Light | Strawberries require at least 10 hours of full sun daily. |
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Soil | Fertile, well-drained soil preferred. |
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Planting | Work soil 8-12″ deep with organic matter such as mushroom compost or peat moss. |
Mound rows 6-8″ high by 12-18″ wide. |
If your soil is clay-heavy, consider a raised bed for your strawberries. |
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Spacing | Plant 1 foot apart in staggered rows. |
Allow 2 feet between rows. |
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Mulch | Add thin layer of mulch to cool the soil, conserve water and prevent weeds. |
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Watering | Water well after planting. |
Established plants generally require 1″ of water per week. |
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Feeding | Feed with a well balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer each spring. |
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Care | Remove runners from spring through July in the first growing season, so a strong root system is established. |
In mid-August , allow each plant to develop 1 or 2 runners. |
Remove weeds. |
Original plant will produce for 3 years. |
Covering with garden netting will prevent birds and critters from tasting the berries. |
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Picking | Harvest when the berries are red. Pick every other day or so… and enjoy! |
Remove original and allow secondary plants to grow. |
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Winterize | Mulch with straw or chopped leaves after several hard frosts when ground is frozen. |
Uncover in early spring when groud begins to thaw. |