Ideas for Planting Strawberries in Your Garden

Growing sweet, juicy strawberries in your own backyard can be immensely rewarding. With some planning and preparation, you can have a thriving strawberry patch that produces abundant harvests year after year.

Here are some clever ideas and tips to get your strawberry garden up and running successfully:

Choosing the Right Strawberry Varieties to Plant

Selecting the right strawberry variety for your region is key for a bountiful harvest. June-bearing varieties produce a single large crop in early summer. Everbearing and day-neutral cultivars yield smaller yet steady harvests spring through fall. Alpine strawberries are a compact option ideal for containers.

For best results, plant 2-3 different varieties to extend your harvesting window. Mix early-season types like Earliglow that ripen first, mid-season berries like Allstar and Sweet Charlie, and late-varieties like Camarosa and Chandler that fruit in early summer. This succession planting means you'll be picking ripe berries for weeks.

Choose disease-resistant varieties whenever possible to minimize pest and disease issues. Chandler, Camarosa, Allstar, Seascape and Albion have resistance bred in to help avoid common problems like anthracnose, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt.

Ask at your local nursery to find out which types perform best in your specific area. The staff can advise on ideal varieties for your region's soil and climate. Some top performers include Chandler, Camarosa, Sweet Charlie, Allstar, Earliglow, Seascape, Albion and Sparkle. Avoid planting strawberry types prone to disease issues in your location.

Tips for Picking the Best Strawberry Varieties:

• Choose varieties suited to your region's climate
• Mix early, mid and late season types for extended harvest
• Select disease-resistant cultivars when possible
• Consider compact Alpine types for container growing
• Ask your local nursery for recommended varieties
• Plant 2-3 varieties with different ripening times

Selecting the Best Location to Plant Strawberries

Choosing the optimal site is crucial for growing robust, high-yielding strawberry plants. Strawberries thrive in a sunny, well-draining location. They need full sun exposure of at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is particularly important.

Plant them in raised beds or raised rows to improve drainage. This prevents waterlogged roots and disease problems like phytophthora root rot. Enhance drainage further by mixing sand or perlite into the soil. Avoid low-lying areas of the garden that collect water.

Good airflow is also key to plant health. Allow adequate space between rows for air circulation. Avoid planting where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or eggplants grew previously to reduce disease risk.

For container-grown berries, be sure to situate pots and planters in the sunniest spot available. Add extra drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil. Move containers to a sheltered area during cold snaps or frost nights.

Ideal Strawberry Planting Sites Have:

• Full sun exposure of at least 6-8 hours
• Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil
• Good air circulation
• Protection from strong winds
• No competition from other plants
• No recent planting of nightshade family crops

Preparing the Soil for Planting

Preparing the soil well in advance of planting is vital for strong strawberry plant growth. Start by testing your soil pH and adjusting it to between 5.5-6.5. Strawberries prefer slightly acidic conditions. Mixing in sphagnum peat can help lower pH if needed.

Work 2-4 inches of aged compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to increase organic matter and nutrients. These additions also help retain moisture and improve soil structure. Thoroughly mix in perlite or builder's sand to create the ideal loamy texture that drains well but still holds water.

Dig out paths between rows to further improve drainage and prevent plants from sitting in water. Preplant fertilizer encourages vigorous root and plant growth. Use an organic granular formula designed for fruiting plants and vegetables. Work it into the top several inches per package directions 2-4 weeks before planting.

Soil Prep Tips:

• Test and amend soil pH to 5.5-6.5
• Mix in 2-4" of compost or manure
• Add perlite or sand to improve drainage
• Dig paths between rows to avoid standing water
• Apply preplant fertilizer 2-4 weeks before planting

Planting Strawberries Properly

To give your strawberry plants the best start, proper planting technique is important. Early spring is ideal planting time, once the danger of frost has fully passed. Wait until soil temperatures warm to 70degF for several consecutive days.

Space June-bearing plants 12-18 inches apart in rows 3-4 feet apart. Allow 2-2.5 feet between everbearing types. Dig holes deep enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. Gently spread roots outward and downward.

Position plants at the same soil depth they were growing at in the nursery pot or bundle. The crown where the roots emerge should sit right at soil level - not buried but not exposed either. Firm the soil gently around the plant to remove air pockets.

Water newly planted berries thoroughly to help settle the soil. Add a layer of mulch around each plant to retain moisture. For container planting, choose at least a 12" wide, 12" deep pot and use quality potting soil. Put 1-2 plants per 12" container.

Strawberry Planting Tips:

• Plant in early spring after danger of frost is past
• Allow proper spacing between plants and rows
• Set crowns at soil level, not too high or low
• Gently firm soil around roots and water thoroughly
• Add mulch after planting to retain moisture

Caring for Strawberry Plants

Consistent watering, fertilizing, and pest control keeps your strawberries healthy and productive. Water plants regularly, especially during fruit set and development, to form large, juicy berries. Drip irrigation is ideal to target the roots. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Use a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch around plants to suppress weeds, moderate soil temperatures, and retain moisture. Replenish it as needed. Monthly fertilizer with a balanced 10-10-10 or tomato formula keeps plants vigorous and high-yielding.

Control slugs, snails, birds, and other strawberry pests through organic methods like diatomaceous earth, copper tape, and row covers. Prune off runners to focus the plant's energy on growing fruit rather than new plants.

Ongoing Strawberry Care Includes:

• Regular, even watering, allowing soil to partially dry out
• Using mulch for moisture retention and weed suppression
• Monthly fertilization
• Pruning off excess runners
• Organic pest and bird control

Knowing when and how to pick strawberries ensures you enjoy them at their flavorful best. Check berries daily once they start ripening. Harvest fully red, firm berries by gently twisting off the stem and cap. Make sure not to crush or bruise the delicate fruit.

Pick every two to three days during peak season. Early morning is ideal, before the sun gets hot. Handle berries carefully and place directly into shallow containers. Refrigerate unwashed, dry berries soon after picking for maximum freshness. They'll keep for three to five days.