Growing Strawberries

The strawberry, considered by many people to be their favourite berry crop, is ideally suited for the home garden. A small plot of land can produce all the strawberries required for an average size family. Growing strawberries can be a satisfying and rewarding pastime.

They are the first fruit to ripen and, by choosing suitable varieties, ripe berries can be picked throughout the summer until late fall. Be sure to plant your strawberries in a sunny location.

To be a successful grower, however, you should remember that the strawberry plant responds to length of day and temperature. During the long daylight period of late spring and early summer, plants develop runners which produce new plants.

When the day-length shortens in late summer, the development of new runners stops and flowers begin to form in the crown for the next summer's crop. Temperatures above 18°C (65 F) favor runner production while cooler temperatures favour floral development.

The everbearing varieties are less sensitive to temperature and day length than ordinary varieties. They too form flower buds in the fall, which develop into berries the next summer. However, during the summer they also form flowers which produce berries in late summer and fall, giving you fresh delicious berries through the entire growing season.

Soil

Soil Preparation

Strawberries planted in well prepared soil should produce fruit for at least five years. An adequate supply of organic matter in the soil is important. Organic matter improves soil structure, provides nutrients, promotes the growth of helpful soil organisms, and increases the water-holding capacity of the soil.

If the organic matter content of the soil is low, it can be improved prior to planting by applying a generous amount of weed-free animal manure, peat moss, or compost.

A green-manure crop such as oats, clover or buckwheat, grown and incorporated in the soil the year prior to planting, is an excellent method of soil improvement, adding significant amounts of nitrogen to your soil. Provincial departments of agriculture will analyze soil samples and advise on limestone and fertilizer requirements.

Use of Limestone

Strawberries are best suited to soils ranging in pH from 5.5 to 6.5. Soils having a pH range of 4.0 to 5.0 are too acidic and may be low in calcium and magnesium. Spreading dolomitic limestone results in an increase of soil pH and makes calcium and magnesium more available. If dolomitic limestone is required, you should spread it and work it into the soil one year before planting. A general recommendation for acidic soils is 1 kg lime/m 2 .

Planting Stock

Plant certified stock. Look for nurseries in your area that specialize in growing certified strawberry plants from virus-indexed stock. They co-operate with the provincial and federal departments of agriculture to produce healthy stock for planting.

When to Plant

Wherever possible, plant strawberries in soil which has not grown strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or eggplants in the past 4 or 5 years. This precaution will help avoid serious root diseases such as Verticillium wilt and black root rot.

Plant in the early spring to have runner plants by early summer. Early formed runner plants produce more fruit than those formed during late summer and fall.

Plant Handling

Obtain plants as close to planting time as possible. If you cannot plant immediately after receiving the plants, keep them cool and shaded from the sun. If there is a long delay, store them at a temperature above freezing but below 4.5°C. If a cold room is not available, dig a narrow trench in well drained soil, space the plants in the trench and firm the soil around the roots.

Protect the tops of the plants from direct sunlight and wind. Do not allow plants to dry out during planting. Be extra careful in handling plants when it is sunny and windy. The very fine root system will dry out within a few minutes if not covered. If the roots are dry, place them in water just long enough to wet them and then allow the excess water to drain off. Do not leave the plants submerged in water.

Plant Spacing

Space the rows 1.4 m ( 4 to 5 feet) apart and the plants in the row 50 cm (20 inches) apart. Set plants so that the midpoint of the crown is level with the soil surface and the roots are straight down and somewhat spread. If the plant is set too deep, runnering will be delayed and the growing point of the crown may rot.

If set too shallow, the crown and the tops of the roots will dry out. Encourage the runners from these plants to root, by keeping them in contact with moist soil, until the desired number of plants develop.

Care of the Planting

The yield and quality of the crop depend largely on the first summer's growth and runner development, so pay special attention to cultural operations such as fertilization, cultivation and weed control to encourage development of strong plants and early runners. Watering may be particularly beneficial during the establishment phase.

Fertilizing

A good supply of organic matter in the soil is important. Organic matter improves air and water movement, favours growth of helpful soil organisms, provides nutrients, and increases the water-holding capacity of the soil. Use your own garden compost for best results.

Apply a commercial fertilizer 4 to 6 weeks after planting. A general guide is 200 g (7 oz.) of 6-12-12 or 10-10-10 fertilizer per 6 m row, spread along both sides of the row and incorporated with a hoe. If a more concentrated fertilizer such as 17-17-17 is used, reduce the amount proportionately.

An application of nitrogen fertilizer such as ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) at a rate of 50 g (2 oz.) per 6 m (20 feet) row in late August will improve the formation of flower buds. Remember to brush fertilizer off the foliage immediately after it is applied, to prevent injury.

Cultivation and Weeds

Frequent cultivation of the planting by hand hoeing is needed to control weeds and to keep the soil loose enough for the runners to root. The newly set plants should be cultivated as soon as weeds begin to compete or if the soil becomes compacted by heavy rain.

The strawberry plant is very shallow rooted and cultivation should be only deep enough to destroy the weeds. Avoid throwing soil over or pulling it away from the crowns of the plants. Chemical herbicides are not recommended for the home gardener. Do not let weeds go to seed.

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