Most strawberry varieties will live for 6 years. However, there will be a decrease in fruit production by their third year of life. This lifespan can change slightly depending on whether you’re growing June-bearing strawberries or everbearing varieties. However, the 6-year rule will be generally true of a healthy strawberry plant. You can ensure a strawberry patch reaches its longest lifespan by maintaining ideal growing conditions.
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Do Strawberry Plants Last More Than a Year?
Most types of strawberries are perennial plants and thus live more than one year. That said, there are a few annual strawberry varieties. These varieties are far less popular and are typically not sold in nurseries or cultivated for food.
- Most strawberries are grown as perennials that live for several years.
- Only a few types of strawberries live for only a single year.
- Annual strawberries (varieties that die after 1 year) are rare.
Strawberries produce runner plants that can grow into new clone plants. These clones can sometimes outlive the mother plant in the right conditions. However, most clones will die with the original plant.
How Long Do Strawberry Plants Keep Producing?
Strawberry plants will produce berries their whole lives. However, a strawberry plant’s fruit production will slow down after the first 2–3 years. Everbearing strawberries never stop producing fruit entirely.
- Strawberry plants produce fruit their whole lives but will become less productive after 2–3 years.
- The exact number of years of peak fruit production depends on the strawberry variety you grow.
- There are 3 different types of strawberry varieties which all have different harvest periods.
It’s important to note that fruit production varies depending on your type of strawberry plant. The three strawberry varieties are: June-bearing strawberry plants, day-neutral strawberries, and everbearing strawberries. June-bearing plants will only bear fruit in June, as their name implies. Day-neutral strawberries produce a fruit crop in spring through fall. Everbearing types produce two harvests, one in summer and one in fall.
Can You Make a Strawberry Plant Live Longer?
You can maximize the lifespan of a strawberry patch by maintaining ideal growing conditions. Plant strawberries in a location where your berries will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Acidic soil rich in organic matter is best for promoting a long, healthy life for your strawberry plants. Strawberries are also very thirsty plants requiring 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water each week. Use this soaker hose to keep your strawberries well-watered.
- Strawberries can live longer if they are provided with ideal growing conditions.
- Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for healthy strawberries.
- Grow strawberries in acidic soil with plenty of nutrients so your plants thrive.
- Give your strawberries 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week.
- Check out our tips to get the most fruit from your strawberries for more info on growing the healthiest plants.
Spread organic mulch in your strawberry patch to keep your soil moist in dry weather. Grass clippings or dead leaves can work well for this task and protect the shallow roots from drying out. Lastly, you’ll want to fertilize homegrown strawberries once per season for strong growth. This will ensure extra juicy berries during harvest.
When Should You Replace Strawberry Plants?
In order to maximize your harvest size, replace strawberry plants after they become less productive. Introduce new plants every 3–4 years for the best results and largest crops. If you are growing potted plants, replace them every 3 years. Potted strawberries rarely live beyond 3 years old.
- Replace in-ground strawberry plants every 3–4 years for best plant growth.
- Container-grown strawberries should be replaced every 3 years.
- If you plant strawberries in different years, keep track of the age of each row of strawberry plants.
- Plant strawberries in spring so they can be ready for a summer harvest.
Extended periods of hot weather can also ruin your strawberry plants. Strawberries grow best in temperatures up to 80℉ (27℃). If temperatures rise above 80℉ for too long, your strawberries can become sickly and may die sooner than expected. To prevent this, shade your strawberries from the intense heat with this shade cloth.
How Long Do Strawberry Plants Last in Pots?
Potted strawberries generally live for around 3 years. This is half the lifespan of most popular varieties. Strawberry pots constrain the growth of runner plants. This reduces the plant’s overall lifespan since a healthy runner produces a clone plant that can sometimes outlive the parent plant.
- Potted strawberries generally only live around 3 years but some can live up to 6 years.
- Containers prevent ideal strawberry foliage growth.
- Soil in containers dries out quickly, which can parch your strawberry plants and shorten their lives.
Container plants are often prone to drying out more easily than other plants outdoors. This isn’t a problem for many types of plants, but strawberry plants need 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water every day. This means that quick-drying soil can be a much more serious problem for strawberries than other potted plants. Take care to water your strawberries more frequently if they are grown indoors.
How Long Does a Strawberry Plant Live?
Most strawberry plants will live around 6 years. This is true of types like June-bearing varieties and day-neutral varieties. Here’s a handy breakdown of the best tips to remember when growing these sweet fruits:
- Most strawberries are grown as perennials and live for around 6 years.
- Potted strawberries will only live for 3 years on average.
- Strawberry fruit production decreases once the plant reaches 3 years of age.
- Replace strawberry plants every 3–4 years to maximize your fruit crops.
- Provide full sun, 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per day, and sandy, loamy soil for the longest strawberry plant lifespan.
With these tips, you have what you need to keep your strawberries alive as long as possible. Tracking the age of your strawberries and replacing them as they grow older will keep your garden producing bountiful berry crops each year.
