Sonata (MA)

Quick Facts

• Type: June-bearing, mid-season strawberry
• Flavor: Sweet, classic dessert flavor with good aroma
• Berry: Large, uniform, conic-shaped, glossy bright red
• Plant habit: Vigorous, hardy plants with good leaf disease tolerance
• Best for: Fresh market, u-pick, and farms with limited frost protection
• Notes: Can soften in hot weather; responds well to magnesium and nitrogen management

Sonata is a Dutch-bred variety from the Fresh Forward program, combining the strengths of Elsanta and Polka into a productive, reliable mid-season strawberry. Plants show strong vigor and good winter hardiness, making Sonata a solid option for growers who have little or no frost protection but still want high performance. Large, conic berries are glossy bright red and very attractive in clamshells and market displays, with a sweet, well-balanced flavor that works for both fresh eating and short-term storage.

The variety shows tolerance to key leaf diseases, helping maintain a healthy canopy through the season. Sonata is productive and consistent, but like many softer dessert berries, fruit can become tender during hot weather, so careful harvest timing and gentle handling are important. With appropriate rates of magnesium and nitrogen, Sonata will reward growers with strong yields of beautiful, flavorful berries across Zones 4–7.

For spacing ideas and plant counts per acre, see our Strawberry Spacing & Planting Guide before laying out your field.