As a gardening and landscaping expert, I understand the excitement of watching your strawberry plants flower and produce delicious fruits. However, when it comes to everbearing and day-neutral varieties of strawberries, it is generally recommended to remove all blossoms until early July. Let me explain why.
The reason for removing blossoms is to allow the plants to establish a strong root system and produce a bountiful harvest later in the season. By removing the flowers, you are redirecting the plant’s energy towards developing strong roots and leaves. This will result in healthier and more productive strawberry plants in the long run.
By removing the blossoms until early July, you are giving the plants ample time to establish themselves. This process allows the plants to develop a strong root system, which in turn helps them absorb more nutrients and water from the soil. This increased nutrient uptake will lead to healthier plants that are better equipped to produce larger and tastier strawberries.
Once early July rolls around, you can start allowing the flowers to bloom and develop into fruit. By this time, the plants should have developed enough root growth to support fruit production without compromising their overall health and productivity. The first berries should begin to ripen in August, and you can enjoy a steady harvest until frost.
It’s important to note that this practice of removing blossoms until early July is specific to everbearing and day-neutral strawberries. June-bearing varieties, on the other hand, typically produce a single large crop in early summer and should not have their blossoms removed.
I have personally followed this practice with my own strawberry plants and have seen great results. By removing the initial blossoms, my plants have developed strong root systems, resulting in abundant and tasty strawberries later in the season. It can be difficult to resist the temptation to let the plants flower earlier, but the reward of a larger and more flavorful harvest is well worth the wait.
To summarize, for everbearing and day-neutral strawberry varieties, it is advisable to remove all blossoms until early July. This allows the plants to establish a strong root system and ensures a more productive harvest later in the season. The first berries should ripen in August and continue until frost, providing a delightful and satisfying experience for any strawberry lover.
