It's Berry Time

We are still in the thick of winter but something arrived in the mail that made my heart skip a beat. The berry order forms!! It's officially time to order berries, plants and more through the local extention offices and this got me thinking....which berry is the best berry?

Last year I set out with the mission to establish a large patch of berries in our new garden space. If you are like me, your kids eat a small fortune in berrie each year and having my own patch is a total game changer. And where better to start than one of the most cost efficient places I have found, the local extension office. Unfortunately, we had one of the wettest springs and summers and I planted directly in the ground instead of my usual raised bed. Needless to say, many of my berries drowned and it was back to square one...a sad loss when you plant 250 plants.

Last year I purchased a variety plants from the Greenup County Extension Office as they had both the varieties and price range I was looking for. Sadly, this year they are not offering plant sales but being in the heart of agriculture communities I new our most local extension offices would be a great place to check.

This year I am choosing to order from two different offices. I too encourage you to look at surrounding counties as some have a different selection of plants and offerings, as well as price range.

Our most local extension office, the Carter County Extension Office, plant sale deadline is tomorrow, February 12th. And if you can't make it there in person, you can order over the phone and mail them a check. You can see their full Berry Order form HERE.

The second location I am purchasing from this year is the Elliott County Extension Office. Their order form can be seen HERE and their deadline to order is not until March 6th. If you haven't tried the candy onion sets, I highly suggest you grab a few bunches to grow.

No matter which office you order from, plants are expected to arrive in early April, giving you and the ground plenty of time to warm up and be prepared. And if you haven't had a chance to connect with your local extension agent, I can not recommend them enough. Our extension offices are a wealth of information and offer many services, like these plant orders.

So now the hard part....what to order? Below I have outlined the pros and cons of all the strawberries available to purchase. Please note I am zone 6b here in Kentucky and I have a few boxes I would like the plants to check. My growing priorities are; minimal care, adaptable to dry conditions, and good survival rate continued growth each year. Please note in the chart (E) is Elliott County Extension Office and (C) is Carter County Extension office.

Take some time to review the breakdown below and then I want to hear from you...what berries are you planting for garden season 2026?

Strawberry Variety Breakdown

Variety	Type	Pros	Cons	Best Fit for My Goals?
Allstar Strawberry (E)	June-bearing	Big, firm, glossy berries Good flavor Consistent yields	Needs good winter protection Requires good fertility Not the most drought tolerant	Good yield variety if watered well and mulched
Earliglow Strawberry (E) (C)	June-bearing	Excellent flavor Early harvest Decent disease resistance Reliable performer	Smaller berries Moderate yields	Great for flavor and early picks, smaller size
Seascape Strawberry (C)	Day-neutral	Produces over a long season Good flavor Adaptable to many climates	Needs even moisture Can struggle in full drought Day-neutrals sometimes less winter hardy	Good for long harvest, needs better watering
Flavorfest Strawberry (C)	Day-neutral	Large, juicy berries Tolerant of heat/dry spells Strong yields Good plant vigor	Needs proper mulching Can produce fewer berries if conditions are rough	Excellent match for my goals

An In-Depth Look at Each Berry

Allstar Strawberry

Best for: Classic June harvest with big berries

Why you might like it:

• Very popular in home gardens

• Firm, good shipping quality

• Generally reliable yield

  
  

Watch out for:

• Needs consistent moisture early in season

• Not the strongest in droughty, neglected soils

• Best with mulch + winter protection

  
  

Good choice if you’re ready to irrigate a bit early in the season and mulch heavily.

Earliglow Strawberry

Best for: Almost unbeatable flavor and early fruit

Why you might like it:

• Sweet, aromatic berries and great fresh

• Turns fruit early in the season

• Good disease tolerance

  
  

Watch out for:

• Smaller fruit size than some varieties

• Moderate yields compared to day-neutrals

• Fruit period is relatively short (early season)

  
  

Perfect if you value taste and early harvest but yields won’t be the biggest.

Seascape Strawberry

Best for: Long fruiting period (spring through fall)

Why you might like it:

• Day-neutral, not just a one-time June crop

• Adaptable to many climates

• Good flavor and texture

Watch out for:

• Needs relatively steady moisture

• Day-neutrals can be a little less hardy in winter (but can return well with mulch)

• Drought tolerance is not as strong as Flavorfest

Best if you want berries all season, but be ready to water in dry spells.

Flavorfest Strawberry

Best for: Big yields + tolerance for warmth/dryness

Why you might like it:

• Very strong production

• Large berries

• Good vigor and tolerates heat better than many

• Often good disease resistance and hardy

  
  

Watch out for:

• Needs mulch to help retain moisture

• Still benefits from occasional irrigation when very dry

Strong contender for my personal goals, especially yield + minimal fuss.

Overall Recommendation for Zone 6b Eastern KY

1. Flavorfest is the best overall match for my goals. High yields, larger fruit, good tolerance of heat/drier conditions.

   
   

2. Allstar is a great backup June-bearing. Big fruit and reliable, but needs a bit more watering and care early.

   
   

3. Seascape is best if you want continuous harvet and steady production all season, but moisture matters more.

   
   

4. Earliglow flavor champion but smaller and shorter season. Best tasting but least optimal for max yield goals.

   
   

Tips for Eastern KY Success

Mulch well (straw or leaf mulch) to retains moisture & protects roots

Even watering early is key for establishment

Raise beds slightly if soil is heavy, strawberries like good drainage

Fertilize lightly after heavy harvests

Winter mulch helps perennial survival