Everbearing strawberry (Fragaria 'Tribute')
Fragaria 'Tribute' is a vigorous Everbearing strawberry producing medium-large, edible berries from spring into fall. Requires high maintenance.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Everbearing strawberry, specifically the cultivar Fragaria ‘Tribute’, is a highly regarded choice for gardeners seeking a reliable and extended harvest of fresh fruit. This plant is distinguished by its day-neutral habit, meaning it continues to produce sweet, glossy red berries throughout the warmer months, unlike traditional June-bearing types. Fragaria ‘Tribute’ establishes itself as a low-growing, stoloniferous perennial well-suited to dedicated fruit cultivation areas.
While beloved for its tasty yield, gardeners should note that this is a high-maintenance crop, rewarding diligent care with continuous production. The plant features classic five-petaled white flowers that precede the plump, fragrant fruit, adding moderate aesthetic value to the fruit patch. Success with Fragaria ‘Tribute’ relies heavily on meeting its specific cultural needs regarding soil richness and consistent moisture.
As an Everbearing strawberry, ‘Tribute’ offers superior cropping consistency for the home gardener compared to single-flush varieties. Successfully growing this cultivar ensures a manageable supply of delicious berries directly from your garden patch from spring well into the fall season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Fruit
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to frost
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: High
How to Grow
Planting for Fragaria ‘Tribute’ should occur in spring after the danger of hard frost has passed, allowing the roots to establish before the summer heat. Successful growth demands average, medium moisture, well-drained soil that is organically rich, ideally leaning toward a sandy loam texture. Ensure the planting site receives full sun exposure throughout the day, as insufficient light will significantly reduce fruit yield.
Maintaining the vigor of this Everbearing strawberry requires diligent attention, justifying its high maintenance rating. Water needs are medium; consistency is key—avoid letting the soil dry out completely, especially during fruiting periods. While specific fertilization schedules vary, providing balanced nutrients and focusing on consistent irrigation are crucial management tasks for this crop.
As a high-maintenance fruit, routine scouting for potential issues is necessary. Furthermore, gardeners are strongly advised to grow only certified disease-resistant cultivars, such as this one. For detailed regional guidance, consulting local Agricultural Extension resources, like the University of Missouri-Columbia’s pamphlet on strawberry culture, is recommended for climate-specific adaptations.
Landscape Uses
Strawberries, including the valuable Fragaria ‘Tribute’, are primarily grown as functional edible crops rather than for ornamental structure. They generally lack special aesthetic value and are best situated in a dedicated area reserved for fruit production, such as a kitchen garden or an intensive raised bed system. When grown en masse, the uniform spread of low foliage and the continuous display of white flowers and red fruit can create an attractive, textured groundcover effect during their season.
To promote excellent air circulation, which aids in disease prevention, avoid planting them too closely with taller, dense companion plants. A good companion strategy involves pairing them with low-growing herbs that might deter common pests, though the primary focus remains on maximizing fruit quality. Plan the location where weekly harvesting of your Everbearing strawberries will be convenient, as continuous picking encourages further production.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
Fragaria is a genus containing about 12 species of low-growing stoloniferous herbaceous perennials commonly known as strawberries. Strawberries are a mainstay of the home fruit garden and are grouped into Junebearing, everbearing, and day-neutral types. ‘Tribute’ is a vigorous, day-neutral strawberry variety that produces a large crop of medium to large sized berries from spring into fall.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Strawberries are susceptible to a large number of potential diseases, including but not limited to: foliage diseases (leaf spot, scorch), root rots (red stele, black root rot), fruit rots (anthracnose, leather rot), gray mold and viruses. Occasional insect problems include tarnished plant bugs, mites, aphids, leafrollers, slugs, nematodes, and strawberry weevils. While Fragaria ‘Tribute’ generally has good disease resistance compared to some older varieties, diligent cultural practices remain essential for discouraging pathogens.
To minimize disease, ensure excellent airflow by avoiding overcrowding and proper timing of overhead watering. Remove any diseased or spotted foliage immediately upon detection. For insect pests, physical barriers or targeted, minimal intervention treatments are often preferred, especially since the fruit is consumed shortly after formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Everbearing strawberry suitable for?
Fragaria ‘Tribute’ is hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8, making it suitable for a wide range of temperate climates.
How large does Fragaria ‘Tribute’ grow?
At maturity, this Everbearing strawberry typically maintains a low profile, reaching only 0.25 to 0.5 feet in height with a spread between 0.5 and 1 foot.
What sun exposure does Fragaria ‘Tribute’ need?
This plant requires full sun exposure to maximize its flowering and subsequent fruit production throughout the season.
When does Everbearing strawberry bloom?
Fragaria ‘Tribute’ blooms profusely starting in May and will continue producing flowers, and subsequent fruit, until the first hard frost arrives.
Conclusion
The Fragaria ‘Tribute’ Everbearing strawberry provides dedicated fruit gardeners with a phenomenal trait: a prolonged harvest window featuring consistently tasty, medium-to-large berries. Its day-neutral nature ensures that, with diligent attention to its high maintenance needs, your patch of Everbearing strawberry will supply fresh, homegrown flavor from early summer until autumn. Before planning your planting, confirm that your location falls within USDA Zones 4-8 and that you can commit the necessary time for watering and care.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate neighbors is vital for high-maintenance crops like Fragaria ‘Tribute’. Since strawberries prefer rich, sandy loams and consistent moisture, pair them with other shallow-rooted edibles that share similar needs, such as bush beans or lettuce, provided they do not overly shade the ground. Avoid planting them near brassicas or potatoes, which can deplete soil nutrients differently or attract similar soil-borne diseases.
Good aromatic companions include thyme, borage, and sage. These herbs can help mask the scent of the strawberry plants from certain opportunistic pests, or their physical presence can help deter leaf-dwelling insects. Keep the ground beneath the strawberries relatively clear to ensure excellent airflow, which is critical for preventing the common fungal issues that plague strawberry crops.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring preparation is crucial for a plentiful harvest; this involves clearing away old mulch, applying a balanced fertilizer just as new growth emerges, and ensuring the bed is free of debris. Summer is the primary production window, requiring consistent, measured watering, particularly when the tiny berries begin swelling. Mulching with clean straw is recommended after temperatures stabilize to keep fruit off the soil—a primary defense against soil-borne rot.
Fall care for this Everbearing strawberry focuses on maximizing the final flush of berries while preparing for dormancy. Once the plants have finished producing or hard frosts begin, replenish the mulch layer significantly. This heavy winter mulch insulates the crowns, protecting the roots from freeze-thaw cycles that can heave and damage shallow-rooted plants like Fragaria ‘Tribute’ over winter.
