By Emma hynes
If you're planting strawberries for the first time, you might be wondering whether you should harvest those juicy berries in the first year, or hold off for the sake of a better future crop.
It’s a common question among new gardeners, and the answer depends on the type of strawberries you're growing and your long-term goals.
In this guide, we’ll break down what happens when you pick strawberries during that first season, whether it harms your plants, and what experienced growers recommend for the healthiest, most productive patch.
Before you make any decisions, it's important to know what kind of strawberries you’re growing. The advice for first-year harvesting can vary based on type.
June-bearing: Produce one large crop per year Everbearing: Produce smaller crops 2–3 times Day-neutral: Produce fruit consistently
First-year picking is most often discouraged with June-bearing varieties.
If you're growing day-neutral or everbearing strawberries, you can pick a few berries the first year.
Many gardeners recommend removing early blooms for the first 4–6 weeks to help establish the plant before allowing fruit to grow.
As painful as it is, pinch or snip off all flowers in the first year if you're growing June-bearers. Do this as soon as they appear.
Water consistently, mulch to suppress weeds, and remove runners.
It’s tough to wait, but resisting the urge to pick strawberries in year one is one of the best things you can do for your garden’s future.
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