Great Gardens: Strawberry growing tips

hey need alot of moisture.. But.. they like a quick draining sandy soil (prevents root rot) not totally sandy, mix a little potting soil in... mulch on top helps to retain moisture, and stops weeds. I left my leaves that fell last year and we had snow and they loved the protection. I add 1 inch of wood mulch a year to my fruit garden, and use liquid fertilizer monthly thoughout the spring and summer because the fast draining soil... hope this helps...

Strawberry Pots

strawberry plants, Strawberry pots are designed to hold one to three plants at the top. The pockets in the sides would then be able to hold any runners that developed as the plant matured. However, many gardeners fill all the openings with strawberry right from the start. To plant your own strawberry pot, you will need a piece of PVC pipe that is capped at one end, a drill, potting soil, and a strawberry pot. Cut the pipe so that it will fit inside the strawberry pot with the uncapped end even with the pot's rim. Drill 1/8" diameter holes an inch apart down alternating sides of the pipe. In other words, on one side your first hole might be 1/2" inch from the top, but on the other side your first hole would be one inch from the top.


Partially fill with the pot with soil and insert the tube, capped end down, into the center of the pot. Loosely add the rest of the potting mix. Plant each pocket. Add more soil around the roots if needed. Finish by planting two to three plants at the top and soaking the soil well. Water the pot by inserting a funnel into the pipe and pour water into it, ensuring that the water is distributed evenly through the pot.

Hanging Strawberry Baskets

strawberry plants, Suspending strawberries off the ground is a great way to keep slugs, snails, and sow bugs off them. Five to six strawberry plants can grow in the top of a hanging basket in the spring. But if you want to make the ultimate hanging strawberry basket, gather 24 strawberry plants, a 16 inch wire basket, potting soil, and some sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or a specially designed basket liner. Line the wire basket with the damp sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or basket liner. Insert 18 of the plants into the basket sides through the sphagnum moss. After you have finished, fill the basket with potting soil and planting the remaining plants in the top of the basket. The basket will continue to produce fruit for about three years.

Types of Strawberries

strawberry plants, There are many different varieties of strawberries; however, all fall into one of three categories: June-bearing, everbearing or day neutral. June-bearing strawberries produce a large, concentrated crop once a year during a three-week period, usually in June as their name suggests. Everbearing, also called ever bearing, strawberries produce two crops of strawberries, one in the spring and another in the late summer or fall. Day neutral are often considered new improved everbearers. They are capable of bearing fruit continuously from June through September. Day neutral strawberries prefer cooler temperatures, however, and will not flower or bear fruit during hot weather.

Within each of the categories are a number of different varieties. Which one you choose depends upon your climate, growing conditions, and when you want the fruit to ripen. For example, red alpine strawberries (an everbearer) are usually the best choice if you intend to grow your strawberries indoors because they are more tolerant to shady conditions. The Brighton variety, another everbearer, is known for doing well in hanging baskets. If you plan to keep your plants outdoors, check with your local greenhouse to see what varieties will grow best in your area.

When To Plant

Summer fruiting strawberries (the type seen in most shops) can be planted in early September or early April. The best results undoubtedly come from planting in early September, although if your area suffers heavy winter frosts, it is best to wait until mid April. Perpetual strawberries should be planted in mid April.

For both types, wait until the soil is crumbly and not water-logged.

Where poly-tunnels or cloches are used, strawberries can be raised about 3 weeks earlier than those without protection. Click here to buy a poly-tunnel or cloche now from GardenAction's preferred online supplier.

strawberry plants,How to Grow Strawberries

Strawberries do not produce deep roots, but they very much appreciate their soil being well-dug to a spades depth. Prepare the soil at least one month before planting. Incorporate as much organic matter as possible and include two handfuls of bonemeal per square metre (yard). A few days before planting apply the recommended dose of general fertiliser such as Growmore. Strawberries are greedy feeders over a relatively short period of time.

strawberry plants, How to Grow Strawberries

Strawberries are ideal fruit for benefiting from the use of cloches to produce earlier and better fruit.if you want to buy cloches online from our approved suppliers. Alternatively, to go to our in depth article on how to select and use cloches with specific details on how and when to use cloches on strawberries to produce earlier and better fruit.

Summer fruiting strawberry plants crop over a very short period, not much more than three weeks. Perpetual strawberries however, produce three flushes of fruit, cropping throughout the entire summer.

The majority of shop-bought strawberries in the UK have been grown abroad and transported all the way from the Canary Islands to England - strawberries do not travel well. The taste of home-grown garden strawberries is undoubtedly a hundred times better than the commercial varieties. Have a go at growing your own strawberries with GardenAction know-how, hints and tips.

How to Grow Strawberries - Where?

Frost is the first thought when considering where to grow strawberry plants in your garden. They are very hardy plants during the winter but are not so hardy when they burst into life in spring. Strawberries produces flowers early in the Spring and because they are close to the ground, it is important to position strawberries where they have least risk of frost. The highest ground is always the best. Frost damage when they start into growth will occur if the temperature drops below -2°C or -4°C with cloche or poly-tunnel protection.

Strawberries are ideal fruit for benefiting from the use of cloches to produce earlier and better fruit. if you want to buy cloches online from our approved suppliers. Alternatively,o go to our in depth article on how to select and use cloches with specific details on how and when to use cloches on strawberries to produce earlier and better fruit.

The next considerations are sun and wind - grow them in the sunniest position in the garden and in the least windy. Too much wind and insects will be unable to pollinate the plants. One tip, don't plant strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes have been grown - these plants could pass on verticillium wilt, a serious strawberry disease. Neither should strawberries be grown on land which has recently had grass growing on it - there will undoubtedly be a large number of wireworms on such land who will enjoy eating your strawberries long before you get your chance!