Grow Your Own Strawberries
By Monica Resinger
Mmmmmmmmm. There's nothing like a sun-ripened, freshly picked
strawberry. Warm, sweet and juicy. Growing your own will offer you a sweeter strawberry
because it is allowed to ripen on the plant. You will also know how it was grown
(no pesticides, etc.). Children often like growing strawberries, well, because they like strawberries! Here are some pointers on growing and using
them.
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Strawberries grow 6-8 inches tall spreading about one foot across with
long runners. Their white, sometimes pink (depending on the variety) flowers turn
into luscious strawberries that we can enjoy fresh, put into desserts, make jam,
or freeze and use later.
In mild winter areas, planting season is late summer or fall. These
plantings will produce a spring crop of strawberries. In other areas, plant strawberries in early spring. Everbearers will produce a summer and
fall crop.
When planting strawberries, be sure the crown is above soil level and
the topmost roots are 1/4 inch beneath soil level because buried crowns rot and exposed roots dry out. Use mulch to keep berries clean, conserve
moisture and keep weed growth down. Set plants 2-3 feet apart and let runners fill in
until plants are 7-10 inches apart.
Strawberries like well drained fairly rich soil, so be sure to add
compost or other organic matter when preparing the strawberry patch. They need full sun,
and frequent, deep soakings. Be sure to give adequate water during bearing season. They will grow in all zones and should be fed twice a year --
when growth begins and after the first crop. Use a complete fertilizer high in phosphorous for feedings.
Types:
June Bearing
June bearing types produce one crop per year in late spring or early
summer. Since this type gives you all the fruit at once, it's best planted for reasons
of preserving or freezing.
Everbearing
This type of strawberry tends to peak in early summer and continue on
through the fall. This is the type to plant if you want fresh berries all season
long.
Propagation
Most strawberries produce offsets at the end of runners. If you want
more plants, just let them grow. If you have enough strawberry plants, pinching off
the runners will give you larger plants with small yields of big berries.
If your children are interested in growing strawberries, you can let
them plant and care for the whole patch, or just one or two plants if the patch is too
much for them. Strawberries will also grow in containers, so this is another option that is less work for children. Remember that container
plantings need much more water than in the ground plantings, usually once a day; if
it's hot, twice. Be sure to let them help you with the fun part -- harvesting and
making delicious things to eat with them.
For more gardening inspiration, check out
The Gardening Tips
E-book. You'll learn about compost, starting new plants, rose care & tips, whimsical
planter ideas & yard decor, raised bed gardening, garden recipes, plant recommendations, pond care, and much, much more!
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