By David Marks Strawberries are a relatively easy crop to grow and they produce very tasty fruit quickly. References Strawberries can be bought as potted plants or bare-rooted runners. Water frequently while new plants are establishing. Strawberries grow best in loose, well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. ‘Mara de Bois’:Pepetual - Well liked for its crop of intensely flavoured fruit that is said to be reminiscent of wild strawberries. In zone 6 and further north, plant them outside during the spring months to ensure the plants are well-rooted by the following year. Don’t be alarmed, this is how they should look. Strawberry plants require 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly. As fruits start to develop, tuck straw or fibre mats underneath plants to keep fruit clean. Spring planting is the most common time for planting strawberry plants and so depending on your area it will likely be best to plant in March or April. One advantage of containers is that they allow you to move strawberries to follow the sunshine and bring them indoors during the winter. As they grow, they spread by sending out runners, which root right in the garden bed and produce daughter plants. They have a short but heavy cropping period over two or three weeks. Avoid windy sites which will prevent pollinating insects from reaching the flowers. Black resting spores survive over winter. How to Plant Strawberries No matter what type of strawberry you grow, select a spot in full sun (that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day) for your bed that has moist, well-drained soil. Growing strawberries like to set out runners. Plasticulture: grow bare root strawberry plants on plastic. If your soil drains poorly, you can plant strawberries on mounds 5 or 6 inches tall. This will also help suppress weeds. The important thing is to plant early enough so your plants can get established before the really harsh temperatures hit. Now take the large plant or several small plants and plant them on the very top. Planting in windy positions can deter pollinators from visiting flowers. Strawberry plants will spread out about 2 feet in every direction. Spores enter plants via damaged tissue, wounds or open flowers. For a quick harvest, it’s better to go with an 8-12 inch spacing to maximize the number of plants. These can be planted from late spring to early summer and will fruit 60 days after planting. Strawberry plants can be spaced as close as 8 inches or as far apart as several feet. Strawberries are a favorite fruit for the home gardener, and Sarah eagerly awaits the first crop. ‘Elsanta’:Mid season - The most widely grown commercial cultivar, it has superb flavour and large yields of glossy, red fruit. If squirrels are a problem, protect with wire mesh. Soil Fumigation. During the growing season, give strawberry plants a liquid potash feed – such as a tomato feed – every 7 to 14 days. Perpetual strawberries – sometimes called everbearers – produce small flushes of fruits from early summer to early autumn. In the ground and raised beds: Space strawberries at least a foot apart from each other. The everbearing strawberry plant is perfect for strawberry lovers—it bears fruit two to three times per year, giving you plenty of strawberries for recipes like strawberry smoothies and strawberry shortcake.. If you've planted  cold-stored runners in late spring to early summer, leave the flowers on. Growing Strawberries from Seed Firstly, don't economise on seed raising mix. Although this plant produces juicy and sweet fruit throughout the year, it isn’t the easiest to grow. is hardy and has good disease resistance, although it can be susceptible to mildew. Strawberries for sale in pots or packs (normally from late spring onwards) can be planted as soon as you buy them. Take off any netting so birds can feed on any pests. Rooting and Finishing Tissue Culture Plants. Eat them as soon as possible; they do not keep well once ripened. In early spring, apply general fertiliser such as Growmore at a rate of 50g per sq m (2oz per sq yd). Strawberry plants require 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly. Fill the container with loose, loamy potting mix that will hold water but will drain away any excess. Spade soil to a depth of 8-10 inches, working in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. To plant strawberries in containers, choose smaller plants and don't overcrowd the container. Plant your strawberries in a container filled with potting mix, or in a sunny, well-draining spot in your garden. ‘Alice’ AGM:Mid season - One of the best midsummer strawberries with a sweet flavour and juicy texture with good disease resistance. ‘Cambridge Favourite’ AGM:Mid season - A traditional favourite, this variety can have a few disease problems but the fruit is juicy and possesses an excellent flavour. Avoid planting in windy positions. Steps for How to Plant Strawberries . ‘Honeoye’ AGM:Early croppers - A darkish berry with excellent flavour. Ideally, begin working in aged manure or compost a couple months before planting. The following table tells you when to plant strawberry plants according to the U.S. agricultural zones: Strawberry Planting Guide: When to Plant Strawberry Plants. Apply 300g (approx. Set the plants so that soil covers the roots but the crown remains above the soil. Strawberries are sprawling plants. Plant strawberries along the edge of a container so that the fruit can hang off the side. Cut out infected areas into healthy tissue and clear up infected debris. In-ground gardens, raised beds, and containers are all excellent growing areas. Videos will load automatically. Plant dormant, bare-root strawberry plants 18 to 24 inches apart in 3- to 6-inch-high, 3- to 4-foot-wide raised beds. Space rows 75cm (30in) apart. In this method, strawberry plants are planted about 1-1/2' apart, in rows about 4' apart. Keep the soil moist and grow in cooler locations. You can start strawberries from either bare-root crowns or seedlings, but seedlings started in small 3- to 4-inch pots will establish themselves in containers faster than bare-root crowns. Mounding improves drainage and increases air circulation around plants. Perfect for gardens of all sizes and climates, a strawberry can be grown in a pot, planter, hanging basket, bag or garden beds. In USDA zones 6 and colder, plant outside in the early spring. Small containers will need only one to two plants, but you can fill all the openings in a strawberry jar. Expect strawberry plants to crop successfully for four years before replacing them. Strawberry plants can be grown almost anywhere – in borders, containers or hanging baskets. Perpetual strawberries are useful for extending the season. Pinch off all flowers until midsummer for the first season to encourage strong root and top growth. Rotate your strawbery patch onto fresh ground to minimise the risk of disease build up in the soil. In poor soils grow in raised beds, which improves drainage and increases rooting depth. Adult vine weevils eat notches in the edges of leaves, while plump, creamy white larvae with brown heads cause more damage to the roots, on which they feed. As these plants mature, they will drape over the sides and bush out hiding the water tube and adding beauty to your finished pot. There are early, mid-, and late fruiting cultivars cropping from early to mid-summer. In May, protect your bed with fleece if overnight frost threatens developing fruits. A multi-tiered prefab raised bed filled with topsoil and compost is perfect for raising strawberries. In poor soils grow in raised beds, which improves drainage and increases rooting depth. You can also buy cold-stored runners. Pick strawberries when they are bright red all over, ideally during the warmest part of the day because this is when they are at their most tasty. ‘Symphony’(PBR) AGM:Late season - Acultivar from Scotland with attractive, glossy, red fruit and excellent flavour. ‘Florence’:Late season - A late summer strawberry with good disease resistance. Measure out planting holes 35cm (14in) apart. In greenhouses, reduce humidity by ventilating and avoid overcrowding of young plants and seedlings. The crown of the plant, which is the swollen stem base, must be left at the surface of the soil and not buried too deep. Runners look like little pieces of roots with very few leaves. RHS Registered Charity no. And of course the fruit is extremely popular – home-grown strawberries taste delicious and are great value too! Grey mould ( botrytis) is a common disease especially in damp or humid conditions. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Can be prone to disease. Most do not keep their shape when frozen. How Many Strawberries Do Strawberry Plants Produce? Strawberries love a sunny location and rich, well-drained soil. Prepare your ground by digging in two buckets of well-rotted manure or garden compost per sq m (sq yd). Avoid windy sites which will prevent pollinating insects from reaching the flowers. Give strawberries room for runners by planting them 18 inches apart. 1 cup) per square metre of garden and mix thoroughly into the soil. Water well for the first few weeks. After cropping has finished, cut off old leaves from summer-fruiting strawberries to allow fresh leaves to develop. Fruits during early summer. Seedlings will send out runners, or ‘daughter’ plants, which in turn will send out their own runners. Plant the strawberries so their roots are just buried, about 30-45cm apart, then firm the soil around them. Use a trowel to dig a hole big enough to accommodate the roots of the plant, and if you’re growing strawberries in the ground, plant them 45cm (18") apart, leaving 75cm (30") between rows. You can buy runners from late summer to early spring, and they should be planted in early autumn, or early spring (avoid planting in winter when the ground is wet and cold). More information on propagating your own plants from runners. Plant in well draining, rich soil. Strawberries do best in well-drained soil so plant them into soil that has been mounded up slightly. You can get special strawberry growing pots with balconies for individual plants. The large, bright, glossy fruits have good flavour. In most climates, gardeners can plant strawberries as perennials. Use a trowel and make a small hole that will fit the roots of your plant. Planting bare root strawberries properly is the key to ensuring that they wake from their dormant state and begin berry production as soon as possible. Episode 1: How to Plant Strawberries. Cover all roots but keep the middle of the crown (the central growing bud where the leaves begin to emerge) at soil level. Simply impressive - this Strawberry and mascarpone tart is simple to make but looks impressive. Soil should drain well and not become waterlogged after rain. Place … Nigel Slater’s soft set Strawberry jam is easy to make and tastes of summer. Strawberries are so versatile – they just need sun, shelter, and fertile, well-drained soil. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Also water during dry periods in the growing season. Water the plants in well. CLICK PHOTO TO PLAY VIDEO. Plant strawberries in sandy, loamy soil with a pH between 5.0-7.0. Late frosts can damage growth, leading to it dying or being distorted. ‘Hapil’ AGM:Mid season - This mid-season cultivar produces heavy yields of light red fruits. Afterwards, water the strawberries regularly to keep the soil moist, and pull out any weeds by hand, making sure to remove them by the roots. This article will show you how to plant them, ongoing care, propagation, pests and diseases and our strawberry growing calendar. 222879/SC038262. Alternatively, try growing in containers or growing-bags. The following table lists the date ranges when you should plant strawberries according to USDA zones. Strawberries are incredibly easy to grow. Avoid areas prone to frost and soils that have previously grown potatoes, chrysanthemums, or tomatoes because they are all prone to the disease verticillium wilt. Summer-fruiting varieties have the largest  fruit. How to plant strawberries: dig out a hole big enough to spread out the roots of each strawberry plant. The higher the number, the closer the zone is to the equator. Making Nursery-Mature Plants. More information on propagating your own plants from runners. The crops are not so heavy as the summer-fruiting ones and the fruits are smaller, with the plants less likely to produce runners. Plant the Strawberries In early spring, dig small holes every 24" in the rows. Appears as a white powdery deposit over the leaf surface and leaves become stunted and shrivel. Dig out a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Strawberry plants are generally planted in rich, moist soil, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart, as they will shoot out runners quickly. If planting in the autumn or early spring, remove the first flush of flowers of perpetual strawberries, but remove flowers of summer strawberries only if the plants are weak. Mould can also damage ripening fruit such as strawberries. How to plant and grow strawberries Succulent, highly fragrant and bursting with sweetness, the strawberry is one of the easiest plants to grow, and also one of the most rewarding. If you’re planting strawberry runners, spread the roots out in the hole and make sure the crown of the plant is resting at soil level. Remove damaged plant parts before they can become infected. times. It isn’t always easy to tell if the plant is alive and healthy, but there are some hints that can clue you into the welfare of the plants. Set plants out 20 inches apart to leave room for runners and leave 4 feet between rows. Strawberries are traditionally grown in rows directly into garden soil. University of Maine Cooperative Extension discusses how to plant a strawberry bed. Trim the roots lightly to 10cm (4in) if necessary, then spread them out in the hole. Try to avoid wetting crowns and fruit as this can promote disease. Fruits are firm and have excellent sweet flavour. Planting at the correct depth is important: if the crown is planted too deeply it will rot; if it is planted too shallowly the plants will dry out and die. Blend in an application of Tui Strawberry Food. Well you have made it to the top section. Incorporate organic matter … View all Strawberries at the RHS Plants Shop. STRAWBERRY FAQ, Growing Strawberries Indoors (Hydroponics), reasons you should consider growing your own strawberries, Recommended Strawberry Varieties by State, How Many Strawberries do Strawberry Plants Produce, keeping birds, bugs, and other pests away from your strawberries, 4 Secrets to Growing Loads of Organic Strawberries, Mulching Strawberry Plants with Straw for Winter. How to Plant Strawberries. New strawberries rooted into pots can be overwintered in a greenhouse or cold frame then planted out in spring - particularly useful if winters are harsh in your area. Tissue Culture Propagation. Also remove the straw mulch, fibre mat, or black polythene, to prevent a build-up of pests and diseases. Make mounds about 10cm high for strawberries to be planted on. Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. 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