Growing Strawberries in Your Home Garden

There's nothing like biting into a freshly-picked strawberry. Its flavors rise above the store bought varieties. If you grow strawberry plants in your home garden, you also have the satisfaction of watching the plants grow.

Once you understand a few simple rules about growing strawberries, you can have a plentiful strawberry patch that will serve you many years to come.

There are three types of strawberry plants. (There is a also variety called the Alpine Strawberry, grown generally in the wild. This plant produces a very small but favorable fruit.)

June bearing plants produce one large crop of strawberries during a two to three week period in the spring time. This is the most popular kind of strawberry plant grown in home gardens. You can buy early, mid-season and late varieties. These plants send out lots of "runners" or shoots that grow along the surface of the ground to establish more plants.

Everbearing strawberry plants do not send out runners, and produce two or even three crops during the warmer months. Day Neutral plants can produce fruit throughout the entire growing season. Both Everbearing and Day Neutral plants produce smaller fruits than the June bearing.

Strawberry plants can be planted as soon as the soil is dry enough to be worked in the spring. You can plant in the fall, but planting in the spring allows the plants more time to become established. Plant in a sunny, well-drained area.

Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the entire root system of the plant. Add two inches of compost on the bottom, then form a small hill at the center of the hole. Place the plant on the hill, and spread the roots down its side. Cover the plant so that half of the crown is covered with dirt. Plant at least 18 inches apart.

Pinch off flowers during the first year - this will allow greater plant growth so that the plant is established. You can start harvesting by the second year. (With some Everbearing and Day Neutral plants, you can wait until July during the first year to harvest.)

For June bearing plants, direct the runners if your plants share space with other plants. The runners have a tendency to wander all over the garden (which can be good!), but you may have to train them to take root where you want them.

Mulching around your strawberry plants will keep the plants cool, and help to discourage weed growth. Many gardeners use straw as a mulch. Water liberally, especially when there is fruit on the plants.

Strawberries can be harvested as soon as they have ripened on the vine. Pull from the plant gently - fruits can be fragile.

Unfortunately, the critters in your backyard have a tendency to get to the fruit first. To discourage strawberry-eaters, try gardening nets. Some gardeners have had success painting a rock to look like a strawberry early in the season. When a bird comes to eat this "strawberry" it's discouraged, and might not visit again. You can also try placing pet-hair in your garden to scare away squirrels and chipmunks.

Cover your plants with a thick layer of mulch during the winter months. In the spring, gently clear the mulch away, and place a fresh layer of straw to start your new season.

Strawberry plants normally last four years, then their production begins to decline. It's a good idea to dig up the older plants and start with fresh plants.