Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
When to Plant Strawberry Plants
When to Plant Strawberry Plants. Of the many varietals of strawberries in the botanical family Frageria, three kinds predominate for home garden and commercial production: June-bearers, everbearing and day-neutral. All three should be planted early in the spring to achieve the best fruiting performance.
Of the many varietals of strawberries in the botanical family Frageria, three kinds predominate for home garden and commercial production: June-bearers, everbearing and day-neutral. All three should be planted early in the spring to achieve the best fruiting performance.
Strawberries should be planted outdoors as soon as the ground soil is soft and warm enough to dig up and easily till. In most climates this will be sometime in March or April. Earliest spring planting allows you to have as long a growing and fruiting season as possible and ensures that the strawberry plants' root systems are well developed before the heat of summer comes along.
Select a planting location that receives a full sun exposure and has a rich, well-drained and weed free soil. Always plant strawberry plants when the soil is relatively dry, after rain or previous heavy irrigation has dried up. Cut away any diseased or damaged leaves before planting in the soil and soak the roots in tepid water for an hour or so if planting bare root strawberries.
Plant the strawberry plants up to the shoulder of its roots or root-ball level with the surrounding soil. Press soil around the roots being careful not to allow any soil to fall onto the crown or top of the plant between the stems. Plant strawberries on a cloudy day or during the late afternoon to limit the amount of sun and heat stress on the plant during the first 24 hours or so that it is acclimating to its new surroundings.
Strawberries benefit from being mulched over the plant tops in winter for cold and frost protection and around the base of the roots in spring and summer to prevent moisture loss and keep berries from contact with the soil. Straw works best for winter mulching and straw or shredded bark work well in spring and summer.
Strawberries can be fed with a light dose of water soluble fertilizer right after planting and watering in. Choose a good quality balanced crystal fertilizer like a 10-10-10 and mix 2 to 3 tbsp. with a gallon of water. Apply at least a cup of the solution to the roots of each plant, never pouring over the leaves.
