Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Eversweet Strawberry: Heat-Tolerant Berries From Spring to Fall
Save
Eversweet strawberry is an everbearing, day-neutral strawberry, which means it does not wait for a particular day length to flower. It fruits first in spring, then again about every six weeks through summer and into fall. The berries are firm, bright red, cone-shaped and very sweet, and the plant is known for holding its fruit quality even in 100°F weather.
It loves full sun like lavender, but it wants richer, evenly moist soil. That makes it a neighbor rather than a bedmate: a raised bed, kitchen garden or strawberry jar near the lavender is the right fit.
Eversweet at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Fragaria × ananassa 'Eversweet' |
| Type | Day-neutral everbearing |
| Fruit | Firm, bright red, cone-shaped, very sweet |
| Flowers | White with yellow centers, starting mid-May |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, spreading by runners to about 3 feet |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Strawberries in a lavender garden
Strawberries and lavender are a classic pairing in the kitchen, and they can be good partners outside too, as long as each gets its own soil. Plant Eversweet in a raised bed or container a few steps from the lavender. Both enjoy the same sunny exposure, and the lavender's flowers bring bees into the area, which helps the strawberry flowers get visited.
Do not tuck strawberries between lavender plants. The steady watering and rich soil strawberries need will rot lavender crowns. Plan the layout in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting bare root strawberries
- Soak the roots briefly while you prepare the bed.
- Dig a hole deep enough to let the roots hang straight down.
- Set the crown exactly level with the soil surface. Too deep and it rots; too shallow and the roots dry out.
- Firm the soil and water well.
Eversweet is offered as a bare root plant. See the product page for current availability.
Care for steady harvests
- Water: regular, deep watering, especially in heat and while fruit is forming. Water at the base to keep leaves dry.
- First weeks: pinching off the first flowers for a few weeks builds stronger plants and bigger later crops.
- Straw mulch: keeps berries clean and off the soil, which cuts down on gray mold.
- Winter: cover with 2 to 4 inches of straw once the ground begins to freeze, and pull it back in spring when growth starts.
- Renewal: root a few runners and replant the bed every few years, rotating to fresh soil.
Containers and harvests
Eversweet grows well in strawberry jars, hanging baskets, grow pouches and raised beds, which makes it handy for patios. Pick berries when fully red. They are excellent fresh, in desserts and jams, and for freezing. A bowl of fresh berries with a sprinkle of lavender sugar is about as farm-summer as it gets.
Frequently asked questions
What does day-neutral mean?
The plant flowers and fruits regardless of day length, so you get repeated crops from spring into fall instead of one big June harvest.
Will it really fruit in the heat?
Eversweet is known for keeping good fruit quality even in very hot weather, but it needs steady water during heat.
Do I need to protect it from wildlife?
Deer and birds like strawberries as much as people do. Netting or a fenced bed helps.
Share how it went in your field