1. Spring is the best time to plant strawberries. Once winter has come and gone, the first sign of spring is the sweet spot for planting to ensure they’ll be growing by the time summer hits. April is usually the best time to plant strawberries.
2. Choose the right planting location for you. You have many options for where to plant. You can pot them, put them in the ground, or plant them in raised beds. A raised bed will give your strawberries a proper drainage system, though pots are great if you want to grow strawberries and don’t have much room.
3. Look out for grey mold. It’s common for a few strawberries to be affected by grey mold. Once on the berries, it can cause rot, affecting other plants in the same area. Monitor your strawberry plants often and remove any mold as soon as you spot it.
4. Your berries need lots of sun. Strawberries crave direct sunlight in order to grow properly. Choose a location for your pots or beds where your berries can thrive. However, on the day of planting, the weather should be overcast. This prevents the plants from wilting prior to their first watering.
5. Cover the soil with black plastic. This will reduce the amount of weeds that grow around your strawberry plants. You should keep watch for weeds and remove them as quickly as possible. The plastic will also help cut down on the chances of fungus growing or spreading throughout your plants.
6. Give your strawberry plants lots of space. Since each plant will produce a lot of berries, you want to space them about 18 inches apart when you plant. Make sure the roots are thoroughly covered, while still allowing the crown of the plant to get plenty of air and light.
7. Pinching creates bigger strawberry yields in the future. Pinching the strawberry runners in the first year prevents any berries from forming, but the grow from your second and future seasons will likely be more than you would have gotten in the first year. If you are yearning for some berries in your first season of planting, pinch half for the future while leaving the other half to produce berries.
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