You’ll never experience that sweet, fresh strawberry taste like the one you grow or pick directly from a farm. Why? Because the sugar in berries turns to starch shortly after they’re picked.
Garden strawberries are usually far sweeter and juicier than the grocery store. If you have the space, consider creating your own strawberry patch or add a few plants to the front of a border. Strawberries also thrive in containers and even hanging baskets.
When to Plant Strawberries
Plant strawberries in spring or autumn, depending on whether you’re using pot-grown plants or bare-rooted young strawberries, known as “runners.” Bare-root runners are available in many varieties, sold in bundles (no plastic pots) and are generally more affordable than pot-grown strawberries. However, there’s a limited window for buying and planting them. The best time to plant strawberry runners is late summer to early autumn while the soil is still warm. Kindly note that timing is crucial when learning how to grow strawberries effectively.
Strawberries dislike planting in cold, wet soil, so avoid planting in winter or early spring. Cold-stored strawberry runners, available from some nurseries between April and June, can be planted immediately. With prompt planting and regular watering during dry spells, these runners can yield a crop in their first summer.
The best time to plant pot-grown strawberries is late summer to early autumn or spring, ideally by May.
How to Plant Strawberries
You can buy strawberries in pots, but you can sometimes find bare-root strawberries or runners, which offer excellent value for money. When learning how to grow strawberries, They may look quite shocking at first, with no leaves and appearing rather scraggly, but don’t let that discourage you. Once they hit the soil, they’ll quickly start growing!
Choose the Site
Strawberry plants require 6 to 10 hours of direct sunlight a day, so when learning how to grow strawberries, choose a sunny spot. Otherwise, strawberries are tolerant of various soil types, though they thrive in loamy soil that drains well.
Prepare the Soil
To ensure a strong start, add a few buckets of well-rotted manure before planting, or you can also use garden compost. If you have clay soil, mix in 4 inches or more of compost and rake the clay soil into raised mounds to improve drainage further. Cultivate lightly to remove weeds and mix in a 1-inch layer of rich compost or rotted manure for sandy soil.
Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 7. If necessary, amend your soil before planting. If the soils in your area are naturally alkaline, it’s best to grow strawberries in half-barrels or large containers filled with compost-enriched potting soil. Raised beds are also a perfect option for strawberry plants.
Planting
- Provide adequate space for your strawberry plants to sprawl. Allow about 18 inches (1-1/2 feet) between plants to leave room for runners, and space rows 4 feet apart. Strawberries are sprawling plants; seedlings will send out runners, producing their own runners. If you’re growing strawberries in containers, they can be planted closer together.
- Plant holes should be deep and wide enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending it. However, avoid planting too deep! The roots should be covered, but the crown should be at the soil surface. It’s essential not to bury the crown, as doing so could cause the plant to rot. The leaves, flowers, and fruit must be exposed to light and fresh air.
- To help settle their roots, water the plants well when planting.
- Use a mulch of straw, which works wonderfully to settle the roots.
- It’s also possible to grow strawberries from last year’s runners.
How to Grow Strawberries
- When learning how to grow strawberries, the key tip is to keep them well-watered, especially as they establish their roots during dry periods. Aim for about one inch of water per square foot per week. Water consistently when the runners and flowers are developing. Water again in late summer when the plants are maturing and preparing for winter dormancy.
- Mulch strawberry beds to reduce water needs and prevent weed invasion. Any type of mulch—such as black plastic, pine straw, or shredded leaves—helps keep the soil moist and the plants clean. Mulching also makes a significant difference in maintaining soil temperature and moisture.
- Weed diligently by hand, especially during the first months after planting, as weeds can compete for nutrients and water.
- Once strawberries flower, fertilize them with a high-potassium, liquid tomato feed to support healthy fruit production. Plants also benefit from a general-purpose organic fertilizer in early spring, which helps boost growth for the new season.
- In the first year, remove blossoms to prevent fruiting. It helps the plants to focus their energy on developing healthy roots.
- Eliminate runners as needed. First- and second-generation runners usually produce higher yields, so they maintain daughter plants about 10 inches apart for optimal growth. Row covers are a great solution to protect blossoms and fruit from birds.
Harvest and Storage
It’s best to pick strawberries when the fruits are cool in the morning. After picking them, immediately place them in the refrigerator to preserve freshness. Only rinse the berries thoroughly with cool water just before eating or cooking them to avoid excess moisture.
If you have extra strawberries, preserve them by freezing, drying, or turning them into jam or preserves to enjoy throughout the year.
