Garden Strawberry: Care and Growing Guide (2024)

How to Plant Garden Strawberries

Strawberry plants are generally planted in rich, moist soil, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart, as they will shoot out runners quickly. In zone 6 and further north, plant them outside during the spring months to ensure the plants are well-rooted by the following year. It's generally recommended to pinch off all blooms the first year (especially the June-bearing varieties), which encourages the plants to put their energy into root growth. Garden strawberries planted in zone 7 and farther south can be planted in the fall and will produce edible fruit by the following spring.

Mulch between plants after planting to keep the soil temperature cool, retain moisture, deter weeds, and keep the fruit above the soil. Straw is the traditional strawberry mulch. Do not use black plastic, since it will raise the soil temperature, and optimal fruit production requires cool soil.

Don't plant strawberries where tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants have grown, as these plants are susceptible to verticillium wilt, which can affect strawberries.

Garden Strawberry Care

Light

Garden strawberry plants ideally need eight hours of full sun per day but can be planted anywhere that gets between 6 to 10 hours of sunlight daily. If planted in less light, the harvest will be smaller.

Soil

Garden strawberry plants prefer soil that's rich and loamy with a pH between 5.8 to 6.2 for maximum production. Plant the strawberries so that the roots are covered in soil but the crown is exposed to fresh air and light. If buried deep, the plant will rot.

Water

For juicy strawberries, provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Regular watering is especially important while the fruit is forming, from early bloom to the end of harvest.

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperature for garden strawberries is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as the plant is protected from frost.

High humidity can encourage the development and spread of powdery mildew, so provide plenty of air circulation for the plants.

Fertilizer

Start with compost-rich, organic soil, and apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting time, at the rate of one pound per 100 square feet. Fertilize again after the renovation of June-bearers or after the second harvest of day-neutrals and everbearing types.

Do not over-fertilize, which leads to excessive leaf growth and poor flowering. Additionally, don't fertilize strawberries late in the season in colder climates, as you want to prevent new growth that will be damaged by frost.

Garden Strawberry Varieties

Strawberry plants are grouped by their fruiting habits. Be sure you know what you are planting because the type of plant will determine when and how much you harvest.

• June-bearing: This variety produces one large crop per year during a two- to three-week period, usually around June, though they'll begin bearing earlier in warmer climates. These plants particularly benefit from removing all their flowers the first year, to increase future yields.
• Everbearing: These strawberries do not continually bear fruit, as their name might imply. Everbearing strawberries produce buds when the days are long, which usually results in two main harvests—one in June and another in early fall.
• Day-neutral: These strawberries produce fruit throughout the growing season but in smaller quantities than June-bearing plants. They don't rely on day length for fruit production, Instead, they form fruit based on temperature—even forming buds when temps are as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when temperatures exceed 75 degrees, production stops. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries have a longer season of harvest, but the fruits are usually somewhat smaller than June-bearers. Day-neutral varieties typically produce only a few runners.

Harvesting

Garden strawberries will begin to produce fruit over a period of about three weeks in the late spring, though the fruit will appear earlier in warmer climates. Strawberries are the sweetest when fully ripened on the plants. For most varieties, this means leaving the berries on the plant for a day or two after they are fully colored, though the only way to know for sure is to taste them.

Strawberries bruise easily, so be gentle when pulling the fruit from the plants. Snap or cut the stem directly above the berry rather than pulling on the berry itself. Keep harvested berries in a cool, shady location.

Pruning

June-bearing strawberries produce a number of runners, which should be left in place, but everbearing and day-neutral varieties produce only a couple of runners that produce inferior fruit. On day-neutral and everbearing varieties, snip off these runners.

During the first year, pick blossoms off the plants. This will increase the yield significantly in the second year because the plant will devote energy to developing healthy roots instead of fruit in the first year.

Propagating

Strawberries naturally spread by means of stem runners that spread out from the parent plant and root themselves in surrounding soil. As these runners take root, the connecting stems can be snipped, and the resulting plantlet can be carefully dug up and transplanted in a new location. Pinning the runners down into the soil will hasten the rooting process. Early fall is generally the best time to dig up and move these plantlets.

Overwintering

In colder climates, mulching over the strawberry plants in winter will prevent injury to the crowns. Wait until the temperature drops to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, then cover the bed with several inches of straw (the best option), pine needles or shredded leaves. Be sure to use a mulch that can be easily removed in the spring.

Common Pests and Diseases

Strawberries are fairly high-maintenance plants, so be prepared for a variety of problems, including leaf spot and other foliage diseases, root rots, fruit rot diseases (such as anthracnose), gray mold, viruses, and sun scorch. Common pests include tarnished plant bug, mites, aphids, leafrollers, slugs, nematodes, and strawberry weevils. Birds can devastate a crop, unless the patch is protected with netting.

As with any edible plant, it's best to look for the least toxic solutions possible when treating diseases and pests. Many gardeners resign themselves to the reality that they will always lose some portion of the crop to such problems.

Many cultivars are bred to be resistant to common diseases, so consult a local expert for recommendations on the best varieties for your region.

How to Grow Garden Strawberries in Pots

If you don't have outdoor space for a garden or if you live in an area with soil that is naturally alkaline, it might be a good idea to grow garden strawberries in a container that's full with compost-enriched quality potting soil.

Garden strawberries grown in containers can be replanted in the late summer months. Move them to a cool, protected place, like an unheated basem*nt or garage, during chillier months.