Tempting as it may be to buy strawberry plants at the store, for almost the same price you can buy a pack of twenty five online. Planting bareroot strawberries is a very simple process and after the first year, you will be rewarded with delicious strawberries and an abundance of new strawberry plant babies.
Did you know there are three different types of strawberries?
- June Bearing: In June you will have an abundance of strawberries and then in stops. This is great if you want to make jam or even freeze them.
- Everbearing: Produces all season long but mostly in the Spring and Fall. Their fruit tends to be a little smaller than June Bearing strawberries. A great option for fresh strawberries all season long.
- Day Neutral: Produces a consistent amount of strawberries up until the first frost. These strawberries are the same size as the Everbearing.
Best Time For Planting Bareroot Strawberries
Plant strawberry crowns in the Spring when the ground is workable. Spread out the roots and cover just up to the bottom third of the plant stem. Raised beds are an excellent choice for growing strawberries because it will keep them contained and provide good drainage.
Plant your strawberries no less than a foot apar and up to two feet. Leave yourself plenty of room for the new strawberry plants that will run off from their mother plant. Mulching the strawberry plants will help retain moisture and keep the weeds under control.
You will be able to harvest a few strawberries the first year but strawberries will really start to produce the second year. You may be surprised how quickly your bed will fill with new strawberry plants. Keep what you can, and pot up the rest to give away or add them to your compost pile.
It is such a treat to pluck a freshly picked strawberry into your mouth. You won’t regret it.
