Would you like to know how to take care of strawberry plants? The same nurturing process required for children applies to plants until they reach maturity because strawberry plants follow the same pattern.Â
Caring for strawberry plants becomes a rewarding practice when they succeed in producing harvests.
The foundation of strawberry plant maintenance starts by ensuring proper cultivation of the plants.
Generally, all breeds of strawberry plants require fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soil with at least 6 hours of daily sunlight access and adequate spacing of 18-24 inches apart to grow.
Maintaining the plants after cultivation, however, is a little more complex and involves a series of processes such as watering, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, protecting against pests and diseases, post-disease care, winterizing, harvesting and post-harvest care throughout its growing season.
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Now, let’s get started.
How Can I Improve My Strawberry Plant?
Parents never want their kids looking scruffy or underfed, and we could say the same for plant parents.Â
When I had my first Strawberry plant babies, I did anything and everything to ensure I would have a good harvest, but my first set of berries came out looking droopy and malnourished.
It was then that I realized they were not well-fed.
Strawberry plants need substantial nutrients and usually need supplemental fertilization.
Suitable fertilizers for strawberry plants should contain nitrogen together with potassium and phosphorus in appropriate ratios; manufacturers suggest using balanced fertilizers 10-10-10, 5-10-10, or 12-12-12. Users should apply these products following the manufacturer’s labeling instructions.
Organic fertilizers such as blood meal, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, or soybean meal could also be used to cater to strawberry plants’ nutrient needs.
Fertilizers should be applied only to the base of the strawberry plants and not the crowns once every 4-6 weeks on strawberry plants during the growing season.
More emphasis should be observed during early spring, right after planting and when new growth begins to appear, and less emphasis during the fall season and after the first harvest to achieve the best results.
If you want your strawberry babies to look plumper, get them fertilizers today!
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How to Tell If My Strawberry Plants Are Overwatered?
Watering is one essential aspect of caring for strawberry plants, but it has to be done appropriately.Â
Strawberry plants require consistent moisture, especially during the fruiting season and dry spells; however, they are not to be waterlogged.
Overwatered strawberry plants generally have droopy and yellowing leaves, moldy fruits, and musty roots.Â
These symptoms are similar to those of an under-watered plant, but sticking a finger in the soil of the plant bed to check for sogginess can help distinguish both.
I guess the next question you’re asking now is how to fix it. Well, first, you need to allow your strawberry plants to completely dry out before watering again.
Also, you can add a layer of tree bark to the top of the soil to improve its drainage.
Afterward, you should see improvements in your strawberry plants, denoting recovery.
The improvements will come in the form of new growth, healthier-looking leaves, and dry soil, and if you remain consistent, it’s smooth sailing from there!
How Can I Maintain Strawberries?
Strawberries are versatile food items that allow many different inventive applications in cooking.
They serve as both a delectable snack and a healthful option, suiting any type of culinary creation.
Do you know about the methods that maintain strawberries in fresh condition within a retail store? This information is available right here.
Many methods for maintaining berries have been discovered, such as storing in an airtight jar, sorting and storing in a carton, hulling and storing in a fridge cut-side down, but the all-time best and most preferable is soaking in vinegar solution and thoroughly drying before refrigerating.
This guarantees you at least a week of fresh, vibrant, firm-looking berries after harvest or purchase. Now, you can constantly have luscious strawberries in store; you’re welcome!
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Should I Trim My Strawberry Plant?
Pruning is of importance in plant maintenance to help keep plants healthy and disease-free.Â
During the first few weeks of strawberry plant growth, flower buds produced are to be trimmed off to allow the plant to focus on growing strong roots before fruiting.
Later on, runners that may appear during summer can be trimmed off to focus all the plant’s energy on fruiting.
Dead, damaged, or diseased leaves and branches should also be pinched off during the fall to prepare plants for the next growing season.
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How Do I Revive My Strawberry Plant?
Many people make the mistake of discarding their strawberry plants after each growing season. However, this should not be so.
With these next five steps, you can rejuvenate your strawberry plants to keep them producing for several years.
Firstly, after the last harvest for each growing season, it is important to cut down the plants and all runners that might have formed to a height of 2 inches using shears.
This encourages new growth and prevents disease build-up.
Secondly, find the old, weak, and diseased plants and get rid of them! This will leave you with the healthiest plants for the next growing season, helping you put your best foot forward.
Next, clean the strawberry garden by raking all the pruned and trimmed plants as well as leftover mulch from the previous growing season out of the garden.
The growth and fruit production of revived strawberry plants depends on balanced nutrition for acquiring strength and producing multiple fruits.
A thick layer of compost facilitates plant nourishment to reach its feeding requirements.
Finally, apply a fresh layer of straw, wood chips, or plastic mulch over the soil in which the strawberry plant is growing to help insulate it, suppress weed growth, keep the soil moist, and prevent fruits from freezing out during winter.
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Final Thought
Strawberry is an intriguing fruit that is always sure to leave you wondering, but with this article, I am sure you have discovered a mystery or two about the reputable strawberry.