Sweet, juicy strawberries are treats when right off the plant. Supermarket berries tend to be tart with a grainy texture because the natural sugar begins converting to starch as soon as it is plucked from the plant. It’s definitely worth your while to try growing strawberries. See how.
The good news is that strawberries are relatively easy to grow if you have full sun.
Strawberry plants come in three types:
- June-bearing varieties bear all at once usually over a period of 3 weeks. Length-of-day sensitive, these varieties produce buds in the autumn, flowers and fruits the following June, and runners during the long days of summer. Although called June-bearing, these bear earlier than June in warm climates.
- Everbearing varieties produce a big crop in spring, produce lightly in the summer, and then bear another crop in late summer/fall. 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.
- Day-Neutral varieties produce fruit continuously through the season until the first frost: Insensitive to day length, these varieties produce buds, fruits and runners continuously if temperature remains between 35 and 85 degrees F (1° to 30°C). Production is less than that of Junebearers.
For the home garden, we recommend June-bearers. Although you will have to wait a year for fruit harvesting, it will be well worth it.
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Strawberry Nutrients
What Nutrients Do Strawberries Have?
Strawberry nutritional value
Hi Tyler,
Strawberries are packed with Vitamin C (1 cup = 141% of your daily value). Vitamin C is an antioxidant necessary for immune and skin health.
Also, strawberries are also a good source of manganese (1 cup = 28% of your daily value) which is an element that is important for many processes in your body.
There are also small amounts of folate (vitamin B9), potassium, and several other vitamins and minerals.
Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site Planting Strawberries
How Deep do you Plant Strawberries exactly?
planting depth for strawberries
Tyler, That is a good question and we’ll make sure we update the article to provide more “depth,” so to speak.
The planting depth for strawberries is very important. It’s not a question of how many inches. You want to set the plant into the ground so that the roots are nicely covered with soil, but DO NOT BURY THE CROWN. The crown is the central growing bud, from which the leaves, flowers, and fruit arise. If you bury the crown, the plant could rot.
Ants
Ants have found my strawberries. How do I get rid of them?
Ants on Strawberries
If the weather’s dry enough, try placing some diatomaceous earth around your berries to prevent the ants from accessing them.
Strawberries
I tried growing some strawberries in a "strawberry pot" that was advertised on one of the tv shows. First and second year the plants actually grew and I got some nice large fruits, but the plants dried up and died. I think those "pots" are a waste. And, of course, the chipmunks didn't help -- they ate the strawberries and always beat me to the blueberries, too. : ( But I still LOVE to garden!!
Strawberries
I have a smaller greenhouse that I only grow my strawberries in. I find that after 3 years of the same plants within it I must remove and plant new. They are only productive for 3 years although they will continue to be healthy, vibrant plants. Production of fruit, however, drops off. I am in zone 7 at 5600 ft elevation and we do get frost and snow. I did nothing to cover them during the winter but early March here I removed dead leaves, trimmed things back, added compost and seaweed fertilizer and they are growing like a house a’fire! Am looking forward to an abundant crop of berries this year!
Straw mulch for new planting
I just planted new berry crowns, was wondering if i can use straw to mulch them to hold down weeds?
Straw Mulch
Yes, straw is commonly used around strawberries as mulch. Just be sure not to bury the strawberries themselves!
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.
not sure about strawberries
Are you sure that it will be succes in this way
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 ?
Pages