Problems With Gardening Strawberries

Lack of Water and Nutrients

• Strawberries are a plant that is made up of a large amount of water and this is particularly true once fruits begin growing. Strawberries need to be watered daily in dry climates, particularly if it is windy, or if they are placed in a spot that receives more than six hours of direct sunlight a day. In addition, strawberries need to be fertilized regularly, particularly before fruits mature as the plant is working hard to supply each individual fruit with the necessary nutrients for growth.

Impoper Placement

• Strawberries need to be placed in an area that receives approximately six hours of sunshine per day. They should be placed in an area that receives good drainage as standing water will cause the vines to rot. Growing strawberries on one level is possible, but you increase your yields and improve plant health by planting them in a raised bed with several different levels. Pyramid gardening works very well for strawberry plants and can help double your yield.

Picking the Wrong Variety

• There are two main types of strawberries -- June-bearing and ever-bearing. Ever-bearing strawberries are much smaller than June-bearing strawberries, but they will grow throughout the summer and produce more fruit over time. June-bearing strawberries are very large, but once June has passed, you will not get many new fruits. Make sure you know which variety you have planted so that you are not disappointed with the plant's performance.

Pests

• Pests are a very common issue with gardening strawberries. Rats, rabbits, mice, squirrels and other rodents find these berries to be very tasty and they may also eat the foliage, which can cause the plant to fail. Insects like grasshoppers and aphids also like to munch on these fruits. Plant your strawberries behind rodent-proof fencing and treat the plants with a food-safe pesticide as necessary to remove pests.