Growing Strawberries
The succulent red fruits known as strawberries are easy to grow in most gardens. Since birds love these berries, plant extra seedlings to cover any losses. These gentle and delicate berries like cool locations and can be used in a variety of recipes.
When to Grow:
Strawberries can be planted in the spring as soon as the ground becomes workable (March/April). The sooner the better, as it allows the plants to strengthen and mature before the heat hits. The soil should be moist, not wet.
Kinds of Strawberries:
Strawberries can be sorted into three general categories:
June-Bearing: These varieties will yield a large single crop in the spring during a 2 to 3 week window. These strawberries typically produce the largest fruits. June-Bearing strawberries grow a single bush of flowers and lot of runners.
Everbearing: Everbearing strawberries can be harvested 2-3 times each spring season. They do not produce a lot of runners.
Day Neutral: These ones will provide you will fruit all season long, producing few runners. As with the Everbearing, the fruits are smaller than the June Bearing.
Special Requirements:
Since June-Bearing strawberries create many runners, they grow well when grown in matted rows. To do this, create rows 24 inches wide, placing a seedling every 18 inches. Rows should be around 4 feet apart. The seedlings will begin to grow immediately, sprouting visible buds and leaves. For best results, remove any flowers from the plant for the whole of the first year. No fruit will be produced for the first year, but the yield will be much greater in the next. Removing the flowers encourages the growth of additional runners. (By the way, runners are long appendages that the main plant sends out to create “children” plants.) When the runners appear, space them 8 inches apart and cover the base with a bit of dirt until roots take hold.
Everbearing / Day Neutral strawberries grow well in a hill system. Instead of building runners, these varieties expend energy on growing multiple harvests of fruit. To create a hill, pile dirt 8 inches in height by 2 feet wide. Stagger the plants in double rows one foot apart. Until the 1st of July, pull off any flowers and runners that you see. Fruits can be left to grow in the first season after this date. This way, the plant produces only one set of fruit, which eases the stress on the plant. After a couple years’ time, these strawberry varieties must be replaced, as they lose strength over time.
Preparing the Soil:
Use only nutrient rich organic soil when growing strawberries. One pound of fertilizer (10-10-10) should be mixed with every 100 square feet of soil. Apply fertilizer again following the renovation of June Bearers or the second harvest of Day Neutrals / Everbearing.
A location with full sun and well drained soil is ideal. Use a soil tester to find a spot with a pH level between 5.8 and 6.2. Any location which has experienced Verticillium Rot should be avoided. After planting, gardeners should mulch the soil between the plants, keeping the ground cool and preventing weeds from growing. Straw makes for excellent strawberry mulch. To protect the plants through the winter, cover them with several inches of mulch. The strawberries will be waiting for you when the mulch is removed next spring. Avoid fertilizing late in the season, as any vigorous growth will simply die away in the frost and be wasted.
Planting:
When the soil becomes malleable, planting can begin. Buy only certified disease-resistant plants from your local home store. Strawberry plants with big crowns and lightly hued roots are best. Mix in a couple inches of manure or compost with the existing soil. Dig a hole that is big enough to allow the roots to spread out. If planting strawberries on a hill, spread the roots down it. The soil line should be level with the center of the crown.
Watering:
Apply 1-2 inches of water every week.
Harvesting:
Harvest the fruits by hand a couple days after they have turned deep red. Taste one before harvesting to ensure that they are ripe enough.
Seed Choices:
Everbearing:
Quinault, Fort Laramie
June Bearing:
Allstar, Annapolis, Brunswick, Cabot, Chandler, Cornwallis, Cavendish, Darselect, Delmarvel, Earliglow, Honeoye, Jewel, Kent, L’Amour, Lateglow, Mesabi, Mic Mac, Mohawk, Northeaster, Sable, Seneca, Sparkle, Sweet Charlie, Veestar, Winona
Day Neutral:
Tribute, Selva, Seascape
