Different Ways to Grow Strawberries

Garden Patch

• Establish strawberry plants directly in a garden patch if there's enough space. Strawberries grown this way yield at least 1 qt. of strawberries per foot of row each season. Amend the soil with manure or compost, and plant the strawberries in early spring. Space June-bearing varieties 12 to 18 inches apart; space everbearing and day-neutral types 6 to 12 inches apart. Remove all the blossoms the first four to six weeks to allow the plants to develop strong roots. Trim the rows back at the end of the summer to 6 inches wide, removing straggly, weak plants. Mulch the plants with 4 to 6 inches of weed-free straw to protect them from winter freezes.

Raised Beds

• Strawberries in raised beds are grown similarly to those in a strawberry patch, although you can place the plants 1 to 2 inches closer together because the soil is generally better. Raised beds are ideal for a small garden. The soil warms up earlier in the spring, and the strawberry plants won't invade other parts of your garden. Raised beds also usually have fewer weeds than a regular garden -- an important consideration since weeds quickly ruin a strawberry patch. Remove all the blossoms for the first four to six weeks and keep the soil evenly moist. Remove weeds and mulch the berries with straw to keep them moist and protect them from cold temperatures.

Strawberry Planters

• Several products are marketed specifically for planting strawberries, such as a round, tiered planter or a pyramid planter. These planters may cost a bit more, but are good choices for gardeners with limited space. Yields are usually smaller than those from raised beds or strawberry patches, but maintenance is low. Most gardeners grow strawberries as annuals when using strawberry planters, replacing the plants every spring. Don't remove early blossoms if you grow strawberries as annuals.

Containers

• If you have limited space, but find strawberry planters too expensive, consider a large pot. A large pot with adequate drainage holes works well. Or grow strawberries in whimsical containers, such as an old wheelbarrow, livestock trough or even an old boot. Drill holes in the bottoms for drainage and fill the containers with rich potting mix. Container plantings are more vulnerable to cold weather than those grown directly in the ground because the containers are exposed to cold air, rather than resting in insulating soil. Move containers to an unheated garage, wrap them in burlap or mulch them heavily if you wish to grow them as perennials. Move the containers to a sunny location in the spring and water them so the soil stays evenly moist.