When & Where Is the Best Time to Plant Strawberries?

Types of Strawberries

• The three varieties of strawberries are June bearing, everbearing and day neutral. June bearing strawberries produce flowers, fruits and runners. They fruit for a two- to three-week period in spring and are classified in early, mid and late season varieties. Everbearing strawberries produce fruit in the spring, summer and fall. Their berries are smaller than June bearers and they do not produce many runners. Runners are fruit-producing daughter plants that sprout from the roots of the main plant. Day neutral strawberries produce throughout the growing season, but do not sprout many runners. Everbearing and day neutral varieties are best for gardeners with limited space as they can grow in terraced beds and barrels or as edging in planting beds.

Site Selection

• Deciding where to plant your strawberries is very important. Strawberries grow in most types of soil but prefer sandy loam. Loam is soil with equal concentrations of sand, silt and clay. The best site for strawberries is one that promotes good drainage. Water should drain from the soil easily and should not settle on the surface. If you don't have good drainage, planting in a raised bed can be a productive alternative. Do not plant strawberries in an area where tomatoes, peppers or potatoes have been planted in previous years as they can carry verticillium wilt, which can harm your strawberries.

Soil Preparation

• Before planting, loosen soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches to ensure runners can easily make it to the surface. When you loosen the soil, add in fertilizer to be sure you have plenty of organic matter for proper growth. Experts suggest using 1 lb. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet. Clear all weeds and test for proper drainage by watering and then digging up the soil an hour after to ensure it is mostly dry.

Planting Tips

• Plant strawberries as soon as the ground is thawed and dry, usually around March or April. New plants are tender so plant on a cloudy day or at dusk. Set the plants so that the soil is just covering the tops of the roots and none of the crown. Rows should be placed 38 to 48 inches apart and plants 15 to 24 inches apart. Planting space depends somewhat on the intensity of gardening. Casual gardeners who don't depend on large yields can set plants closer together.