In case you haven’t noticed, bundles of strawberry crowns are popping up everywhere. Grocery stores, nurseries, The Home Depot, you name it, they.are.everywhere.
If you have never grown your own strawberries before they are super easy to grow and totally worth the wait. Typically you will find them in bundles of 10 or 25 crowns, and I say plant as many as you have room for.
Brief description: Strawberries are a sweet red easy-to-grow fruit. Their size, taste, and harvest time depend on the variety you choose, so a couple of varieties can ensure you have strawberries all summer long. {I grow Seascape and TriStar}
Where to Plant Strawberries: Strawberries can be planted in raised beds, garden beds, as a ground cover, in pallet gardens, containers, and even hanging baskets. {See what I mean about easy to grow?} Wherever you plant them, just make sure it is in a sunny location.
{strawberries grown in gutters}
Planting Seeds: I recommend getting starter plants from your local nursery or online. They usually come in bundles of 25, and it really is the easiest, most cost effective way to start a strawberry garden, shy of pinching some runners off of your neighbors‘. To plant purchased strawberry roots, dip them in a bucket of water to give them a little drink. Then, dig a small hole, spread out the roots, stick them in the hole and cover them completely with dirt. In a few weeks, you’ll have little green leaves.
Growing Tips: Strawberry plants are not great producers the first year, but should give great yields by the second growing season. Unless they are a wild variety, they typically have a lifespan of 3 years. After that point, berry production goes way down. Pinching off runners and then replanting them or gifting them to the neighbors will ensure you get the most berries, as runners take valuable nutrients and energy away from the berry production. Water consistently and don’t over-fertilize.
How to Harvest: Harvest strawberries when they are firm, bright red, and fragrant–they taste best if you pick them 1-2 days after they fully develop in color. To pick, simply pluck them off the plant at the stem.
Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.
Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!
~Mavis
Here are a few of my Favorite Strawberry recipes:
Strawberry Focaccia with Balsamic Onions
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Thanks for the info! This will be our first year with strawberries (Seascapes!), and I’m glad to know to be patient with them the first year. We’re growing ours in a tricked out, converted rain barrel. Gotta say I’m pretty excited.
I have a really hard time keeping birds from eating mine – any suggestions?
I went to check out your Regional Planting Guide which is an amazing resource so thanks for that!! I’m assuming that since you’re talking about strawberries now that this would be the time to plant them in the NW but I wanted to double check and I couldn’t find them listed in your planting guide. This is my first year trying them so I want to make sure I’m on track, is March the time for planting strawberry starter plants outside?
Yes. I always plant my strawberries in March here in Western Washington.
You plant in March, inside your green house in the gutters or outside?
Thanks Mavis!
Both!. I’ll post some pictures later today.
Ok Mavis, I have a question about garden pests and berries. What are your secrets to keeping slugs out? I’ve done the beer thing, and am saving my egg shells to spread this year. Any better ideas? Do you have trouble with squirrels stealing your berries? I swear I am feeding the forest behind my house. I have the berry patch surrounded and covered with netting. That worked for awhile, but now they just chew through the netting. Any ideas anyone?? It’s on with the squirrels!!
Jenni,
I had problems with raccoons eating my strawberries and trampling them all in one night which then made the rest of the berries mold under the flattened plants. I built a pvc frame, put field fencing over it for the raccoons and bird netting for the birds. You could also use a fencing small enough for birds, but stronger than bird netting which won’t keep out the raccoons. I just used what I had. It has worked great for everything but rodents which seem to find a way in. Hardware cloth would probably take care of that element too, unless they dug under the edges. I tip it up on its long side to pick and weed. Hope that helps.
We enjoy the ever bearing variety of Tristar. They are delicious and produce fruit all summer long.
We have had good berries for two years. We got a dog two months ago who thinks that the dead berry patch is the place to go. I don’t know if we want to eat the berries any more. Must get a fence up. :p
Mavis – first time using grow lights. How long do I leave on for broccoli,cabbage,etc. Your site is such an inspiration. Thanks!