How to Grow Strawberries: A Beginner’s Guide
Strawberries are one of the easiest and most rewarding fruits to grow in your garden. They are a great choice for beginners, as they are relatively low-maintenance and can be grown in a variety of climates.
Choosing the Right Variety
The first step to growing strawberries is to choose the right variety. There are three main types of strawberries:
- June-bearing strawberries: These produce a large yield of berries over a short period of time, usually about three weeks.
- Ever-bearing strawberries: These produce smaller yields of berries over a longer period of time, from spring to fall.
- Day-neutral strawberries: These produce berries continuously from spring until the first frost in fall, but they do not produce as large yields as the other two types.
When choosing a variety, consider your climate and the size of your garden. June-bearing strawberries are a good choice for warm climates, while ever-bearing and day-neutral strawberries are better suited for cooler climates. If you have a small garden, you may want to choose a day-neutral variety, as they will produce berries over a longer period of time.
Planting Strawberries
Once you have chosen a variety, it is time to plant your strawberries. Strawberries can be planted in the spring or fall.
To plant strawberries, dig a hole that is wide enough to accommodate the roots of the plant and deep enough so that the crown of the plant is level with the soil surface. Space the plants 6 to 8 inches apart in wide rows of 18 to 24 inches.
After planting, water the strawberries deeply and mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Growing Strawberries
Strawberries are relatively easy to grow, but they do require some basic care.
- Water: Strawberries need about 1 inch of water per week. Water them deeply, especially during hot weather.
- Fertilizer: Strawberries should be fertilized every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Mulch: Mulching around strawberries helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the berries clean.
- Runners: Strawberry plants produce runners, which are long stems that grow out from the plant and produce new plants. These runners can be removed to prevent overcrowding, or they can be allowed to grow to create new plants.
Common Strawberry Growing Mistakes
Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes when growing strawberries. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid:
- Planting strawberries too deep: Planting strawberries too deep can cause the crown of the plant to rot.
- Not mulching strawberries: Mulching strawberries is essential for retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, and keeping the berries clean.
- Overwatering strawberries: Strawberries do not need a lot of water. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
- Fertilizing strawberries too much: Fertilizing strawberries too much can burn the plants.
- Not removing runners: Runners can crowd the strawberry patch and reduce yields.
By following these tips, you can grow a bountiful crop of strawberries in your own garden.