How to Grow Strawberries- The Shocking Benefits You Didn't Expect!

Introduction

Strawberries are sweet and delicious berries which are popular for their vibrant red color and unique flavor. They are often used in salads, smoothies and desserts as they are very rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Strawberries are a healthy snack and can be enjoyed fresh or preserved too. Strawberries become a symbol of love and passion in various cultures and they have a fascinating history, being cultivated for centuries.

Benefits of Strawberries

Best as Starter: Strawberries can be used as starters because they contain vitamin C. If you eat 8 medium strawberries, you will get 160% of your daily recommended amount (the amount that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA) recommends. You can get vitamin C from strawberries more than from an orange.
Boosts brain power: According to research, eating strawberries is good for your brain as it can protect your brain’s processing powers. Strawberries are helpful to gain our mental sharpness.
Prevent Cold and Flu: Strawberries have a lot of vitamin C which can prevent colds and the flu.They include fiber, vitamins and other phytonutrients that cannot be replicated in a vitamin supplement.
Protects heart health: Strawberries are healthy for your heart. Strawberries can help to prevent several conditions that can lead to heart disease and stroke, as well as diabetes, which increases the likelihood of heart disease.
Decrease triglycerides: Triglycerides are the blood fats of our body. Over triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease. When they break down, they leave byproducts that trigger inflammation, attracting sticky deposits to blood-vessel walls. Your arteries can be clogged by this material. Eating a pound of strawberries a day can reduce triglycerides by 20% and cholesterol by 8%.
Reduces inflammation: Strawberries can prevent multiple diseases, including heart disease. Lifestyle factors like a poor diet, low physical activity and smoking can lead to inflammation. The most prevalent antioxidants in strawberries are anthocyanins, known for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Helps manage blood sugar: Too much sugar in your blood is a risk factor for diabetes. Strawberries are both good for blood sugar and it satisfies sweet tooth.

Types of Strawberry Plants

There are several types of strawberries in the world. Here we will know about five popular types of strawberries.

June-Bearing: Strawberries that produce single large crops are june-bearing strawberries and they grow well in late spring to early summer. You can produce them as commercial production or home gardens.
Ever-Bearing: Throughout the growing season, specially in spring, summer and fall,everbearing strawberries produce fruit in two to three harvests.
Day-Neutral: They produce fruit continuously throughout the growing season, regardless of day length. Mild summer areas are best for day-natural.
Alpine Strawberries: Alpine strawberries usually produce fruit in cooler climates. They are popular for their unique taste and beautiful color.
Wild Strawberries: Wild strawberries are more fragrant than any other strawberries. But the sad thing is that types of strawberry can’t be produced in the garden, they are found in nature. This is a small type of strawberry with a sweet flavor.

What Are Needed for Growing Strawberries?

To grow strawberries, you’ll need:
Strawberry seedlings
Garden bed
Gloves and mask (if dusty)
Watering can
Performance Naturals Soil Improver
Performance Naturals Soil Tomato, Vegetable and Herb Fertiliser

Proper Guide for Planting Strawberries

Strawberries are simple and straightforward to grow but you have to follow all the guidelines properly.

Let’s know about the proper guidelines for planting strawberries –

Choose a Variety : At first choose a variety of strawberry plant that suitable for your climate and can produce more strawberries. Some popular varieties include, Chandler, Earligrow, June-bearing, Albion, Seascape etc.

Select a Location: A sunny spot must be selected where there is at least 6/8 hours of sunlight daily. I personally suggest you plant them in containers as strawberries may become very invasive when left to their own devices.
Planting in pots: You should plant them in traditional strawberry planters which are specialized containers that allow multiple plants to be grown in a small amount of space. As we know, strawberries grow well in most containers and hanging baskets but ensure that the containers or baskets are well drained. A premium fruit and citrus potting mix or acid-loving plants potting mix can be applied in the soil as a growing medium. Space the strawberries about 20 cm apart.

Planting: Apply some compost and/or soil improver into the soil before planting. Plant them in space 30-45 cm apart, in rows 60-90cm apart. Replace the plants with certified and fresh runners every second or third year to maintain a disease-free patch. Use a trowel to dig a planting hole twice as large as the plant’s root ball. The crown should be level or just slightly proud of soil or potting mix surface where the leaves meet the roots. Now backfill around the roots and use your hands to firm down the soil. At last use a 5-10 cm layer of straw or sugarcane mulch to the surface of the pot or bed to get best results.
Harvesting: You should harvest strawberries from mid-spring to autumn (October-April) when the fruits will have darkened in color and look plump and juicy. Harvest as soon as they are ripe when they taste their best. Gently harvest to reduce bruising. Also try to remove the stalk and stem from the plant.

Caring for strawberries

Watering: Plants growing in pots, containers, or raised beds need more water than other strawberry plants. Avoid overhead watering and aim the flow near the base of the plant to keep the leaves as dry as possible. Overwatering can make strawberries susceptible to mold.

Fertilizing: Strawberry plants are heavy feeders, and a balanced fertilizer is very important for their growth. A high-potash liquid feed can be used every two weeks during the growing season. Fertilizing encourages flowering, and more flowers mean more fruit.
Protecting strawberries: Birds, slugs, snails and other insects enjoy strawberries like you, so you have to be careful about them. Position the pots above the soil level to keep slugs and snails at bay. Netting over can help to prevent bird damages. While growing strawberries in the ground, copper strips or crushed egg shells will discourage slugs or snails. Slug and snail pellets can be putted too.
Replacing: Remember that strawberry plants eventually lose their vigor and need replacing every three to four years. Buying certified virus free replacements is better than propagating baby plants to ensure healthy vigorous plants.

Pruning: Pruning can encourage your strawberry plants to put more energy into flowering and fruiting. So you should cut the runners which meet the mother plant. Prune the plant in the first and second years.

Winter Care

Strawberry plants are naturally cold-hardy and can survive mildly freezing temperatures. So in winters, little care is needed. If the temperature of your regions regularly drops into the low twenties F°, provide some winter protection to protect the dormant stage. When air temperature reaches 20°F (-6°C), you have to mow or cut the foliage down to one inch. Usually it happens after the first couple of frosts. Mulching is more helpful in winter. The plants should be mulched about 4 inches deep with stre, pine needles or other organic material.

Common Pests & Diseases

Grey mould / Bortrytis mould: It is a fungal disease that appears as powdery gray mould at the strawberry stalk. It gradually covers the whole fruit and then rots. You can’t eat the strawberries which are affected by gray mould. To prevent this disease, you have to remove the dead leaves or flowers. Remove affected fruits too. Strawberry plants must be spaced well and they should be planted in good air circulation. As there are no chemical controls available for grey moulid, it’s better to be careful before affecting the plants.

Powdery mildew: It is also a fungal disease which appears as white powdery deposits on strawberry leaves. It decreases the stunted growth and causes leaves to shrivel. Drought-stressed plants are affected most by this disease. Digging organic material can improve soil water retention. Spacing between the plants can prevent powdery mildew. Ensure good air circulation and remove every affected growth promptly.

Verticillium wilt: Soil borne fungus that causes the leaves of strawberry plants to turn brown and wilt is verticillium wilt. The plants die eventually from this disease. Ground that has been used in the past three years for tomatoes, peppers or potatoes or other strawberries should be avoided. Remember that there is no chemical control for verticillium wilt.
Slugs and snails: It is a dangerous disease which can eat ripe strawberries. They can be identified by the slime trails that they leave, as well as the damage they do. To prevent them, you should check plants at night. If you see slugs and snails, remove them by hand. Cover the soil around plants with crushed eggshells or grit.

Conclusion

By following all the rules and techniques, you can enjoy delicious strawberries in your own garden. Hope the information will help you to produce that fruit successfully. Best of luck for your gardening and we are always there for your help.