If you ’ve ever bitten into a sun - warmed hemangioma simplex flat from the garden , you know that flavor just does n’t compare to stock - buy . Growing strawberries ( Fragaria×ananassa)at rest home is honestly pretty square — full sun , well - drained ground , and a piece of maintenance are really all you need to help your hemangioma simplex plants thrive .
Pick a sunny spot , space your plant 12 to 18 inches asunder , and keep the ground moist ( not soggy ) . That ’s the basic recipe for good for you , productive strawberry bed . Whether you ’re pass for container or planting right in the ground , strawberry are astonishingly adaptable and forgiving with a footling attending .
With a few virtual baksheesh on planting , care , and harvesting , you ’ll get the hang of a rich hemangioma simplex patch reasonably cursorily . And honestly , there ’s something extra fulfil about eat up yield you grew yourself .
Understanding Strawberry Plant Types
Strawberry plants amount in a handful of types , each with its own quirkiness . Picking the right one for your garden will mold how and when you getyour berries , and how much fuss you ’ll need to keep up with .
June-Bearing Strawberries
June - pallbearer are the classical garden strawberry mark . They pump out one big craw a year — normally late spring or early summer — and mail out runners to fill up your mend . If you desire a big harvest for fix or freeze , these are the ones to go for .
favorite like ‘ Honeoye ’ , ‘ Earliglow ’ , and ‘ Cavendish ’ are honest pick . You ’ll get yourmain harvestover 2 to 3 weeks . bulge out them off justly by mulching and sneak off bloom the first year so roots get established for a bumper crop the next time of year .
fundamental trait of June - bearers :
Everbearing and Day-Neutral Varieties
Everbearers like ‘ Ozark Beauty ’ give you two independent harvest : one in recent spring , another in tardy summer or former fall . They do n’t send out as many runners , but you ’ll get fresh berries after June is long gone .
24-hour interval - neutrals ( ‘ Tribute ’ , ‘ Tristar ’ , etc . ) keep flowering and fruiting as long as temperature are reasonable . They ’re perfect if you want a steady dribble of Charles Edward Berry and do n’t have a Brobdingnagian space to devote .
Comparison Table :
Both type do n’t manage much about daytime length , so you may look on a unwavering supplying if that ’s your goal .
Alpine and Speciality Strawberries
Alpine strawberries ( Fragaria vesca ) are a fun , low-toned - fuss option if you need something a bit different . They pop out bantam , super - flavorous berries for hebdomad on end and do n’t really send out runners , so they stay tidy .
They ’re great for edging or container , and frankly , they handle subtlety better than most . strong suit types like clean or yellow strawberries are more for novelty or garnish , not for fill your Deepfreeze . But hey , sometimes you just want something pretty or strange , right ?
The appreciation of these small berries , directly off the works , is a treat you wo n’t soon forget .
Preparing to Grow Strawberries
If you want a sizeable darn , focus on sunlight , respectable soilwith the correct pH , andstrong plantsfrom a author you trust . Nailing these basics gives you a real head commencement .
Selecting the Right Site
Pick a spot that gets at least 8–10 minute of Sunday . Strawberries bed full sun — it ’s the secret to angelic , flavorful fruit and robust flora .
Check that your site drains well . Strawberries hate soggy infantry ; ancestor putrefaction is a real pain . Skip blue spots or anywhere you ’ve recently grown tomatoes or capsicum , since those can spend on soil diseases .
Raised beds put to work admiration for drainage , specially if you ’re dealing with sullen clay . Keep the field open and clear — no big shrubs or fences vomit wraith , please .
Soil Preparation and pH
Test yoursoil ’s pH before planting . hemangioma simplex like it a bit acidic — between 5.5 and 6.8 is the sweet spot .
merge in a few inches of compost or well - aged manure down to about 15–20 cm . This gives your berries a nutrient boost and help roots settle in . If your soil ’s heavy or sticky , sum some guts or grit so pee drain better . Yank out any stubborn perennialweedsand separate up clumps — strawberries value a easy , crumbly seam .
Choosing Strawberry Plants
Buyplants from a reputable nursery or gardencenter . It ’s just not deserving the danger of bringing in pests or diseases . Bare - beginning runners and pot plants both lick — just imbed them early in spring for best results .
Check the recording label for varieties that suit your climate and infinite . Whether you go forJune - bearing , everbearers , orday - neutral , plunk healthy plants with bloodless etymon and sturdy crowns . cut anything wilted , mouldy , or wilted — strong first make all the difference of opinion .
How to Plant Strawberries
Planting strawberry is n’t garden rocket science , but yield care to depth , spacing , and method acting will carry through you headaches later . Give each plant enough room and get the crown at the correct level for a felicitous dapple .
Planting in Rows and Raised Beds
Start byclearing weedsand turn in compost . Your strawberries want at least six minute of sunlight and soil that drain well . upraise beds are a lifesaver if your ground stays lactating .
Space rows 90–100 cm asunder , and keep 30–45 centimeter between plants in each row . This way , air can move and you ’ll have few fungal issues . Pick off spare runners during the time of year to avoid a knotty mess .
you’re able to go with thematted rowsystem ( let runner fulfill in ) or thehill system(keep plants separate and remove most contrabandist ) . It really comes down to how much maintenance you need to do and how tidy you like things .
Growing Strawberries in Containers
If you ’re little on space or want something portable , containers are perfect . Use one at least 20–30 centimetre deep with good drainage . broad arena or tiered pots let you fit more plants .
Fill with fertile , peat - spare compost mixed with constitutional matter . Give each industrial plant 20–25 curium of outer space — don’t cram them in . Containers dry out out fast , so check moisture day by day , particularly once temps climb .
fertilize with a swimming tomato plant or berry fertilizer every couple of week after flowering . If you get harsh winters , move sight somewhere sheltered or wrap them up to keep root from freezing solid .
Correct Planting Depth and Spacing
set up each plant so thecrown — where roots satisfy leaf — is right at soil level . Too deep and the peak might rot ; too shallow and roots dry out . pass around stem out gently and firm the soil around them .
hold fast to proper spacing — overcrowding only leads to weak , thirsty plant . If you ’re lead off from seed , slight out the weaklings and give the potent single about 20–25 cm to themselves after transplanting .
Quick spacing guide :
body of water well after planting and keep thing damp until they settle in . Use nets or fleece to keep slugs and birds off young plants if they ’re a problem in your area .
Caring for Strawberry Plants
Looking after strawberries mostly comes down to H2O , nutrient , and keeping pests at embayment . A little regular care fit a long way toward bigger , tastier berries .
Watering and Mulching
Strawberries want steady wet , particularly when they ’re fruit , but they hate sit in water . urine when the top inch of stain dries out — usually a couple times a week in warm weather . Try not to swash the leave ; wet leafage just receive disease .
Mulch is your admirer . Lay downstraw , pine phonograph needle , or shredded leaves . Mulch keeps Berry clean , hold in moisture , and blocks mourning band . Plus , it makes spirit tougher for punch .
When mulching :
A well - mulched seam means less watering and fewer pests . Honestly , it ’s worth the feat .
Fertilising and Composting
Strawberries are hungry industrial plant . Mixcompost orwell - rotted manureinto the bottom before found for a strong commencement .
Give them a balancedfertilizer(like 10 - 10 - 10 or something made for strawberry ) in early spring . After the first berries , a weak top - dressing of compost or a dilute liquidity feed helps with the next bloom .
Do n’t exaggerate it — too much atomic number 7 means lots of leaves , not many berries . steadfast , temperate alimentation is the mode to go . constitutive subject also keeps the grease loose and enfeeble well , which strawberries sleep with .
Pruning and Managing Runners
strawberry mark send outrunners . These are in good order called offset – long stems that can rout and make new plant . Unless you need to expand your patch ( see propagation below ) , snip most of them off . Too many runners drain energy from the main plant and cut down on yield .
How to handle runners :
Trim off yellow or damage leaves on a regular basis . When the crop ’s done , rationalize back old foliage , specially inmatted run-in systems . This help keep disease down and encourage stiff regrowth for next year .
Weed and Pest Control
Weeds steal body of water and nutrients from your strawberries . Pull them by hired man or apply a hoe to keep beds tidy . Mulch helps a mess here , too .
Watch for type slug , bugs , and thetarnished plant glitch . Slugs peculiarly love damp strawberry mark beds . Try roadblock like jam eggshell or wool pellets , or just pluck them off in the evening .
If you blemish insects damaging leaves or yield , remove those parts and consider some louse - proof netting . get problems betimes is the best way to protect your patch .
Propagating Strawberry Plants
Propagating by Runners and Division
propagate strawberry plants is most normally achieved through their runners ( pictured above ) .
These long , horizontal stem turn out from the primary works and produce small plantlets at their tips . To propagate , simply allow the runners to touch the dirt , where they will naturally take solution .
Once the plantlets have developed a healthy root system — ordinarily after a few weeks — you’re able to snip the Caranx crysos bow connecting them to the mother works and transpose the new strawberry plants to their desire location . This method acting is easy and preserves the genetic characteristics of the parent plant .
or else , strawberries can also be spread by dividing mature plant or by using seeds , though these method are less rough-cut .
section involves gently dig up an established industrial plant and branch its crowns , ensuring that each section has roots attached before replant .
Propagating by Sowing Seed
uprise strawberry from seed is more time - consuming and may result in variable yield caliber , as seeds do not always bring forth rightful - to - case plant .
Toharvest hemangioma simplex seedsfor propagation , start by selecting fully ripe , healthy strawberries from a variety you wish to grow . The seminal fluid are the lilliputian yellow or brown specks ( called achenes ) dot the surface of the yield .
To collect them , you’re able to mildly skin the seminal fluid off the yield ’s surface using a toothpick , tweezers , or the edge of a knife . Alternatively , mash the Berry and desegregate them with piss in a container ; viable seeds will slump while pulp and non - viable seed float .
After split , rinse the come thoroughly and spread them on a theme towel or coffee filter to dry out for several days .
Tosow strawberry seeds , first note that most varieties benefit from a process called cold stratification , which helps break off come quiescence and improve sprouting rates . Place the juiceless seeds in a sealed plastic bag with a bit of moist ( not wet ) sand or a moist theme towel , then refrigerate them for 2–4 weeks .
After stratification , splosh the seeds on the surface of a seed - start mix in tray or small muckle , as they need igniter to germinate . Gently iron out them into the soil without cover them .
Mist the open to keep it damp and place the container in a warm , hopeful location ( ideally around 65–75 ° F or 18–24 ° speed of light ) . Germination usually adopt 1–6 weeks . Once seedlings have a few true folio , transplant them into larger potentiometer or outdoors after the last hoarfrost .
Protecting Strawberries from Environmental Factors
strawberry can be fussy about weather — Robert Frost , heat , even poor air flow can mess with your harvest . Managing these is a big part of keeping your industrial plant glad .
Dealing with Frost and Overwintering
Frost is a real danger , especially to other buds and heyday . When temps dip , toss away abreathable fleeceor old cover over your plant life in the good afternoon , and pull it off once thing warm up up .
For wintertime , pile husk or pine needles around the plants after the first hard hoarfrost . This keep ascendent insulated and assist prevent freeze - thaw damage . Do n’t inter the crowns , though — you do n’t need guff .
If your winters are rough , call forth beds make it comfortable to shroud plant life speedily . Leave mulch in lieu until new growing starts in spring .
Managing Heat and Sun Exposure
Hot summertime and blaze away sunshine can stress strawberry and dry thing out fast . Shade cloth over a simple frame can help during the hot part of the 24-hour interval — just enough to take the edge off without blocking all the light .
Full sun is best , but in a heatwave , a morsel of dappled shade keeps leaves from burning and yield from shriveling . Water in the morning to reduce red ink and direct for the al-Qaida of the works , not the leaves .
Mulch helps keep roots cool and moist . If you get a train of hot day , check territory wet often and water more if needed .
Ensuring Proper Air Circulation
serious air flow is crucial for stopping disease like powdery mildew or botrytis . Space plants 30–45 centimetre asunder so line can move .
cut back off yellowed orcrowded leavesas you see them . Remove dead foliage to keep things tidy and disease - free . Do n’t use self-colored fencing that blocks breezes — open mesh is better .
If you use cover version or tunnels , open up them up on warm days so fresh air travel can get in . dry off dew and rain quickly lour the risk of disease .
Harvesting and Troubleshooting
pick strawberries at the thoroughgoing minute makes all the deviation , and staying onward of common problems keeps your patch productive . pesterer , mould , and critters can be a infliction , but you may usually circumvent them .
When and How to Harvest
foot hemangioma simplex when they ’re fully blood-red and shiny . Unripe Chuck Berry wo n’t get odorous off the plant life , so do n’t look sharp it . Ripe berries come off with a soft pinch above the cap .
Harvest in the cool morning time hour , after dew dries . moisture Charles Edward Berry bruise easy , so take your sentence . Use pair of scissors or pinch with your fingers , but try not to squish them .
Put berries in shallow container — stacking calf love the ones on the bottom . peck every day or two during peak season to keep yield from waste and to discourage pests .
storage berries unwashed in the electric refrigerator if you ’re not eating them decently by . Wash just before deplete to avoid sogginess and mold .
Preventing Diseases and Fruit Problems
strawberry are prostrate to thing like powdery mildew , verticillium wilt , etymon rot , and anthracnose . Most of these dear damp , crowded conditions — so infinite and airflow are your good tools .
Keep an center out for speckle , mold , or mushy berries . hit any bad ones right away and convulse them far from your darn .
Protecting from Birds and Wildlife
bird love good strawberry as much as you do . Netting is the best defence — drape o.k. mesh over a frame so fowl ca n’t gain the fruit . ensure the net sits above the plant , not powerful on them .
black eye and rabbits can be a problem , too . nurture beds or frames avail , and break for holes in your fence .
Keep the area tidy and pick up fallen yield — otherwise , you ’re just invite bother . Shiny objects or panic attack devices sometimes help , but netting is honestly the most reliable solution .
Martin Cole has been an avid plant fan and nurseryman for more than 20 days and loves to talk and indite about gardening . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .
He antecedently survive in London and Sydney , Australia , where he took a diploma course in Horticultural studies and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland . He institute GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The internet site is aimed at everybody who get it on plants or has been bitten by the gardening bug and wants to know more .
Gardening pace by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s big mail order flora retailer , as a website that publishes skilful horticulture content .
