It’s that time in the garden again when all those white blossoms have turned into sweet berries—strawberry season is here!
Strawberries can be among the easiest garden berries to grow. Of course, like all plants, they take some care and maintenance from season to season.
Strawberries are best planted in the spring—several weeks before the last frost is preferable. When choosing varieties, consider that the time for bearing fruit is different from one variety to the next. You can have a continuous harvest by selecting a range of plants that bear from late spring through to early fall.
When planting strawberries, spacing is vital and will save you time later not having to thin out your crop. Give room for runners by spacing plants 16″ to 18″ apart. Strawberries can be grown in a variety of ways but be sure to plant them where they’ll receive 8 or more hours of sunlight each day. Set the plants where the roots are well covered with soil while the crown is exposed to light and air. If you bury the crown too deep, your plants are easily prone to rot.
Give soil a boost by adding in a layer of aged compost. When using containers, plant in a premium potting soil mix that specifies well-draining.
As the soil warms in spring the foliage will start growing vigorously. Your garden zone will determine when they start waking up from a winter’s rest. The blossoms come next, with each bearing a sweet berry.
After the fruit has ripened and harvesting in complete, each plant will start creating runners that will often root themselves but will remain attached to the mother plant. Clipping the runners from the mother plant will help in establishing the young plants. It’s recommended to only allow three daughter plants (runners) for each growing season. Some varieties don’t even produce that many in one season.
Growing strawberries doesn’t have to be much work—just a few simple steps, and you’ll surely be on your way to a bountiful crop!
Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden