Strawberries
Strawberry season begins in late May-June and between the beginning of flowering and the fruit ripening runs from 20 to 26 days.
Most strawberries spread by runners or bare-root. The plants that you set out are called the mother plants. They send out runners that root and develop daughter plants in mid- to late summer. Space the daughter plants evenly around the mothers. You’ll have a berries from them the year after they grow. In the second summer, you can remove the mother plants to make room for new daughter plants. For growing strawberries you can also use the seeds, but it will take some time.
Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. The best time to plant is in late summer or early spring. For warm winter regions, fall planting is recommended. Avoid planting strawberries where tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes have grown before to prevent wilt diseases.
Space plants 18-24 inches apart (the more the better) in rows 3 to 3 1/2 feet apart. Plant strawberry plants so that the crowns are just above the soil. To get large plants with smaller yields of big berries, pinch off all the runners. Strawberry plants like water but not too often, 1 inch per week is sufficient.
In late autumn, after temperatures have dipped to freezing several times, lay straw mulch loosely over the plants. During the growing season, the straw keeps weeds down, moderates soil moisture, and keeps the berries from sitting in the mud. Replace plants with new ones as they begin to decline, usually after 3 -5 years.
Strawberries are easy to grow in the garden or even in a pot or container on your balcony, rooftop, patio, or even doorstep on a sunny spot – just remember to protect them from birds when the fruits appear.
