Starting a strawberry patch at home is an incredibly rewarding way to enjoy sweet juicy berries right from your backyard. But growing successful strawberries takes some effort and preparation. Follow this complete guide and you’ll be sinking your teeth into homegrown strawberries in no time!
Select the Best Site
When deciding where to plant, keep these factors in mind:
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Sunlight Strawberries need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily Morning sun is ideal Avoid shady areas,
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Soil: Strawberries thrive in fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5-6.5. Sandy loam or loamy soil is good.
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Drainage: Excellent drainage prevents waterlogged soil. Avoid low spots where water collects.
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Airflow: Good air circulation prevents fungal disease. Don’t crowd plants.
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Convenience: Pick a spot near your house for easy access. Keep it handy for care and picking.
Take time to prep your site by removing weeds, adding organic matter to improve drainage, and testing the soil pH. This ensures ideal conditions for vigorous plants and great harvests.
Plan Your Strawberry Patch Layout
When designing your patch, here are some effective layouts:
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Matted Rows: Space rows 3-4 feet apart. Allow runners to root freely between plants. Rows end up 2 feet wide or more. Great for June-bearing varieties.
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Raised Beds: Contain plants in 12-18 inch beds with aisles between. Keep runners pruned. Ideal for everbearing types.
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Potted Plants: Grow plants in 8+ inch deep containers. Provides mobility and drainage.
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Pyramid Beds: Arrange plants in concentric rows forming a pyramid shape. Allows air circulation.
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Strawberry Jar: Plant crowns vertically in a specialized planter. Excellent for patios or small spaces.
Choose a system that best suits your space and preferred varieties.
Select the Right Strawberry Varieties
Pick disease-resistant varieties suited for your region. Top types include:
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June-Bearing: Produce a big early summer harvest. ‘Allstar’, ‘Jewel’, and ‘Kent’ are great choices.
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Everbearing: Bear fruit spring through fall. ‘Ozark Beauty’ and ‘Quinault’ are recommended.
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Day-Neutral: Yield berries all season. ‘Tristar’ and ‘Tribute’ are excellent day-neutral options.
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Alpine: Compact, wild strawberries with intense flavor. ‘Alexandria’ is a popular alpine variety.
Ask local gardeners which strawberries perform best in your area. Mix varieties for a longer harvest!
Plant Strawberry Crowns Correctly
Early spring is best for planting. Follow these tips:
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Soak crowns in water 1-2 hours before planting to rehydrate.
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Dig holes deep and wide enough for the roots.
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Spread roots out and cover crown with soil, leaving growing tips exposed.
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Space plants 12-15 inches apart in rows, beds, or containers.
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Water thoroughly after planting and regularly for establishment.
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Consider using starter fertilizer to give an extra boost.
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Add mulch once settled to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
Proper planting sets your strawberry patch up for success!
Care for Your Strawberry Patch
Give your strawberries attentive care for optimal health and fruiting:
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Water 1-2 inches weekly depending on rainfall. Avoid wet foliage.
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Fertilize monthly in spring/summer with balanced organic fertilizer.
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Mulch beds with straw to retain moisture and discourage weeds.
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Prune runners on everbearing types to focus energy on fruiting.
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Protect from birds with netting as needed.
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Scout for pests like mites, slugs, or beetles. Address any found.
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Remove old leaves and berries after harvest to prevent disease.
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Apply winter mulch like straw after plants go dormant in late fall.
Proper care keeps your strawberry patch healthy and productive season after season!
Harvest Your Strawberries
Follow these tips for great tasting homegrown strawberries:
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Pick berries when fully red – don’t wash until ready to eat.
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Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season.
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Gently twist off berries, leaving caps on plants.
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Use scissors if stems break to prevent damage.
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Handle carefully to prevent bruising.
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Refrigerate unwashed berries promptly in a single layer.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor with a bountiful strawberry harvest!
Maintain Your Strawberry Patch Long-Term
Here’s how to keep your patch flourishing for years:
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Renew beds every 3-5 years by replacing old plants with runners.
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Cut back plants after harvest to stimulate new growth.
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Topdress with compost in fall for nutrients.
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Cover with 6 inches of hay or leaves as winter insulation.
With some effort up front and proper long-term care, you can grow productive strawberry patches that provide delicious homegrown berries for many seasons to come.
Growing sweet, juicy strawberries in your own backyard is extremely rewarding and much easier than you may think. Follow this guide for site selection, bed preparation, plant choices, planting techniques, attentive care, harvesting methods, and long-term maintenance. Before you know it, you’ll be picking sun-ripened berries fresh from your productive home strawberry patch!
So what are you waiting for? Get planting and start enjoying homegrown strawberry goodness this season! Let us know how your strawberry patch goes in the comments.
How do strawberries grow in strawberry jars?
Strawberries do well in strawberry jars, but you will have to work to keep them watered and they are not as productive as in the ground, due to much lower soil volume. Strawberry jars are a fun novelty and are especially useful for small patio and condo gardens.
How do I know how old my plants are? Do I need to remove the blooms the first year?
Any plants that were just purchased are in their first year of growth. Although our plant tags may say to pick the blooms the first year, this is not essential. Picking the blooms keeps energy directed toward foliage and plant growth so that plants are bigger the following year. However, you can leave the blooms and enjoy a few berries the first year.
EVERYTHING I wish I Knew When I First Planted Strawberries
FAQ
What’s the best way to start a strawberry patch?
- 1. Find the stolon!
- 2. Move the stolon off its natural trajectory, and set aside.
- 3. Lay the stolon into the groove and cover with dirt.
- 4. Water and fertilize and then let rest.
- 5. Eventually you’ll need to check to see that the new plant has taken on roots of its own.
How to plant strawberries for beginners?
- Prepare the soil: Strawberries love rich, well-draining soil.
- Plant them at the right depth: The crown (where the leaves meet the roots) should be at soil level.
- Give them space: Keep plants 12-18 inches apart because they like to spread out.
What month should you plant strawberries?
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Spring Planting (March-May):This is a traditional time to plant strawberries in most areas, including Los Angeles. The soil is warm enough for the plants to grow, but the weather is still cool enough to avoid transplant shock.
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Fall Planting (August-September):UC IPM suggests that fall planting can also be effective, especially for day-neutral cultivars, allowing them to produce fruit earlier the following season.
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These varieties can produce fruit throughout the growing season, making fall planting a good option.
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In mild climates like Los Angeles, these varieties can be planted in the fall as well, with green plants (new plants from the previous season) being a good choice.
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Bare-root plants:When purchasing strawberries, they often come as bareroot plants in the spring. It’s best to plant them when the ground is still cool and moist.
How do you start a strawberry bed?
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1. Prepare the Soil:
- Strawberries thrive in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.5-6.8).
- Amend the soil with compost, manure, or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility.
- Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches.
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2. Create Mounded Rows:
- Strawberries can be grown in rows or raised beds.
- If using rows, create mounded rows to improve drainage and aeration.
- Raised beds provide excellent drainage and help manage soil moisture.
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3. Planting:
- Choose the Right Time: Plant strawberry plants in spring as soon as the soil is dry enough to be worked.
- Spacing: Plant strawberry plants 12-18 inches apart in the rows.
- Crown Placement: Ensure the crown of each plant (where the stems emerge) is at or slightly above the soil line.
- Root Placement: Gently spread the roots out and down into the planting hole.
- Water Thoroughly: Water the plants immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
- Choose the Right Time: Plant strawberry plants in spring as soon as the soil is dry enough to be worked.
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4. Maintenance:
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
- Mulching: Mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Weeding: Remove weeds promptly to prevent them from competing with the strawberry plants.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer as needed.
- Pest and Disease Control: Monitor for any pests or diseases and take appropriate action.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
How do I start a strawberry patch from scratch?
When it comes to starting a new strawberry patch from scratch, you usually have two options: buying potted plants or plugs from a garden center, or ordering bare-root strawberries online. I’ve done both, and for a brand-new strawberry bed, bare roots have two compelling advantages over potted plants:
How do you treat of strawberry arms and legs?
Strawberry arms and legs occur because of clogged pores of the skin by dirt, dead skin, bacteria or oil. Clean with a good soap and exfoliator. It usually occurs because of dry shaving. Use moisturising shaving cream or lotion and shave carefully. It is important to exfoliate. Use epilator.
How do I choose a strawberry patch?
Your strawberries selected, it’s time to prepare the patch. Choose carefully, as strawberries are perennials that will thrive in the right garden plot for years to come. These plants require full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5-7.5.
How do you care for a strawberry patch?
To ensure the success of your strawberry patch, proper care is essential for strawberries. Watering is crucial, and they require a moist environment. When watering, remember that they need from 1 inch to 2 inches of water.
Should you grow your own strawberry patch?
Growing your own strawberry patch is a rewarding experience; there’s nothing quite as delightful as the taste of sun-warmed strawberries picked right from your garden. Strawberry plants are perennials, which means with the right care, you can enjoy their bounties for years.
How do you plant a strawberry patch?
Step 1: Soak the roots. Step 2: Prepare the soil. Step 3: Dig your holes at the right depth and spacing. Step 4: Plant your strawberries. When it comes to starting a new strawberry patch from scratch, you usually have two options: buying potted plants or plugs from a garden center, or ordering bare-root strawberries online.