How to Grow Strawberries in Rows

Growing strawberries in rows makes care and harvesting easier.

Strawberry plants are easy to grow with starter plants. They grow well in containers, in hanging baskets or in the garden. Strawberries are trailing plants with offshoots that trail above-ground or underground. You can grow strawberries in rows; however, if they are unattended and untrimmed, they will spread, creating a ground cover. Begin planting strawberries when all danger of frost has passed. You can prepare the garden bed rows as soon as the ground thaws.

Things You'll Need

• Hoe or rake
• Shovel or trowel
• Starter strawberry plants
• Straw or mulch (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil by clearing out weeds and debris from the area. Use a hoe or heavy-duty rake to loosen the soil.

2. Create rows of mounded soil based on the row length and number of rows desired. Space the rows 2 to 4 feet apart and 12 to 24 inches wide with 6- to 8-inch high mounds.

3. Plant the strawberry starters in the center of the mound, spacing the plants 6 to 18 inches apart. The new leaf bud in the center of each plant should sit evenly with the soil. Do not plant strawberries too deep.

4. 

   Add straw or mulch to protect berries from dirt, slugs and freezing temperatures.

   Add a 1 to 2-inch layer of straw or mulch around the strawberry plants and around the rows to help protect them from slugs and weeds. This will also keep the strawberry fruits off the dirt and protect the plants from freezing in the winter.

5. Remove weeds as the plants grow and fill in the rows. Keep the space between rows clear and compacted, leaving the space open for walking between rows.

6. 

   Trim trailing offshoots and runners to prevent them from spreading.

   Remove shoots and unrooted runners that come up underground in the walkway and trim those that trail outside of the designated rows.

Tips & Warnings

• Save the trimmed runners that have roots and replant them in another location, in containers or in hanging baskets. You can also use these as starter plants to sell or give away to neighbors and friends.

• Add additional mulch or rocks between rows to help keep the walkway clear of weeds.

• Increase mulch to 3 to 4 inches in the winter months before the ground freezes and before snowfall.

• The strawberry plants may begin to die off in the winter. Remove dead leaves and debris in the early spring, but do not remove the whole plant unless it does not revive itself by summer.

References

• "Ortho's All About Growing Fruits, Berries & Nuts"; Barbara Ferguson; 1987
• University of Illinois Extension: Strawberries & More
• The University of Maine: Growing Strawberries
• Strawberry Plants: Growing Strawberries