If you want to grow big red juicy strawberries, you need to try these creative Strawberry Growing Tips this year!
Are you ready for some borderline genius Strawberry Growing Tips?? Check out these creative tricks and insider tips to grow your best Strawberry plants ever this year!
I grew up in a country town known for it’s strawberries. We had strawberry festivals, strawberry parades, and strawberry fields everywhere. And yes… we spent every Summer picking huge juicy strawberries at the farms.
As a result, that led to a bit of a strawberry obsession on my part, and I’ve never quite recovered! They’re my favorite fruit, and I just can’t get enough of them!
As soon as I was married, I started growing fresh strawberries in the backyard. And that led to my love of Strawberry Freezer Jam and any other Strawberry Recipe I could dream up!
So if you’re like me and have a little love affair with strawberries going on… you NEED to get some strawberries growing in your backyard or on your Homestead this year.
You won’t regret it!
And whether you’ll be growing strawberries in raised beds, hanging pots, or just on the back patio… I’ve got loads of tried and true strawberry gardening hacks you’ll LOVE! From growing from seeds to plant spacing, you’ll find everything you need to know!
Growing strawberries in the backyard is so much fun… and SO delicious!
So are you ready to get that delicious crop started? These strawberry Gardening Tips and foolproof ideas are just what your strawberries need!
Here’s what you’ll do to get your strawberry patch started…
Strawberry Growing Tips
Strawberry Planting Tips:
Kathy said: “So we planted about 20 strawberry plants 13 years ago in our backyard. The half that see the most morning sun produce bigger and happier plants.”
Bruno said: “Strawberry growing tips? I grow mine in Raised Garden Beds. I don’t trim off the old leaves before winter. They help insulate the plants until spring and self compost. I only like June bearing plants. The ever bearing plants don’t really impress much.”
Frugal Tip: Get Easy Step-By-Step Instructions to make your own Raised Bed Gardens here…
DIY Raised Bed Garden
Rich said: “When I was on the organic farm, we used Raised Garden Beds and black plastic, to increase the soil temps and to keep weeds at bay. At home, I found buying a good quality plant to start with was the best, and using a hanging container worked for me.”
Carrie said: “My grandparents grew them on a trellis. So I have good memories of picking strawberries with them!”
Toni said: “I’m not a fan of the ever-bearing plants as you never get a crop.”
Beckie said: “Give them plenty of room to run, but know that you won’t get any berries the first year.”
Hope said: “So the secret will be found in year #2! The first year they seem to be just getting used to things.”
How to Grow Strawberries in a Pot:
Short on space? No problem!
You can actually grow strawberries in container pots, too!
You may not get as many strawberries as if you had a full-size dedicated raised garden bed, but you’ll still get some. And some is definitely better than none!
Now there are two main types of pots you can use… hanging container pots {pictured above} and tiered strawberry pots {pictured below}.
Both are great space saving solutions, and perfect for your patio!
Strawberry Watering Requirements:
Shelley said: “Water, water & more water! If your strawberries aren’t watered enough the berries are small & bitter. I plant mint & marigolds around mine. As a result, that keeps the critters away.”
Frugal Tip: Skip the watering can, and make your own budget-friendly watering jug! It’s quick, easy, and works like a charm!
Strawberry Soil Needs:
Strawberry plants are perennials, and will provide you with berries year after.
\However, it’s important that you provide them with the proper type of soil.
You may be wondering… do strawberries require acidic soil? Well, they thrive with slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter in the mix. Aim for a soil pH of 5.6 – 6.4. So read on for more tips and tricks to getting that soil balance just right…
Suzanne said: “Make sure your soil is not overly acidic. If it is too acidic, add Garden Lime to make it less acidic.”
Amy said: “So I created a strawberry patch in my front yard. So I compost my herbal tea, coffee grounds and veggie peelings year round. Right before the hard frost for the year, I put the compost in my berry bed to insulate and feed my berry babies all winter.”
What to Put in a Compost Bin at Home {Composting 101}
So knowing what to put in a compost bin is the first step to creating your own amazing compost for your home garden! If you’re new to composting, here’s everything you need to know to create your own black gardening gold at home…
Samantha said: “We make our furrows, add plenty of peat moss, cover the row with black plastic (tuck it into the edges of the roes so its secure). Then make a small slit to plant your strawberries. To keep weeds down & water in place, add straw in-between the rows. The black plastic keeps moisture in and sterilizes the soil against weeds… this is how the Amish farmers grow all their crops in our area. We have humid & often very warm Summers.”
Kay said: “Straw or newspapers between rows keeps weeds down and are biodegradable. As a result, they will make your berry patch it’s own compost area simultaneously.”
Frugal Tip: So make sure to keep that soil happy and healthy with compost and natural soil fertilizers!
Strawberry Plant Pests + How to Avoid Them:
Sarah said: “So when growing strawberries, keep the animals away with a rubber snake. move it’s location every few days or they will figure out its not real. space plants around them far enough where the other plants won’t steal all the nutrients from the soil.”
Amy writes: “I buy little red Christmas ornaments and put them in my berry patch, so the birds peck at them a few times and are jaded by the time the berries appear. Works with tomatoes too.”
Wendy said: “I wrap Copper Tape around the strawberry containers to keep the snails off.”
Dina suggested: “When it comes to Strawberry Growing Tips… you need to beat the squirrels to them!” 😉
Katie said: “Use Garden Netting to keep the birds from stealing them.”
Earwigs Eating My Strawberries? Here’s What To Do…
Debby said: “Soapy water will kill earwigs.”
Rhonda said: “Earwig Trap: put rolled newspaper in your garden, earwigs love tight, dark spaces, then pick up the newspaper and toss it in a deep bucket of water to drown the earwigs.”
Bill writes: “So my barn used to have thousands of earwigs. Reduce the population by pouring some beer or sweet drink on the grass near the structure and cover with any flat object, I use a small square of plywood around one square foot. Lift it up next day and get ready to do the earwig stomp.”
How to Preserve Strawberries:
How to Keep Strawberries Fresh
Fresh Strawberry Recipes:
So now that you’ll be loaded with fresh homegrown strawberries, it’s time to make some delicious treats!
Check out some of my favorite fresh strawberry recipes here…
Canning Strawberry Jam Recipe
Strawberries are my very favorite berry and this easy no hassle strawberry jam with is such a fun way to enjoy the flavors of summer. It’s sweet, fruity, and so yummy!
Easy Freezer Jam Recipe (The BEST No Cook Strawberry Jam)
Nothing beats the simplicity of this Easy Freezer Jam Recipe. Strawberry Jam on your morning toast tastes even better when it’s homemade!
Fresh Strawberry Popsicles Recipe
Welcome summer with a delicious nostalgic dessert. You’ll LOVE this Fresh Strawberry Popsicle Recipe… it’s so easy with just 3 ingredients!
Cheesecake Filled Strawberries
These EASY 4-Ingredient Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries deliver strawberry bliss in a bite-size package… perfect for parties!
Mason Jar Trifle
Add some fresh berries to your summer menu with this yummy Mason Jar Trifle!
Strawberry S’mores Recipe
This very fresh and fruity S’mores Recipe is kind of along the lines of chocolate covered strawberries, only better!
Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe (4 Ingredients)
This tasty treat is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day! Who can resist a delightful splash of lemonade, and some irresistible strawberries?? I sure can’t!
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So do YOU have any Strawberry Growing Tips or Gardening Tricks??
Leave a comment & share!
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Healthy World Cuisine says
Deer love strawberries as much as we do so am going to look for that planter pot suggestion for the deck. Love your homemade watering jug too. Brilliant budget friendly idea.
Heidi says
Thank you so much… nothing beats homegrown strawberries! 🙂
delphine says
J(‘adore les fraises merci pour tes conseils et tes recettes
Belle soirée
Heidi says
Avec plaisir, Delphine… Belle soirée 🙂
Christie says
What an amazing blog post to share with us! I love strawberries!
Heidi says
I sure do love them too, Christie… they’re definitely one of my favorite fruits, and homegrown taste SO much better! 🙂
Joanna Stephens says
These are some great tips for growing strawberries!! I can’t wait until stores start selling them, I wanna plant a bunch this year.
Heidi says
So glad you liked the tips, Joanna! Nothing beats fresh strawberries from the backyard. Have fun starting your strawberry patch this year! 🙂
Vatia says
And what do you do to keep the grasshoppers at bay?
ian says
In England, the biggest strawberry pest is the blackbird – this creature is completely fruit-mad (also crazy for cheese!) and will totally strip out your patch – and do the same for your cherry crop too. The answer is to cage or net your strawbs. That sorts out the blackbirds, which just leaves the snails, slugs, and woodlice. Good job the strawberries are so delicious, makes the effort worthwhile.
Garry says
I liked the cinder idea. I planted 12 last fall. I thought the drout got tgem all. This spring about half cane back.
My question is will those that make it if i transplant.
Also I looked for a “Follow link. Did’t see one.
Thanks
amanda says
Help????
Bunnies and ground squirrels get mine every year!
Janie says
go hunting and make some squirrel gravy,lol’s
christina says
How to get rid of the roly poly or pill millipede they always eat my strawberries.
Loretta says
1) put out grapefruit half’s cut side down at night, remove the next morning filled with pill bugs. Chickens love them
2). Fill small containers with beer. Throw away when full.
Lona Engberson says
We have lots of birds but they don’t bother my strawberries because I put a couple of life-like snakes among the strawberry plants in my patch!
Diane says
This is my first year growning strawberries. I bought two plants at Wal-mart to try. I have a raised bed garden made from cinder blocks and I have planted my strawberries in the hole on the cinder block. So far they are doing great. Only two plants but I they both had lot of blooms and now there are lots of berries on each plant. Right now they are still green but I will keep waiting.
Mone says
I grow ours on different locatoins: some in a big hanging basket at our frontdoor, some in containers together with dwarf Apples and cherries and our biggest crop we allways get from the ones planted into jardinieres on our balcony. During Summer picking fresh strawberries to eat right away from the balcony is part of our kids’ bedtime routine. Enough, but not too much water, a mix of compost, epsom Salt and horn meal plus plenty of sunlight works best for us. The ones nötige balcony even survive the winter.
Carrie says
I have ever bearing strawberries and they are remarkable. Except for 1-2 weeks around June I have strawberries through September. I just cleared out the brown leaves from the winter last week and I already have several flowers on several plants. For mid march in Boise I think that’s awesome. I do have a couple other varieties of strawberry plants they do not produce as much fruit but do have a firmer flesh. The ever berries are very sweet too. I have mine planted in the front yard, the neighbor kids come over and eat them right out of the patch all summer.
Nelson says
I bought 1 plant in the farmers market no i have 19 plants all with flowers and strawberries small but sweet. im happy be cause they are not common in Puerto Rico
Delores says
Have problems with little green worms on my strawberries leaves. So far they are not on the berries. I would like to do things organic if I can.
Trish Kane says
I have problems with ants eating my strawberries. Any suggestions on how to get rid of them without damaging my strawberries?
Jason says
If you can watch the ants long enough to find where the nest is and the nest is away from any plants you want to keep around. The best way to kill ants that I have found is to drown the nest with boiling water. It’s all natural. Quick and does not introduce chemicals into the soil. From what I have read you will never be rid of all ants. You can keep them at bay for period of time by killing the majority of them. They will stay away for awhile as they build up the next empire. Then boil and repeat.
c says
2 years too late… Diatomaceous Earth for any bug problem.