As a horticulture student I mainly studied crops and cultivation techniques. It fascinates me how many diverse plants can grow from small, nearly identical seeds. Favourite fruit: blueberries, grapes, raspberries, pears Favourite vegetables: mushrooms, peppers, kohlrabi, onions, garlic.
To grow and to produce as much fruit as possible, strawberries need nutrients. Learn all about which fertilisers to use and when to feed strawberries to increase your harvest.
You cannot beat the lovely, sweet flavour of strawberries (Fragaria) grown in your very own garden. Getting the nutrients your strawberries need is the key to getting big, juicy berries from your plants. Find out which fertilizer to use and when and how often to feed your strawberry plants below.
As both a gardener and a coffee addict I’ve often wondered if my beloved morning ritual could also benefit my strawberry patch. Coffee grounds seem like they should be useful for amending soil and feeding plants. But are coffee grounds actually good for strawberries? After doing some research and experimenting in my own garden I discovered that using coffee grounds for strawberries can provide some real benefits when done correctly.
An Overview of Using Coffee Grounds in Gardens
Coffee grounds are sometimes recommended as a garden additive for several potential reasons:
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They add organic matter and loosen heavy soils to improve structure
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The grounds contain nitrogen and other nutrients plants can use
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They may deter pests like slugs and snails due to caffeine
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Grounds can alter pH, though whether they make soil more acidic or alkaline depends on the coffee’s origin
However, used coffee grounds are also highly acidic and can contain salts, oils, and other compounds that may negatively impact plants in large quantities. Moderation is key when adding grounds to gardens.
Do Strawberries Like Coffee Grounds?
When used judiciously, coffee grounds can be a useful supplement for strawberries. Here are some of the benefits:
Organic Matter for Soil Structure
Strawberries thrive in loose, well-aerated soil. Coffee grounds can help lighten and add air pockets to dense, heavy dirt. The grounds also improve soil’s water retention.
Extra Nitrogen
Coffee grounds contain about 2% nitrogen in a form that plants can absorb. This provides a gentle fertilizer boost, especially for nitrogen-loving plants like leafy greens.
May Deter Pests
Some gardeners find scattering grounds around strawberry plants helps deter slugs, snails, and other soft-bodied pests that dislike crawling over the gritty, dry grounds.
Acidify Soil
Moderately acidic soil in the pH range of 5.5-6.5 is ideal for strawberries. Grounds from certain coffee types can lower pH to target levels.
Improve Fruit Flavor
Anecdotal evidence suggests using grounds moderation may enhance strawberry flavor in some varieties. More research is needed to confirm effects on taste.
Readily Available and Free
As a kitchen waste product, used grounds are free and convenient for gardeners to obtain. It’s a virtually effortless way to gain some supplemental nutrition for your strawberry patch.
Potential Drawbacks of Coffee Grounds for Strawberries
While grounds offer some benefits, overdoing it can cause problems:
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Too much nitrogen from the grounds can burn plant roots
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Excess grounds can stunt growth by tying up nitrogen during decomposition
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High acidity could negatively alter soil environment over time
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Oils and salts may accumulate to toxic levels if over-applied
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May attract unwanted pests like snails and rodents if allowed to accumulate
The key is using coffee grounds judiciously for strawberries. Follow best practices, and they can be a helpful addition. Misuse grounds, and you risk hindering your plants.
Best Practices for Using Coffee Grounds on Strawberries
To maximize benefits while avoiding issues, follow these tips:
Mix Grounds Thoroughly Into Soil
Don’t just spread dry grounds heavily around plants. Mix a thin layer into the top few inches of dirt to prevent concentrated piles.
Adjust Amount Based on Plant Size
A mature strawberry plant in a 12-inch pot needs more grounds than a freshly planted runner in a 4-inch pot. Adjust amounts accordingly.
Alternate With Other Amendments
Rotate grounds with compost and natural fertilizers. Don’t add piles of grounds as the sole soil supplement all the time.
Rinse Leftover Liquids First
Spent grounds may still contain acidic coffee extract. Rinsing with water first prevents over-acidifying soil.
Limit Total Use
Stick to a thin topping layer just once or twice per growing season. Excessive use causes more harm than good.
Watch Plant Response
Notice if grounds improve or inhibit growth and adjust accordingly. Each garden is different.
The Verdict: Coffee Grounds as a Whole Can Benefit Strawberries
While excessive coffee grounds can certainly cause issues, using them judiciously offers real advantages for strawberries. The organic matter, nitrogen, pest deterrence, pH lowering capacity, and flavor enhancement can all benefit your plants and harvests.
Just stick to thin, occasional applications blended thoroughly into soil. Rinse spent grounds first, and adjust amounts based on plant specifics. By following best practices, the free, convenient grounds can enhance your strawberry patch instead of harming it.
So feel free to recycle those morning leftovers into your garden! With the right approach, used coffee grounds and strawberry plants can form a mutually beneficial and productive relationship.
When to feed strawberries?
When you plant strawberry plants for the first time, it’s best to feed them with slow-release fertilizer or mature compost. Strawberry plants aren’t fertilized in the spring like many other garden crops are because they’ll already have flowers on them. In fact, strawberry plants form their flowers in the previous year, which why the feeding time is different. If you are growing your strawberry plants as perennials, fertilise them immediately after harvesting. For strawberry varieties that only bear one fruit, this is the only time they need to be fertilized. Everbearing varieties, on the other hand, can be given small amounts of fertilizer at regular times throughout the year.
Tip: The strawberry comes from the forest and likes slightly acidic and humus-rich soil. That’s why it likes a layer of straw or grass cuttings as mulch. Since mulch takes a long time to break down, put it down after the soil has warmed up and keep adding to it every so often.
Summary: When to feed strawberries?
- Apply slow-release fertiliser to the soil when planting
- Fertilise after harvesting
- Everbearing strawberries: apply small amounts of fertiliser throughout the year
- Mulch layer of straw or grass cuttings
Which fertiliser is best for strawberries?
Strawberries are little picky when it comes to their nutrient requirements. The high salt content of mineral fertilisers and household compost, for example, can harm the plant. Natural fertilizers like leaf humus, bark compost, horn shavings, or a plant-based slow-release fertilizer like our Plantura Tomato Food will help your plants flower and produce a lot of fruit.
- Perfect for tomatoes, chillies, courgettes, cucumber & more
- For healthy plants & an abundant tomato harvest
- Child-safe fertilizer that lasts a long time and doesn’t contain any animal products
Best Strawberry Fertilizers! – Garden Quickie Episode 139
Are coffee grounds good for strawberries?
Coffee grounds are a popular home remedy for improving the health and productivity of strawberry plants. They are rich in nutrients that can benefit strawberries, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Coffee grounds also contain beneficial microbes that can help to improve soil health and suppress plant diseases.
Can strawberries grow in coffee soil?
Some of the strawberry types that have been known to thrive in coffee-rich soil include Alpine, Alexandria, and Honeoye. So, if you’re looking to give your strawberries a little help, it’s always best to do a bit of research on your particular type of strawberry before adding coffee grounds to your soil.
Can you use coffee grounds on strawberries in the winter?
If you’re growing strawberries as a perennial, I would suggest not using coffee grounds on them in the winter. This is because the strawberry plants are more dormant and don’t need many nutrients. In fact, too many nutrients sitting in the soil can chemically burn the plant’s roots.
Can You Add coffee grounds to a strawberry plant?
Luckily for us all, coffee grounds are quite easy to add to your soil. As a general rule of thumb, when adding coffee grounds to your soil, your strawberry plants should be sitting in 25% coffee grounds and 75% nutrient-rich soil. To obtain this, add 1 cup of new or used coffee grounds for every 3 to 4 cups of soil.