Our "Edibles" #50: Strawberries

March 27/10

This year I need to start a new strawberry patch. I probably should have started it last year but I didn’t.
Planning ahead, I thought I’d compile a list of tips for growing strawberries:

• plant new plants in spring or fall
• fall planting is more difficult in northern climate
• they don’t like “wet feet” but require good amount of water
• they like rich soil—lots of compost in the soil
• previous crops (thanks to OMAFRA): “Wherever possible, plant strawberries in soil which has not grown strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or eggplants in the past 4 or 5 years. This precaution will help avoid serious root diseases such as Verticillium wilt and black root rot.”
• control runners (from OMAFRA again): ‘When plantings are kept for several years, let a few new runner plants develop in the alley along one side of the row. Remove a corresponding number of older plants from the other side of the row. In this way, from 1/3 to 1/2 of the bearing row can be replaced by younger plants.”
• don’t cover crown of plant
• plant about 2 feet apart
• mulch around plants to keep weeds down
• they like slightly acidic soil
• fertilize in August (ammonium nitrate)
• cover plants with straw/leaves in late fall after plants are dormant
• remove straw in spring (April) when leaves start to change colour
• protect blossoming plants from frost

any other tips?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan