When to Plant Strawberries? A Complete Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions

When it comes to growing strawberries, we need to fully understand the strawberry market conditions and the growth habits of strawberries, such as which month is best for planting strawberries. Nowadays, strawberries bring good returns on the market, which is why more and more people want to make a living by growing strawberries. In the process of growing strawberries, besides mastering the methods and techniques of growing strawberries, there are also many precautions we need to grasp. Only by making full preparations can we maximize the returns from growing strawberries. Let's take a look together.

Which Month to Plant Strawberry Seedlings



During the flower bud differentiation stage, the temperature must be kept at 5-15°C, with the optimal temperature at 15-22°C. The strawberry root system grows at temperatures of 5-30°C, buds suffer frost damage at -15-10°C, and shading measures need to be taken. Strawberry seedlings can theoretically be planted all year round, and the flowering and fruiting stage is 4-40°C. Strawberries prefer a warm and cool climate. When the temperature is above 30°C and the sunlight is strong, as long as it is not below 5°C, it is fine. The optimal temperature for stem and leaf growth is 20-30°C.

Strawberry Planting Methods and Techniques

1. Choosing pots, soil and varieties. For potted planting, ceramic pots with a diameter of 20-30 cm are preferable. Choose soil with a high humus content for the potting mix. For varieties, excellent everbearing strawberry varieties such as European Sijihong, Changhong No. 2, and 83-38 are good choices for potting.

2. Cultivation techniques. Potted planting can be done in all four seasons. 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, remove old and damaged leaves, and trim the root system to about 10 cm. The planting depth should follow the principle of not exposing the roots and not burying the crown. Firm the soil, fix the seedling position, and keep 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 location with ample light.

3. Fertilizer and water management. Everbearing strawberries bloom and bear fruit multiple times a year, consuming a lot of nutrients, so nutrient supplementation should be strengthened. You can use animal hooves, fish bones, poultry innards, soybean cakes, etc., add water and let them decompose and ferment, making liquid fertilizer, or apply compound fertilizer as a top dressing. For outdoor potted plants, water once each morning and evening. When watering, let the water warm up in the sun first; never water directly with well water or tap water.

4. Plant management. Potted strawberries should have strengthened plant management. First, timely thin the buds, remove leaves, and remove runners. Remove old leaves, damaged leaves, diseased leaves and excess runners to reduce nutrient consumption and improve fruit quality. Second, build fruit supports. Use wire or bamboo skewers to make fruit supports of different shapes, place them in the flower pot to prop up the fruit clusters, promoting ventilation and light penetration for the fruit clusters, even fruit coloring, preventing soil from contaminating the fruit, and reducing pest and disease damage. At the same time, you can also use runners for artistic shaping to enhance ornamental value. Third, adopt corresponding integrated pest management measures for pest and disease control.

5. Repotting. After potted strawberries have fruited for 2 years, they should be repotted or have their potting soil changed after fruiting. When repotting, first take the plant out of the pot, cut off aged roots, dead roots and the lower aged rhizomes, then plant into new potting soil.

6. Temperature and humidity. Generally, potted strawberries require a temperature of 20-25°C, and the indoor temperature should be kept above 15°C in winter. The flower pot should be placed in a ventilated and sunny location, and the potting soil should be kept moist at all times.

Precautions for Growing Strawberries

1. Strawberries are suitable for planting in soil that is sunny, well-drained, and about 8-10 inches deep.

2. For large strawberry plants, the row spacing should be 12 inches and the plant spacing about 18 inches. Timely remove the runners from the plants to help the strawberries bear fruit.

3. If you don't like managing strawberries, you can plant one strawberry every 18-24 inches, so the strawberries can spread freely. If you want to avoid this, you can properly remove some runners.

4. In autumn, spread a layer of soil over the plants to prevent frost. After the soil freezes, you can spread 3-4 inches of dry hay over the plants. By the next spring, when new leaves grow out, remove the hay. When the weather warms up and stabilizes, remove the covering soil on the surface of the plants. But leave some dry hay between the rows to prevent weed growth and maintain soil moisture.