How to Grow Apollo Strawberry
Apollo Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa 'Apollon'
fruitApollon is a mid-season everbearing strawberry variety known for producing multiple flushes of fruit throughout the growing season. It yields medium to large, firm berries with excellent flavor and disease resistance. This cultivar is particularly popular in European markets and home gardens for its reliability and consistent productivity.
When should you plant Apollo Strawberry in your zone?
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Example Apollo Strawberry timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Apollo Strawberry
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Apollo Strawberry
Around Jun 1≈ 45 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Apollo Strawberry dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-8; grows in zones 3-9 with proper care
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Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksPlant develops mature foliage canopy and produces runners with daughter plantlets. Leaves are dark green and serrated.
Control runner production in matted-row systems or remove for hill systems. Fertilize every 3-4 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Monitor for disease.
First Flowering & Fruiting
4-6 weeksWhite flowers appear and develop into small green fruits that gradually enlarge and turn red.
Ensure consistent watering during fruit development. Protect flowers from frost. Remove runners to direct energy to fruit. Mulch under berries to keep clean.
Mid-Season Production
8-10 weeksContinued flowering and fruiting after brief rest period. Berries are medium to large, firm, and deep red.
Harvest ripe berries every 2-3 days. Continue consistent watering and fertilization. Remove diseased foliage promptly.
Fall/Late Production
4-8 weeksFinal flush of flowers and berries as temperatures cool. Foliage may show autumn colors.
Reduce fertilizer high in nitrogen. Continue harvesting. Prepare for overwintering by ensuring good drainage. Cut back dead foliage after hard frost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use miticides if severe. Increase humidity and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer which promotes mites.
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Hand-pick, especially at night. Use copper tape barriers, diatomaceous earth, or beer traps. Remove mulch temporarily if infestation is severe.
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Remove affected leaves. Use pheromone traps for monitoring. Spinosad spray in early season if needed.
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Improve air circulation. Remove infected leaves. Apply sulfur dust or neem oil. Avoid overhead watering.
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Remove diseased berries and foliage immediately. Ensure good drainage and air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply fungicide if needed.
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Remove infested plants. Drench soil with beneficial nematodes or spinosad. Monitor with traps.
Uses
Fresh eating and desserts
CulinaryApollon strawberries are excellent for eating fresh, making jam, and using in desserts due to their firm texture and sweet-tart flavor. They maintain structure well in cooked applications. [source]
Preserving and canning
CulinaryThe firm flesh and good pectin content make Apollon berries ideal for jams, jellies, and preserves with excellent set and flavor retention. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalStrawberries are rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid with demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties supporting immune and cardiovascular health. [source]
Natural cleaning and whitening
HouseholdStrawberry juice contains alpha-hydroxy acids that can gently remove stains and whiten teeth naturally, and can be used in homemade cleaning products. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeStrawberry flowers attract and feed bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The everbearing nature of Apollon provides continuous nectar and pollen sources throughout the season. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick berries when fully red and ripe, typically every 2-3 days during peak season. Harvest in early morning when berries are cool. Hold by the stem and twist gently. Berries continue to ripen even after picking if red-colored, but do not improve in sweetness post-harvest.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Apollon is a technically a strawberry 'hybrid' producing everbearing fruit—it flowers and fruits in three flushes per season rather than just spring, unlike June-bearing types.
- 🌱 Strawberries are actually aggregate fruits made up of hundreds of tiny drupelets, each containing a single seed; what we think of as the seed is actually the entire tiny fruit.
- 🌱 Apollon was developed in European breeding programs and is favored in Scandinavian and continental European gardens for its cold-hardiness and disease resistance compared to some American varieties.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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