How to Care for Newly Planted Strawberry Plants

The sweet, red berries of strawberry patches make the fruit irresistible in the garden. Ideal for the beginner, strawberry plants can grow in pots, hanging planters or flower beds. Strawberries come in different variations. Some crop for a brief few weeks in the summer, while others crop the entire summer season. Each variety should be well-maintained for a healthy production of tasty, home-grown berries.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic or organic mulch
• Water
• Fertilizer

1. Layer either black plastic mulch or two inches of organic mulch around the base of your newly planted strawberry patches. Weeds are particularly problematic with strawberries, so consistent and comprehensive mulching is essential. Black plastic mulch may be preferable, as organic mulch may encourage slugs.

2. Water strawberry patches deeply and thoroughly, but do not over water. Strawberries require frequent irrigation, but can develop root rot and iron chlorosis with insufficient drainage.

3. Apply fertilizer sparingly. Strawberries do not require much fertilizer, but after harvesting, add about one cup of fertilizer per approximately 10 feet to enrich your strawberries sufficiently. Remember, strawberries should not be fertilized in the spring.

4. Harvest your strawberries once a year. Newly planted strawberries will not produce many berries in the first year, but should be more plentiful in years two and three.

5. At harvest time, trim the crown of your strawberry plants to thin them out and allow sunlight to reach the plant. Trim older leaves and flowers first, which will allow the nutrients to enrich the newest sprouts.

Tips & Warnings

• Strawberries are quite sensitive to frost, so it's important to position your patches on higher ground, where they are at least risk. Strawberries also love sunshine, so grow them in a sunny spot protected from wind. Also, be sure to keep your soil well-drained but moist and crumbly. Plant your strawberries in mid-April or mid-September for best results, but if your region is prone to frost, mid-April should give your plants a better chance to root before cold sets in.
• Check your strawberries occasionally for common diseases such as chlorosis, which is an iron deficiency. If the leaves are pale, small and yellowing, chlorosis may have set in. If it is severe, the edges of the leaves may be brown and dry. Combat chlorosis by reducing watering or improving soil drainage. If that doesn't help, use iron sulfate or Sequestrene 138 to fight it. Strawberries are particularly attractive to birds, with their sweet scents and visible seeds. So protect your strawberry patches from critters with a chicken wire fence.

References

• Essential Garden Guide
• Garden Action: How to Grow Your Strawberries
• Living a Country Life: Growing Strawberry Plants