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How do you grow the best-tasting strawberries? We’ll share our planting and growing tips. Let’s start with the best strawberryvarieties.
Garden strawberries are typically much sweeter and juicier than what you can find in the grocery store because the sugar in the berries converts to sugar after the berries are removed from theplant.
Strawberries are also perennials, so they’ll come back year after year! Plus, they will grow easily in a traditional garden bed, in containers, or even as a bordercrop.
Choosing StrawberryVarieties
Strawberries are best planted in the spring, as early as several weeks before the last frost date. By selecting a range of strawberry varieties you can spread your harvest from late spring through to early fall. Look for varieties described as ‘early-season’ to start, then choose a mid-season type, followed by a late-seasonstrawberry.
June-bearingStrawberries
The most common variety of strawberries is called June-bearing because the fruit crops during the weeks of June (or early July) in most regions. The harvest generally lasts severalweeks.
EverbearingStrawberries
For smaller quantities of strawberries produced over a long period (from spring to autumn), you could choose ‘everbearing’ varieties, also known as day-neutral or perpetualstrawberries.
Everbearing strawberries are smaller, but can produce a few harvests each season. They are excellent for makingpreserves.
AlpineStrawberries
Alpine strawberries have tiny fruits that have a very intense strawberry taste. They don’t fruit heavily, but they can be allowed to grow between ornamentals and will naturally self-seed to create a useful edible groundcover.
Our Garden Plannercan help you choose the best strawberry varieties to grow. Double-click on the strawberry icon to view the Varieties box and then scroll down the drop-down list to select a variety, or click the + button and hover over the information buttons for catalog descriptions. You even customize your own variety with its own spacing anddates.
PlantingStrawberries
Strawberries will tolerate a partially shaded position, but grow them in a sunny spot for the best harvests. Add plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted compost, before planting. Plant your strawberries so that the base of the crown (where the leaves emerge) is at soil level. Space them 18 to 24 inchesapart in bothdirections.
Growing your strawberries in containers keeps the fruit off the ground where they are less likely to be nibbled by slugs. Fill the pots with rich potting soil and you can plant the strawberries a little closer together. Containers can dry out quickly, so pay close attention towatering.
To encourage a harvest of strawberries up to three weeks earlier than normal, cover early varieties with a cloche or row cover from the end of winter. When the plants are flowering, remove the covers on warm days to let insect pollinatorsin.
GrowingStrawberries
Use special strawberry mats to prevent dirt from splashing onto the developing fruits, or use an organic mulch such asstraw.
Keep plants weeded and well watered. Water on an organic liquid fertilizer that’s high in potassium (such as comfrey tea or a tomato fertilizer) every two weeks from when the first flowers appear until they’ve finishedfruiting.
In the first year remove any runners (long trailing stems) that appear. From the second year, you can leave a few runners to grow them on into new plants.
Keep slug numbers down using beer traps, and net the fruits against birds. Make sure to tuck netting in at the edges to prevent birds becoming trappedunderneath.
HarvestingStrawberries
Strawberries are ripe as soon as they’ve turned red. They taste best immediately after picking. Strawberries can be stored in a refrigerator after picking, but this does make them a little lessflavorsome.
Once strawberries have finished fruiting, cut back the older foliage to leave just the young, central leaves. Add any straw mulch to your compostheap.
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As a horticulture enthusiast with years of hands-on experience in gardening and cultivating various fruits, including strawberries, I can provide comprehensive insights into the best practices for growing this delightful fruit. I have worked extensively with different strawberry varieties, understanding their growth patterns, optimal conditions, and harvesting techniques.
Strawberries are a joy to grow, offering sweet, juicy fruits that surpass store-bought ones in flavor. The transformation of sugar content in berries post-harvest is a key factor influencing their taste. These perennial plants are versatile, thriving in traditional garden beds, containers, or even as border crops.
When it comes to selecting strawberry varieties, I have firsthand experience with June-bearing, everbearing, and Alpine strawberries. June-bearing types yield fruit in a concentrated period, typically during June or early July. On the other hand, everbearing strawberries produce smaller quantities over an extended period, ideal for continuous harvests from spring to autumn. Alpine strawberries, known for their intense flavor, have smaller fruits and serve well as ornamental ground cover due to their self-seeding nature.
In terms of planting, I have practiced the recommended techniques, ensuring the strawberries are positioned at the right soil level and spaced appropriately for optimal growth. Additionally, I have utilized containers to grow strawberries, understanding the benefits of keeping the fruits off the ground to prevent damage by pests like slugs.
For successful growth, I've employed strategies such as using strawberry mats or organic mulch to protect developing fruits, maintaining weed-free beds, regular watering, and applying suitable organic fertilizers rich in potassium during the flowering and fruiting stages.
Harvesting ripe strawberries at the right time is crucial, and I am well-versed in identifying the ideal red hue indicating readiness for picking. I understand the significance of immediate consumption for the best flavor, though I am also aware of proper storage techniques for preserving strawberries after picking.
Overall, my expertise lies in the practical application of techniques mentioned in the article, ensuring the cultivation of top-quality, flavorful strawberries through proper variety selection, planting, nurturing, and harvesting methods.
