Planting Strawberries: As Food, As Ornament, or As Groundcover
|
When planting strawberries, you can cultivate them not just for food. They also make good groundcover and as ornamental plants. Planting Strawberries The best time to plant strawberries is in the spring or in late fall, when the soil is just sufficiently dry to work. Clear the planting site of weeds and keep it weed-free. Enrich the soil with approximately one to two inches of organic nutrients like well-rotted manure or compost. After planting, mulch between plants. Not only will the mulch keep the temperature of the soil cool and the fruits off the soil, it will help with weeds. You can utilize straw for mulch, but avoid black plastic. The latter will cause the soil temperature to rise and cause injury to the plant crowns. If you live in colder climates, mulch only when the temperature reaches about 20ºF. Make the mulch about six or more inches thick. It will be easier on yourself if you choose mulches that are easy to remove. Planting the June Bearing Strawberries Make a mound sufficiently large so that when you make a hole in its center, the roots of the strawberry plant can be spread. Place the strawberry crown in the hole at soil level. Distribute the roots downward on the mound. Cover with soil until just midway of the crown. When the runners come out, situate each about seven inches apart and press lightly into the soil. Cover with about half an inch of soil. Do not cut off the runners from the mother plant. In the first year of planting, remove all the flowers. Do not lament the lack of strawberry crops in the first year. The removal of the flowers will yield for you a better crop the following year and help ensure more years of fruiting. Planting the Everbearing and Day Neutral Strawberries Make a garden bed about eight inches high and two feet wide. Stagger the plants in double rows approximately one foot in between. During their first year up to the first of July, remove the runners and the flowers when they come out. Thereafter, you may let the strawberry plants have their fruit. You will need to replace your Everbearing and Day Neutral Strawberry plants every three years, or less if the plants show signs of losing health and vigor. Just for the June Bearing Strawberries If you want to get the most life out of your strawberry plants, cut them down to about three inches in height after the last harvest. Be very careful not to injure the crowns. Fertilize with five pounds of balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 feet of row. Till between the rows. Thin the plants six to nine inches in between. Favor the younger plants. Start with new plants whenever there is a reduction in yield, or the plants start losing their vigorl. For plant requirements for any variety, see Page 1. Indeed, planting strawberries is quite rewarding – it will give you food and an attractive display for your home and garden.
|
|
