When to Plant Strawberries Outdoors? Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Methods

SummaryThe time for planting strawberries outdoors is from late March to mid-April each year; planting beyond this period will affect the number of plants propagated. For planting strawberries, choose soil with strong water retention capacity, good fertilizer retention, convenient drainage and irrigation, relatively high soil fertility, and slightly acidic soil. The most reasonable density for planting strawberries is about 800-1000 strawberry seedlings per mu.

Outdoor strawberry cultivation is the basic method of growing strawberries and also the most common and most widely used method, mainly because it requires less investment, less labor cost, and has lower planting costs.

I. Site Selection

For planting strawberries, choose soil with strong water retention capacity, good fertilizer retention, convenient drainage and irrigation, relatively high soil fertility, that has not previously been used to grow strawberries or solanaceous crops, and the soil must be slightly acidic.

II. Land Preparation and Making Ridges and Furrows

Land preparation: Before tilling the soil for planting strawberries, apply 2000kg-3000kg of high-quality decomposed farmyard manure per mu, add 3kg of 3% Pidihu granules per mu, mix evenly with the farmyard manure, and then spread it onto the strawberry plot to be planted.

Ridges and furrows: Use a plow for cultivation, which can turn up most of the underground pests, then rotary till to form a 2.3m double raised bed furrow, with a single furrow width of 1m. Leave a 30cm passage between each furrow, and the furrow width is 30cm with a depth of 30cm.

III. Planting Time

1. Plant strawberries from late March to mid-April each year. If the planting time is exceeded, it will affect the number of strawberry seedlings propagated. Plant one row per furrow.

2. Before planting strawberries, spray with a 600-800 times dilution of 75% chlorothalonil, which can prevent one round of disease for the strawberries. Also remove the old leaves and excess flower clusters from the strawberry seedlings, keeping only three compound leaves. When planting, the roots should retain the original soil to ensure the strawberry roots are not damaged.

3. The planting depth should be such that the base of the strawberry crown is level with the soil surface. When planting, be careful not to bury the strawberry crown in the soil, and the strawberry roots must not be exposed above the soil surface. After planting, press the soil firmly with your hands. After planting is completed, immediately water with settling water, watering 2-3 times continuously to maintain soil moisture, which helps the strawberry seedlings survive. During the rainy season, pay attention to draining water from the strawberries to prevent root rot.

IV. Planting Management

1. Fertilization

After the planted strawberry seedlings survive, apply 5kg of urea per mu to accelerate the growth of the strawberry plants. During the runner production stage of strawberries, apply a three-element compound fertilizer 1-2 times as a top dressing, with the amount of three-element compound fertilizer controlled at 5kg-8kg per mu each time. Take special care not to apply too much nitrogen fertilizer.

2. Pinching and Leaf Removal

After the strawberry seedlings are planted, remove flower clusters, old leaves, diseased leaves, etc. Regularly remove flower clusters from the mother plants to help concentrate the nutrients in the strawberries, allow the strawberry plants to get ventilation and light, allow the mother plants and daughter seedlings to grow more vigorously, and promote the mother plants to produce runners.

V. Planting Density

Plant one row of strawberry seedlings per furrow, and about 800-1000 strawberry seedlings can be planted per mu.