How to Care for a Hood Strawberry

Keep the soil consistently moist during the first year after planting, especially during the harvesting season and when flower buds are forming. Water the soil to a depth of 12 inches if there is little or no rainfall within a two-week period during the spring or summer, making sure the plants get at least 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. Avoid overhead watering because it may encourage root rot, particularly during the harvesting season.

Pinch off flowers during the year of planting as soon as they appear; this helps strengthen plants and improve production the following year.

Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of straw or 4- to 5-inch layer of pine needles in the winter to protect the plants from winds and frost. Remove the mulch when new growth begins appearing in the early spring, but leave some of it nearby to cover the plants in case of a frost.

Renovate the plant beds after harvesting the fruit in spring or early summer by trimming off the foliage with a mower, removing it about 1 inch above the crowns of the plants. Remove weeds, and narrow the rows of plants to 6 to 12 inches wide with a hoe or spade.

Apply 1 pound of a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet immediately after renovation and when the leaves are dry, applying the fertilizer around the sides of the plants. Brush any fertilizer off the leaves, and water the soil until it is evenly moist to help the fertilizer soak into the root zone.