Plant: Strawberries

Garden Prep Pointers: 

*Select full sun location to be dedicated to Strawberries for 3-5 years

*Till soil thoroughly, mix in 15-15-15, or organic fertilizer (amount specified on package).

Planting Season: 

*Plant outside May 1st – May 15th

Plant Selection Tips: 

*Dormant bare root plants are best, do not buy from hardware store.

Planting Guide:

*Plant 12" apart in rows 4 ft. apart.

Planting Notes: 

*The crown of the plant is the thick area at the top of the roots.  Plant so half of the crown is above the soil and half below.  Do not let roots be exposed above the soil.

*Your plants will bloom the first year, remove these flowers before they set fruit.  Fruit set depletes crucial energy the plant needs the first year.

Upkeep:

*Be sure to keep your patch weed free.

*After planting, fertilize in August

*Water often, establishing your crop the first year is crucial. 

Fruiting Habits:

            *By removing the first year blossoms, your crop the following year will be fantastic.

Growers Favorite Varieties:

            *Jewel

Grower Notes:

*About 4-6 weeks after planting, strawberries will begin to "runner" sending out shoots with baby strawberry plants at the ends.  Leave these runners attached to the mother plants and train them into your row and out of the walking path so the new berry plants will develop and create a nice thick row of strawberry plants, ready to  bear the following year.

*After your first harvest at year two, mow the berries off, and till all but 6" of row into the soil.  The left over 6" will then re-emerge, runner and start a fresh generation of plants to yield the following year.  (failing to follow this step will result in smaller berries each year)

*First year fertilize at planting and in August, after first year, fertilize right after harvest when you mow and thin down the row.

Fruits of Knowledge: 

*Strawberry plants will last up to 5 years before fruit size becomes too small

*Fertilizer is key to great energy storage and fruit set, but do not fertilize during the Spring weeks before harvest.