Fragaria, Fragaria x ananassa, Garden Strawberries
Strawberry picking evokes childhood memories of seeking bright red strawberries hidden in mounds of fresh, green leaves, ready to be plucked and enjoyed. Who can resist a strawberry?
Members of the Fragaria genus, Strawberries are stoloniferous perennials with leaves composed of three leaflets and rounded white or pink flowers followed by edible red fruits. There are three types.
Numerous strawberry varieties are available, and finding the right one for your garden may be daunting. As a start, you may want to review the list of the most popular strawberries sold nationwide and cross-reference against your region – there is a good chance that some varieties will excel where you live.
| Hardiness |
4 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Fruits, Perennials |
| Genus | Fragaria |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Characteristics | Semi-Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
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!
| Hardiness |
4 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Fruits, Perennials |
| Genus | Fragaria |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Characteristics | Semi-Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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