Strawberries: From Garden to Mom’s Pie Recipe

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June on the homestead means one thing: strawberries. Those first juicy red gems of summer signal that the garden is waking up in earnest. Few things compare to the pleasure of stepping outside and filling a bowl with fresh berries still warm from the sun. If you're thinking of growing strawberries—or if you've tried before but want better results—now is a perfect time to dig into the basics of strawberry types, care, and how to enjoy the harvest.

June-Bearing vs. Ever-Bearing: What’s the Difference?

When choosing strawberry plants, understanding the difference between June-bearing and ever-bearing varieties is essential.

June-bearing strawberries produce a single large crop each year, typically in late spring to early summer (usually June, hence the name). These plants give you a concentrated harvest—great for making jam, freezing, or baking a pie or two. Popular varieties include Honeoye, Allstar, and Chandler.

Ever-bearing strawberries, on the other hand, offer smaller harvests but over a longer period—often producing in early summer, again in late summer, and sometimes even into early fall. They won’t overwhelm you with fruit all at once, but they keep your berry bowl full for weeks. Good choices include Ozark Beauty, Quinault, and Seascape.

If you're short on space or prefer fresh eating over preserving, ever-bearers might be your best bet. But if you dream of a freezer full of berries or plan to make jam in big batches, June-bearers are the way to go.

Tips for Growing Healthy Strawberry Plants

Whether you go with June-bearing or ever-bearing, strawberries love similar conditions:

Sunlight: They need at least 6–8 hours of full sun per day.

Soil: Strawberries prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH around 6.0). Mix in compost or aged manure before planting for rich, fertile ground.

Spacing: Give each plant 12–18 inches of room to spread. June-bearers send out lots of runners, so plan accordingly.

Mulch: Straw mulch (not hay) helps suppress weeds, keeps berries clean, and maintains soil moisture. It also protects roots during winter.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during fruiting. Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

After the season ends, prune back the plants, remove old mulch, and fertilize lightly to prepare for next year’s crop. For June-bearing varieties, many gardeners renovate their beds after the harvest by thinning out old plants and encouraging new runners.

A Harvest to Savor: Mom’s Strawberry Pie Recipe

Once your baskets are overflowing, it’s time for the sweetest part—enjoying the fruits of your labor. And nothing says summer quite like my mom’s strawberry pie. It's simple, classic, and lets the fresh berry flavor shine.

Mom’s Fresh Strawberry Pie

Print Recipe

Bottom Crust (can be made ahead):

• 1 C. Flour
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 stick butter

• Blend flour and sugar. Use a pastry blender to cut or blend butter into a crumbly mixture. Do not overmix.
• Pour and press into an 8 or 9-inch pie plate or double the crust for a 9x13 baking dish.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool slightly before use.
  

• 1 ½ C sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cups of water
• 1 3oz. packet of strawberry Jello
• 2 pints of strawberries, use enough to fill the pie dish, and cut into even-sized pieces.

• Place sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan, and simmer until it is almost clear.
• Add jello and stir in completely. Let it cool until it begins to thicken (you can use an ice bath to speed this up, if desired). Place washed strawberries on crust and pour jello mix to cover strawberries. You may end up with extra, unused jello mix.
• Chill for at least 4 hours until set. Serve with whipped cream and enjoy every bite!

Final Thoughts

Growing strawberries may require a little patience, especially that first year when you might pinch off flowers to help the plants get established. But once they take root, they’ll reward you season after season. Whether you're loading up your pantry with preserves or sharing a fresh pie with friends, strawberries offer one of the most satisfying—and delicious—reasons to dig into gardening.

And if you’re like me, every juicy bite brings back memories of barefoot summer days and the taste of my mom’s kitchen.