An Easy Guide To Planting & Growing Strawberries
Strawberries, the most economically well-known berry crop, are known for their taste, nutritional value, and antioxidant compounds.
Choosing A Strawberry Type
The first step is choosing the right strawberry type. There are different types of strawberries to choose from, including June-bearing and everbearing/day-neutral. June-bearing strawberries produce fruit in early summer, while everbearing/day-neutral strawberries can produce fruit throughout the growing season, depending on your zone and seasonal climate.
When choosing a strawberry plant, it’s essential to consider the growing conditions of your area. Some strawberry varieties perform better in certain climates, soil types, and light conditions.Strawberries, the most economically well-known berry crop, are known for their taste, nutritional value, and antioxidant compounds.
Preparing The Soil
Once you have purchased your strawberry plants, the next step is preparing the soil. Strawberries require loose well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic.
Before planting your strawberries, loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches and remove any weeds or large rocks. Add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil to improve its fertility and aid in water retention.
Planting Your Strawberries
Once the soil is prepared, it’s time to plant your strawberries. First, choose a sunny location with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Dig a hole that is deep enough to accommodate the roots of the strawberry plant. Make sure the crown of the plant is level with the soil surface. If the crown is buried too deep, the plant may not grow properly, and if it’s too high, the roots may dry out.
The spacing of strawberry plants depends on the variety.
It’s also a good idea to mulch around the plants with straw or compost. This will help to retain moisture in the soil and help to prevent weed growth.
5 Tips For Strawberry Care
After planting your strawberries, it’s essential to care for them properly to ensure healthy growth and fruit production. Here are some tips for caring for your strawberries:
1. Water your strawberries regularly, especially during dry spells. It’s essential to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Frequent, shallow waterings are best for newly planted strawberries.
2.When to fertilize your strawberries depends on their type. June-bearing types should be fertilized once per season, after harvest—with a low nitrogen / high phosphorus fertilizer. Using a high-nitrogen fertilizer can produce excessive foliage and prevent fruit production.
3. Weed your strawberry bed regularly to prevent competition for nutrients and water. As mentioned above, it’s also a good idea to mulch around the plants to suppress weed growth.
4. Protect your strawberries from pests and diseases. Common pests that can attack strawberries include aphids, thrips, mites, plant parasitic nematodes, slugs and snails. Recommended use King's Thrips off, King's Mites off, King's Nema off, etc. Diseases that can affect strawberries include powdery mildew, botrytis, leaf spot, anthracnose and verticillium wilt. Recommended use King's Care, King's Shield, King's Captan, etc.
5. For both types of plants, remove any runners that form. Runners are long, trailing stems that grow from the mother plant that will divert energy away from fruit production.
(Source: Jungseed)
How to Harvest Strawberries
When you grow your own, you can peak at the peak of ripeness. No more white strawberries! Harvest only fully red (ripe) berries, and pick every three days.
Fruit is typically ready for harvesting 4 to 6 weeks after blossoming.
Ideally, pick fruits in the warmth of the afternoon for maximum flavor.
Cut by the stem; do not pull the berry, or you could damage the plant.
For June-bearer strawberries, the harvest will last up to 3 weeks. Depending on the variety, you should have an abundance of berries.
How to Store Strawberries
Store unwashed berries in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Strawberries can be frozen whole for about 2 months.
Dehydrate them or turn them into delicious jams.
(Source: Almanac)
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