Growing strawberries can be a fun and easy process, but it takes some time to get the hang of.
With so many varieties available in stores or at your local farmer’s market, there is sure to be one perfect for you!
1. Plant Early
Plant strawberries as soon as the ground can be worked, and you’ll get best results.
The earlier in spring they go into production, the more time there is for harvesting before summer begins!
2. Give Them Space
Give your strawberry plants plenty of space to grow! They will thank you for it.
Space them at least 12 inches (30 centimeters) apart in depth and 16 inches (40 cm) between rows.
3. Provide them with Lots of Sun
Strawberries love being grown in the sun! The exception is when you are planting their roots into the soil.
Planting early in morning or late at night will allow them enough time for optimal growth with sunlight as well.
4. Consider a Raised Bed
Raised beds are a great choice for gardeners with poor soil, or who want to maximize their space. One of the most successful places you can grow strawberries is in raised planters!
You’ll have tons control over how they’re grown and will be able reduce weed growth by layering straw into your bedding mix.
Preparing your garden bed for planting is a crucial step that will ensure the best results. You want to spread some compost on the surface and work it into topsoil before you plant anything, but don’t put down too much or else weeds could take hold.
For optimum results, spread 2-3 inch layer of compost.
5. Watch Your Drainage
You might not think that you can keep your strawberries from drowning, but it is actually very easy! Strawberries like a lot of water and soil.
Plant them in mounds or beds with good drainage so their roots won’t get wet while they’re growing.
6. Make Sure You Fertilize
The best time to fertilize your strawberry plants is when you first see flowers appear. Use a high potash fertilizer for healthy, productive growth!
7. Remove the Runners Regularly
For the best tasting strawberries, pick early flowers on your plant. This will help promote regular growth and also remove runners which spread by means of underground stolons or runner beans!
Have you ever considered the fact that runners can be uprooted and planted at any time? This will help your plant save energy, too.
8. Plant Different Varieties
Strawberries are a delight for many different tastes and textures, but if you’re looking to preserve them in the longest lasting form possible then go with June bearing plants. They produce more fruit at once than any other type of berryplant!
Plant strawberries in pots to get an extended harvest. Day-neutral plants produce one small crop during the entire season while everbearing berries can have up to three smaller harvests per year.
9. Plant Enough to Go Around
You’ll need about five strawberry plants per person in your household. Usually, you’ll get anywhere between a cup and pint of strawberries each season!
June bearers usually produce all their fruit at once while other types will continue throughout the entire growing period with some berries coming more frequently than others depending on variety preference or location.
10. Prevent Verticillium Wilt with the Right Varieties
There are several ways to prevent the likelihood of various fungal diseases, including red stele, or verticillium. You can easily do this by planting varieties that are resistant and you won’t have as much risk for getting it in your garden!
If you want to be on the safe side, make sure that your soil is thoroughly moist. This will help prevent a fungal infection from spreading and dooming all of those precious plants!
11. Consider Past Planting Habits
Crop rotation is a great way to protect your strawberries from pests and diseases! You can help prevent problems with verticillium wilt by following some easy steps in addition to planting resistant varieties.
You don’t want to plant your crops in the same spot where it was grown last year.
That way, you won’t have any worries about fungal spores from that area making their way onto yours!
12. Amend Your Soil
Strawberries are best grown as perennials, which means you’ll want to dedicate a lot of time and resources into producing the perfect environment for successful long-term growth.
You should add ingredients like peat moss or compost before planting your strawberries so they can thrive.
13. Consider a Matted Row System
You can have super strawberries by growing them in a matted row system. This works well for June bearing varieties and grown lots of runners, too!
To use this type of garden organization you’ll need to space your plants about 24 inches apart down the center with 4-ft spaces between each plant on either side – that is enough room so they don’t crowd one another or hinder their growth.
Let the runners spread and root at will -they’ll create matted rows about 24 inches wide. You will get a large number of strawberries that will be unbelievably healthy too!
14. Bust Up Your Soil a Year in Advance
It is important to get a jumpstart on your gardening chores the year before you plant strawberries. For example, if there are lots of competing grasses in the area, it is a must to till the area where you want strawberries planted.
This will ensure there are not competing grasses around and will successfully prep your soil for planting strawberries.
You can also plant a cover crop the year before to improve soil quality. Good options include sudangrass, rye or oats.
15. Improve Your pH
There are many benefits to growing strawberries. For one, you can grow them almost anywhere as long as the soil pH is between 5 and 6 (although a range from 4-7 will also do).
If your garden’s dirt doesn’t seem acidic enough for optimal growth then add agricultural lime or animal manure before planting those juicy little berries!
16. Don’t Stress too Much About Timing
Plant your strawberries the earliest you can get them in, preferably March or April.
If not then just plant as soon as possible and give them plenty of water every day – what’s more important is that they’re planted on a cloudy day!
17. Don’t Plant Too Shallow
Strawberry plants are typically bought as crowns. These tiny bundles of roots still have the primary growing tips attached. You can buy strawberry plants, however these are more expensive.
If you’re buying a crown, make sure to plant it just above the soil line. To do this dig up an area that is approximately three inches deep and wide enough for roots spreading out in circle before back filling with fresh soil- then water well!
18. Make Sure You Mulch
Mulching strawberries helps the soil around them stay cool and cut down on weeds. Mulch also prevents diseases that can be transmitted from touching ground-level, like root rot or blossom end rot (which is when an infected part of plant turns black).
Mulching strawberry plants keeps their roots protected against moisture loss too!
Straw mulch is one way to go, but you can also use shredded leaves or other kinds of materials for your landscaping needs.
19. Protect Your Harvest From Hungry Birds
Birds love strawberries just as much as you do! To protect your berries from the birds, consider planting them near some protective netting or row covers.
You will want to be careful about using these while they are flowering – this can prevent pollination- but once fruits form in late summer it’s time for protection from these smart little birds.
20. Preserve Your Extra Strawberries
If you’re growing June-bearing varieties of strawberries, don’t miss out on the most delicious way to preserve them! Strawberries can be jammed or jellied.
They also make for perfect fruit snacks when dried. No matter which method of preservation you choose, strawberries are sure to make your life better!
21. Grow Strawberries Multiple Years in a Row
If you want to have a reliable supply of tasty strawberries every year, then it’s best if they are grown as perennials.
They can be overwintered with ease by providing plenty of mulch and avoiding fertilization right before frost for healthy plants in the future!
22. Try Planting in Hills
To get the most out of your strawberry plants, consider planting in a hill or mound system. To do this you’ll create an 8 inch high and 2 ft wide barrier with two rows of plants per hill spaced four feet apart.
By using this method, you won’t be able to produce as many strawberries, but they will look great and have much better flavor.
23. Watch Out for Slugs and Snails
You may be the only one who loves snacking on juicy strawberries, but there’s a good chance that slugs and snails love them too!
Keep your eye out for infestation signs such as drooping leaves or wan growth. You can keep these pests away by applying straw mulch.
24. Have Patience
The best way to maximize your harvest is by exercising patience.
If you wait a few weeks after planting flower seeds in order for them grow roots and establish themselves as a robust plant before removing all flowers from their life cycle, then they will have more energy put into building up strong roots with a lot of runners.
You won’t get any fruit the first year, but you’ll be well on your way to a bountiful crop in later years.
25. Water Wisely
Strawberries love a consistently moist environment. Make sure you water on the regular!
You will need to supply your plants with at least an inch of moisture through direct rainfall or supplemental irrigation, so it’s important that they get enough rainwater each and every day in order for their roots not only to thrive but flourish too.
The plant needs up to two inches of water while the fruit is forming, during a bloom period that lasts until harvest. You will need to continue watering it when conditions are particularly dry in August and September for optimal results.
26. If you Lack Space, Plant Vertically in a Plastic Drum
I thought vertical planting was only for flowers, but it’s so much more than that!
With just a few holes and some patience you can grow your own strawberries in this space saving method.
27. Keep Strawberries Fresh for Longer
To keep your strawberries fresh, try this easy trick. Just mix one part white vinegar with 5 parts water and soak for a few minutes before draining on paper towels to let them drain completely.
You can keep them fresh this way for up to 2 weeks.
Tags: #fruits#plants
