Strawberries (Fragaria species) are one of summer’s best treats. Depending on cultivar, June-bearing provide a large crop of larger strawberries and everbearing strawberries produce smaller berries throughout the growing season. There are also novelty types of strawberries that range in color (purple, yellow, white) or flavor. One unique novelty strawberry is the pineberry.

As we are approaching the half way mark for the month of June and looking towards those summer plans, one thing many people are looking forward to is summer Strawberries. Whether you are growing everbearing or June-bearing strawberries, harvest time is here for some and soon to be for others.

The fruits of our summer labors have started to ripen and will soon be ready for harvest. As gardeners, it is common we overplant. Most of us end up with more produce than we can use. Neighbors, friends, and others typically benefit from the overflow. Keep the tips here in mind to help get the longest life out of your harvest.

Growing up in East Tennessee, okra was one of the most common vegetables I both ate and grew. Now that I live in the Midwest, I don’t see the crop as often in community gardens and at farmers markets. Yet you may have found this summer, as I have, that okra deserves a place in the summer garden.