet’ is particularly versatile, flourishing in containers and small spaces while delivering quality fruit even in its inaugural year.

The white flowers further enhance their aesthetic value, and mature plants exhibit a height range of 12 to 16 inches, accompanied by an equal spread. For strawberry enthusiasts seeking a heat-tolerant and flavorful option, ‘Eversweet’ presents an appealing choice with its unique attributes and adaptability.

Evie-2 and Flavorfest

The Evie-2 strawberry variety is a day-neutral cultivar that offers an extended harvest season with three crops spanning spring, summer, and fall. Developement of Edward Vinson Ltd. in the UK, it is a cross of ‘Everglade’ and ‘J92D12.’ It is best suited for full sun conditions within Zones 4 to 8 and is known for its resilience to warm summer temperatures.

‘Evie-2’ produces white flowers and can reach a height of 12 to 15 inch with a spread of 12 to 24 inches. ‘Flavorfest’ is a midseason June-bearing variety from the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service Beltsville, Maryland, and was released in 2012. It emphasizes flavor and high yields of generously sized, plump berries.

The plants resist red stele and most stem and leaf diseases commonly affecting strawberries and are immune to anthracnose crown and fruit rot. They are best grown under full sun, with a prostrate growth habit, and reach a height, spread of 12 to 16 inche at maturity. Successful cultivation requires approximately 600 chill hours and has a harvest period of 30 days from planting to harvest.

Galletta and Grande Berried Treasure Red

The ‘Galletta’ strawberry variety is a robust and vigorous cultivar suitable for organic gardeners seeking disease-resistant options. It is resistant to black root rot, black vine weevils, and red stele and thrives in heavy soil types. Originating from a cross between ‘Earliglow’ and ‘NCH 87-22,’ it produces large, aromatic berries with a firm texture.

It in Zones 4 to 7 and under full sun, particularly in North Carolina’s Piedmont and Mountain regions. It reaches a height and spread of 12 to 16 inches at maturity. Burpee offers bare root plants for those interested in cultivating ‘Galletta.’

The ‘Grande Berried Treasure Red’ strawberry variety is characterized by its alluring rose-colored semi-double flowers, trailing runners, and medium-sized red berries. It thrives in Zones 4 to 9 and reache height of 12 to 16 inche and a spread of 18 to 24 inches. It requires no chill hours and has a relatively short planting-to-harvest duration of about 28 days. Both varieties offer unique advantages to gardeners.

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Conclusion

In cultivating a fruitful strawberry garden, these top 20 varieties offer diverse options. Each cultivar brings unique advantages, from robust disease resistance to flavorful fruits and extended harvests. Whether for personal enjoyment or profit, these selections promise a rewarding strawberry-growing experience.