How to Grow Strawberries Well

Contact a local county extension office for information on varieties well-suited to your climate. June-bearing varieties produce berries in midsummer, the second year after planting. They require little maintenance and produce a high-quality, high-yield crop. Day-neutral plants produce berries in smaller quantities in their first year. Yield and fruit quality are inferior to June-bearing varieties, but day neutrals have the advantage of producing all summer long. Many gardeners plant both types.

Apply 3 to 4 inches of manure or compost to the soil, digging it it in with a hand trowel or small shovel to improve drainage and soil texture. Strawberries grow best in sun and well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Plant strawberries in raised beds if you have heavy, poorly draining soils.

Plant strawberry plants in early spring, covering the roots and half of the crown with soil. The crown is the section of plant lying between the roots and leaves. Set the strawberries in the ground so the roots stretch downward, rather than lying horizontally. Space June-bearing strawberries 12 to 24 inches apart, in rows 36 to 40 inches apart. Space day-neutral types 8 to 12 inches apart, with rows 30 to 36 inches apart.

Remove blossoms from all types of strawberry plants for the first six weeks after planting to encourage strong root development. This practice reduces first-year yield but ensures higher yields in subsequent years.

Fertilize plants with 10 oz. granular 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil one week after planting. Thereafter, apply 10 to 12 oz. of fertilizer annually, in June and August.

Water the plants after planting and throughout the season to keep the soil evenly moist. Strawberries don't tolerate dry conditions. Without adequate water they will produce fewer fruits of reduced quality. Pay extra attention to watering in late summer as the plant puts energy into growth for the next year.

Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of straw or wood chip mulch around the plants after planting. Mound the mulch over the plants in the winter before the ground freezes solid.

Rejuvenate the strawberry patch in early fall by removing old and spindly plants so that the rows are 6 to 12 inches apart and plants are spaced 5 or 6 inches apart. Neglected strawberry plantings can become crowded and unproductive, but they will provide good yields for three to five years if cared for properly.