How to Grow Strawberries
Do you enjoy fresh strawberry shortcake, homemade strawberry milkshakes, or other desserts? Strawberries are an easy crop to grow, and the plants require little tending or room for growth. Growing superior strawberries, however, can be more challenging; these tips will help any strawberry patch to be the cream
of the crop!
Tools:
Gardening hoe
Shovel
Scissors
Materials:
Strawberry plants
Mulch
Nitrogen for soil
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Compost
Fabric landscaping material
Soil test kit
Choosing the Ideal Plant
A variety of strawberry plants exist. Be aware of the type you purchase and the distinct requirements of each.
Day Neutral strawberries bear fruit throughout the growing season, but require plenty of water each day.
June bearing plants grow only a single crop of ripe fruit during the month of June. In comparison, Everbearing plants bear fruit throughout the growing season, from April till October. Plants typically bear fruit about three months after planting.
Approximately 30 plants are required to grow enough strawberries for four persons, so keep this in mind when purchasing plants and choosing a location.
Plants grown at a local nursery are most likely to be most compatible with the local soil and climate.
Locating the Perfect Spot
Strawberries grow best when they are isolated from other crops. Select an area of ground or garden that does not contain other fruits or vegetables.
Avoid placing these plants near a large tree or shrub. The tree will compete with the strawberry plants and deprive them of water and moisture necessary for life and growth.
Avoid locating strawberry plants next to other plants such as tomatoes and eggplants. Tomato and eggplant roots often contain a fungus that spreads easily to strawberry plants and blights their growth.
Select a patch of ground that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. Strawberries require adequate amounts of sunlight for healthy growth.
Choose ground that drains adequately; strawberry plants cannot grow and will die in standing water.
The soil should have a pH between 5.3 - 7.0 (slightly acidic) for best growth results. Purchase a home test kit, or ask the county extension agent to professionally test the soil.
Do not plant the patch in a plot that grew grass, weeds, or vegetables vulnerable to fungus during the last year. Some experts recommend waiting three years before planting strawberries if tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplants were grown there before.
Plant growth is strongly affected by climate. Warm sunny days with cool evenings typically produce the best flavor. In contrast, fruits grown in cooler climes are firmer.
Planting the Perfect Strawberry Patch
Fertilize the soil with an organic fertilizer after amending with compost.
Use a fabric blocking material to prevent weeds, slugs, snails, and other bugs from damaging the plants or berries. Cut an x in the material at each point where a plant is to be situated, approximately eight to 14 inches apart.
Each row should be spaced approximately four feet apart.
Use a shovel to dig a hole just deep enough to set the roots in and cover the plant to the stem at the point where it is halfway between the leaves and the stem.
Strawberries can also be grown in planter boxes six to eight inches deep, following the same guidelines described previously.
Ensure that the strawberry plants are well-watered, especially during dry times. This will help the fruits to become mature and juicy.
Consult your location’s growing zone to determine the best time for planting. Plants in southern climates can usually be planted in March, while plants in the Great Lakes region may need to be planted in April or May.
Additional Tips and Hints:
If plants are not growing well, consider adding nitrogen to the soil. Use approximately 1.5 pounds for every 100 feet of strawberry patch. Use half as much to fertilize and optimize soil nutrients during August and January as well.
Mulch the soil during the earlier part of the winter to protect the plants from freezing. Apply a light layer of mulch in the spring before berries begin to grow.
Weeds are best removed through hoeing or weeding by hand. Use herbicides only with caution and consult the local extension office before applying.
Strawberry plants are typically viewed as annuals, which means they need to be replanted every year. However, some strawberry plants bear fruit for more than one year.
If you choose not to replant each year, consider planting new plants with fresh soil fertilizer and compost before the start of the next growing season. In this case, thin the plants and keep only the healthiest before additional planting.
Choose different ground every three or four years and rotate the location of the strawberry patch.