How to Grow Strawberries? A Comprehensive Planting Guide For a Fruitful Yield

Strawberries have been a huge part of my childhood, especially because all my birthdays were incomplete without a strawberry cake. The first time I saw a strawberry plant was in my uncle’s garden, and I decided to grow one at home. 

Learning how to grow strawberries from scratch, while keeping care tips in mind, is exciting and insightful. Strawberries are extremely easy to grow, and dive into this blog if you are planning to start the journey of growing strawberries at home.

Strawberry: Introduction and Taxonomic Specification 

Strawberry, a member of the rose family, is a low-growing perennial plant that produces a red, juicy fruit eaten raw and used in various sweet dishes around the world.  

This perennial plant is versatile in nature and can be grown in gardens, indoors palnts, or in hanging plants baskets. They ideally come back every year, but their fruit production decreases subsequently.  

Have a look at the taxonomic specification of the strawberry for a better understanding of the fruit that has been such a crucial part of so many delicious dishes. 

Scientific Name	Fragaria Ananassa
Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Mangliophyta
Class	Mangliopsida
Order	Rosales
Family	Rosaceae
Genus	Fragaria

What are the Different Types of Strawberries?   

Before learning how to grow strawberries, take a look at the different varieties of the fruit to get a better understanding of the planting requirements and care tips: 

There are 3 types of strawberries: 

Type	Variety	Planting Method	Features
June bearing	Fragaria Ananassa	Matted row	One big harvest in late spring or early summer.
Spring bearing	Fragaria Vesca	Hill Planting	2 harvests per year. Produces fewer runners than a June-bearing plant.
Ever bearing	Fragaria Vesca	Hill planting	It harvests throughout the growing season. Flowering is dependent on temperature between 40-85°F.

How Can I Grow Strawberries the Right Way?

Are you a beginner, wondering how to grow strawberries the right way? 

Here are the simple and effective planting tips to do the same: 

1. Essential Requirements
   • Strawberries need a loamy, well-draining soil. 
   • They are not shade-loving plants and require 8 hours of direct sun. 
   • Sufficient space to ensure good air circulation and maximize access to all the nutrients. 
2. Soil Preparation 
   • Choose a place that receives direct sunlight with well-draining soil.   
   • Add an organic manure or compost to make it more nutrient-rich. 
   • Strawberries prefer soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.5- 6.5). 
3. Plant the Roots
   • Dig a hole in the soil 2x the size of the plant. 
   • Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the crown of the plant is not buried in the soil. 
   • Place them 12–14 inches apart for the runners to grow evenly. 
4. Water Requirements and Weed Protection 
   • Water them deeply, but do not leave them in standing water. 
   • Add a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
   • Cover it with a bird netting to protect the ripening berries. 

How do I Harvest my Home-grown Strawberries? 

Pick your strawberries as soon as they turn red, or they will rot. 

Harvesting at the right time determines the health and shelf life of the plant. 

Here is how I harvest my strawberries: 

1. Generally, after 3-4 weeks of blossoming, they are ready to be harvested. 
2. I do not leave them for too long after they turn red, as it can damage the fruit. 
3. Pick them carefully from the vine, leaving a short stem attached to retain freshness. 
4. After harvesting, consume them as soon as possible, as they can not survive at room temperature or in the refrigerator for more than a week. 

Personal Takeaway 

Do not pick them while it’s raining until there is a dire need or in case of frequent rainfall. 

Wet berries are more likely to form mould.

How to Store Strawberries After Harvesting? 

Storing strawberries does not require any fancy steps; just ensure that they are kept in a cool environment: 

How I Store my Strawberries after picking them: 

1. Firstly, do not wash them until you have to eat or use them. Washing them might damage them, and they already have a coating “bloom” for protection. 

2. I refrigerate them in an air-tight container for about a week, and if I want to preserve them for a longer time, I cut them into slices and freeze them. 

3. Remove the green stems and wash them before freezing them. 

When Should I Plant a Strawberry Plant? 

If you are wondering when to grow a strawberry plant, here is all you need to take into consideration:

1. Spring: The best and most common choice for growing a strawberry plant is in early spring. It is a perfect time after the frost has passed, giving the strawberry plant enough time to grow before winter arrives.

2.  Fall: Planting in fall is less popular, but it gives your plant time for better root development, and less watering is required. During this time, there is a potential danger of winter damage. 

However, the best way to find out depends on your climatic conditions: 

USDA Zone	Planting Time
3-4	Mid-August to Early September
5-6	Late August to Mid-September
7	Late September
8-9	Late September to early October

Ground Planting vs Planting in Strawberry Pots 

Initially, I thought growing a strawberry plant in a pot did not yield better results than growing it on the ground. More research taught me the basic pros and cons of both methods. 

Explore the 2 methods and choose what suits you best: 

Planting in the Ground	Planting in Strawberry Pots
Pros: Larger spaces produce more harvest. Enough space for the runners to grow. Frequent fertilizing is not required.	Pros: It can be easily planted in limited outdoor living areas like your balcony garden. Harvesting is easier than on the ground. Elevated height from the ground makes it pest and disease-free.
Cons: Prone to pests and diseases. Weed management. Comparatively requires more effort.	Cons: Frequent watering is required. The plant should be moved to a new, bigger container after it outgrows the container.

Strawberry pot growing is a much more convenient method if you want to transform your home garden. However, planting in the ground is a more common choice and yields better harvests. 

Which is the Most Effective Method I Used to Grow Strawberries?  

Strawberries can be grown using seeds, plugs, and bare roots. 

I have tried all three methods and concluded that bare roots have been by far the most convenient option for me. 

Take a look at all the reasons why growing bare root strawberry plants is beneficial: 

1. Variety: You can access all types of strawberries, like June-bearing, day-neutral, and ever-bearing. 

2. Cost-effective: Planting strawberries from bare roots is a much cheaper option than planting from plugs. 

3. Roots without the soil: The roots come without the soil, which prevents any sort of pest from infecting them on the way. 

4. Ready for Planting:   The bare roots are ready to be planted as soon as you receive them, and they adapt to their environment easily. 

Growing Strawberries from the seeds is not difficult, but it requires a lot of patience as it will take a month to germinate and then flower. 

However, choosing between plugs and strawberry bare roots is a matter of preference. 

Explore your priorities and choose accordingly: 

Strawberry Plugs	Strawberry Bare Roots
Pros:  Easier to plant because the plants are already established. Less prone to diseases. Grows faster than its alternatives.	Pros:  Access to all types of variety. Cheaper than strawberry plugs. Ready to be planted immediately.
Cons:  Higher initial cost. Less variety available. Need more attention and care than bare roots. They come in plastic containers that create more waste.	Cons:  Come with less plastic packaging. Their appearance seems more dormant. They can be a little challenging for novice gardeners.

There is no one perfect way of planting a strawberry. It totally depends on what suits you best.  Just like the Shamrock plant, which thrives under specific care conditions, strawberries need attention to their environment to grow healthy and productive.

How do I Keep my Strawberries Safe? Care Tips and Things to Avoid 

Caring for strawberry plants is easy and less time-consuming. 

Explore the care tips by understanding the essential requirements and the things to avoid completely: 

Care Tips

1. Ensure the plant gets sufficient sunlight for 6–8 hours. 
2. Water it thoroughly, but avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot. 
3. Add a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist and weed-free. 
4. Fertilize the strawberry plant for better growth. The best time to do so is : 
   • Early spring —  When the new growth begins.
   • After Flowering — Fertilize to support the fruit growth. 
   • After-Harvest —  To prepare for the next growing season. 

Care Tip:  

Avoid fertilizing in the flowering stage to prevent excess foliage growth. 

Things to Avoid while Growing a Strawberry Plant: 

1. Do not plant the crown too deeply. It will kill the plant eventually. 
2. Choosing a shady area to plant. The strawberry plant thrives in sunlight. 
3. Do not over-crowd. Plant them 12 inches apart from each other to avoid fungi and pest growth.  
4. Avoid growing strawberries where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or eggplant have recently grown due to Verticillium wilt risk (soil-borne fungal disease). 

Social Media Strawberry Recipes That I Tried

Scrolling through Instagram, I came across a lot of interesting and delicious recipes that you must try, especially with your home-grown strawberries: 

These are my 4 most favourite recipes: 

1. Strawberry Sorbet 

Ingredients: 

• 500 gm frozen strawberries 
• Salt
• 1/4th brown sugar
• ¼ water

Recipe: 

1. In a pan, add water and sugar on medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil, until it is completely dissolved. 
2. Remove it from the heat and let it cool down completely. 
3. Now crush the frozen strawberries in a container with a little grainy texture and pour the mixture over the berries. 
4. Sprinkle a pinch of salt. 
5. Freeze this sorbet and enjoy it after a few hours. 

2. Strawberry Yogurt Truffle 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup yogurt 
• 1 tb honey/sugar
• 10 chopped strawberries 
• Chopped nuts 

Recipe: 

1.  Whisk the yogurt and the sugar/ honey. Make sure no lumps are formed. 
2. In a glass, add chopped nuts at the bottom and strawberries on top. 
3. Add a layer of yogurt mixture on it and repeat. 
4. Serve and enjoy chilled. 

3. Strawberry Banana Smoothie 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 sliced and frozen banana
• ½ Greek/ regular yogurt
• ½ cup milk

Recipe: 

1. Add all the ingredients to a mixing jar and blend them until smooth. 
2. Serve a chilled smoothie. 

I personally use Greek yogurt because it is thicker than regular yogurt. 

4. Berries and Banana Fruit Salad 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• Handful of raspberries
• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1 Chopped banana
• 2 sliced and peeled apples
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoon lemon spoon 
• 1 tablespoon honey  

Recipe: 

 This is my go-to snack packed with nutrition and flavour!

1. Mix all the chopped fruits in a bowl. 
2. Sprinkle lemon juice on top. This will ensure they will not turn brown. 
3. Add honey for additional flavour. 
4. Serve it immediately or freeze it for 2 hours, then enjoy. 

You must try one of these recipes from your first harvest. It tastes better will your homegrown strawberries. 

Interesting Facts About Strawberries:

• Strawberry was once a symbol of Venus because of their heart shape and deep red colour.
• Ancient Romans consumed strawberries as a medicine, believing they could cure kidney stones. 
• It was earlier known as “ earth berry” and got the name strawberry berry because of the scattered achenes on its body. 
• 8 strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange. 
• An average strawberry has 200 seeds( achenes) on its body.

Common Queries about Planting Strawberries

Planting strawberries is a hassle-free job, but it can come with a lot of doubts, like how to grow strawberries and about their overall growth, and more, especially if you are a novice gardener. 

Here are some questions that you might have about strawberry planting: 

1. How to Grow Strawberries From a Strawberry? 

Growing strawberries from a strawberry is possible and quite easy.

1. Extract the seeds (achenes) from the surface of the strawberry. 
2. Dry it on a paper towel for a few days. 
3. Refrigerate for 2-4 weeks to stimulate winter. 
4. Sow it in a well-draining soil, and the seeds will start germinating in 2 weeks. 

2. How Long Do Strawberries Take to Grow? 

This depends on what methods you used for planting: 

1. Potted Plants take about 1 month to bear fruit after flowering. 
2. Seeds take 20 days to germinate and then an entire growing season to bear fruit. 

Final Thoughts 

Growing strawberries is one process I thoroughly enjoy. Right from soil preparation to harvesting the delicious red berries, it all feels worth the effort. 

These delicious red fruits are extremely low-maintenance and give you the best results if you keep a few care tips like sunlight, watering, and soil type in mind. 

If you are starting your gardening journey, growing a strawberry might be the most fruitful start to that.