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[eqfe]

In the past I've always grown everbearing strawberries, because the family likes to have them fresh for desert throughout the growing season. But I'm thinking that I would like to make a nice big batch of strawberry jam. Common sense dictates that having a large harvest at one of perhaps twice in June would make the most sense. So the question,

Comments

[elusivecallie]

I tend to use whatever's available at the local farmer's market, but i do know that some varieties have smaller fruits, and more seeds, some have larger fruits, fewer seeds. Also, the sweetness content (which i don't think is really a word), might matter, depending on whether you're using the full sugar version (some recipes have as many as 6 cups!), or a low sugar or splenda recipe.

So, you're not just going to have to look at varieties of strawberries, you're also going to have to think about what kind of jam you want. More seeds, less seeds, sweetness, etc.

But, there's a variety out there for every taste. I just don't know enough to tell you which one is which. It all depends on what you're looking for.

[ladyapple27]

I grow Earliglow. The berries aren't huge and tend to get smaller as the season progresses, but the flavor is great. This is a very early berry that does well in the East. It's supposed to have cold hardiness, but that doesn't get tested here.
I used to grow a big berry called Cardinal-huge and red all the way through. All of my suppliers stopped stocking it.
Most of the time, local extension offices sell strawberry plants in the spring. They offer varieties that grow well in their regions at rock bottom prices.
If you can make the right contacts at universities with plant breeding programs, they'll let you help test their new plants. You have to promise not to propagate or sell the plants.