Strawberry fields forever
| Published: 22nd April 2008 15:33 |
There's nothing like a sun-ripened, freshly picked strawberry. And for many people, summer hasn't arrived until the first, fresh strawberries appear in the shops.
However, growing your own will offer you an even sweeter fruit because it has been allowed to ripen on the plant. You will also have the added pleasure of knowing that it was grown by your own hand and without pesticides if you prefer. They are easy to grow - especially by children - even if you don't have a garden.
Strawberry plants can be planted outdoors from late June until September, which should ensure a moderate crop the following summer.
Although it is common to plant strawberries in the ground, it is just as easy to plant them in containers such as hanging baskets, flower pots, barrels or tubs, as long as they have a hole in the bottom that will facilitate drainage. By choosing containers, you will be able to ensure that the soil will drain properly and you will also be able to move them around to ensure that the plant receives enough light - proving they aren't too heavy, of course.
As for the plants themselves, there are early mid-summer, mid-summer and late summer varieties, which will fruit between June and August. Perpetuals produce a modest amount of fruit throughout the summer, with the season very often extending into November. They are an excellent way of extending the growing season of strawberries.
In learning how to grow strawberries, you will find that they grow best in loamy, well-drained soil that contains organic matter. Working 5-10-5 fertiliser or 21-0-0 ammonium sulphate into the soil prior to planting the strawberries works well. Follow the instructions on the fertiliser package.
If you are using containers, fill these with soil and plant the strawberries so the roots of each plant are well covered. In general, plants should be placed two feet apart. So, unless you are using large containers, you may want to plant only one strawberry plant per container.
Strawberries need to be watered just enough to keep the soil damp. They don't grow well if you over-water them and it should be able to drain away from the soil so they aren't standing in water.
Strawberry plants need six to eight hours of sunlight a day. They also need to be in the dark from sunset to sunrise. If your strawberries can be put in the direct sunlight during the day, that is best. If not, use plant grow lights. The lights can be placed on a timer so they go off at sunset and come back on at sunrise.
Check regularly for aphid infestation, particularly on new growth. Spray with an appropriate insecticide or organic pest controller to prevent further damage.
Red spider mites usually appear when strawberries are grown in greenhouses. These pests cause the leaves to turn brown and, in severe cases, die. Use an appropriate organic treatment or insecticide.
Powdery mildew will appear as purple spots on the upper surface of the leaves and there is a white fungus underneath. Eventually the plant shrivels up and dies. Regular watering during dry periods should help prevent this. You can spray with an appropriate fungicide in severe cases.
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