Do Strawberries Grow in Elevated Trenches?

Planting Season

• Strawberries do best in warm planting seasons. Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension recommends late-winter and early-spring plantings in U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 8 and lower but notes that gardeners in warm growing zones can plant successfully in early fall. Always plant strawberries on cool, cloudy days to keep the seedlings from drying out during the process.

Site and Soil Elevation

• Strawberries need full, bright sunshine all day, with good air circulation and quick, effective drainage. Choose sites that drain quickly in summer and winter to keep the plants from drowning or rotting in standing water. If you can't provide quick drainage or good soil quality, Purdue University recommends building soil up to give strawberries raised planting sites.

Soil Amendments

• Use a soil amendment to warm, loosen and nourish soil for planting as well as to build elevated rows for strawberry health. Dig into the top 6 inches of soil in your plot, and add 6 inches of organic compost, peat moss, straw, rotted manure or other organic matter for nutrition and moisture retention. Rake the soil to build beds 4 to 6 inches tall and 3 feet wide, with trenches running between them for drainage. Purdue University recommends mixing 6-24-24 fertilizer into the planting beds to give strawberries a quick start. Plant strawberry plants every 15 to 24 inches in the rows.

Renovation and Elevation

• Maintain elevated growing into winter with fall strawberry renovations. Mow the strawberry plants down to within 3 inches of the soil after your last harvest, and give them 12-12-12 fertilizer. Cover the rows with 1/2 to 1 inch of soil to build the soil level up, and wait for strawberry runners to grow up through the new soil. This level is your new strawberry bed.