How Do Strawberries Grow?

Types of Plants

• June-bearing strawberry plants produce fruit for about three weeks in late spring or early summer. They can produce up to a quart of berries per plant. These plants produce lots of runners that must be managed in order to maintain rows for easier harvesting.

  If you want to keep the berries coming throughout the summer, plant everbearers. These varieties produce fruit from spring to fall. The berries are usually smaller than June-bearers. They do not produce many runners, which makes them ideal if you have limited space or want to grow your plants in containers.

Planting

• All types of strawberries grow in well-drained soils but they prefer a sandy loam. For best results you need to provide a sunny location that receives at least six hours of sun each day. Plant strawberries in the spring, as soon as the ground is workable so that the plants will be well-established before the heat of summer begins. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer, digging a pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet into the soil. Dig it down 6 to 8 inches deep. Place June-bearers 18 to 30 inches apart in rows that are 3 to 4 feet apart. Plant everbearers a foot apart in rows that are 2 feet apart. Dig your holes deep enough to accommodate the roots, which should be spread out vertically within the hole. Cover roots firmly with the soil, being sure they are covered completely, leaving only the crowns exposed. Water the plants thoroughly after planting. Avoid planting your strawberries in soil that has been used for growing potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or eggplant to prevent the development of a virus. Use straw or matting around the plants to keep the leaves and fruit from laying directly on the soil.

Cycle

• June-bearing strawberry plants put out runners or tendrils that develop smaller plants on the ends. Cut off these small plants, or daughters, when they have three or four leaves on them. If you plant these daughters in small pots and care for them, you can plant them in your garden the following season to keep your crop thriving. Keep the small plants well watered, but pinch off the flowers and do not allow them to bear fruit until the following year when they are planted.

  Your first-year June-bearers will produce some fruit during two to three weeks in the first year of growth. In the second and third years, the plants will be more productive. After that they will need to be removed and replaced.

  For everbearers, pinch off flowers and any runners until the end of June. After that leave the flowers to produce fruit during summer and fall.

Care

• Strawberry plants need to be well watered. Take care to keep water off of the fruits as much as possible. Give them 1 inch of water each week during the growing season. Water twice a week if there is no rainfall.

  Reapply a 10-10-10 fertilizer to your everbearers four to six weeks after planting and again in late August. Apply 1 to 2 lbs. per 100 square feet.

  Birds are attracted to the bright red fruit of strawberry plants. In order to protect your crop, cover your plants with netting. Build a cage around your plants by placing wood stakes around the plants and stretching the netting over the stakes. Secure it so that birds cannot get to your plants.