Strawberries: Nothing Beats a Sun-Ripened, Just-Picked Berry

Probably nothing beats the taste of a just-picked, sun-ripened strawberry. Natural sugars rapidly convert to starch after picking, so homegrown freshness isn't just pride—it's chemistry. The fresher the berry, the sweeter the taste.

About This Plant

Strawberries require fair maintenance for good crops. Maximize yields by continually renewing the bed with new plants. Plants bear in their second season. Set new plants in early spring as trees leaf out. For best yields, start a new bed each year and remove beds that have fruited.

Site Selection

Choose a site with full sun, good drainage, and air circulation.

Planting Instructions

Prepare the bed by loosening soil to 12–15 inches and mixing in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Space rows 4 feet apart. Trim new plant roots to ≤6 inches. Soak roots in water ~1 hour before planting. Set plants 18 inches apart in rows. Dig holes deep enough to cover roots but not bury the crown. Pack soil against roots.

Care

Year 1 spring: Remove blossoms to prevent fruiting and encourage healthy daughter plants. Late spring: Train daughter plants in a 9×9-inch spaced row system. Late fall: After a few freezes, mulch with 5–6 inches straw or 4–5 inches pine needles.

Year 2 spring: Remove mulch gradually, protect blossoms from late frost with covers if needed. Provide 1 inch water weekly during fruit development through harvest. Cover with tobacco cloth or netting to exclude birds. After harvest: Till plants under, plant a cover crop, and prepare for new plants next spring.

Harvesting

First berries ripen 4–6 weeks after blossoms open. Pick by pinching the stem with finger and thumb ~½ inch behind the berry to avoid bruising.