Sweet, juicy strawberries are treats when right off the plant. Supermarket berries tend to be tart with grainy texture; this is because the natural sugar in the berries begins converting to starch as soon as it is plucked from the plant.
It’s definitely worth your while to try growing strawberries, and the good news is that they are relatively easy to grow if you have full sun.
Strawberry plants come in three types:
- Day-Neutral: Insensitive to day length, these varieties produce buds, fruits and runners continuously if temperature remains between 35 and 85. Production is less than that of Junebearers.
- Everbearer: These varieties form buds during the long days of summer and the short days of autumn. The summer-formed buds flower and fruit in autumn, and the autumn-formed buds fruit the following spring.
- Junebearer: Length-of-day sensitive, these varieties produce buds in the autumn, flowers and fruits the following spring, and runners during the long days of summer.
For the home garden, we recommend Junebearers. Although you will have to wait a year for fruit harvesting, it will be well worth it.
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About Strawberries
Why is the strawberry fruit sweet?
Why does the strawberry flower become the strawberry fruit?
If you could answer these questions, that would be amazing.
mulching strawberries
Can I use grass cuttings to mulch plants? Do all the plants get cut down? I hesitate to do that !
Mulching Strawberries
Yes, you can use grass clippings to mulch strawberries, as long as the grass comes from a pesticide-free area and there are no weeds’ seeds mixed in. Straw is a better alternative, however. The important thing is that the mulch doesn’t get too compacted and hold in excessive moisture.
Depending on where in the country you are, you’ll want to wait until late October or early November to mulch. Don’t cut the plants down before mulching, and use at least 4 inches of mulch—more if you are in a place that gets particularly cold winters.
Container Strawberry Plants, Advice Please.
Hi, First year of growing container strawberry plants. They've done extremely well, large robust plants. Do I bring them inside over the winter? How to I proceed after the growing season is finished for this year. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you!
Strawberries are one of those little pleasures in life.
Laxmi Strawberry Farm, the place to be all year round and especially at strawberry season!!! Come and spend the day picking and eating ripe organic strawberries, down in our fields!
How long before germinated strawberries can be outside?
I currently live in a townhouse with room for a tiny garden in the back. The problem is that it is on the north side and is pretty shady most of the day. The first year I was here, there was nothing but dirt in the back and it washed onto my patio (from the neighbors back yards) every time it rained. I had some strawberries in pots that had been given to me, and the managers gave me permission to plant them for erosion control. The plants themselves grow well in the shade, but since they are 'Hula berries' it is difficult for me to tell when the fruit is completely ripe. I want to renovate the beds next year and plant a different type of strawberry, (Fragaria vesca) which should be tolerable of the shade, but I will need to germinate the seeds myself, as I need over 50 plants to fill the space (spaced 12 inches apart, with an 18 inch alley) and it would be too expensive to buy them all at $4-5 per plant, which is the lowest I can find them for in my area.
I need to know how long it takes on average for strawberry seedlings started indoors to be ready for planting outside after they have germinated (I know they need 2-4 weeks of stratification and will take another 2-4 weeks to germinate, planting season for my area has typically been March - April) so I have a better idea of when to start the seeds. I have heard a recommendation saying they can be transitioned outdoors after they have their 3rd true leaf, but I have not been able to find any information as to approximately how long it takes for those leaves to develop.
when to plant strawberries
You are ambitious! Tough question probably because there are variables re specific conditions (light, soil, moisture, etc) and, perhaps, varieties. We found recommendations for starting the seeds about 8 to 10 weeks before the plants are needed (for planting) and allowing, as you suggest, up to about 3 weeks for germination, which means third leaf/transplanting stage could be a 6 to 7 week period. Some suggest hardening off the plants, too, as you may know. Timing is one thing, though; your goal, it would seem, is to have strong plants, so if the process takes a little longer—or if the plants are ready a little sooner—you should be fine.
We hope this helps.
getting 2-3 year old strawberries under control
I planted a few strawberry plants, not sure what variety, 2-3 years ago, and have pretty much left them alone because unsure how to care for them. They have spread like crazy, and are mixed in with flowers in a relatively small area in my backyard. They have produced more berries each year, but still not many, and only in early summer so I'm guessing they are June-bearing. What should I do to keep them as healthy and productive as possible? Is there any way to tell which are mother and daughter plants, or which to pull to keep things healthiest? Since they are done bearing for this year, should I cut leaves/stems back to one inch from the ground?
getting control
The first thing you need to do is weed the bed area. Decide whether you want berries or flowers where they blend together and remove what you do not want. Then improve the soil, as needed (see above), mulch (see above), and carry on (see above). Healthy plants are generally the best looking (re color, etc). See above for end of season care.
Strawberries grown in planter bag zone 4
Please- we have existing plants - my son has a small backyard deck which is used to entertain and uses containers for growing veggies, etc...
Last year we used a fabric bag made from recyclable water bottles, etc and we were not quite sure how to keep the strawberry plants over the winter (zone 4-5) in this container --- half survived... Please advice how to grow the best strawberries given this situation.. Thanks
Stroberries
why my Strawberries from my garden has not go taste, there are no sweet. your help is much appreciate. thanks
flavorless strawberries
Strawberries might lack flavor for several reasons. If the flavor is consistently drab from year to year, it could be the variety that you are growing; some are developed more high yield and tolerating processing/shipping rather than for flavor. If flavor varies each year, it could be too much or too little water, or not enough sunlight. Check your soil, too. Make sure that the bed has plenty of nutrients and the soil is slightly acidic. Sandy soil is great for providing proper drainage. Allow each plant plenty of room to grow.
Dying
After cutting a few strawberries, the newer ones started dying before pollinating.Am i cutting it wrong or is it just the seasons changing?
Strawberries
Do some strawberries take three years before they actually produce fruit? I've transplanted runners (actually kept some mother plants) 1st year hardly any flowers, next year tons of flowers but really dwarfed strawberries. This year I've added to the soil and fertilized like crazy but still really stunted fruit. I'm ready to give up. The mother plants used to produce like crazy but then the small fruit started on them as well
so I thought they were done. Do you know what's going on?
Strawberry Crop
Keep up the hard work! The effort will be absolutely worth it. For first year transplanted strawberry plants, nip off any flower buds as they appear. The plant will use the extra energy to grow stronger roots and will have a larger crop of strawberries the next year. Try nipping most of the flower buds next year and give the plants a break to grow stronger. Strawberry plants are sensitive to drought due to their shallow roots, and require about 1 inch of water per week. Make sure they are getting enough water, and spread straw around the base of each plant to help conserve water and prevent weed growth. Also, weed diligently: Competition for root space and water could hamper your strawberry plants’ efforts. Make sure each plant is about 8 inches apart from others. We hope this helps!
First year of strawberries!!!
I bought a plant from Whole Foods, and planted it today in my yard. Last year was my first year for a garden and I have very little knowledge about what I'm doing... what are crowns for strawberry plants? Do I trim the plant down to the ground before winter? I live in the Northeastern tip of Illinois just a few miles from the Wisconsin border. We typically have cold, snowy winters, but the last couple have been mild.
Berries
My friend has two strawberries that look like the berry is growing leaves where the seeds are at. The rest of the berries are perfect berries. What's up? I tried to add a photo but couldn't figure out how. Thanks
odd strawberries
Strawberries sometimes develop oddly due to various factors, including damage from insects such as the tarnished plant bug or mites, or frost or heat injury, nutrient deficiencies (such as boron), chemical injury, etc. Poor pollination can also affect development. Another factor can be that the variety is not suited to the climate where it is grown, meaning that it does not have the proper length of daylight or the right temperatures.
Strawberry leaves
My plant doesn't look healthy at all. On some of the leaves have turned brown. I water it almost everyday. I first test it so I won't over water but living in Phoenix is different than any other place I have lived. For me a plant can go from well watered to dry in a matter of hours. That and the suns strength has been a challenge for me here like no other place.
I need to know if full sun all day is better than only morning sun ?
Strawberries in Full Sun
Strawberries generally produce the best fruit when in full sun, but in hot and sunny areas like Phoenix, they will appreciate some afternoon shade instead (especially if their leaves are getting burnt up). You could also try some light-colored mulches, like straw or white plastic, to hold in more moisture around your strawberry plants.
Strawberries Onions Blackberries Blueberries
Hello how are you doing, my name is David Peters from Cuauhtémoc Chihuahua Mexico I need lots of information about growing Strawberries Onions Blackberries Blueberries I want to grow them here in Mexico and I need all type of Information I can have from these plants. Can you help me with that? I also need to know in what kind of weather condition I can best grow them and so on!
moving strawberries
How do I transfer strawberries all sprawled out into rows?? I see they should be 2 feet wide with 4 foot aisles. What is the best trick?
I live in southern Minnesota.
strawberry spacing
There are several spacing systems for strawberries. The one mentioned above is likely the matte system. However, in the home landscape, you can grow strawberries more loosely, even as a ground cover, although they may not produce as much. If you are satisfied with your strawberries’ production and health, then you might want to leave them alone. However, if they seem overcrowded, or you want them to produce more, you might start by thinning out the plants when they are dormant in fall. One idea would be to transplant any of the small plants that are growing off runners; keep the mother plants where they are. Plant the baby plants in the chosen prepared area, using the spacing that you want. Eventually, the original plants will slow their production (after about 4 years), and you might want to then pull those up and start over; meanwhile, you will have your new rows with the younger plants. Strawberries usually produce best in their second and third year. For more information, you might contact your county’s Cooperative Extension; they might have publications on strawberry planting in your area. See: http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services to get started.
Strawberry plants transplanted
I recently transplated my plants from a round planter to the ground. About 3 weeks ago and know thwy seemed to have died any idea why?
There are several reasons why
There are several reasons why your transplanted strawberries may not be doing well. Did you plant so that the crown is properly exposed after the soil is closed around the transplants? Plants do not fare well if placed too deep and grow poorly if placed too shallow. Also, frequent irrigation is critical during the first 4 weeks after planting.
Adding organic amendments such as composted horse manure is a great idea, however, it must be sufficiently composted – when it looks and smells like soil.
Advice
Pls i want to start up a strawberry plantation in South eastern part of Nigerian for industrial use. How do i go about it?
Just Started
I live in a suburan around Philadelphia, PA, so we have hot humid summers and cold snowy winters. I planted strawberries and want to have them grow each year. I have mulched and planted two strawberry plants. Not sure the type. I had some berries grow and it appears the birds and squirrels like to eat them. I have rasied boxes on the side of my house. How do I keep them out.
squirrels in the strawberries
Katrina, remember one thing: You can’t fool Mother Nature (or her critters). Try netting on your berries; a lot of people use that to deter the birds and squirrels and, for the record, bunnies. And set up a pinwheel or other moving object of that sort. Think aluminum pie plates on a string, glittery dangling Christmas ornaments—even large scarecrows. (Situations like this is why people have been using scarecrows for centuries.) Be aware, however, that you might need a few such objects that you set up and move around; the critters realize pretty quickly that these are inanimate and pose no threat. You might scatter red pepper around … but you don’t want that on the berries you eat. Another idea is to have a radio playing, especially tuned to a talk show; this has been known to deter some critters. All of these—and similar—ideas usually work … for a while. It’s a challenge we all face.
cutting back strawberries
should this be done after they have finished producing or in the fall?
when to cut strawberry leaves
If you have June-bearing strawberries, you mow off the leaves right after harvest. Mow 1 inch above the crowns of the plants with a rotary mower. Then rake up the plant debris. After you mow, narrow the strawberry rows to 8-inch-wide strips. If your strawberry bed is a solid mat of plants, create strips that are 8 inches wide. Keep the younger plants and get rid of the old plants. Space the strips about 2 or 3 feet apart. Then apply fertilizer. Mulch in the late fall once the ground is already cold, and then remove mulch in late April.
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