How to Raise Everbearing Strawberries

Till the soil to depth of 8 to 12 inches in a location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Remove rocks and other debris from the soil. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure over the planting area, and work it into the top 6 inches of soil. Strawberries prefer organic-rich, well-draining soil.

Trim dead or dying leaves from strawberry plants you have purchased. Soak the plants in water for one hour to moisten the roots. This gives them the moisture they need to get off to a good start once they are planted.

Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball of your strawberry plants. Position the plants in the soil so the crown rests flush with the surface of the soil. The crown is the area where the leaves join the roots of the plant. Firm the soil around the roots to secure the plant.

Space individual plants a foot apart with a foot between rows, if you use rows. The University of Illinois Extension recommends hill planting for everbearing strawberries, and removing the runners as they form to leave only the mother plants.

Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer per gallon of water to create a starter fertilizer for strawberry plants. Apply 1 to 2 cups per plant at planting time.

Remove all blooms until July in the first year to allow the plant to become established. This channels the plant's energy into developing strong roots that are capable of supporting healthy growth.

Mulch around strawberry plants with 2 to 3 inches of straw to suppress weeds and conserve moisture in the soil.

Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer in late July or August at a rate recommended on the label. Sprinkle granular fertilizer over the soil, and work it in with a garden hoe, or use a water-soluble formula.

Cover the strawberry plants with 3 to 4 inches of straw in late fall after a hard frost. This provides winter protection and prevents damage from alternate freezing and thawing during winter months.

Fertilize with 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring when new growth appears.