It’s strawberry picking time! Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk out to your garden and pick strawberries at your convenience rather than scheduling a trip to the pick-your-own place or paying exorbitant prices for the ready-picked? Strawberries are not exactly carefree plants, but with just a little effort you can grow luscious berries just like the commercial growers.
There are basically two types of strawberries. June bearers, the most popular, produce a large crop in mid to late June. Everbearing varieties produce a crop in June, a few berries throughout the summer and a small crop in late August. Management of the two varieties is quite different and I will focus on June-bearers here.
Strawberries should be planted in spring in a spot with good drainage that gets at least six hours of sun per day. At planting time, the plants look like a bunch of dead roots with maybe a small leaf or two sticking from the top. Use a scissors to trim roots to 4 – 6 inches and cut off any old leaves and stems.
Depth of planting is extremely important. The plants should be set so that the soil is even with the crown, the part from which the leaves and stems grow. Space the plants about 18 inches apart with three to four feet between rows. Dig the holes deep enough so that the roots will not be bent. Make a small cone of soil in the middle of each hole. Place one plant on each cone and spread the roots down the sides. Fill the holes with soil and pat it down firmly. Water well. If any crowns are sticking up above the soil, fill in around the plant with more soil. Mulch around the plants immediately after planting to reduce weeds and hold moisture. Be sure the mulch you choose is free of weed seeds.
Strawberries spread by producing runners, a stem that grows along the ground with leaves at the end. The ends of the runners root and make daughter plants. As hard as it is to do, remove all flowers the first year so that the plants can put their energy toward producing runners and new plants. Allow each plant to produce no more than six runners and spread them evenly around the plant. Cut off any additional runners that grow.
Strawberries need an inch of water a week all the way through early fall at which time the blossom buds for next season’s crop will develop.
Strawberries require winter protection. After the ground has frozen, cover the plants with a loose mulch like fresh straw or pine boughs. Remove the mulch in spring when temperatures will stay above 20 degrees F.
Next June, enjoy your own strawberries!
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