Strawberry varieties and purchasing plants

Key points

UMN researchers have been conducting June-bearing strawberry variety trials in Minnesota since 1982.
Before purchasing plants, calculate how many plants you will need based on your plant spacing and field size. Order 5-10% extra in case some plants do not survive past transplanting.
Purchase plants from an experienced, reputable nursery.
If possible, purchase dormant plants instead of spring-dug plants growing in cells. Spring dug plants must be planted immediately, but dormant plants can be stored cold until planting.
Ask for certified virus-free or “virus indexed” plants, to avoid introducing viruses to your strawberry field.

June-bearing varieties

Person harvesting strawberries in a field. — Harvesting strawberries at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, MN

The University of Minnesota has been conducting annual strawberry variety trials since 1982 in Grand Rapids and Morris, Minnesota. Each year the trials compare yields, relative harvest timing, berry weights, stand vigor, and relative winter survival of over 25 varieties.

For a longer harvest season, plant several varieties with early, medium, and late harvest timings.
Early-season varieties also bloom earlier, and late-season varieties bloom later.
Select varieties that are suited to your local climate. Every site is different, and site characteristics like climate, weather and soil quality impact variety performance.
Consider doing your own on-farm trial to discover which varieties are best for your farm.

Characteristics of June-bearing strawberry varieties

Observed in University of Minnesota trials 1982-2013, yields from 2008-2020
Cultivar	Average yield 2008-2019 (lb/acre)	Hardiness	Fruit size	Texture	Flavor	Number of years included
Early season
Annapolis	9,109	Very good	Med	Firm	Very good	22
Earliglow	ND	Fair	Small	Mod firm	Excellent	0
Honeoye	12,505	Excellent	Med	Soft	Good	22
Itasca	14,987	Very good	Med	Mod soft	Good	17
Northeaster	ND	Fair	Small-med	Mod firm	Excellent	0
Sable	12,900	Very good	Small-med	Soft	Excellent	2
Veestar	ND	Very good	Small	Soft	Excellent	0
Wendy	7,300	Good	Med	Mod firm	Very good	22
Midseason
Allstar	ND	Fair	Med	Firm	Very good	0
Brunswick	13,028	Good	Med-large	Firm	Very good	20
Cabot	8,281	Fair	Very large	Very firm	Fair	2
Cavendish	10,834	Very good	Large	Firm	Very good	22
Darselect	12,466	Good	Large	Mod firm	Very good	17
Glooscap	11,050	Excellent	Med	Mod firm	Good	12
Jewel	12,695	Good	Large	Very firm	Excellent	22
Kent	13,259	Very good	Med	Mod firm	Good	18
L'Amour	8,651	Good	Med-large	Firm	Very good	17
Mesabi	15,085	Excellent	Med-large	Mod firm	Very good	17
Mira	ND	Fair	Med-large	Firm	Fair	0
Redchief	ND	Fair	Med	Firm	Good	0
Late season
Bounty	ND	Very good	Med	Mod firm	Very good	0
Clancy	10,088	Fair	Med-large	Very firm	Good	8
Ovation	3,075	Fair	Med-large	Mod firm	Good	4
Sparkle	ND	Good	Med	Mod firm	Very good	0
Valley Sunset	8,123	Good	Large	Mod firm	Excellent	19
Winona	6,953	Very good	Large	Mod Firm	Good	17

ND = Yield data not available

Day-neutral varieties

Side-by-side bins of strawberries on a grassy area. — Portola strawberries harvested in a day-neutral strawberry variety trial

University of Minnesota researchers conducted trials of day-neutral strawberry varieties on USDA-certified organic land in 2013 and 2014.

The varieties were compared in three different systems:

Plastic mulch (white on black plastic) with low tunnels
Plastic mulch without low tunnels
Plastic mulch covered with straw with no low tunnels.

Read the original study.

Based on this research, recommended varieties for Minnesota:

Monterey
Evie-II
Albion
Portola
San Andreas
Seascape

More information on day-neutral strawberries.

Author: Annie Klodd, Extension educator, fruit and vegetable production

Reviewed in 2021