How to Grow Strawberries: Master the Timing and Methods to Grow This Beauty Fruit at Home

Strawberries are a very popular fruit, because ripe strawberries are red and beautiful, and they are also rich in nutritional value, earning them a place among the top ten beauty foods. So how do you grow strawberries? And when is the best time to plant them?

I. How to Grow Strawberries

1. Growing Strawberries from Seed

(1.1) Soaking the Seeds

We all know that seeds are usually soaked before sowing, because soaking can improve the germination rate. Strawberry seeds are no exception. We need to soak the strawberry seeds in a cup of water for 24 hours, then take them out and place them in the refrigerator for 15 days, with the temperature kept at around 0-3°C. Then sow them.

(1.2) Sowing

Because strawberry seeds are quite small, you need to be especially careful when sowing. It is best to use sandy loam mixed with humus soil as the filling (the soil must be fine, otherwise the strawberry seeds will struggle to germinate), then sprinkle an appropriate amount of water.

(1.3) Emergence of Seedlings

Before planting, be sure to soak the soil completely. After broadcast sowing, cover with a little fine soil - not too thick, just a thin layer will do, or simply skip covering with soil altogether. Keep the temperature at 25°C, and seedlings will begin to emerge 15-25 days after sowing.

Once the strawberry seedlings have grown bigger, they can be transplanted into the field.

2. Growing Strawberries from Seed in Pots

(2.1) Choosing a Pot

There are many types of strawberry pots, so just choose a style that suits you. If you are growing quite a few, it is better to choose a larger pot.

(2.2) Pre-sprouting the Seeds

Place the seeds inside gauze (or a wet paper towel) and soak them for 24 hours, then put them in the low-temperature section of the refrigerator to chill for about half a month, and the seeds should have pre-sprouted successfully.

(2.3) Sowing

Sowing must be done very carefully. Choose seedling soil and a seedling tray for sowing, and use fine sandy loam mixed with fine humus soil for growing them.

(2.4) Transplanting

When the strawberry seedlings have grown for 3-4 months and the young plants have plenty of tender leaves and creeping stems, you can transplant the strawberries into a larger pot.

(2.5) Care Tips

In the days that follow, remember to water frequently and keep them in sufficient light, and the strawberries will grow quickly.

II. How Many Strawberry Plants Are Suitable per Pot

For potted strawberries, the most suitable number is 2-3 seedlings per pot. Sometimes accidents happen and one plant may die, so the other 2 can serve as backups. This is also safer and won't leave you with no strawberries later on. Potted strawberries are also fairly easy to plant and grow - as long as you do the later care work well, bearing red strawberries is no problem at all, and they are very suitable for homemakers.

III. When Is the Best Time to Plant Strawberries

The best time to plant strawberries is around early September. However, strawberries can now be planted in all four seasons - spring, summer, autumn and winter - because they are a perennial plant.

IV. Strawberry Growing Methods

1. Choosing the pot, soil and variety.

For potted growing, ceramic pots are the main choice. For the potting soil, choose soil with a relatively high humus content. As for varieties, excellent everbearing strawberry varieties such as European Four Seasons Red, Changhong No. 2, and 83-38 are good choices for potting. They can bloom and fruit multiple times throughout the year.

3. Cultivation Techniques

Potted growing can be done in any season of the year. However, when lifting seedlings from the garden to pot them, it is best to do so in autumn. Choose robust seedlings, keep plenty of soil around the roots when lifting them, remove old and damaged leaves, and trim the root system to about 10 cm. Let the roots spread out and plant them into the potting soil. The planting depth should follow the principle of not exposing the roots and not burying the crown. Firm the soil and secure the seedling's position, keeping the soil surface 3-4 cm below the rim of the pot. After planting, water thoroughly, place in a shady spot for 3-5 days, then move to a spot with plenty of light.

4. Fertilizer and Water Management

Everbearing strawberries bloom and fruit multiple times a year, consuming a lot of nutrients, so nutrient supplementation needs to be strengthened. You can use animal hooves, fish bones, poultry innards, soybean cakes and the like, add water and let them rot and ferment, then brew them into liquid fertilizer, or apply a compound fertilizer as a top dressing. Generally, apply fertilizer once a week. For outdoor pots, water once in the morning and once in the evening each day. When watering, let the water warm up in the sun first, and never water directly with well water or tap water.

5. Seedling Management.

For potted strawberries, plant management should be strengthened.

First, thin the flower buds, remove leaves and remove creeping stems at the right time. That is, remove ineffective high-level flowers in appropriate amounts during the bud dispersal stage. Remove old leaves, damaged leaves, diseased leaves and excess creeping stems to reduce nutrient consumption and improve fruit quality.

Second, build fruit supports for shaping. That is, use wire or bamboo skewers to make fruit supports of different shapes, place them in the pot and prop up the fruit clusters, encouraging the fruit clusters to get ventilation and light, so the fruit colors evenly, soil contamination of the fruit is prevented, and pest and disease damage is reduced. At the same time, you can also use the creeping stems for artistic shaping to enhance the ornamental value.

Third, corresponding integrated control measures should be adopted to prevent and control pests and diseases.

6. Repotting

Generally, after two years of growing and fruiting, potted strawberries need to be repotted in good time. When repotting, first take the strawberry plant out of the pot, pick out any withered and aged parts, as well as dead roots, dead stems and dead leaves, then replant it into fresh potting soil in a new pot.

7. Temperature and Humidity

For potted strawberries, the temperature should generally be kept at 20-25°C, and in winter the room temperature should be kept above 15°C. Potted strawberries should be placed in a ventilated and sunny spot, and the potting soil should be kept moist at all times.

8. Caring for Strawberries

If the strawberries start turning red, you need to watch out for birds pecking at them, because birds easily spot red things. At this point, you can put a net over the strawberries, or cover them with a wooden basket. If you have a greenhouse at home, you can move the strawberries into it, which is even better. Strawberries will also set fruit more easily. Once the strawberry fruiting period is over, move them out of the greenhouse and leave them outdoors to overwinter. In a way, if the strawberry plants experience some frost, it is even better for increasing the yield the following year.