Growing Strawberries: A Fun and Easy Guide
by Anosofia Shack
Growing strawberries can be fun and easy with this guide!
Choosing the Right Kind of Strawberry:
The first step to a successful strawberry harvest is picking the right variety. Here are the three main types to consider:
– June-bearing: These produce one large harvest in late spring. Perfect for those who want a big, large amount of crops.
– Everbearing: These give you smaller crops throughout the growing season, offering a steady supply of strawberries.
– Day-neutral: These produce fruit continuously if the temperatures stay between 35-85°F
Finding the Perfect Spot:
Strawberries love the sun! Choose a spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight daily. They also thrive in well-draining soil.
Preparing Your Soil:
Healthy soil means happy strawberries. Mix in some organic compost to improve soil texture and fertility. If planting in containers, opt for a high-quality potting mix specifically designed for strawberries.
Planting Your Strawberries:
When planting strawberries, make sure to:
– Plant them at the right depth which is around 6–9 inches, and with the crown (where the roots meet the stem) not hidden.
– Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow room for stem-like growths to spread.
Watering Frequently:
Keeping your soil moist is important when planting and taking care of strawberry plants. Check your plants daily and water them when the soil feels dry. Strawberries in containers might need more watering than plants that are in the ground.
Fertilizing For Success:
Strawberries need regular fertilization to grow and produce healthy strawberries. When ready to plant, try and use a balanced fertilizer.
Don’t Let Your Weeds Get Out Of Control:
When it comes to weeds, you will need to control them because they want nutrients and water as well. Putting mulch around your plants with organic material can help stop the weeds and keep it moist.
Trim Those Runners:
Strawberry plants produce runners (stem-like extensions), which produce new plants. Remove some of the runners to keep your plants healthy and productive.
Protecting Your Plants:
Strawberry plants can attract pests such as slugs, snails, and birds. Diseases like mildew and botrytis can also cause problems while growing your strawberry plant. Using pest control methods, such as hand-picking or insecticidal soap, can keep the pests away. While doing these methods, you should also remove diseased plants, which will stop the spread of disease.
Enjoying the Harvest:
Around the 3-4 week mark, your strawberry plant is ready to harvest after the flowers bloom. Pick them when they are fully ripe for the best tasting strawberries. By following these steps, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh strawberries all season long!
Happy gardening!