Most Popular Strawberry Varieties

How to Grow Strawberries

Growing strawberries is a fun and rewarding project that can be done in gardens, containers, or even hanging baskets. Here are some steps on how to grow then:

Choose Your Variety: Strawberries come in three types: June-bearing, which produce one large harvest in late spring or early summer; everbearing, which produce two crops, one in early summer and another in early fall; and day-neutral, which produce a steady supply of berries throughout the growing season.

Planting: Purchase young plants from a nursery or online. Strawberries prefer well-drained, loamy to sandy soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7. Plant them in a location that gets at least six hours of sun per day. Space plants about 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart with the crown at soil level. If you’re planting in rows, space the rows about 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) apart.

Watering: Water regularly. They prefer evenly moist soil, especially during the growing season. However, they don’t like waterlogged soil, so make sure the soil drains well.

Feeding: Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time and then annually at the start of the growing season.

Mulching: Mulch around the plants with straw or pine needles to conserve moisture, control weeds, and protect the fruit from rot.

Pruning: Remove flowers from June-bearing plants in the first year to allow the plants to establish themselves. For everbearing and day-neutral varieties, remove flowers until the end of June in the first year and then allow the flowers to develop into fruit.

Harvesting: Harvest strawberries when they are fully red. Grasp the stem just above the fruit and gently twist. It’s best to pick them in the cool of the morning and refrigerate them immediately.

Overwintering: In colder climates, protect your plants over winter by covering them with a layer of straw or other protective mulch after the first hard freeze.

Pest and Disease Control: Be aware of common strawberry pests like slugs, birds, and some insects. Also, keep an eye out for fungal diseases. Crop rotation, adequate spacing, and well-drained soil can help manage these issues.

Remember, growing strawberries requires some patience. In many cases, you should remove the first season’s flowers to encourage strong plant growth and bigger harvests in subsequent years. However, once your plants are established, you can look forward to delicious, homegrown strawberries for years to come!