Strawberry (Chandler)

📖 About This Plant

Strawberry (Chandler) is the June-bearing variety that defined premium fresh strawberry production in California and has since become a beloved choice for home gardeners who want to harvest a single abundant crop rather than a continuous trickle. Released by the University of California in 1983, Chandler produces very large, visually stunning berries — often 1.5–2 inches across — with glossy red skin, firm white-to-red flesh, and exceptional sweetness-to-acid balance. The flavor is what distinguishes Chandler from the bland, cottony supermarket strawberries that most people are accustomed to: genuinely complex, aromatic, and worth every bit of effort. Chandler is a June-bearer, concentrating its entire energy into a single glorious 3–4 week harvest window in late spring rather than spreading production over a long season.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Plant Chandler strawberries in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked, in raised beds or mounded rows with exceptional drainage and at least 8 hours of daily sun. Space 12–18 inches apart with crowns at soil level — planting too deep buries the growing point and the plant rots; too shallow exposes roots and the plant desiccates. For a June-bearing system, use the matted-row method: allow runners to root freely in a 24-inch-wide band, then renovate the entire bed after harvest by mowing foliage to 3 inches, thinning plants to 4 inches apart, and topdressing with compost. Feed Chandler with a balanced fertilizer at planting and again in early fall after renovation — this fall feeding builds the crown buds that become next year's flowers. Mulch beds with straw after the first hard frost to protect crowns through winter, uncovering gradually in spring as temperatures warm. Protect ripening fruit from slugs and grey mold (botrytis) by keeping straw mulch under berries and ensuring good airflow. Chandler is moderately susceptible to powdery mildew; plant in full sun and space generously to minimize it.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Strawberry:

🌿 Related Fruit

More fruit that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions