Selecting the Right Strawberry Varieties: June-bearing varieties: These bear fruit all at once, usually over a period of three weeks. They are day-length sensitive, producing buds in autumn, flowers and fruits the following June, and runners during the long days of summer.
– Everbearing varieties: These produce a big crop in spring, lightly in summer, and another crop in late summer/fall. They form buds during the long days of summer and the short days of autumn.
– Day-neutral varieties: These produce fruit continuously through the season until the first frost. Insensitive to day length, they produce buds, fruits, and runners.
– Alpine Strawberries: These have tiny fruits with a very intense strawberry taste. While they don’t fruit heavily, they can be allowed to grow between ornamentals and will naturally self-seed to create a useful edible ground cover.
Planting Strawberries 1. Timing: Plant strawberries as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. See your local frost dates for guidance.
Soil Preparation: Strawberries require 6-10 hours of direct sunlight a day and prefer loamy soil that drains well.
Spacing: Set plants out 18 inches apart to leave room for runners and 4 feet between rows.
Planting Depth: Make sure not to bury the crown (central growing bud) of the plant. The roots should be covered, but the crown should be right at the soil surface.
Watering: Water plants well at the time of planting to settle their roots into the soil.
Mulching: Mulch strawberry beds to reduce water needs and weed invasion. Any type of mulch will keep the soil moist and the plants clean.
Weeding: Be diligent about weeding, especially in the first months after planting.