Summer is here!

As we approach the halfway mark for the month of June and look forward to summer plans, one thing many people are excited about is summer strawberries. Whether you are growing everbearing or June-bearing strawberries, harvest time is here for some and on its way for others.

Strawberry varieties 

June-bearing strawberries, depending on the variety, can bear fruit from early June through the Fourth of July. All four of these berries are noted for their taste, texture, suitability for being grown in Illinois

Strawberries (Fragaria species) are one of summer’s best treats.

Strawberry varieties

Depending on the cultivar, strawberries differ in when they produce berries and what their berries look like. 

• June-bearing strawberries provide a large crop of larger berries.
• Everbearing strawberries produce smaller berries throughout the growing season.
• Novelty types of strawberries can range in color (purple, yellow, white) and flavor.

One unique novelty strawberry is the pineberry.

Spring is a great time to be adding fruit trees to the backyard. Apple, peach, pear, cherry, and so many others are great additions. If you are a market grower, you may have customers asking about tree fruit and it may be time to finally decide on purchasing and plantings trees.