If you’ve never experienced the joy of growing your own strawberries, you’re in for a treat. The taste of homegrown strawberries far surpasses store-bought ones, as they’re often picked before fully ripening. Ripe strawberries have a higher sugar content and a richer aroma, leading to an explosion of flavor. This guide covers everything you need to know about growing strawberries from planting to harvest.
Types of Strawberries
Strawberries fall into three main categories:
- June-bearing or Summer-fruiting strawberries: These varieties produce a large crop all at once, typically in early summer, over a few weeks.
- Everbearing or Perpetual strawberries: These produce two harvests, one in early summer and another towards late summer.
- Day-neutral strawberries: These provide a steady crop throughout the growing season, making them a great choice if you want strawberries over a longer period.
By planting a mix of these varieties, you can enjoy fresh strawberries for a prolonged season.
Best Location for Growing Strawberries
For the best-tasting strawberries, choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained, fertile soil. Strawberries thrive in slightly acidic soil, which can be easily improved by adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. A general-purpose organic fertilizer will give your plants an extra boost. Avoid planting them in frost-prone areas or where tomatoes, potatoes, or chrysanthemums have recently grown, as these plants may carry diseases like verticillium wilt that can affect strawberries.
Strawberries are also highly adaptable and can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or towers, making them perfect for small spaces.
How to Plant Strawberries
You can plant strawberries as potted plants, bare-root plants, or plug packs. Bare-root plants are typically available in early spring, while potted varieties are sold throughout the growing season.
To plant strawberries:
- Spacing: Space plants about 20 inches (50 cm) apart in neat rows.
- Crown Position: Make sure the crown (where the leaves emerge) is level with the soil surface.
- Bare-root Care: For bare-root plants, soak the roots in water for an hour before planting. Trim any long or damaged roots. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots, then position the crown at soil level, fill the hole, and firm the soil around the plant.
If growing in containers, space the plants closer together but be prepared to divide and replant them after a season to keep them healthy. Use well-draining potting soil for container planting.
Growing and Caring for Strawberries
Water strawberries regularly, particularly during dry spells, but avoid getting the leaves wet to prevent diseases. Container-grown strawberries will need more frequent watering as the soil dries out quicker in pots.
Feed strawberries with organic fertilizer each spring to replenish nutrients. For container-grown strawberries, feed them once a week with a liquid fertilizer high in potassium, such as tomato feed or homemade comfrey tea.
Mulch strawberries with straw or similar material to keep fruits clean, reduce weed growth, and retain soil moisture. In the first year, remove any runners (long shoots) to focus the plant’s energy on fruit production. In subsequent years, you can use these runners to propagate new plants.
Protecting Your Strawberry Crop
Birds and slugs love strawberries as much as we do. To protect your crop:
- Bird Protection: Use bird netting to keep birds away while still allowing pollinating insects access.
- Frost Protection: If early flowers are threatened by frost, cover plants with row covers overnight and remove them during the day.
- Slug Control: Set up beer traps to lure slugs away or grow strawberries in containers to keep them out of reach.
Harvesting Strawberries
Pick strawberries when they are fully ripe, as this is when their flavor is most intense. For the best taste, harvest them on a sunny afternoon. While you can refrigerate strawberries, this can diminish their flavor, so it’s best to leave them at room temperature if you plan to eat them soon.
After the fruiting season, tidy up your plants by removing any straw, weeds, and old foliage. Trim back old leaves, leaving only the fresh, new growth at the center. Strawberry plants typically last for about three seasons before they need to be replaced, so plant in fresh soil if necessary.
Growing strawberries can be incredibly rewarding. Not only do you get to enjoy fresh, flavorful fruit, but it’s a fun and productive gardening project. Happy planting!