Rules of Growing Strawberries

Conditions

• Strawberry plants prefer soil rich in nutrients in a location that gets full sun all day. In particular, sandy loam soil that drains fast suits strawberry growth. Adding extra nutrients to the soil before planting gives your plants a better chance of growing big. Experts at the Colorado State University Extension suggest working in half a bushel of manure, straw or other organic matter per 100 square feet of garden. A pound of balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer applied to 100 square feet of garden provides enough fertilizer to get the plants started.

Planting

• Strawberries need enough space between plants to spread and produce fruit -- between 15 and 24 inches, recommends Bruce Bordelon at Purdue University Cooperative Extension. Space multiple rows between 3 and 4 feet apart. Plant seedlings so that the fatter crown at the base of the stem is exposed above the earth. A crown dug too deep or too shallow into the soil won't grow properly and may lead to stem rot or similar growing problems.

Care

• Strawberries don't need a lot of fertilizer. One application of 10-10-10 fertilizer in July, after the first harvest, is usually enough for the whole year -- as long as soil preparation is good before planting. This happens after "renovation." Renovating involves cutting back the foliage to an inch above each crown in July. Pull out all signs of weed and thin the plants. Strawberries need 1 inch of water every week in summer.

Considerations

• Strawberries planted in ground where tomatoes, eggplants, peppers or potatoes have grown in the last year or two could suffer verticillium wilt. This causes the stem and crown to turn brown, while leaves droop and look rotten. Instead, planting in an area where green manure such as oats or rye has grown reduces the likelihood of disease. You can also work green manure into the ground as extra nourishment before planting strawberries.