By Ronnie Dauber, Garden Guides Contributor
About Strawberries
Strawberries are sweet red berries that grow on perennial plants
and are every gardener's delight, whether grown in a garden or
organic soil. They grow well and gain sturdiness with larger crops
in gardens, but also produce healthy crops in planters or garden
pots.
Site Preparation
Choose a location with full or partial shade. Till the soil with
compost and then dig a shallow trench for each row (rows should be
4 feet apart). Form a small dome of soil every 12 inches in the
row. The new plants will be placed onto these domes.
Special Features
Strawberries grow on runners on the ground, and are one of the
sweetest of the berry family. They are hardy plants that will
continue to produce for many years, and can be harvested throughout
the summer depending on the variety.
Choosing a Variety
All varieties of strawberries have the same planting and care
requirements, but their biggest difference is their sweetness and
the harvest time. The Veestar is known as the early-season
strawberry; the Kent is the most popular with a mid-season harvest
of high yields of red fruit; and the Tristar is a neutral
strawberry that will continue to produce delicious medium-sized
berries through the summer and into the fall.
Planting
Sprinkle strawberry seeds onto soil in trays indoors in early
March. Cover the trays with a clear plastic wrap or bags to retain
the moisture. Keep out of direct sunlight but keep warm (60 to 70
degrees F). About 6 weeks after germination, which takes 3 to 4
weeks, transplant the tiny seedlings into small 2-inch pots until
they are ready to be placed permanently outdoors. When planting by
the roots, first soak the roots and trim them to about 5 inches.
When the ground is warm, spread the new plant roots over the domes
that were prepared in the trenches and cover them well with
soil.
Care
During the first summer, pinch off all of the flowers so that the
roots and runners will develop properly. In the late fall, cover
the plants with a seed and weed-free mulch to protect them from the
winter elements. In the following spring, after the last frost,
remove the mulch and place it in the paths between the rows.
Harvest and Storage
Strawberries are ready for harvest in their second year and can be
picked once they are fully red. Crop time can vary depending on the
variety, as some harvest in late spring, others in mid-season and
others continue to the late fall. Some varieties grown in deck
planters can harvest all summer long. The fruit can be eaten fresh
or frozen or preserved into jam.
