Here’s what you need to know to grow big, flavorful strawberries in your home garden. Growing your own strawberries not only provides unmatched taste but also saves you money—a single well-managed plant can produce up to 2 quarts of berries worth $15-20 at organic market prices.

Plus, homegrown strawberries offer maximum nutritional benefits with higher vitamin C content and antioxidants since you can harvest them at the exact right minute. With just a small patch, you’ll enjoy the best strawberries while knowing exactly how they were grown!

Growing your own strawberries is just the best! Fresh strawberries are so delicious with ice cream, as homemade strawberry syrup, or baked goods. Plus they’re cooling and bring a bit of summer to you in middle of winter. 

Why Grow Your Own Strawberries?

Fresh strawberries from your garden taste incredible. They deliver a flavor burst store-bought berries can’t match. These berries rank among the easiest fruits to grow at home. You can enjoy them with ice cream or in homemade shortcake. They bring summer flavors to your table all year when preserved properly. Learn the right techniques to harvest enough for fresh eating and preserving!

Understanding Strawberry Varieties

Choose the right variety for success with strawberries. Three main types exist, each with different growing patterns. Your growing conditions and harvest preferences should guide your choice.

June-Bearing Strawberries

June-bearing strawberries produce one large harvest in late spring or early summer. They grow the biggest berries of all strawberry types.

Characteristics:

• Produce all berries at once in a 2-3 week period
• Yield larger berries than other varieties
• Need establishment before producing well
• Create many runners that develop into daughter plants

Best for:

• One-time harvest for preserving
• Growing the largest possible berries
• Patient gardeners who can wait for year two yields

Care tips:

• Remove flower buds during first year until July ends
• Allow flowering after August 1 of the first year
• Apply organic fertilizer to boost growth
• Give plants plenty of space to develop
• Expect a much larger harvest in the second year

Recommended varieties: Jewel, Earliglow.

Everbearing Strawberries

Everbearing strawberries produce two to three harvests throughout the growing season. Expect fruit in late spring, mid-summer, and sometimes early fall.

Characteristics:

• Deliver multiple harvests per season
• Offer an easier growing experience
• Produce medium-sized berries
• Develop fewer runners than June-bearing types
• Thrive in warm climates

Best for:

• Extended harvest season
• Spreading out your berry harvest
• Beginning strawberry growers
• Raised beds or garden beds

Care tips:

• Plant in early spring for best results
• Replace with new plants every 2-3 years
• Use straw mulch for weed control

My favorite type of ever-bearing varieties include Eversweet and Ozark Beauty.

Day-Neutral Strawberries

Day-neutral strawberries produce fruit continuously throughout the growing season. They keep fruiting regardless of day length.

Characteristics:

• Fruit continuously all season
• Produce smaller but more numerous berries
• Act more like annuals than perennials
• Develop fewer runners than June-bearing types
• Handle cold temperatures better than other varieties
• Include Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca)

Best for:

• Families with children who like regular picking
• Small, steady harvests all season
• Areas with shorter growing seasons
• Container gardening in strawberry pots

Care tips:

• Replace plants annually for best production
• Expect good first-year harvests
• Enjoy berries until late fall

My favorite day-neutral types are Albiun and Seascape.  

In general, June bearing strawberries tend to prefer cooler climates, while everbearing and day-neutral varieties are more adaptable to a range of temperatures.

Planting Strawberries: Methods and Best Practices

Preparing to Plant Strawberry Crowns

Start with proper preparation for strawberry success. Follow these steps:

• Time your planting right. Set out plants in early spring, 3 weeks before last frost.
• Test your soil pH. Aim for 5.3-6.5. Add organic matter to improve drainage. Here’s a good soil tester if you don’t have one.
• Soak crowns before planting. Use water or diluted kelp/fish solution for a good start.
• Plan your weed control strategy. Consider weed fabric for less competition.
• Choose a sunny spot. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

How to Plant Strawberry Crowns

Follow these steps for proper planting:

1. Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and twice as wide as the roots.
2. Spread the roots out in the hole like a fan.
3. Place the crown at soil level. Don’t plant too deep or too shallow.
4. Trim long roots to about 4 inches if needed.
5. Add bone meal or blood meal to feed new plants.
6. Water thoroughly using a soaker hose for good drainage.

Plant crowns at the correct depth. Too deep causes rot. Too shallow leads to poor fruit production. Plant bare-root plants promptly after purchase for best results.

All strawberries are heavy feeders, so planting the crowns with a lot of nitrogen by using bone meal, blood meal, or bat guano, will encourage root and leaf growth. Be sure to mix the bone meal and fertilizer into the bed.

Growing Strawberry Methods

Square Foot Gardening Method

Square foot gardening works well for small spaces:

• Apply mulch to prevent weeds and soil splash
• Plant 4 crowns per square foot
• Keep runners trimmed back
• Provide 1 inch of water weekly
• Place plants along bed edges to allow spillover

Matted Row System

The matted row system works best for June-bearing strawberries and larger spaces:

• Space plants 1½-2 feet apart in rows
• Leave 3½-4 feet between rows
• Allow mother plants to produce runners and daughter plants
• Create 1½-2 foot wide rows with walking paths between
• Use this method for perennial strawberry patches
• Expect a big harvest in the following spring
• Try this method if you have sufficient garden space

Growing Strawberries in Containers

Containers offer flexibility for growing strawberries:

• Choose deep containers (at least 8 inches) with drainage holes
• Use quality potting mix for vegetables or berries
• Plant one strawberry per 12 inches of container width
• Water more often than in-ground plants due to shallow roots
• Try day-neutral or everbearing varieties in containers
• Solve space limitations with this method
• Replace plants when production drops
• Ensure good drainage to prevent root problems
• Consider alpine strawberries for smaller containers

Growing Strawberries from Seed

Starting from seed takes more time but costs less:

1. Stratify seeds first. Place them in the freezer for one month.
2. Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost date.
3. Expect germination in 3-10 days. A heat mat speeds this process.
4. Transplant seedlings outdoors 3 weeks before last frost.
5. Consider winter sowing as an alternative method.

Preventing and Solving Common Strawberry Problems

Common Strawberry Pests

Protect your plants from these common pests:

• Slugs: Apply diatomaceous earth or set beer traps
• Thrips: Release beneficial insects or use insecticidal soap
• Weevils: Add beneficial nematodes to the soil
• Birds: Cover plants with netting when berries begin to ripen

Prevention tips:

• Place mulch under and around plants
• Spray with citrus-based soap regularly
• Use floating row covers after planting
• Convert row covers to bird netting during fruiting

Common Strawberry Diseases

Watch for these diseases and act quickly:

• Leaf spot: Brown circular spots on leaves; remove infected leaves
• Powdery mildew: White powder on leaves; treat with baking soda spray
• Botrytis rot (gray mold): Causes fruit rot; improve air circulation

Prevention tips:

• Avoid planting after nightshade family crops
• Remove damaged leaves and fruit immediately
• Ensure good air flow between plants
• Water at soil level instead of overhead

Companion Planting for Strawberries

Strategic planting can reduce pest problems:

Good companions for strawberries:

• Onions and garlic repel strawberry pests
• Asparagus shares similar needs
• Peas add nitrogen to soil
• Lettuce and greens use space efficiently
• Rhubarb pairs well (and in recipes!)

Plants to avoid near your strawberries:

• Tomatoes share diseases with strawberries
• Peppers can transmit similar pathogens
• Melons compete for nutrients
• Potatoes may spread fungal issues
• Okra, mints, and roses harbor similar pests

Avoid planting strawberries where they’ve grown in the past three years. This breaks disease cycles.

Harvesting and Preserving Your Strawberry Crop

When to Harvest Strawberries

Time your harvest for peak flavor:

• Pick berries when fully red with no white areas
• Harvest at least every 2-3 days during peak season
• Check daily for best flavor during warm weather
• Allow 4-6 weeks from blossom to ripe fruit
• Expect faster ripening in warmer zones

How to Harvest Strawberries

Use proper techniques to prevent damage:

• Cut stems with scissors or shears about ¾ inch from the fruit
• Avoid pulling stems, which damages plants
• Teach children to hold stems while gently pulling fruit
• Pick during cool morning hours for best flavor
• Leave the green cap attached to extend shelf life

Preserving Your Strawberry Harvest

Make your harvest last all year by prserving your strawberries:

• Prepare strawberry leather for portable treats
• Wash berries in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water to kill mold spores
• Freeze whole or sliced berries on trays, then transfer to freezer bags
• Make jams, jellies, and syrups for canning
• Create dried strawberries in a dehydrator for snacks

Check out my favorite strawberry recipes:

How to can strawberry syrup – it’s the best!

My Great-great- grandma’s strawberry shortcake

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp and Muffins

Need More Gardening Tips?

10 Most Effective Types of Organic Garden Pest Control Methods

5 Genius Tips to Make Garden and Plant Watering More Eco-Friendly

The Ultimate Guide to Finding and Using Free Mulch

7 Methods of Natural Weed Control for a Weed-Free Garden