Strawberries are one of the easiest fruit to grow and great for beginners! Plus, they’re very rewarding because the taste is far more flavorful than what you’ll ever find in a grocery store. Why? The sugar in berries converts to starch soon after they’re picked. Learn more about growing strawberries in the home garden.
The best thing about strawberries is that they’re very easy to grow in almost all climates and soils across the United States and Canada—as long as you plant them in a location that gets full sun.
Strawberry plants come in three types:
- June-bearing varieties bear fruit all at once, usually over a period of three weeks. Day-length 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” or “June-bearers,” these strawberries bear earlier than June in warmer 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°F (1° to 30°C). Production is less than that of June-bearers.
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.
Growing Strawberries From Planting to Harvest
See some really great tips on growing strawberries in this demonstration garden—and then read the guide below for more information on every stage from planting to harvesting!
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I live in Minnesota where it
I live in Minnesota where it is very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. this spring I want to plant a "fruit fence" with strawberries blueberries and raspberries around the fence in my backyard will that work? will winter take its toll?
Sounds wonderful! Look for
Sounds wonderful! Look for hardy varieties that will tolerate your cold winters. There are many to choose from. Make sure the plants have plenty of room to grow into and also be aware of the different soil requirements. Blueberries for example need acid soil.
Hi, I live in Malta where the
Hi, I live in Malta where the weather is almost sunny all year round.
I have just started planting strawberries. The batch I bought, are already growing little flowers.
My dilemma is this ; should I cut off the flowers as normally suggested in favor of having a better harvest next year ?
or,leave the flowers to get the fruit sooner ?
I feel guilty to take flowers out.
Can you plsease advise ?
thankyou
Emanuel
Pinching off the blossoms
Pinching off the blossoms will promote root growth and healthier and stronger plants for next year. You can leave some flowers if you like but the plants may not grow as big.
Enjoy your strawberry garden!
Do I set out strawberry plugs
Do I set out strawberry plugs during the growth of the moon or on the decline. I've tried to use that type info for pruning plants and for taking cuttings.
Since strawberries produce above the ground, do I use the growth of the moon as stated above? Or, should I stick with the time to "transplant" even though I will be using just the root plug?
Thanks,
Patricia
When planting by the Moon,
When planting by the Moon, this is our philosophy: Above-ground crops are planted during the light of the Moon (new to full); below-ground crops are planted during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again). Strawberries bear their fruit above ground.
It is mid October here in
It is mid October here in Western Mass and I got a big bag of strawberry plants from a gardener cleaning his beds. Can I plant now, mulch with straw, and expect decent results?
From Zone 6 northward,
From Zone 6 northward, strawberries are best planted in spring as they need to be well-rooted by the following winter. Most of western MA is zone 5: http://planthardiness.ars.usda...
From Zone 7 southward, strawberries are often planted in fall and grown as annuals that can be lifted every fall and replanted.
If you have the plants, you could always give it a try. Use lots of mulch for winter protection.
what variety of berries can i
what variety of berries can i plant and they bear the same year.
Hi, John, To give advice on a
Hi, John, To give advice on a variety, we'd really need to know where you live--in a northern climate, a southern climate? IN general, June-bearing strawberries, such as 'Shuksan', grow well in Zones 6-10. Check with your local extension office for the variety that grows best in your area.
Hi, I live in Asia and the
Hi, I live in Asia and the weather here is hot and humid (about 30 degree celcius) and i found many in my country tried planting strawberries and failed. Will it help if i avoid direct sunlight and if i add ice instead of water to soil will it improve the chance of my plant's survivor? Lastly, will the type of water (mineral / distilled) affect my plant's health? I really hope to have sweet fresh harvest as the ones I got from supermarts are sour and tarty. Thanks.
Can I snip off the runners
Can I snip off the runners and root in water, or plant them in dirt before the roots are present? I have a deck container with tons of runners and would like additional plants. I didn't know if they still need to be connected to the mother plant before snipping them or before roots are showing. Thank you!
To grow strawberries from
To grow strawberries from runners. Peg down the runners during growth season, usually in June or July, keeping them attached to the mother plant. Eventually, they will form a separate plant. Don't allow more than five runners to develop from each plant. In August, when the runner plants are well established, cut them from the parent and transplant immediately.
Hi, what type of strawberries
Hi, what type of strawberries would grow best on cape cod? And when should we plant.Thank you!
For June Bearing varieties,
For June Bearing varieties, try Annapolis or All-Star.
For Everbearing, try Seascape or Tribute.
There are many strawberry varieties that grow well on Cape Cod; visit some garden nurseries and explore.
A few years ago I
A few years ago I transplanted a strawberry plant from a friend who had the most delisous staawberries but after much checking around I had a strawberry weavil. I did the required spraying but I never got a strawberry so finally got rid of them. The plant looked very healthy otherwise. Its been about 5 years and now I would like to try a raised bed for strawberries, do I have to worry about those weavils still being in the soil?
We would advise planting the
We would advise planting the strawberries in a different bed. If this is your only bed, a 5-year wait should be fine. In the future, plant cover crops in the old beds and crops that are not susceptible to strawberry root weevils, such as sweet corn or pumpkins. Crop rotation is mandatory with strawberries as well. Read more about crop rotations and cover crops for strawberries here: http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandber...
To avoid weevils, cover a new planting with row covers until the plants flower. There are also beneficial insects that eat weevils and other preventative measures you can take.
I would like to plant some
I would like to plant some berries this unmet for next spring. I have an abundance of land and sun, I live in southern Manitoba. Wondering which variety I should seek out and if planting in the late summer is ok?
Transplant strawberries
Transplant strawberries plants after the last spring frost, usually in early June. For June-bearing strawberries, Kent and Glooscap cultivars in hardy in your area. See more here: http://www.gov.mb.ca/ana/pdf/m...
I've seen some photos of
I've seen some photos of strawberry beds where people used wooden pallets. They were stood vertical or hanged and filled with dirt. The plants were growing out of the slats. With it being vertical like this would the gravity be too much strain on the plants?
Verticle growing works well
Verticle growing works well for strawberries. We've read about a gardener who plants fall bearing strawberries in Styrofoam containers stacked one on top of another, supported by a metal pole. The weight of the berries cause them to naturally droop and hang down, but in the vertical growing system they don’t touch the ground as they might in the field. The berries are clean and easy to see and you don’t have to bend over to pick them so it's easier picking, too!
I'm starting a garden and
I'm starting a garden and I've planned everything out, but one thing I can't find the answer to on the Internet. How deep do you plant strawberry seeds?
When you set your plant into
When you set your plant into the ground, the soil is just covering the tops of the roots. Do not cover the crown.
I have many kinds of
I have many kinds of strawberries I had to move them this years because we got horse. but they didn't give us any berries none at all. I hope it is shook but what can I do? and it horse poop good for them?
There are several reasons why
There are several reasons why your transplanted strawberries may not be fruiting. 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 is a great idea, however, it must be sufficiently composted -- when it looks and smells like soil. See our manure guide: http://www.almanac.com/content...
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.
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