What Month Do Strawberries Ripen in California?

California Strawberry Harvest

• Strawberries are capable of fruiting whenever temperatures are between 35 and 85 degrees. In the warmest parts of southern California, it is possible to pick ripe strawberries throughout the winter, though in the summer it is far too hot and the plants are effectively grown as annuals. Coastal California has the longest harvest season because both winter and summer temperatures are moderated by the Pacific Ocean. This is the prime strawberry-growing region of California where production occurs from March until the first frost of the year, usually in November or December. The ripening times of California strawberries are further influenced by the variety.

June-Bearing Varieties

• June-bearing strawberries produce their entire crop all in one burst, over about two weeks in early summer, hence the name. June-bearing strawberries are commonly grown by home gardeners in California because of their large size and good flavor. There are early, mid-season and late varieties of June-bearing strawberries for California that stretch the season from late May until early July, depending on the local climate. "Douglas," "Pajaro," "Sequoia," "Camarosa" and "Chandler" are recommended June-bearing varieties for California.

Ever-Bearing Varieties

• "Ever-bearing" is somewhat of a misnomer because these plants actually produce two crops each year, rather than bearing continuously, as the name implies. The plants don't have the runners that characterize most other strawberry plants and produce a crop in the spring and another in late summer or fall. Spring fruit is produced from buds that developed the previous fall, which means the fruit starts to form shortly after the plants emerge from dormancy. The late crop is produced from buds that develop over the summer. "Seascape" is a common ever-bearing variety in California.

Day-Neutral Varieties

• The flowering and fruiting cycle of day-neutral strawberries is not governed by day length. As soon as the plants emerge from dormancy, they begin to flower and set fruit continuously until freezing temperatures cause the plants to return to a dormant state. The size of the fruit tends to be small and crops are never heavy at any one time, but they do extend the growing season in California into every month of the year. "Selva," "Muir," "Irvine" and "Fern" are some of the top day-neutral strawberries for California.