Strawberry advice from Durgan

[wjcalderon]

Durgan,

I really want to grow strawberries, but don't really know where to start.
I figured you might be able to help me.

I live in central Mississippi - think long, hot, humid summers!

I have some raised beds that I think would be perfect.

WHEN do I plant?
HOW do I plant?
Any idea which varieties would work best in Zone 7 or 8? (I'm sort of on the zone border here.)

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.....

[Durgan]

Durgan,

I really want to grow strawberries, but don't really know where to start.
I figured you might be able to help me.

I live in central Mississippi - think long, hot, humid summers!

I have some raised beds that I think would be perfect.

WHEN do I plant?
HOW do I plant?
Any idea which varieties would work best in Zone 7 or 8? (I'm sort of on the zone border here.)

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.....

Plant strawberries in the early Spring.
Buy the plants in single containers about a dozen will suffice. Remove any flowers the first year to allow the patch to establish. Plant with the crown exposed, similar to how they are growing in the purchased containers. Most suppliers stock the plants in April or early May, maybe earlier in your location.

Plant about a foot apart either in a row or a area patch. Strawberries spread by a daughter plants connected by a umbilical stem. These are new plants and can be planted when of sufficient size. The crown must be exposed or the plant will rot and die.

The best variety is the June bearing types, but Everbearing is fine except the berries are not as nice as the June bearing. Avoid Alpine, since all they are is small wild berries.

A screen mesh must be used or the birds will destroy every berry. I use fiber glass screen mesh, and just throw it over the patch when the berries start to ripen. This is relatively expensive, but it doesn't snag on vegetation or trap the birds by their feet.

Mulch around the plants. I use wood chips but straw will suffice. It is best to have the strawberry patch away from the main garden.

13 June 2011 Strawberry Patch 13 June 2011 Strawberry Patch
The first strawberries were picked about 4.5 pounds from an area of 8 by 8 feet. There are two types intermixed, ever bearing and June bearing. A screen is thrown over the area to protect the berries from bird damage. Usually Robins are the main predators. The ground is mulched with wood chips to keep the berries from dirt and to maintain moisture.

16 June 2011 Second Strawberry Picking 16 June 2011 Second Strawberry Picking

20 June 2011 Strawberry third Picking 20 June 2011 Strawberry third Picking

23 June 2011 Strawberry Patch. Fourth Picking. 5 Pounds. 23 June 2011 Strawberry Patch. Fourth Picking. 5 Pounds.
This is probably the last picking from the strawberry patch of 8 by 12 feet for the 2011 year. This little patch yielded about 20 pounds of quality berries from 13 to 23 of June.

26 September 2011 Strrawberry Patch preparation for overwintering. 26 September 2011 Strawberry patch
Preparing strawberry patch for Winter. Rows were made between the matt of strawberries, weeds removed, compost placed in the cleared row and mulch applied. There is a combination of Ever bearing and June bearing plants. This 8 by 8 foot patch is very productive. Didn’t have enough mulch to finish the job, but am expecting more this week.

[Spirit Deer]

Check with your county or state extension office for info specific to your area. There should be a website for the extension office near you.

Garden centers in your area should be able to give you good info, too.

[chowder]

I cut off runners in late winter(had to dig under snow) and potted them up in hanging baskets and put in GH.We were eating strawberries in March,April.
My plants were all originally just roots,bought from Home Depot in a little bag.Once potted they took off,grew very fast.The variety I grow is Sequoia.Nice size sweet berries and plentiful.