How to Grow June Bearing Strawberries

Find a spot in your garden that gets full sun. Ten hours a day of direct sunlight is ideal for June-bearing and other types of strawberries, the University of Minnesota Extension reports. At a minimum, make sure the site you pick gets at least six hours of sunlight.

Incorporate organic matter such as peat into your soil if it is thick and dense and does not drain well.

Fertilize the bed space before planting with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Use 1 lb. of the fertilizer for every 100 square feet of garden space.

Set the plants in the soil in the spring as soon as the soil warms enough that you can easily work with it. The plants should be set so that the crown is even with the soil surface. Strawberries will not grow properly if planted too deeply or too shallowly.

Water the plants immediately after planting so they can begin to set their roots. After being planted, June-bearing strawberries need about 1 inch of water per week and will need to be supplemented during dry periods.

Mulch around the plants with an organic mulch to prevent weed growth, regulate soil temperature and prevent moisture evaporation. The Minnesota Extension advises against plastic mulches because they can cause the soil to get too warm.

Weed the garden bed regularly. Weeds can compete with June-bearing strawberries for nutrients in the soil and can compromise the quality of your harvest.

Remove flowers from the plants in the first growing season. Although not absolutely necessary, taking this step in the season you plant the June-bearing strawberries will ensure a better harvest in the following year. If, however, you want fruit from your plants immediately, skip this step.