Grow your own strawberries
Ask any gardener, and they’ll tell you homegrown strawberries are a delicious garden secret. Whether you have a spacious backyard or a cozy balcony, growing strawberries is a rewarding experience.
There are three types of strawberries appropriate for our area: June-bearing, everbearing and day-neutral. If you’re looking to grow your own, you’ll have the chance to purchase June-bearing (Fragaria × ananassa “Honeoye”) and several Everbearing varieties (Fragaria x ananassa “Ozark Beauty,” Fragaria x ananassa “Seascape,” Fragaria x ananassa “Quinault” and Fragaria x ananassa “Eversweet”) at the Flower and Food Fest on May 18 at Alameda Park.
Strawberries can be susceptible to local conditions: One variety that may perform well in northern Pennsylvania might not do as well in the southern part of the state. Due to these differences in variety performance, it is recommended to experiment with several varieties.
When selecting varieties, consider varieties resistant to diseases, such as red stele and verticillium wilt.
June-bearing (summer-fruiting) strawberries are the most common variety grown in Pennsylvania, and “Honeyoye” has been a top variety for many years. They produce the largest yield per season over a brief period of time. There are early, midseason and late-season varieties.
The early varieties may be more susceptible to frost injury due to their early bloom times, with opened blossoms the most vulnerable.
Everbearing (perpetual) strawberries produce two crops: The first in early summer and the second in early fall, affording a steady supply of strawberries. These varieties produce smaller-sized berries and are excellent choices for containers and small spaces.
Day-neutral strawberries are highly productive, generating very flavorful medium-sized strawberries. They have three production peaks: June, midsummer and late August; the summer crop has a smaller harvest due to high summer temperatures.
“Ozark Beauty” boasts exceptional hardiness and heavy-producing yields. “Seascape,” too, is highly productive throughout the season, producing large berries. “Quinault” produces larger, firm red berries that are desirable for fresh eating, preserves and desserts. “Eversweet” has consistent harvests of large, sweet berries from spring through fall desirable for fresh eating, preserves and desserts. Eversweet has consistent harvests of large, sweet berries from spring through fall.
April and May are the best months to plant your strawberries as soon as the soil can be worked. Do not plant strawberries after June 1, as warming temperatures could damage and spoil the fruit.
For maximum fruit production, choose a planting location that is exposed to at least eight hours of full sun daily. Strawberries will do well near plants that require insect pollinators. While self-fertile, strawberries require bees for pollination.
Plant June-bearing and everbearing strawberries 18 to 24 inches apart in rows at least 36 inches apart with the soil line above the roots but not covering the growing point of the crown. After planting your strawberry plants, apply two pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 feet of row and an additional two pounds in late August.
For day-neutral strawberries, plant them about 5 to 9 inches apart. After planting, mulch immediately with about four inches of clean straw, as they are sensitive to warm soil temperatures. Additionally, consider applying one pound of ammonium nitrate per 100 feet of row once a month from June through the first day of September. Day-neutral varieties need to receive a more constant nitrogen rate through the planting year compared to June and ever-bearing varieties.
Once your strawberries are in the ground, water them thoroughly. Optimal soil moisture levels need to be maintained throughout the season so that plants become well-established. However, avoid overwatering, as too much water will dilute the flavor of the berry, giving it a bland, unappealing taste.
For a few weeks after planting, remove flowers to help your plant direct its energy into establishing its root system and developing a healthy leaf canopy that will support next year's crop. You will still be able to harvest strawberries later in the season once your strawberry plants are established.
When harvesting strawberries, select ones that are fully red and fragrant. Refrigerate your strawberries after picking and do not rinse until right before consumption. You can enjoy your berries fresh or frozen or made into jams, jellies and baked goods.
Remember that birds, deer, chipmunks and other animals would also like to enjoy your strawberries. To prevent them from eating your berry bounty, create a cloche or berry cage using bird net or chicken wire to enclose your berries. For larger animals, it may be best to protect your strawberry plants with a fence or enclosed area.
At the end of summer, protect your strawberry plants from frost by applying mulch. Simply add 4 inches of mulch (or weed-free wheat, oat, rye straw or salt marsh hay) to your strawberry plants in December. In the spring, remove the mulch after the danger of freezing is past, about May 14 in Butler.
To learn more about growing strawberries, visit these Penn State Extension websites: extension.psu.edu/growing-strawberries; extension.psu.edu/strawberry-establishment-planting-and-other-basics; extension.psu.edu/home-fruit-gardens-table-8-1-strawberry-variety-descriptions.
If you have questions about growing strawberries, call the Master Gardeners of Butler County Garden Hotline at 724-287 4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Julie LePere is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener of Butler County.
