Everbearing Strawberry
Tribute is a day-neutral strawberry cultivar developed at the University of Maryland that defies the typical season limits of spring berries. Unlike traditional June-bearing strawberries, this vigorous variety ripens in spring and continues producing fruit well into fall, giving gardeners months of harvests from a single planting. The medium to medium-large berries are plump and deeply flavorful, emerging from self-pollinating white flowers that bloom from June through the first frost. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, Tribute thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and acidic soil, making it accessible to gardeners across much of North America.
Full Sun
High
5-8
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
High
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Tribute's greatest strength is its relentless productivity. Day-neutral genetics mean this variety doesn't shut down production when daylight lengthens in summer, the way traditional strawberries do. Commercial growers and home gardeners have embraced it precisely because the plants keep bearing rather than taking a mid-season rest. The berries stay plump and flavorful across the entire growing window, and the vigorous plants tolerate the leaf scorch and blight pressures that defeat less resilient varieties.
Tribute's extended harvest window and consistent berry quality make it a favorite for fresh eating throughout the growing season. Home gardeners use these berries for immediate consumption straight from the garden, while the prolific yields also support preserving projects like jam making and freezing. The reliable production from spring through fall means a single planting can supply a household with strawberries for months rather than the brief window of traditional varieties.
Transplant strawberry plants outdoors after the last spring frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows or raised beds, ensuring the crown of the plant sits at soil level, not buried or exposed. Water thoroughly at transplanting and maintain consistent moisture throughout the growing season.
Begin harvesting when berries turn fully red and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure. Pick berries in the early morning when they are coolest and firmest, which extends their shelf life. Continue harvesting every two to three days throughout the season from June until the first fall frost, removing all ripe berries to encourage continued flowering on the vigorous plants. Berries that fully ripen on the plant will have the best flavor and sweetness.
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“Tribute emerged from plant breeding work at the University of Maryland, where horticulturists sought to break the constraints of seasonal strawberry production. Rather than relying on the traditional photoperiod-dependent flowering that confines most strawberries to spring and early summer, Tribute was bred as a day-neutral cultivar, meaning it flowers and fruits continuously as long as temperatures and day length permit. This shift from day-length dependence to day-neutral flowering represented a significant advancement in strawberry breeding, transforming strawberries from a single-season crop into a continuous producer across spring, summer, and fall.”