How to Grow, Fertilize & Winterize Strawberries

Growing Strawberries

• 1

  Select a spot suitable for growing strawberries. The plants require full sun -- at least six hours a day, but preferably 10. The soil should drain well and retain moisture the plants need.

• 2

  Apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil before planting. Use 1 pound of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of garden space. The fertilizer needs to reach 6 inches to 8 inches deep.

• 3

  Trim damaged roots or those longer than 4 to 5 inches with garden shears prior to planting.

• 4

  Remove any flowers, flower buds and damaged leaves from the plants by hand immediately prior to planting.

• 5

  Dig a hole to accommodate the plant's root structure using a trowel or shovel. Set the plants deeply enough that the root structure is underground, but keep the crown even with the soil surface.

• 6

  Tamp down on the surrounding soil so it fills the hole. Make sure to pack the dirt firmly so you collapse any air pockets.

• 7

  Water the plants immediately after planting. Strawberries need 1 inch of water per week. During dry spells, water the plants once per week to meet these needs.

• 8

  Remove blossoms as they appear during the first growing year if you have June-bearing strawberries. This will allow the plants to produce a better crop of fruit the following year.

  For other varieties, including everbearing and day-neutral strawberries, remove the blossoms until the end of June. Beginning in July, leave the blossoms intact for a late summer crop of berries.

Fertilizing Strawberries

• 9

  Apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer to the strawberry bed space early in each growing season following the first year. Use 2.5 pounds of fertilizer for every 100 feet of garden space.

• 10

  Water the plants immediately after applying the fertilizer to allow it to work down into the soil.

• 11

  Apply another fertilizer application in July, or after you have harvested the fruit. Again, use 2.5 pounds for 100 feet of garden space.

• 12

  Water the plants after the fertilizer is applied to allow it to reach the roots.

• 13

  Begin the fertilizer application each spring, following the early spring/after harvest schedule.

Winterizing Strawberries

• 14

  Apply a 3- to 4-inch deep layer of straw mulch to the plants once they go dormant in late fall. Because strawberry plants are susceptible to cold, spread the mulch before temperatures dip down to 20 degrees F.

• 15

  Check the plants after a few days to see how high the mulch is after settling. Add more mulch as necessary if the piles are less than 3 inches high.

• 16

  Rake the mulch from the plants in early spring, leaving piles in garden rows or an easily accessible location. Leave a thin layer in place to help prevent weeds and maintain soil moisture.

• 17

  Reapply the mulch to the plants as necessary when frost threatens in early spring.

• 18

  Continue with the annual schedule of applying mulch to the plants in late fall or early winter and removing it in early spring.