Honeoye Strawberry (Jumbo 6-Pack)
Honeoye Strawberry (Jumbo 6-Pack)
A Heavy Early June Crop of Large, Bright-Red Berries
Honeoye Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa 'Honeoye', sold as a Jumbo 6-Pack) is one of the most dependable June-bearing strawberries for the North — vigorous, very productive, and early, with large, firm, glossy bright-red berries that are great fresh and superb for freezing and jam. Whether you're planting a backyard patch in Edina, filling a raised bed in Maple Grove, or growing for the freezer in Woodbury — Honeoye delivers a big early harvest in zone 4b–5a gardens.
Honeoye Strawberry Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Fragaria × ananassa 'Honeoye' |
| Plant Type | June-bearing strawberry (perennial); sold as a Jumbo 6-Pack |
| Mature Height | 8–12 inches; low, spreading; sends out runners |
| Spacing | 12–18 inches apart |
| Sun | Full sun (6–8 hours) for the heaviest crop |
| Water | Moderate — 1–1.5 inches per week; shallow roots need steady moisture |
| USDA Zones | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) |
| Soil | Rich, well-draining; amend Minnesota clay-loam with compost. Slightly acidic is ideal. |
| Bearing Type | June-bearing — one big concentrated crop in early summer |
| Pollination | Self-fertile — bees boost fruit size and shape |
| Winter Hardiness | Hardy to zone 3 with a straw mulch over winter |
Honeoye Strawberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens
Big early harvest for preserving
June-bearers concentrate their crop, so Honeoye is ideal when you want a large batch at once for jam and freezing in a Plymouth garden.
Matted-row beds
Its free-running habit suits the traditional matted-row system in a dedicated strawberry bed in Eden Prairie.
Dependable in cold zones
Hardy and reliable to zone 3, Honeoye is a safe choice for colder or exposed Twin Cities yards.
Best Time to Plant Honeoye Strawberry in Minnesota
Plant in spring (early-mid May) once hard frost has passed. Pinch first-year flowers on June-bearers so the plants establish and produce a big crop the following June. Never plant after mid-October.
How to Plant Honeoye Strawberry
- Choose a full-sun, well-drained bed; avoid spots where tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes recently grew (shared diseases).
- Work in compost. Space plants 12–18 inches apart, allowing room for runners.
- Set each crown so its base sits right at soil level — not buried, not exposed.
- Water in well and mulch with straw to keep berries clean and roots cool.
- Pinch off all first-year flowers so plants build strong roots for a heavy crop next June.
- Cover with 3–4 inches of straw in late fall; remove it in early spring.
Watering Honeoye Strawberry in Minnesota
First Year Watering Schedule
- Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, keeping soil consistently moist
- Month 1–2: Every 2–3 days
- Month 3–6: 1–1.5 inches per week
- Stop supplemental watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).
After Year One
Water steadily through bloom and fruiting. After the June harvest, renovate the bed (mow old leaves, thin plants) to keep it productive.
Why pinch the first-year flowers?
For June-bearers, removing the first season's blooms diverts energy into roots and runners, producing a much larger crop the following June.
What is bed renovation?
After the June crop, mow off the old foliage, narrow the rows, and thin crowded plants. This keeps a matted-row bed vigorous and productive for several years.
Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Yes, to zone 3 — mulch with straw in late fall and remove it in early spring.
You May Also Like
- Jewel Strawberry — a flavorful mid-late June-bearer to extend the harvest
- Albion Strawberry — a day-neutral for season-long picking
- Fort Laramie Strawberry — an extra-hardy everbearer