If you love strawberries, just wait until you grow them at home! And if you plant them once, the plants will come back year after year for more than five years. Who wouldn't want that? They grow easily in all zones too, so there’s really no excuse not to grow them!
While you can grow strawberries from seeds, the best way to grow tem is from bare root plants. If you are unfamiliar with bare root plants, you may initially think they’re dead plants, but they are very much alive and just waiting for you to care for them.
The best bare roots will be those with vigorous roots and no signs of mold or rotting.
Where to Plant Strawberries
Strawberries do best in full sunlight, meaning a place where they can receive 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. They can be planted directly into the ground or in pots, hanging baskets, towers, or anywhere you like. I’ve certainly gotten creative with strawberry growing here at home and have even grown them in wine barrels.
Soil for Strawberries
Strawberries prefer well drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Adding organic matter or compost to your soil at the time of planting will give your plants a nice boost for growth.
When to Plant Strawberries
Assuming we are planting bare root strawberries, the best time to plant them is in the early spring. If you are however planting already developed strawberry plants, they can be planted mid spring or early summer.
How to Plant Strawberries
Bare root strawberries can be lacking moisture when they’re purchased at the store. Before planting, make sure to first soak the bare roots in water for at least an hour. Once the roots are hydrated, you can place the strawberries into the ground.
When placing strawberries into the soil, you need to make sure to dig the hole deep enough to cover only the roots of the strawberry plant. Burying the leaves underground will put your plant at risk of rotting.
Though not necessary, feel free to add mulch around your strawberries to help deter bugs.
Strawberries can be watered once a week, but soil should be kept moist while the plants are fruiting. Fertilizing with kelp will give your plants a nice boost!
How Long Will it Take to Grow Strawberries?
You'll know strawberries are ready to harvest once they turn bright red. Typically this will be 4 to 6 weeks after your strawberries bloom. While this does seem like a long time, homegrown strawberries always taste extra special. Definitely worth the wait!
The great news is that after strawberry season is over, you can leave your plants exactly where they are and they will bloom and fruit for years to come. The first two to four years are however the most fruitful, so once the plants are too old you can start looking into getting new bare roots to replace them as an option.