Follow These Tips for The Sweetest Berries and Maximum Yield.
Known as a strong aphrodisiac in the middle Ages, the strawberries were served with cream in a soup or borage to lovers, especially to the newly-wedded couple.
Unknown to many, strawberry is a member of the rose family. Because of the unique feature of its seeds-growing on the outside-strawberries are also called the inside out fruit. To grow them, healthy plants of popular varieties can provide transplants.
Recommended Varieties
In the southern part of United States of America, among the efficacious varieties of strawberries are Dover, Douglas and Tioga; while in the Northern part, the Allstar and Delmarvel are the excellent plants. These two varieties are capable of resisting diseases and growing large berries. If the area is limited, the ideal berry plants are the Day neutral and Ever bearing. Selecting the ideal variety for your area makes your strawberry ever bearing from winter throughout spring.
Cultivation
Growing strawberries in raised beds, from September to November is perfect, if such exists. Raised beds enhance production, and provide extra drainage for plants, while the fruits can grow at ground level. Mounding soil along the edge at six inches high is essential to keep the plant from rotting.
Plants can be set in two rows, with each row growing strawberries at twelve inches apart. The roots ensuring unwrinkled while fanning them out, should be covered. However, the crown must have full exposure. Avoid planting near your strawberries strong-fragrant plants such as lavender or sage.
Fertilization
Sufficient fertilization, which is done annually, is essential in growing healthy and productive strawberries. To prepare your fertilizer solution, you have to mix forty ounces of 6-6-6- fertilizer for every one hundred square feet of land.
Upkeep
Organic mulching and soil moistening are recommended. To accomplish, you may use compost, pine needles, straw and black plastic. Watering the flourishing plants every two to three days helps keep them re-hydrated, and the soil moist.
Major Pests and Diseases
To avoid serious damage to fruits and leaves of your strawberry plants, apply pest control prior to your harvest time. This prevents the fruits from being treated with pesticide. Insects such as slugs, caterpillars, mites, and snails are a nuisance to your garden.
Insecticidal soaps are effective in killing almost all bugs, if you prefer not to use pesticides during harvest time. You may also use Bacillus thuringiensis to control caterpillars.
>> How to Start Gardening Container Strawberries
Harvest
Among the fruits ripe for harvest in the garden are the strawberries. To beat the insects and birds from pecking on your berries, harvest during peak production times. Select the ones that are fully ripe but still firm. In Northern States, the strawberry beds can continue to grow after the harvest, and use the sprouts for transplants.
The Author:
Steve Charles Habib