Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
STRAWBERRIES IN THE GARDEN, 04/25/97
I was reminded last night, after a strawberry picking excursion, that there is nothing sweeter than a fresh picked strawberry (though I confess that my favorite fruit changes from season to season). I hope you will join me in supporting North Carolina farmers by purchasing our local grown berries. And you may also want to consider a strawberry patch in your own backyard. Here are some tips to start one.
VARIETY SELECTION
Many different varieties are available, but it is important
to select
ones that are adapted to our area. Some good choices include
Apollo, Cardinal,
Earlibelle, Prelude, and Titan. Select disease-free plants from a
reliable
nursery. It is also good to plant more than one variety in order
to extend
the harvest season.
PLANTING
We are near the end of the planting season, so get your
plants out
as soon as possible. As is the case with all new plants, soil
preparation
is critical. Start with a soil test, and till the soil as deeply
as possible.
If you want to plant before the soil report comes back, go ahead
and apply
about 4 pounds of 10- 10-10 per 100 feet of row. After your
report comes
back, you can add any additional fertilizer or lime needed.
Spacing is 1 1/2 feet between plants and 3 1/2 feet between rows. Pinch off any blossoms this first year so the plant will send out runners to fill in the bed. When planting the crown of the plant should be placed just above the soil line, and the roots should be positioned straight down, not bent.
CARE
Apply nitrogen about one month after planting, no closer than
4 inches
from the crown of the plant. A second application over the top of
the row
should be made in late August. Take care to brush off any
fertilizer on
the foliage. About 5 pounds of 10- 10-10 OR 1 1/2 pounds of
ammonium nitrate
per 100 feet of row at each application will do nicely.
Strawberry plants have a shallow root system, so are very susceptible to drought. They will need at least 1 inch of water each week, so be sure to irrigate if rainfall does not supply this amount.
Weeds are best controlled by hand, so it is important to stay on top of them. Remember that weeds are easiest to pull when they are small.
Apply a light layer of straw mulch in February to protect the plants. During early spring, protect the blossoms from frost by covering the plants.
Next April, if all goes well, you can start to harvest. Strawberries should be harvested frequently (at least 3 times per week). Pick during the morning when the temperature is cooler, and leave about 1/4 of the stem attached. Pick and remove any damaged or diseased berries to prevent spread of disease.
If you have insect or disease problems, call or bring in a sample for diagnosis. To keep the planting productive, it should be renovated after harvest. This involves mowing the plants, removing the mowed foliage, cutting back rows to about 18 inches wide with a hoe or tiller, and thinning out any weak or diseased plants (leaving 6 inches between plants).
Backyard strawberry production is probably not the easiest garden project, but after tasting a strawberry picked straight from the vine, you may decide it is worth the effort. Call and I will be happy to send you more detailed information.
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