A few of the newest 'day-neutral' types of strawberries such as Tristar and Tribute can be grown in the higher elevations of western South Carolina for a spring and fall crop of berries. Some home gardeners are following the example of commercial growers who treat strawberries as annuals. Plants are installed in summer or early fall, usually with plastic mulch. They are not allowed to make offsets. After harvest the plants are removed and a new planting made.
Benefits are healthier plants, fewer weeds and bigger fruit.
Pink Panda', a hybrid between a strawberry and a potentilla, has typical strawberry foliage and an occasional tasty berry, but is grown primarily for the inch-wide pink flowers it bears from spring through fall. Root weevils, aphids, mites, and slugs and snails are among potential pests. To help reduce problems, plant only certified disease-free plants. Also remove diseased foliage and ripe or rotten fruit. Replace plants with new ones as they begin to decline, usually after three years.