How to Start a Strawberry Patch for Delicious Homegrown Berries

Imagine how wonderful it would be to go out into your garden and pick juicy, red strawberries that have just ripened in the sun. The experience of growing your own fruit is unmatched and rewarding in so many ways.

Not only are strawberries delicious and versatile, but theyre also packed full of nutrients and beneficial antioxidants. We will show you everything you need to know to plant, take care of, and harvest your own strawberry patch. This will make your dream of eating homegrown strawberries come true.

This guide is meant to help you grow strawberry plants that do well and produce lots of fruit. Come along with us on this journey to growing strawberries in your own garden.

To learn more about growing strawberries, check out my guide Top Companion Plants for Growing Juicy, Sweet Strawberries.

Imagine plucking sun-ripened, juicy strawberries fresh from your own backyard. Starting a strawberry patch at home is an incredibly rewarding way to enjoy sweet, flavorful berries through the seasons With proper planning and care, you can cultivate a flourishing strawberry bed for years of fruitful harvests

In this comprehensive guide we will walk through everything you need to know about starting a strawberry patch from scratch. Let’s explore site selection, planning the layout, choosing varieties planting crowns, providing care, and harvesting homegrown strawberries. Follow these tips and you’ll be sinking your teeth into luscious homegrown berries in no time!

Selecting the Planting Site

When deciding where to locate your new strawberry patch keep these factors in mind

Sunlight – Strawberries need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is ideal. Avoid shady areas.

Soil – Strawberries thrive in fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5-6.5. Sandy loam or loamy soil is ideal.
Drainage – Excellent drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogged soil. Avoid low spots where water accumulates.
Airflow – Good air circulation helps prevent fungal diseases. Don’t crowd plants.

Convenience – Pick a spot near your house for easy access. Keep it handy for care and harvesting.

Take time to prep your site by removing weeds, adding organic matter to improve drainage, and testing the soil pH. Ensure favorable conditions for vigorous plants and bountiful harvests.

Designing Your Strawberry Patch Layout

When planning your strawberry patch, here are some effective layouts:

Matted Rows – Space rows 3-4 feet apart. Allow runners to root freely between plants. Rows end up 2 feet wide or more. Great for June-bearing varieties.

Raised Beds – Contain plants in 12-18 inch wide raised beds with aisles between. Keep runners pruned. Ideal for everbearing types.
Potted Plants – Grow plants in containers of at least 8 inches depth. Provides mobility and good drainage.
Pyramid Beds – Arrange plants in concentric rows forming a pyramid shape. Allows light penetration and air circulation.

Strawberry Jar – Plant crowns vertically in a specialized planter. Excellent for patios or small spaces.

Think about the space you have available and which system best suits your needs and preferred varieties.

Selecting the Right Strawberry Varieties

Choose disease-resistant strawberry varieties suited for your region. Here are top types for home gardens:

June-Bearing – Produce a big harvest in early summer. ‘Allstar’, ‘Jewel’, and ‘Kent’ are excellent choices.

Everbearing – Bear fruit spring through fall. ‘Ozark Beauty’ and ‘Quinault’ are recommended.
Day-Neutral – Yield berries throughout the season. ‘Tristar’ and ‘Tribute’ are great day-neutral options.
Alpine – Compact wild strawberries with intense flavor. ‘Alexandria’ is a popular alpine variety.

Talk to local gardeners to learn which strawberries perform best in your area. Mix up varieties for a longer harvest window!

Planting Your Strawberry Crowns

Early spring is the optimal time to plant strawberries. Follow these tips when planting:

Soak crowns in water for 1-2 hours before planting to rehydrate.
Dig a hole deep and wide enough to fully accommodate the root system.

Spread roots straight down and cover crown with soil, leaving growing tips exposed.
Space plants 12-15 inches apart in rows, triangles, or beds.
Water thoroughly after planting and continue regular watering for establishment.

Consider using a starter fertilizer to give plants an extra boost.
Add mulch once plants are settled to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

Caring for Your Strawberry Patch

Give your strawberries attentive care for optimal health and production:

Water 1-2 inches per week depending on rainfall. Avoid wet foliage.
Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with a balanced organic fertilizer.

Mulch beds with straw to retain moisture and discourage weeds.
Prune runners on everbearing varieties to focus energy on fruiting.
Protect berries by covering plants with bird netting as needed.

** Scout for pests** like spider mites, slugs, or beetles and address any found.
Remove old leaves and berries after harvest to prevent disease.
Apply winter mulch like straw after plants go dormant in late fall.

Harvesting Your Strawberry Patch

Pick berries when fully red – don’t wash until ready to eat.
Harvest every 2-3 days during peak season.
Gently twist berries off leaving caps on plants.

Use scissors for clean cuts if stems break.
Handle carefully to avoid bruising.
Refrigerate unwashed berries promptly in a single layer.

With attentive planting, care, and harvesting, your strawberry patch will provide a bountiful harvest. Soon you’ll be enjoying the sweet fruits of your gardening labor!

The takeaway? Growing strawberries at home is extremely rewarding, relatively easy, and sure to become your new favorite gardening endeavor. Follow this guide and you’ll be cultivating a flourishing patch yielding delicious homegrown berries for your family. Just imagine gazing out at your yard while enjoying a bowl of strawberries harvested fresh from your own backyard. Let’s get planting!

Checking Soil pH

Strawberries prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5. 5 and 6. 5. If youre unsure of your soils pH, simply use a soil pH tester.

If your soil is more alkaline, you can amend it with elemental sulfur or aluminum sulfate. If its overly acidic, lime can be added to increase the pH.

Here is the soil pH tester I recommend using:

Choosing the Right Strawberry Plants

You can choose from different kinds of strawberry plants, but the most common ones for home strawberry patches are day-neutral, June-bearing, and ever-bearing plants. June-bearing strawberries produce a large, concentrated harvest in late spring to early summer.

Ever-bearing plants produce fruit twice a year—once in the spring and again in late summer or fall. Day-neutral plants bear strawberries throughout the growing season, but the fruits are often smaller.

Let’s delve further into each type of strawberry.

June-bearing strawberries, as the name suggests, usually bear fruit in June, but this can happen in late spring or early summer depending on where you live. They have a heavy, concentrated crop that lasts for two to three weeks and is known for its big, sweet berries.

Strawberry plants that bear fruit in June are further divided into early, mid, and late season types. This lets you plant at different times for a longer harvest period. The best varieties are Earliglow for an early harvest, Honeoye for mid-season, and Allstar for a later yield.

Here are the ones I recommend growing:

Everbearing strawberries produce two to three harvests spread out through the spring, summer, and early fall. This means you’ll have a steady supply of berries all summer long, though not as many as with June-bearing types.

Everbearing varieties are excellent for gardeners who like a continual supply of fresh berries.

Ozark Beauty and Quinault are the best everbearing varieties:

Day-neutral strawberries are a newer class of strawberries that arent affected by the length of daylight hours. As long as the temperature stays between 35°F and 85°F, they will keep making fruit from late spring until the first frost.

Even though the berries aren’t as big as June-bearing varieties, the plants are very productive, and if they are well taken care of, their total yield can be as high as that of June-bearers.

Albion and Seascape are the best day-neutral varieties to grow:

Also known as wild strawberries, alpine strawberries are a different species from the common garden strawberry. They produce small, intensely flavored berries throughout the growing season.

These plants come back every year and are hardy and easy to grow, so they are great for border plantings or edging.

Here are the alpine strawberries I recommend growing:

When choosing your strawberry plants, also consider the disease resistance of different varieties. Some are more resistant to common strawberry diseases, which can make your gardening experience much smoother.

Lastly, local climate and conditions play a vital role in strawberry selection. Remember, theres no one size fits all strawberry plant. The best choice will depend on your specific preferences, needs, and gardening conditions.

Growing Strawberries At Home Is Easy! Complete Growing Guide!

FAQ

What’s the best way to start a strawberry patch?

Strawberries need at least eight to 10-hours of full sun each day and slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. Many varieties of strawberries send out numerous runners throughout the season and fill in the space between plants, so it’s important to give them ample room – about 12 to 18 inches apart.

What month is best to plant strawberries?

Strawberry plants can be planted in an unheated greenhouse or poly tunnel in the fall to fruit the following spring. They can be planted in March to harvest a few months later. If grown in a heated greenhouse, strawberries can be planted out as early as December, with pickable fruit ready from late March onwards.

What is the best way to start strawberry seeds?

Barely cover the seeds with soil; they need light to germinate. Mist the soil daily to keep it moist but not wet. Be careful not to water too intensely; too much water will disturb the seeds, pushing them down into the soil where they will not be able to germinate. Provide a strong light source above the seeded flat.

Do strawberry patches come back every year?

Properly cared-for strawberries come back year after year. Daughter plants replace the originals as you renovate the bed. However, due to a drop in production, most gardeners renew their June-bearing strawberry patch after three to five years or their everbearing patch every other year.

How do I choose a strawberry patch?

Your strawberries selected, it’s time to prepare the patch. Choose carefully, as strawberries are perennials that will thrive in the right garden plot for years to come. These plants require full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5-7.5.

How do you treat of strawberry arms and legs?

Strawberry arms and legs occur because of clogged pores of the skin by dirt, dead skin, bacteria or oil. Clean with a good soap and exfoliator. It usually occurs because of dry shaving. Use moisturising shaving cream or lotion and shave carefully. It is important to exfoliate. Use epilator.

How do you prepare a strawberry patch?

Preparing the strawberry patch begins with the groundwork – quite literally with soil and light. Here’s what I’ve learned: Strawberries demand full sunlight for optimal sweetness and growth. A minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight per day is my target. As for the soil, it should be rich and well-drained, so I usually aim for a raised bed.

Can You Grow your own strawberry patch?

Join our dynamic garden community. Growing your own strawberry patch is a rewarding experience; there’s nothing quite as delightful as the taste of sun-warmed strawberries picked right from your garden. Strawberry plants are perennials, which means with the right care, you can enjoy their bounties for years.