What Is the Process in Growing Strawberries?

Site Selection and Preparation

• Select a site in full sun. Strawberries need at least six hours of sunlight per day. The soil should be rich and loose with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2. Feel free to conduct your own science experiment and test your soil's pH with a paper test kit. According to the University of Maine Extension, strawberries shouldn't be planted where tomatoes, peppers or eggplant have grown in the past. This is to avoid the threat of Verticillium rot, which is common in those vegetables and remains in the soil.

Planting

• Strawberry plants can be planted as soon as the soil is workable in the spring, according to the University of Illinois Extension. The planting hole should be large enough to spread out the roots. Keep the crown of the plant above the soil line. Space plants 1 1/2 feet apart with 4 to 4 1/2 feet between rows. The ideal row width is about 2 feet, according to the University of Maine Extension. Each plant will put out runner plants, and the space between rows will eventually fill in to form a patch.

Care

• Keep weeds under control, as they can easily take over strawberry plants. According to the University of Maine Extension, it's a good idea to remove any flowers that appear during the first year to let the plants establish their root systems. Strawberry plants need about 1 to 2 inches of irrigation per week. Harvest fruit when it is ripe. Mulch plants with straw in the fall to protect plants during the winter. Remove the mulch in the spring and scoot it between the rows where it will serve as a walkway and can easily be moved back onto the plants in the event of cold weather.

Renovation

• According to the University of Illinois Extension, plants should be "renovated" each year shortly after harvest. Remove the runner plants so just the "mother" plants remain, and narrow each row to 10 to 12 inches. The University of Maine Extension recommends removing all leaves to within an inch of the crown. Pull up any plants that are diseased or dying and irrigate the patch to 6 inches deep.