Putting in a strawberry bed

**ladytoysdream** · 04-28-2010, 06:56 AM

Well in my wanderings on craigslist a few days ago, I came across a post that a lady not to far from me, was wanting to thin out her strawberry bed and was looking to either sell or do a swap / barter deal. I emailed her. I have no idea what the value of the plants are. I think I have some things I can swap with her. I hope.
She did mention in her last email that it is best to plant them about 12 inches apart. The idea would be to do a permanent bed of them. Looking for pointers. One idea I have is to use up some burlap bags that I obtained free not to long ago to lay down between the rows. Or is that not a good idea. My son has some rhubard that he planted last year. Goal is to make a strawberry rhubarb pie from our own fruit. And it would be great to have some extra berries to put in the freezer. And of course some homemade strawberry jam

**Russ** · 04-28-2010, 07:04 AM

I'm not sure how long the burlap would last due to rotting. Are you just putting it down for weed control?

**Michelle** · 04-28-2010, 07:06 AM

I love my strawberry bed. I'm not sure how others do it, but mine is in a raised bed. I originally had other things in there, but then the strawberries took over, and now it's become the strawberry bed vs. the "garden". I had to laugh when you said the woman from CL was looking to thin out her bed because they really do take over.

Fortunately for me, they have grown w/o any babying from me. Seriously they're the easiest and most prolific thing I've ever grown. I wish they provided berries all summer and not just in June

I'm not sure which variety I have because I started out with a couple of plants from my FIL. However, here is a link to an article that explains a bit about the different varieties available:

Establishing a strawberry bed | Flower & Garden Magazine | Find Articles at BNET

and another with a whole lot of other information:

How to grow Strawberries

HTH, :goodluck:

**ladytoysdream** · 04-28-2010, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Russ

I'm not sure how long the burlap would last due to rotting. Are you just putting it down for weed control?

I am thinking something for weed control yes.
Just trying to come up with a way to use them burlap bags.
Maybe I just should put them on craigslist and see what I get for them

**ladytoysdream** · 04-28-2010, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Michelle

I love my strawberry bed. I'm not sure how others do it, but mine is in a raised bed. I originally had other things in there, but then the strawberries took over, and now it's become the strawberry bed vs. the "garden". I had to laugh when you said the woman from CL was looking to thin out her bed because they really do take over.

Fortunately for me, they have grown w/o any babying from me. Seriously they're the easiest and most prolific thing I've ever grown. I wish they provided berries all summer and not just in June

I'm not sure which variety I have because I started out with a couple of plants from my FIL. However, here is a link to an article that explains a bit about the different varieties available:
Establishing a strawberry bed | Flower & Garden Magazine | Find Articles at BNET
and another with a whole lot of other information:
How to grow Strawberries
HTH, :goodluck:

Thanks for the info

I am not done any google searches yet.

I still have to get this newest brainstorm of mine into a workable garden plan and letting the hubby think it's also his idea.......
Seems so I can come up with a lot of *honey do * projects for him. But it will benefit him also.......
I know the man likes a good pie

A raised bed does sound good.

**Russ** · 04-28-2010, 07:31 AM

I have mine in a raised bed and on the left side of it, the right side, one end and the other... :rofl: so, yeah, they spread.
along with the stinging nettle. :gaah:

**lwlynch** · 04-28-2010, 07:54 AM

we are putting in some also..

**KeithBC** · 04-28-2010, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by ladytoysdream

...between the rows.

Good luck getting them to stay in rows! Strawberries have a way of escaping.

That is actually a good thing, since, after two or three years, the parent plants will be worn out. You'll have the young plants to take over, and can thin out the old ones.

We use straw as a mulch for weeds. It doesn't stop them, but slows down the annual weeds. Perennials like dandelions and buttercups are hard to stop. You pretty much have to weed them by hand. Buttercups especially, since they have the same growing habits as strawberries - whatever you do for the berries makes them happy.

The straw mulch is also good for keeping the berries off the earth, so they don't get mouldy.

We eventually made a berry house - a 7-foot-tall frame over the strawberry beds, covered with garden netting - to keep the birds out.

**freebs** · 04-28-2010, 04:37 PM

We put in a raised bed also it is 20 feet long and 4 feet wide, well i planted 40 plants and as many runners as have started i could have planted half that! We did a mix of everbearing and june bearing! good luck!

**frugalfranny** · 04-29-2010, 05:12 PM

Great reading.........I, too, will be putting in my first strawberry plants this year......so will be watching for the info.

thanks everyone........

**gottadance** · 05-08-2010, 12:25 AM

I also had someone give me some strawberries from her yard from craigslist or freecycle - she was thinning them out. We'll see how crazy they get - they already have flowers on them - I got about 8 clumps which translated into about 16 transplants.