How to Grow Late-Fall Strawberry Varieties

Plant strawberry seedlings in late winter to early spring, when soil dries and warms enough to dig. Strawberries do best with relatively mild starts.

Find a site with full sunshine, quick drainage, good air circulation and plenty of space. Drainage is especially important for this crop, which lasts through both summer and winter. Set aside at least 10 to 20 square feet for a spacious strawberry plot.

Amend the soil in the plot to a depth of 6 to 10 inches. Dig the natural soil and break it up, then add 3 to 4 inches of organic compost for nutrition and moisture. Dig 6-24-24 granular fertilizer into the top 6 inches at a rate of 2 lbs. per 100 square feet of planting.

Plant day-neutral or everbearing strawberry cultivars for a fall harvest. Day-neutral cultivars produce fruit through summer and into fall, while everbearing cultivars produce spring, summer and fall fruit flushes. Plant strawberries in holes just deep and wide enough for their root balls; strawberries fail when planted too deep or too shallow. Give them 15 to 24 inches in a row, and leave 36 to 48 inches between rows.

Provide the plot with 2 inches of water. Put the strawberries on a weekly schedule of this much moisture. Spread 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil between plantings to minimize weed growth and maintain soil moisture.

Feed strawberries with granular 12-12-12 fertilizer at midseason to encourage fruit production. Give the strawberries 1 lb. of fertilizer per 50 feet of planting, and water immediately after the feeding.