Can You Plant Strawberry Plants in July?

Planting Strawberries

• Strawberries are perennials, and starting them properly will ensure good crops later on. The best time to plant is in early spring, usually March or April, as soon as the ground is dry. According to the University of Illinois Extension, this gives them time to get established before hot weather arrives. Strawberries have shallow root systems and need a lot of water. They may not be able to properly root during hot weather. They may also not be established by the time winter comes if planted too late. Planting strawberries in the spring gives you the opportunity to pinch off flowers and promote good bushy growth to support big berries in summer.

Container Strawberries

• Strawberries grow well in containers. If you're late planting yours, you might consider planting them in pots. You'll be able to move them out of hot sun in late summer and shelter them indoors or in the garage in the winter. Strawberry pots, available at any garden center, are perfect for growing on a patio. These pots have the usual opening on top but also have openings in the sides for additional plants. Since strawberries have shallow roots, they don't compete for space.

Planting in Containers

• To plant strawberries in a strawberry pot, block the bottom hole with screen or mesh--anything that will let water out but not soil. Fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil up to the first side holes. Place the strawberries in the holes and spread their roots out, then add more dirt and repeat until you get to the top hole. Place some sphagnum moss around the strawberries in the side holes to prevent dirt from spilling out when you water. Drip irrigation lines work well for strawberries planted in strawberry pots.

Varieties

• Strawberries come in three main types: June bearing, everbearing and day neutral. June-bearing plants produce berries for a two- to three-week stretch in late spring. Everbearing and day-neutral plants produce berries all summer but have smaller fruit. "Tillicum," "Ozark Beauty" and "Quinalult" are everbearing varieties recommended by the University of Illinois for container gardening.