Strawberries are a favorite berry amongst many people, especially those along the west coast, many arguing that the local berries are the best strawberries in the world. With cities such as Marysville hosting the annual Strawberry Festival, it’s no secret that PNW locals love the red juicy berries, and with summer right around the corner many homeowners are hoping to try and grow strawberries in their gardens this year. While some people have beginners’ luck, there are others who struggle to grow the berry. If you’re hoping to incorporate strawberries into your garden, try using some of these tips and tricks for large juicy berries.
Choose the Right Variety
Generally, there are three different types of strawberries and understanding the differences between the three is key to growing the best strawberries.
- June-bearing: Produce one large crop in early summer. Great for preserving.
- Everbearing: Yield two smaller crops—one in early summer, one in fall.
- Day-neutral: Produce fruit continuously from late spring until frost.
Tips for Growing the Best Strawberries
Watering – For the best strawberries you have to ensure they are getting enough water. Strawberries like a lot of water and the soil should always be damp. While they don’t like soggy conditions as they can lead to fungal growths, regular deep watering in the early mornings is a great way to grow juicy berries.
Mulch – STRAW-berries, as the name implies, like to grow in straw. Once planted, try to cover the ground with straw or mulch. This helps suppress weeds, retains moisture and keeps your berries from rotting on wet dirt. As a bonus, this helps protect the plants root systems from harsh weather.
Check for Runners – Most strawberries will send out “runners” which are essentially baby strawberry plants. These runners are great for propagation, however, if you don’t thin the runners out your strawberry patch will become crowded and as a result, your strawberries will have smaller berries as the plant is sending energy to the runners instead of the fruiting plants.
Pests and Diseases – Pests LOVE strawberries. To grow the best strawberries you have to ensure you are incorporating pest control. There are many natural ways to this including:
- Use copper tape or crushed eggshells for slugs.
- Net your plants to keep birds away.
- Choose resistant varieties and space plants properly for airflow.
With a little patience, you can grow the best strawberries right in your own backyard! Our climate here in the pacific northwest is ideal for summer gardening. From flowers to fruits and vegetables having a garden in the pacific northwest can be a very rewarding way to add curb appeal to your home and have fresh produce for snacks and meals. From vertical gardening to raised gardening, there are multiple ways to incorporate a garden into your landscaping. Call us today to get a customizable full landscaping design that suits your outdoor spaces and reflects your styles and preferences!