Grow Superb Strawberries
(Page 3 of 5)
Prior to planting, remove all perennial weeds and till in a
1- to 2-inch layer of compost, applying it more liberally
where soil tilth or fertility are less than optimum. You
can use grass clippings instead of compost as long as you
wait a few weeks before you plant to give the clippings
time to decompose. To be sure the shallow-rooted plants get
off to a good start, this is one time when a fast-release
fertilizer is appropriate.
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For most of the United States, plant strawberries in spring
as soon as the soil can be worked. In warmer regions of
California and the South, strawberries usually are planted
as annuals in late summer or fall. At planting time, keep
these three things in mind: Holes should be wide enough to
accommodate the roots, carefully fan out the roots as you
plant and be sure the top of the crown (the dense area
between the roots and stem) remains slightly above soil
level while the roots are well buried below.
Bowling recommends planting strawberries in a system called
"matted rows." She says, "The strawberry's perennial nature
is used to best advantage in the matted rows by allowing
the plants to be replenished with new growth each year." In
this system, plants are spaced according to type (keep
reading), and runners, which are long, horizontal stems
that form small, "daughter" plants on the end, are allowed
to fill in empty spaces, renewing the planting as they
establish themselves.
June-bearers produce more runners than day-neutrals or
ever-bearers, and should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart
with about 3 to 4 feet between rows. This spacing allows
the runners to root and eventually form a matted row. Space
day-neutral and ever-bearing types 5 to 9 inches apart,
with 24- to 30-inch aisles between each row. These two
types require a more constant nitrogen supply, so fertilize
them once a month from June through the first of September.
GROWING ON
When you get your strawberries in the ground and
fertilized, immediately follow up with a deep mulch of
straw, grass clippings or pine needles between plants.
Mulching inhibits weeds, conserves moisture, and helps keep
fruit clean and roots cool (especially important for
day-neutral types).
Water your new planting thoroughly and try to keep the soil
evenly moist as the season progresses; consistent moisture
is essential for strawberries' shallow roots, which need
about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season.
That's especially important in fall, when flower buds that
will turn into next year's crop are forming. "The more
cells that are formed in the flower bud, the larger the
fruit will be," Bowling explains. Weed beds weekly, too.
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