Growing strawberries is a fun and delicious gardening project for the whole family. Few things taste as good as fresh, homegrown strawberries and with this guide, we hope to help you experience these lovely berries. The first thing to consider is whether you want to plant from seed or start with a small plant. If you're starting from seed, you can sow them indoors early in the spring. This can be done in a small greenhouse or even an egg carton, as a fun project. To sow seeds, start by placing soil in the container you want to use, then water until the soil is moist, and then place the seeds on the soil. Place your container in a sunny spot. Once the strawberry plant has begun to hold itself together and develop a root ball, you can transfer it to a larger pot or plastic pots if you plan to plant them outdoors. When planting seedlings outside, it's important not to do it too early, as they can't handle frost. You can plant ready-made plants in the ground, in a greenhouse, in pots, or in raised beds, depending on the strawberry variety.
How to Plant Strawberries, Step by Step:
- Start by choosing a well-drained location with plenty of sun and shelter.
- Clear the area of weeds.
- Loosen and mix in fertilizer or compost into the soil.
- Dig holes deep enough for the entire root balls with a distance of about 35 cm between them. If planting in pots, place one plant per pot.
- Plant your strawberry plant in the hole. Make sure the entire leafy part is above the soil.
- Water and mark where you have each variety if you're planting different species.
What Do I Need?
How and When Do I Plant Strawberries?
Planting strawberries at the right time yields the best results, but it's worth noting that strawberries produce the best harvest after a year or so, once they have become stronger and more resilient. That said, strawberries still produce a harvest in the first year and are a great plant to start your gardening adventure with.
When first planting your strawberries, it's important to do this after you're completely sure there will be no frost, as the leaves don't tolerate frost very well. If you still want to plant earlier than this, you should either have your strawberries in a pot or similar to be able to move them indoors at night, or use a fleece cover to protect the leaves. Ideally, choose a location with plenty of sun but little wind, and that is well-drained. The positive thing is that strawberry plants thrive in most containers, so whether you want them in a pot, a raised bed, in a greenhouse, or in standalone soil, you'll be able to plant strawberries.
To give strawberries enough space, it's good to have them in rows, with around 35 cm between plants in the same row, and 50 cm between rows. When it's time for your plants to be planted out, start by clearing the area of any weeds, then loosen the soil and add fertilizer or compost. After that, you can prepare your rows if you're planting in a raised bed or standalone soil, if you're planting in a pot, simply dig a hole deep enough for the entire root ball. Then place your plant in the hole and cover gently with soil. Make sure the entire "crown" of the plant is above ground, no leaves should be buried.
How Do I Care for and Water My Strawberries?
Your strawberries are now planted, but what now? Strawberries are a plant that likes to be watered in the morning, as this allows the leaves to dry properly by evening. Watering with a hose with a spray nozzle or a can with a broad head can be good for this. You may have noticed that strawberry plantations often have straw in the rows; this is laid out to keep weeds away, so trust the professionals and get some straw to spread out. Keep an eye on weeds throughout the season, so your strawberries don't have to compete for nutrients, sunlight, and water.
If you planted your strawberries in a raised bed or standalone land, they can survive outdoors over winter, just remember to trim them down in the fall to avoid frost damage. If you've planted in a pot, you should move them indoors to a cool but not cold place during the winter; if you have a root cellar, it's perfect for this.
How Do I Harvest My Strawberries?
The harvest time for your strawberries varies depending on when you planted them, but if it's the first year for your plants, they'll be ready around or later than midsummer. You'll know they're ready when they have that lovely red color and feel firm.
Did you know we have a book, written by our founder Anna Benson, all about strawberries? There, you'll find everything you need to know about these lovely red berries.
Good luck with your strawberry cultivation!
