Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Honeoye Strawberry: A Great Lakes June-Bearer for the Kitchen Bed
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Honeoye strawberry is a June-bearing variety that has long been a standard around the Great Lakes and in New England. The plants are very winter hardy and vigorous, and the berries are firm, juicy and cone-shaped with a rich, sweet flavor. Their bright red color even holds after freezing, which is why jam makers like them.
It is not a lavender-bed plant, but it is a natural neighbor. Both love the sun, and a strawberry patch beside the lavender makes the garden feel like a working farm plot.
Honeoye at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Fragaria × ananassa 'Honeoye' |
| Type | June-bearing, early-midseason |
| Fruit | Firm, bright red, conical berries with a rich, sweet flavor |
| Flowers | White with yellow centers, mid to late May |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall, spreading by runners to about 3 feet |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Best uses | Fresh eating, desserts, jam, freezing |
Strawberries and lavender on the same plot
The two share full sun, but strawberries want richer soil and steady moisture, while lavender wants lean soil and dry feet. Give the berries their own raised bed or kitchen-garden row next to the lavender rather than tucking them between lavender plants. The white spring flowers draw early bees, and by the time lavender starts to bloom, the berry harvest is usually behind you.
Use the Companion Plant Planner to sketch a sunny plot with separate lavender and berry areas.
Planting and care
- Planting depth: set the crown exactly level with the soil. Too deep rots it; too shallow dries the roots.
- Soil: fertile and well drained. Avoid ground recently used for tomatoes, potatoes or peppers, since Honeoye is susceptible to soil-borne root diseases.
- Water: regularly, especially as berries swell. Water at the base to keep leaves dry.
- Straw mulch: keeps berries clean and helps limit gray mold in rainy weather.
- 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: runners fill the bed over time. Every few years, start fresh with young runner plants.
Picking and using the harvest
Pick in the cool of the morning when berries are fully red, and refrigerate them unwashed until you use them. Honeoye's firmness makes it a good choice for freezing whole or sliced, and the color stays bright in jam. For a farm-style dessert, strawberries and a sprinkle of culinary lavender sugar are a classic early-summer pairing.
The bare root format
Honeoye is offered as bare root plants, the traditional way to start a strawberry bed. Plant them in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, and keep the roots moist until they go in. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get berries the first year?
Many growers pinch off first-year flowers on June-bearers so the plants build strong roots and runners, which leads to a bigger harvest the following June.
Do deer eat strawberries?
Yes, and so do birds. Netting or a fenced kitchen garden helps protect the crop.
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