Growing Strawberries

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Strawberries

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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.

Planting

Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site

Strawberry plants require 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly.
Strawberries are tolerant of different soil types, although they prefer loam. Ideally, begin working in aged manure or compost a couple months before planting. If you have clay soil, generally mix in 4 inches or more of compost, and rake the clay soil into raised mounds to further improve drainage. If your soil is sandy, simply cultivate to remove weeds, and mix in a 1-inch layer of rich compost or rotted manure.
Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 7. If necessary, amend your soil in advance of planting. If soils in your area are naturally alkaline, it is best to grow strawberries in half-barrels or other large containers filled with compost-enriched potting soil.
The planting site must be well-drained. Raised beds are a particularly good option for strawberry plants.
Practice crop rotation for the most success. Do not plant in a site that recently had strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant.

Planting Strawberries

Plan to plant as soon as the ground can be worked in the Spring. See your local frost dates.
Buy disease-resistant plants from a reputable nursery, of a variety recommended in your area. Consult with the nursery you buy them from or with your state Cooperative Extension service.
Roots shouldn’t be longer than 8 inches when plants are set out. Trim them if necessary.
Provide adequate space for sprawling. Set plants out 20 inches apart to leave room for runners and leave 4 feet between rows. Strawberries are sprawling plants. Seedlings will send out runners, or ‘daughter’ plants, which in turn will send out their own runners.
Make planting holes deep and wide enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending it. However, don’t plant too deep! The roots should be covered, but the crown should be right at the soil surface. It is very important that you do NOT bury the crown (central growing bud) of the plant or it could rot! The leaves, flowers, and fruit must be exposed to light and fresh air.
Water in plants well.
Establish new plants each year to keep berry quality high each season.
It is also possible to grow strawberries from last year’s runners. See this video to find out how.

Strawberries. Photo by Yuriy S./Getty Images
Photo by Yuriy S./Getty Images

Care

How to Grow Strawberries

Keep the beds mulched to reduce water needs and weed invasion. Any type of mulch – from black plastic to pine straw to shredded leaves – will keep the soil moist and the plants clean.
Be diligent about weeding. Weed by hand, especially in the first months after planting.
Moisture is incredibly important due to shallow roots. Water adequately, about one inch per week. Strawberry plants need a lot of water when the runners and flowers are developing and again in the fall when the plants are mature.
Fertilize with all purpose granules for strong growth. In warm weather, berries ripen about 30 days after blossoms are fertilized.
In the first year, pick off blossoms to discourage strawberry plants from fruiting. If not allowed to bear fruit, they will spend their food reserves on developing healthy roots. The yields will be much greater in the second year.
Eliminate daughter plants as needed. First and second generations produce higher yields. Try to keep daughter plants spaced about 10 inches apart.
When the growing season is over, mow or cut foliage down to one inch and mulch plants about 4 inches deep with straw, pine needles or other organic material. This can be done after the first couple of frosts, or when air temps reach 20°F (-6°C).
Remove mulch in early spring, after danger of frost has passed.
Row covers are a good option for protecting blossoms and fruit from birds.

Pests/Diseases

Gray Mold
Powdery Mildew
Japanese Beetles
Spider Mites
Slugs

Pest-Beating Tips

Keeping beds weed-free and using a gritty mulch can deter slugs and bugs. Spread sand over the strawberry bed to deter slugs. (This also works well for lettuce.) Pine needles also foil slug and pill-bug damage.
For bigger bugs such as Japanese beetles, spray your plants with puréed garlic and neem seed oil.
When birds threaten your strawberries, position balloons with scare-eyes above the beds and use reflective Mylar bird tape to deter them.

Harvest/Storage

Harvesting and Storing Strawberries

Fruit is ready for harvesting 4–6 weeks after blossoming.
Harvest only fully red (ripe) berries, and pick every three days.
Cut by the stem; do not pull the berry or you could damage the plant.
For Junebearer strawberries, the harvest will last up to 3 weeks. You should have an abundance of berries, depending on the variety.
Store unwashed berries in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.
Strawberries can be frozen whole for about 2 months.
Watch our video on How to Make Strawberry Preserves!

Strawberry Bed. Photo by Ben Shuchunke/Getty Images
Photo by Ben Shuchunke/Getty Images

Recommended Varieties

Try planting more than one variety. Each will respond differently to conditions, and you will have a range of different fruits to enjoy.

‘Northeaster’ is best suited for the northeastern US and southeastern Canada. Fruit has strong flavor and aroma.
‘Sable’ is hardy to zone 3, early season, great flavor.
‘Primetime’ is a mild-flavored, disease-resistant variety, best adapted to the Mid-Atlantic.
‘Cardinal’ is a good variety to try in the South.
‘Camarosa’ is a good variety to try on the West Coast.
‘Tristar’ is a day-neutral variety that’s very well-suited for hanging baskets.

Learn more about choosing and growing different strawberry varieties.

Wit & Wisdom

Why are strawberries called strawberries?

One theory is that woodland pickers strung them on pieces of straw to carry them to market. Others believe that the surface of the fruit looks as if it’s embedded with bits of straw. Still others think that the name comes from the Old English word meaning “to strew,” because the plant’s runners stray in all directions and look as if they are strewn on the ground.

The June full Moon is called the Strawberry Moon because when this Moon appeared, it signaled that it was time to start gathering ripening fruit.

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Reader Comments

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does all this mean that next

does all this mean that next year i will have berrie? or will NOT?

I have a topsy turvy planter

I have a topsy turvy planter and the plants are growing and even runners. However, the strawberries either aren't forming when the pedals fall or the form slightly then dry up before getting very big. What am I doing wrong? I water daily and they have plenty of sun. Please help!

We don't have a lot of

We don't have a lot of experience with topsy turvy planting.
The common reasons for poor fruit set are: no pollination due to weather (do you see pollinators?), bugs feeding on the flower (check for bugs), and poorly-draining soil (use sandy loam enriched with peat moss and well-rotted compost). Also, don't use too much nitrogen in your fertilizer. Fertilize in early spring before flowering and right after harvest with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Tip: For your first harvest, pinch off the petals before they fall.

I planted a dozen plants last

I planted a dozen plants last year. One plant that had the most blooms this summer developed a grey mold looking film over all the berries. I did not seem to affect the other plants. HOwever, after 3 weeks, all plants now have the same grey film over the berries. Do I have to dig up all the plants? I bought them from a local farmer and all were healthy. Thank you.

This sounds like "grey mold"

This sounds like "grey mold" which thrives when there are wet or humid conditions. This fungus starts on the part of the berry that is in contact with the soil; soon, the rot soon involves the entire fruit and inflects others. Unfortunately, you need to remove any infected strawberries. To control, the practice is to apply protective fungicides at bloom and continue until harvest if cool wet conditions prevail. At this point, you can try to spray and see how it goes. Ask your local cooperative extension about approved fungicides.
Prevention: To promote air circulation and rapid drying, 1. space plants properly , 2. keep thinned, 3. remove dead leaves, buds, and berries quickly, 4. remove weeds and debris, and 4. avoid high-nitrogen soil.

Thanks for the comments.

Thanks for the comments. Since cats were starting to "use" my soil, I placed black weed control fabric and then covered with bark. Should I not have done this? All my berries are affected. If I remove all the berries (leaves are great) will this stop it? The plants are about 1 foot apart.

Remove the berries and the

Remove the berries and the bark. If the weed control fabric lets air through you can leave it on. It's important to improve air circulation around the plants. Prune some of the leaves if the plants are touching. Work with the plants when they are dry.

thank you for your advice we

thank you for your advice we are trying to start growing strawberries but in sacks,this is an organisation of youths in kenya,we will update you if we are successful

I planted strawberries about

I planted strawberries about 5 years ago. Although they produce a small amount of berries each year they have not grown bigger. They are the same size as when I bought them. This year they are producing small berries compared to other years. any advice would help to what is wrong.

Perhaps it's the soil? How do

Perhaps it's the soil? How do you care for your strawberries? Be sure to fertilize with a 10-10-10 in early spring before flowering and right after harvest.

I just came back from France

I just came back from France and was able to experience their strawberries. They were smaller in size and much greater in flavor. I have done some research and found that they might be Gariguette strawberries. Can anyone tell me if these plants are available in the US? If not what available kind would come close that is available in the US?

I do not believe you can

I do not believe you can purchase this prized variety in the U.S. A similar variety is ‘Mara des Bois’ -- introduced by French nurseries back in 1991. Google this variety and you'll see U.S. nurseries that sell it.

I planted strawberries and

I planted strawberries and tomatoes in close proximity to each other. Someone has now told me that strawberries should not be planted near tomatoes. Is there any truth o this comment?

Do not plant strawberries

Do not plant strawberries where tomatoes have been grown in the past four years. Tomatoes--as well as potatoes, peppers, and eggplants--carry the root rot fungus Verticillium, which attacks strawberries.

I just bought a house last

I just bought a house last Sept. and recently found out that I have a ton of strawberry plants growing in the back corner of my yard. How can I figure out what type they are? What do I look for? Also, from what I can tell with all the runners this has been growing for awhile now. How should I cut it back at this point if needed?

To rejuvenate the

To rejuvenate the strawberries leave some of the younger plants that grow from the runners and discard the mother plants. It's going to be hard to identify the variety. (You can go to farmer's markets and taste the strawberries sold to see if you can match the look and taste of your strawberries.)

First time in a strawberry pot

Hi, so I bought a strawberry pot and 5 plants to go with it, I have lots of flowers and my first 3 berries are actually starting to grow. I noticed from above comments and a few "how to" websites that it says to cut the first flowers. I did not know that when I originally planted them. Should I remove them now or is it too late and I should just let nature take its course?-thanks nikki

how to?

How to start from seeds -how to get seeds from fruit? I can go from there. Thanks for any and all help! :-)

The seeds on a strawberry are

The seeds on a strawberry are on the outside and you can carefully pick them off and dry them. Most seeds need to be put into the freezer for 3 to 4 weeks before planted. Be aware that many strawberries are hybrids and will not grow true from seed. Seeds also take a long time to germinate.

Strawberry row covers

I use Garden Commanders for my strawberries with great success. Great convenient protection! Raised beds are perfect for strawberries and the Garden Commanders fit perfectly! You can order them online and they last for many years. June bearers are best , very little disease and great size. Super sweet and freeze great too! Pine needles in fall are the best for mulching and soil conditioning.

Junebearers in Tx

Bought a few plants from a chain retailer on impulse and then went home to prep the garden. Pulled up a tree and cleared as many tree roots as possible and put down some good gardening soil from the store to fill in the hole. My previous experience with strawberries was an unknown variety that we just let grow wild in the space we allotted and they lived and produced for YEARS!! Is cutting them back in the fall really necessary? Our temps don't consistently get to 20*F until more like December. Would we be warm enough to let them be or should I cut them in late November anyway? :-)

In Texas, strawberries are

In Texas, strawberries are best planted in the fall but retailers seem to sell them in the spring. Just make sure that 1) the soil stays moist and well irrigated, 2) the plants are protected from any dry winds, and 3) the soil pH is not too high (6.5 to 7.0 is ideal and amend with compost or peat moss if needed). At planting and periodically, add a balanced fertilizer. In the fall/winter, after a couple frosts, go ahead and mow down the runners. Then throw super-phosphate over the patch. Next spring, spread some 10-10-10 over the area before new growth begins. If their production doesn’t improve, dig them out and replace with a new planting. In Texas, sometimes cultivated strawberries (not wild ones) are treated as annuals.

didn't cut back strawberries in fall

So, I have my strawberries in raised beds. I have several varieties. I weed and cut off runners etc, but I have not ever cut back the the plant in the fall. Is it too late to do that now that it is Feb.? I live in Oregon zone 7b-8. What is the purpose of cutting the foliage back?

running strawberries

You might want to reconsider your strategy. Removing the flowers when they first appear in the first growing season promotes root development and thus ensures a large crop the following year.
If that time has passed, you could try it in this growing season, or "renovate" the crop now. This means cutting the foliage with a mower (or perhaps scissors in your case), removing the foliage to about 1 inch above the crowns. This puts the energy of the plant back into the ground; it doesn't waste energy growing a "top." Clear away the clippings, then fertilize with 10-10-10, weed well, and water with an inch of water per week. Finally, leave the runners alone. Every resource we know if says that you want runners. Replant the beds with new plants every three or four years. We hope this helps.

Topsy Turvey Strawberries

Just got a topsy turvy for strawberries. I've got some questions: 1) when to plant? 2) fertilizer? 3) best strawberry plants for illinois?

when to plant strawberry

It says to plant as soon as the ground can be worked but in NC it can be 70 degrees today and 30 degrees tomorrow. Should I plant after our last possible frost dates?

Most strawberry varieties are

Most strawberry varieties are cold hardy. A bit of frost won't effect the outcome of the plant. So planting when the soil can first be worked is a good rule of thumb.

Strawberries

I just got plants about a month ago. Are they hard to raise? Also can you cover runners with soil and root them? Thanks

topsy turvy strawberry planter

yes i got one this year also and have it set up and it's producing a good amount of berries.....i put 2 plants in each hole (fyi)...that was an option according to the instructions........the strawberries are delicious and really fun to grow and watch.....my teenager loves watering it......i like it so well bought another one for next year so will have two planters

After

This season got my first Topsy Turvy for tomatoes and strawberries well what do I do for my strawberries after the season is over? How do I save my plants?