As a passionate gardener, I’m always looking for ways to get the most out of the juicy, sweet strawberries I grow myself. And let me tell you, planting strawberries in a raised bed is the best way to get them ready for the season.
Raised garden beds offer the ideal growing environment for prolific strawberry plants. The superior drainage weed control, and customized soil in a raised bed helps strawberries thrive and produce more abundantly than when grown in the ground.
If you want to take your strawberry harvests to the next level this year then follow along for the ultimate guide to getting your raised bed prepped and planted for strawberry success!
Why Grow Strawberries in a Raised Bed?
Strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruits for home gardeners to grow The perennial plants produce juicy berries year after year once established, But planting them in a raised bed unlocks their full potential
Here are the key benefits of using a raised bed:
- Improves drainage so plants don’t get waterlogged
- Allows you to enrich soil with compost and nutrients
- Warms up faster in spring for earlier harvests
- Reduces weed competition dramatically
- Makes it easier to contain plants and runners
- Keeps slugs and rodents away from the fruits
- Extends the harvest season earlier and later
A raised bed is the best way to grow plants that bear lots of sweet, red berries. The better growing conditions just mean that there are more high-quality fruits than when plants are planted in the ground.
Raised Bed Design Tips for Strawberries
Getting your raised bed design dialed in is an important first step. Here are some key tips:
- Use rot-resistant wood like cedar or redwood. Avoid treated lumber.
- Minimum depth of 12 inches provides ample root zone space.
- Width of 3-4 feet makes it easy to reach the middle for care and harvest.
- Length can vary based on space, but keep beds short enough to access all sides.
- Add mesh screen below bed frame to keep burrowing pests out of the soil.
You can purchase a pre-fab raised bed, build your own out of wood, or use materials like bricks, rocks, or galvanized metal. Just make sure the bed is non-toxic and provides at least 1 square foot of space per plant.
Position the bed in full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. And don’t plant strawberries with taller crops like tomatoes or corn that could shade them.
The Best Soil Mix for Strawberries
One great thing about a raised bed is that you can mix the soil however you want. Strawberries prefer soil that:
- Drains very well
- Is slightly acidic from pH 6.0 to 6.5
- Contains plenty of organic matter like compost
- Has lots of nutrients to support growth
To get the ideal soil mix, use a base of quality potting soil or garden loam. Then mix in at least 30% organic materials like:
- Compost, rotted manure, peat moss
- Coconut coir, leaf mold, forest humus
- Worm castings, chipped bark, straw
This gives plants the light, nutrient-rich soil they love. You can also mix in some balanced organic granular fertilizer when prepping the bed.
The Best Strawberry Varieties for Raised Beds
Selecting the right strawberry variety is key to success. June-bearing types produce a big single crop, while everbearing and day-neutral varieties yield smaller harvests throughout the season.
For raised beds, I recommend day-neutral varieties like ‘Albion’, ‘Seascape’ and ‘Portola’. These give you a steady supply of berries all summer long once they get going. They also produce a lot of runners, so prune them to keep plants in check.
Everbearing varieties like ‘Ozark Beauty’, ‘Fort Laramie’ and ‘Quinault’ are another good choice, producing 2-4 larger harvests per season. They spread less aggressively than day-neutrals.
No matter which you choose, look for varieties suitable for your growing zone. And prioritize disease-resistant cultivars for easiest care.
Planting Your Strawberry Raised Bed
Once your raised bed is built and filled with enriched soil, it’s time to get your strawberries in the ground! Here are some tips:
- Give plants 10-12 inches of space all around. They’ll spread to fill it in.
- Massage bare root plant roots before planting to spread them out.
- Set plants in holes deep enough to keep crown above soil surface.
- Water new transplants daily with a gentle spray to establish roots.
- Consider using a lightweight row cover to protect new plants.
Plant in spring once the danger of frost has passed. You can also plant in fall 8-10 weeks before the ground freezes for an earlier yield next year.
Caring for Strawberries in a Raised Bed
Keep your raised bed strawberries healthy and productive with proper care:
- Water 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses, not overhead watering.
- Weed weekly to prevent competition, especially when plants are young.
- Fertilize in spring with an organic balanced fertilizer.
- Prune off all runners weekly to keep plants vigorous and tidy.
- Use straw mulch around plants to suppress weeds, retain moisture and keep fruits clean.
- Surround bed with bird netting as fruits ripen to keep them safe from feasting birds!
With a little attentive care, your raised bed strawberries will flourish and reward you with a bountiful harvest.
Harvesting Your Raised Bed Strawberries
Once those little white blooms appear on your strawberry plants, berries aren’t far behind! Harvest time varies by variety, but typically occurs 4-6 weeks after flowering.
Here are some harvesting tips:
- Pick berries when fully RED with a bright sheen.
- Leave a bit of stem attached and handle gently to avoid bruising.
- Pick every 2-3 days during peak harvest season.
- Early morning is ideal harvest time when berries are firm and sweet.
- Place harvested berries in a single layer in a shallow container.
Enjoy fresh or preserve extras by freezing, canning or making into jam. Follow these simple raised bed growing tips and you’ll be rewarded with the biggest, juiciest homegrown strawberries you’ve ever tasted!
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Strawberries in Raised Beds
Growing strawberries in raised beds is easy and rewarding, but gardeners often have some lingering questions. Here are answers to some of the most common raised bed strawberry FAQs:
How many strawberry plants do I need per raised bed?
On average, allow 1-2 strawberry plants per square foot of bed space. So a 3×8 foot raised bed could accommodate 24-48 plants spaced 10-12 inches apart. More plants fills the bed faster but requires more pruning and maintenance.
Should I line the bottom of my raised strawberry bed?
Lining with landscape fabric can help block weeds and retain moisture. But it isn’t strictly necessary. An organic mulch layer on top serves a similar function. Just be sure the bed itself has drainage holes.
Is compost or manure better for raised beds?
Both contain beneficial organic matter, but compost is safer for shallow strawberry roots. Well-rotted manure can work too but may burn plants if not aged properly. A 50/50 mix of compost and topsoil is ideal.
How long do raised bed strawberries produce?
In ideal conditions, strawberry raised beds can remain productive for 3-5 years before plant vigor declines. You can replant part of the bed annually to maintain output.
Should I grow strawberries from seed or starts?
For faster fruiting, it’s best to purchase young bare-root plants or plugs. Starting from seed takes 1-2 years to yield berries. Let nurseries handle seed starting and propagate your own plants from runners.
Got any other raised bed strawberry questions? Just ask in the comments!
Enjoy an Abundant Strawberry Harvest!
Now you’ve got all the inside tips and tricks for getting a thriving strawberry patch growing in a raised garden bed this year.
Following this complete guide will set you up for strawberry success and let you enjoy harvests of outrageously delicious homegrown berries. Once you taste that juice RED strawberry goodness, you’ll see why upgrading to a raised bed was so worth it!
And nothing beats biting into a sun-warmed, just-picked strawberry straight from your own garden. Share the love by turning your harvests into sweet treats for friends and neighbors.
Still craving more info on raised bed gardening? Check out these articles:
- Raised Bed Soil & Fertilizer Tips
- Building Your Own Raised Beds
- Raised Bed Watering & Irrigation Systems
- Mixing Up Organic Pest Control for Raised Beds
