Planting Strawberries

Now is the time to plant your strawberries!  Here are some basics for growing this delicious fruit. Keep in mind that conventional strawberries contain alot of pesticides that actually grow into the fruit.  So growing your own is an excellent organic option!  See http://www.starkbros.com/ for a great selection of plants.

1. There are two types (not varieties) of strawberries, Everbearing/day neutral and June bearing strawberries.  Everbearing will produce multiple harvests throughout the growing season that tend to be smaller in size and they produce fewer runners.  June bearing strawberries bear fruit for a 2-3 week period every June and they tend to have the largest fruit. It is best to plant more than one type of strawberry plant variety for a prolific and staggered harvest.

2. Plant your strawberries 18" apart for June Bearers and 12" apart for Everbearer/Day Neutral on a gradual slope which improves the drainage and can help prevent frost injury.

3.  Dig a hole large enough to be able to spread the roots out. Fill in with soil and hill around the plant so that the soil is halfway up the crown. Proper planting is key. Water thoroughly and mulch with straw. In the fall cover with a 1" layer of straw to protect during the winter months.  Remember strawberries are perennial, meaning they come back every year!
Note: Every year strawberries send out runners which are new plants.  Each strawberry plant can produce up to 1 quart of strawberries annually for up to 5 years.  So take note on the age of your plants and push the runners into the soil so they develop into their own plant.