Strawberry Fields Forever: A Guide to Growing Strawberries

Few plants spark more excitement than strawberries. Sweet, sun-warmed berries picked right from the garden taste nothing like store-bought — and they’re surprisingly easy to grow in Southwest Colorado. The trick is choosing the right type for your yard and your snacking style.

June-Bearing: The Classic Harvest

June-bearing strawberries are the traditional choice. They produce one large, concentrated crop in late spring to early summer — perfect if you dream of bowls of berries, homemade jam, or freezing pints at a time. Think of them as a seasonal celebration: short, sweet, and abundant.

• Best for: Gardeners who want a big harvest all at once.
• Local note: Cool nights and sunny days in Durango and Mancos make June-bearing varieties especially productive.

Ever-Bearing: The Steady Snackers

If you’d rather have a handful of strawberries here and there all summer long, ever-bearing varieties are your friends. Instead of one big crop, they produce smaller flushes throughout the season. Perfect for patio containers, kids’ gardens, or anyone who just wants to graze.

• Best for: Fresh eating all season.
• Local note: In hotter spots like Cortez or Aztec, afternoon shade helps ever-bearers keep producing through the heat of summer.

Alpine Strawberries: Small but Mighty

Alpine strawberries are different from the larger garden types — their berries are small, intensely sweet, and often described as “candy-like.” They don’t spread with runners, making them tidy for borders, edges, or even pots. Many gardeners grow them less for bulk harvests and more as a gourmet treat.

• Best for: Edging, containers, or anyone who values flavor over size.
• Local note: Hardy and adaptable, alpines often do well even in the cooler climates of Pagosa and higher elevations.

Growing Tips That Matter Here

• Full sun: All strawberries need it for sweet fruit.
• Planting depth: Set crowns just at the soil line — too deep and they may rot, too shallow and they’ll dry out.
• Soil & fertility: Strawberries prefer average, well-drained soil. Go easy on amendments and fertilizer; too much nitrogen means big leaves, not berries.
• Water: Regular, even watering is key. Strawberries have shallow roots and dry out quickly in our climate.

Ready to Plant?

Whether you want a single June harvest, steady snacks, or tiny gourmet treats, there’s a strawberry that fits your garden. With just a little sun and care, these plants bring the sweetest reward of all: fruit you can eat straight off the vine.

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