Strawberry Fields Forever
I would be happy growing strawberries in fields forever, if I had a field, but I don’t. So I’ll have to just stick to my small raised bed for now.
You don’t need big fields to get a good crop of strawberries, you only need a small space because the plants can be packed together with no problems.
I grow my strawberries in a small raised bed, half on the left are bare root plants from Suttons planted in April and right are plants bought from the local garden centre last year.
What can you grow Strawberries in?
- Troughs,
- Containers or pots or barrels,
- Raised beds,
- In borders,
- On Balconies.
In my opinion, everyone should have some homegrown strawberries growing somewhere.
Buying Bare Root plants or Potted plants?
Cheaper Option = Bare Root plants
The cheaper option is to buy Bare Root plants.
- These plants may not have any leaves or just some brown leaves,
- They are dug out of the soil and their roots are already established but are dormant until planted.
- Order or buy in November to April from an online plant or seed supplier.
More established plant = Potted Plants
Potted plants have their place.
- They are a little more expensive,
- The plant has been grown on a bit further and has green leaves, they are more of an established plant.
- If you want to start growing strawberries between June & August, buy potted plants from your local garden centre.
Are all Strawberries the same?
No, there’s a few things to consider about timing. When do you want to harvest your strawberries? June, July or August or all 3 months. There’s also a type called Everbearers which means 2 harvests in one year with one variety. Bonus!
Early, Mid & Late Strawberries
- Early Strawberries = Harvest in Mid June to July – A Popular Variety is: Honeoye.
- Mid Strawberries = Harvest in Late June to Mid July – A Popular Variety is: Cambridge Favourite.
- Late Strawberries = Harvest in July – A Popular Variety is: Florence.
Everbearers
These type of strawberries can either have a continuous harvest of two large harvests and some small or just two harvests per year.
Everbearers Strawberries are usually more expensive than other varieties due to this bonus feature. They are worthwhile the expense if you love eating strawberries!
An everbearer strawberry variety I have used is Flamenco.
The Life Cycle of a Strawberry Plant
- Strawberries can be sown from Seed or bought as plants or bare root plants.
- Seeds germinate into seedlings,
- Plant flower in white, pink or red,
- The strawberry forms in the centre of the flower when the petals fall off and change from green to red.
- It’s ready to harvest when it’s red all the way round the strawberry.
Strawberry – Ideal Growing Conditions
- 1. In full or partial sunlight,
- 2. Grow in well drained soil, as they don’t like waterlogged soil as their roots will rot,
- 3. Strawberries will need to be planted in compost to give them the nutrients they need to grow,
- 4. A mulch of straw (be careful with slugs and snails as they love this) or buy felt discs can be put on the ground to keep the strawberries raised off the soil. If the strawberries rest on the ground they will either rot and go mouldy due to too much moisture or they will be eaten by insects including woodlouse.
- 5. Water well when planted, then they only need water weekly.
The best thing about Strawberries is…
Apart from the taste, if you buy one plant and you get a few more from their runners for free for next year.
How to Multiply your Strawberry Plants (with Video),
What’s eating my Strawberry Plants? Do your leaves look like lace?
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