Strategies For Successfully Growing Strawberries
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
Strategies For Successfully Growing Strawberries
Allison Kosto
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
There is something so enjoyable about being about to munch on berries right out of your garden. Growing fruit of any kind in Montana can be challenging, but strawberries are a great option to start and can be highly successful. Gardens can easily produce up to two pounds of berries per square foot under the right conditions.
One of the first considerations is bearing type. There are three options: June bearing, everbearing and day neutral. June-bearing strawberry plants produce one crop per year in early to midsummer. Everbearing plants produce two crops each year. The first in June and July and then another in August and September. Day-neutral strawberries produce fruit throughout the summer. In Montana, June bearing is often the most successful. You may not always get the full harvest from the fall production of everbearing. Day-neutral strawberries tend to winter kill in northern environments and are so often planted as annuals.
The next consideration is site selection. Strawberries prefer fertile soil and full sun, at least 10 hours per day. Don’t plant them in low-lying ground as these areas can be subject to frost damage. Strawberries prefer slightly acidic soil (pH of 6.5). Soils in Broadwater County are alkaline (average of 8.0). In soils above 8.0, strawberry plants are subject to iron chlorosis or yellowing between the veins of the leaves. Strawberries also make excellent candidates for raised beds, but special preparations must be done each fall to prevent winter damage. There are also a variety of specialty planters designed for strawberries that can be used.
Spring is the most common time to plant strawberries. If they arrive before planting conditions are right, hold them in the refrigerator wrapped in moist packing material to reduce drying. If the roots dry out, it will kill the plants. Work fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. A soil test should be done to determine fertilizer needs. However, in general, strawberries need nitrogen and potassium in the greatest qualities.
There are a variety of different planting systems for strawberries including a spaced row system, matted row system or hill system. If you are planting a large number of strawberries and desire to maximum production, spend time researching the systems to determine what would work best for your situation and bearing type. Set plants in the ground with their crowns at soil level with the spacing recommended for the planting system. Keep in mind that strawberries will send out runners, quickly filling in the spaces between the plants. Firm the soil around each plant and water them immediately.
With June-bearing plants, remove all flowering stalks during the first year. This allows the plants to become well-established before producing. For everbearing varieties, remove the flowers in the spring, but if they are doing well then you can let them develop a fall crop. For day-neutral varieties, pinch flowers off for the first few weeks after planting and then let them produce.
Strawberries produce an excessive amount of runners to produce daughter plants. Depending on the planting system, the runners should be trimmed to maintain the appropriate system. New daughter plants will produce fruit the following year if they have at least 10 leaves by fall.
Harvest berries that are completely red. Birds may be the worst pest for strawberries and can completely remove your entire harvest. Netting may be necessary to keep the birds at bay. After harvest, mow or clip plants to about 4 inches. Removing the leaves helps control pests and weeds. Thin plants if needed. Keep healthy daughter plants and remove old woody plants.
Weeds can be controlled by hand weeding or an organic mulch such as straw. Plastic mulches don’t work well because they don’t allow daughter plants to root. Common pests include white grub, spittlebugs, millipedes and slugs. Common diseases include verticillium wilt, black root rot and gray mold. Contact your local Extension Office for recommendations on managing pests and diseases along with any other questions about growing strawberries. MSU Extension in Broadwater County in Townsend can be found at 416 Broadway or contact us at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.
