Sweet Success: Your Guide to Growing Strawberries

Kevette Minor Kane
6 hours ago
2 min read

Strawberries are one of the most rewarding and widely grown fruits in the home garden. They thrive in a variety of settings—from raised beds to containers—and with the right timing and care, you can ensure a plentiful harvest of sweet, juicy berries.

When to Plant: Know Your Berry Type

The best time to plant strawberries depends on the variety you choose:

June-bearing Varieties: These are the most common type and produce a single, heavy crop of large berries over a few weeks in late spring to early summer.
- When to Plant: Plant these dormant, bare-root plants in early spring, as soon as the soil is workable and the threat of severe weather has passed.
Day-neutral (or Ever-bearing) Varieties: These produce smaller crops throughout the growing season, typically with peaks in June and again in late summer/fall.
- When to Plant: Day-neutral varieties can also be planted in early spring (bare-root) or in the fall (plugs).

How to Grow: The Essentials for a Bountiful Bed

1. Pick the Perfect Location

Strawberries are low-growing perennials that require full sun, meaning at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

Soil: They prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, ideally with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
Avoid: Do not plant strawberries in an area where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant have been grown recently, as these can harbor diseases like verticillium wilt, which is damaging to strawberries. Raised beds are an excellent option to ensure good drainage and soil quality.

2. Planting Depth is Key

When planting, ensure the crown—the short stem between the roots and leaves—is positioned correctly. This step is critical for plant survival:

The roots should be fully covered.
The crown must sit right at the soil surface. If the crown is buried, it can rot, but if the roots are exposed, they will dry out.

For June-bearing plants, space them 12 to 24 inches apart in rows, allowing room for them to send out runners. Day-neutral varieties can be planted closer, typically 5 to 9 inches apart.

3. Water, Mulch, and Care

Watering: Strawberries have shallow roots and require consistent moisture, needing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, especially when runners and fruit are developing.
Mulching: Use the strawberry's namesake: straw! A layer of clean straw or wood chips helps suppress weeds, keeps the soil cool and moist, and prevents the ripening berries from touching the soil.
Weed Control: Be diligent about weeding, especially when the plants are young, as they are poor competitors against weeds.

4. The First Year: Patience for a Better Harvest

This is the most important step for future success. You must remove the flowers as they appear on newly set plants for the first growing season. This forces the plant to spend its energy on developing a strong root system and healthy runners instead of producing fruit, leading to a much higher yield the following year.