Strawberry Culture

Planting – When you receive the plants from us they are Virus Free.  Strawberries are herbaceous perennials that typically exhaust themselves after 4 or 5 years.  Strawberries need well-drained soil that receives sun all day.  To prevent burning the roots, side dress with fertilizer after you notice growth beginning.  Use the same fertilizer you would for your vegetable garden.  Matted rows are typically used for June-bearing cultivars, while hill systems are the most common planting method for ever-bearing/day-neutral varieties. 

For matted rows, set plants 15 inches apart with 3-4 feet between rows.  Allow the runners to take root to form a mat 18 inches wide, keeping clear the remaining 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet between rows.  Remove all the flower clusters the first year, so plants can send energy into establishing growth.                                                                                                                                          

 Ever-bearing plants focus on producing multiple harvests, rather than sending out runners.  They grow well on a hill system.  Build a raised soil area about 8 inches high and 2 feet wide.  Plant 12 – 15 inches apart in staggered double rows.  Hills should have an aisle between them about 2 feet wide.  Remove all the runners during the growing season.  Remove blossoms until July 1, then allow to fruit.

Growing – Strawberry plants must have water during the growing season – an inch per week is the baseline.  Do not let them experience stress from lack of water.  If growth is weak and leaves are light green instead of dark, fertilize again 6 weeks after planting.  Too much nitrogen results in large, soft berries and excessive vegetative growth.  No need to over-do it!  Keep weeds at bay: hoe often.  Weeds rob your berries of nutrition and water.                                                                 

Harvesting – Pick berries at least every other day; each day of the weather is warm.  Pick all the ripe (and overripe) berries.  This will prevent mold and diseases from forming.  Refrigerate immediately after picking and wait to wash the fruit until right before use.

Disease Control – When you receive the plants from us they are Virus Free.  Aphids spread virus so rigid insect control avoids this problem.  To avoid root rot plant strawberries in a well drained are of the garden.

Crop Rotation -  Strawberry plants generally produce well for about 4 years, then their berry production falls off and diseases start to take their toll.  Remove and save the fourth year growth of runners, or purchase new plants, to plant in a new strawberry patch location.  The old bed should then be plowed under and a different use for the old planting area be found.  The old strawberry patch areas should remain free from strawberry plants for at least three years.  This procedure is recommended to discourage strawberry plant related pests and diseases.