Nothing says summer quite like eat pulling a ripe and juicy strawberry off the stem and popping it into your mouth. Strawberries are a great and popular fruit to grow, and here are some tips to help you grow them even better this year.
Variety
Be aware that there are multiple varieties of strawberries. They all differ from one another in size, shape, which climate they grow best in, etc. So, do some research and choose the strawberry variety that best fits you and your needs!
Raised Bed
Raised beds are great for strawberries for numerous reasons. The raised bed helps extra water drain out of the soil so root rot and fungal infections are less likely. It also deters some pests from getting into the strawberries and it’s also just easier on your back and body as a gardener.
Pots
First off, make sure your pot is the right size if you’re going to grow strawberries in it. Too small, and the roots won’t be able to grow enough. Too big, and you risk plant infections or the strawberry just looking weird in your yard!
Shade When Necessary
Strawberries love warm weather, but scorching heat or lots of direct sun can really do damage. Around 85 degrees is usually perfect for strawberries, so if you have hotter days than that, consider some sort of shade for the strawberries.
Pests
It seems pests love strawberries just as much as humans do. Invest in some sort of chemical bait or other pest repellent to make sure your strawberries stay fresh and uneaten (until you get to them, of course).
Weeds
If weeds are a problem in your garden, the simplest solution is using black plastic. This not only helps keep the soil nice and warm for the strawberries, but it also prevents weeds and other unwanted plants from popping up around your strawberries.
Spacing
Make sure you plan the space between your strawberry plants right or you can have some trouble down the road. A good rule is usually twenty inches apart and four feet between rows.
Sunlight
Strawberries love the warmth (like we mentioned before) so make sure you plant them somewhere they’ll get lots of direct sunlight. Usually you want to give them at least six to ten hours of light a day.
Soil Type
Strawberry plants prefer loam, but if that’s not what you have then you don’t have to worry. Just make sure you compost the soil a few months before you start planting your strawberries so the nutrients can be locked and loaded!
Rotate Crops
Another thing to pay attention to with your soil is what was planted there before. If you had strawberries, tomatoes, peppers or eggplants there within the past three years, then you may want to consider waiting until the soil is back where it needs to be for strawberries to grow well.
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