How to Grow Strawberries in the Northeast
Strawberries are a summer favorite. The sweet, versatile fruit can be used in pies and preserves or eaten fresh from the garden. While the Northeast does dish out some harsh winters, with the right protection and the right variety, there's no reason why strawberries can't be just as successful in a New England garden as in any other. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Planting
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Select the right variety. According to the University of Maine Extension, Jewel, Allstar and Sparkle are all appropriate varieties for the New England climate. If you live in southern Connecticut, however, your growing season will start a little earlier and you may prefer different varieties.
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2
Plant strawberries when the soil has dried out from snow and early spring rains. Select a site in full sun. The soil should be rich and must drain very well.
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3
Dig holes that are large enough to accommodate the roots if they're spread out, and position the plants so the crown is half buried. Leave 4 feet between each row and 1 1/2 feet between each plant.
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4
Water the plants well at planting, then cover them with straw, leaving the leaves exposed. This will protect the roots from very cold weather.
Care
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5
Provide supplemental irrigation -- about 1 to 2 inches of water per week -- if there isn't much rain.
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6
Cultivate the patch by hand to control weeds. Weeds can easily take over a patch.
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7
Pluck off the blossoms during the first season to encourage the mother plants to develop runners and daughter plants. Capital District Community Gardens in Troy, New York, recommends keeping only the first daughter plant of each runner and to limit each mother plant to a maximum of five daughter plants. You may wish to remove the daughters that don't produce as much fruit.
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Provide winter protection in the form of straw mulch. Strawberries need winter protection in the Northeast. The University of Maine Extension recommends straw, because it is both lightweight and very insulating. Cover the plants in 5 to 6 inches of straw and leave it on until the last danger of frost has passed. If a late frost occurs, you can easily pull the straw from between the rows back onto the plants for a night or two.
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Tips & Warnings
Your local county extension office is a wealth of information about which plant varieties grow best in your region -- don't hesitate to give them a call. Their staff is also up-to-date on plant diseases and can advise you as to which varieties are resistant to any strawberry plant diseases.
References
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