Have you put some thought into growing strawberries in your backyard? If this is one of your favorite fruits, why not attempt to grow strawberries at home? You would save money in the long run by growing the produce instead of purchasing it at grocery stores. You can learn how to grow strawberries in your backyard.
The cost of strawberries at the stores is always fluctuating, but you would not have to worry about that when growing your own. If you are ready to get started, follow the steps below to have the most success with growing these flavorful berries.
Once they are ready for picking, you can eat them fresh, add them to yogurt, or even dip them in chocolate to prepare a sweet treat with them.
I like to make my Homemade Strawberry Jam with mine!
Know When to Start Planting Your Strawberry Seeds
Always make sure you are planting the strawberry seeds at the right time. It is best to plant the seeds during the Spring or Fall months. Of course, this does vary from one person to the next based on their location. Do a bit of extra research to determine when it is the best time to grow strawberries in your specific area.
If you experience Spring-like temperatures all year long, you may not have to wait to get started with planting your seeds. When planting the seeds at the right time, you can expect to have more success with getting your strawberries to grow.
Select an Optimal Spot to Start Growing the Strawberries
Choose the optimal spot for growing your strawberries. You might have a lot of space in your backyard, but that does not mean all areas of the yard are suitable for growing these berries.
You will need an area that gets exposed to the sun and gets some shade during the day. You may want to choose a sunny spot in the morning and then a bit shady in the afternoon.
While strawberries need sunlight to grow, too much sunlight can hinder their growth. Because you do not want that to happen, you need to pay attention to your outdoor area for a few days in a row before deciding where to plant the strawberries.
Purchase a Rich Soil With Organic Matter to Use in Your Yard
Get the right soil to help your strawberries grow large enough to satisfy you. The strawberry seeds do best with moist soil that does not dry out quickly. Make sure the area you choose is weed free.
I have had the best harvests when I use my own DIY Soil Mix. Other gardeners I know highly recommend FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil. While others use Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Vegetables and Herbs.
Whatever brand you choose it is good to find one that is for growing different fruits and vegetables.
Besides choosing the right soil with organic matter, make sure to add some compost or manure to it. Both compost and manure help to create the perfect growing environment for the strawberries.
It is also best to add a bit of fertilizer to the soil at least once a month while they are growing. You can purchase any fertilizer or use what you may already have available in your backyard garden.
What is the Easiest Way to Grow Strawberries?
Strawberries actually do quite will in pots. I like to put them in hanging pots on my porch but you’ll have to watch out for birds that like to perch and dine on your growing strawberries.
Vegetables in Pots the Best Veggies to Grow in Containers
Where is the best place to plant strawberries?
Your strawberries will need good drainage and plenty of sunlight. They also need plenty of space to grow properly and fight off pests.
Can you put strawberries in a square foot garden or raised beds?
Yes, you’ll want to have only one plant per square.
Dig Several Small Holes For Your Seedlings
Strawberries are generally sold as started seedling plants or as bare roots.
Start the process of digging small holes into the ground to make plenty of room for your seedlings. You want to put the strawberry seedlings into the ground and then cover them with a generous amount of soil. You do not need to put layer upon layer of soil on top of the seedlings.
However, it would be best if you covered them well enough to the point that you cannot see the seeds. Use a small shovel or any other handheld digging tool to complete this simple task.
Plant the Strawberries in Rows at Least a Foot Apart
Start planting your strawberry seedlings in rows that are at least a foot apart. You need to keep the rows a foot or more apart because you need to provide enough space for your strawberries to grow large enough.
If you are unsure how to determine how far apart to plant your seeds, pull out a ruler or tape measure. Use a plant tag to mark the measurement to ensure that you keep enough space between your rows of seeds.
Make an Effort to Water Your Strawberries Daily
It helps to add water to your strawberry seedlings each day. The seedlings need to receive at least an inch of water per day to thrive. You can use a dripper hose or a watering can to provide the water that your seedlings will need to survive.
While it is essential to water the seeds to get your strawberries to grow, avoid overdoing it with the water. You do not want to add extra water because that can cause damage to your strawberries and prevent them from growing.
Stay Consistent With Checking on Your Strawberries
Stay consistent with the growing process. Always take the time to check on your strawberries, watering them and adding fertilizer to the soil at least once a month to help them grow. If you spot any weeds growing around your strawberries, make sure to pull them out right away.
You do not want the weeds to absorb the nutrients from the soil and fertilizer, taking those nutrients away from the strawberries. It is essential to understand that it typically takes around three months for strawberries to reach their fullest potential.
Avoid pulling your strawberries off prematurely and wait it out until they are fully ready.
How long does it take to grow strawberries?
That will depend on your area and the strawberry varieties you choose. But you can plan on 2 months or more for seedlings.
How to Grow Strawberries at Home
You can start growing plenty of strawberries in your backyard instead of buying them at grocery stores. You will love having your own strawberry patch.
When you grow them at home, you can avoid the extra pesticides and save money simultaneously. If you want to grow strawberries, you do need to choose the ideal spot for them in the backyard.
Take good care of your strawberry plants by covering them with soil, adding compost to the soil, and using fertilizer. While it is a step-by-step process that involves some effort, you can see the fruits of your labor within three months when your strawberries grow large enough for you to eat.
Enjoy the fresh taste of flavorful strawberries grown right in your backyard!
The Best Strawberry Recipes In The World
More Gardening Help
- Easy to Grow Vegetables
- How to Grow Scallions in Your Backyard
- How to Grow Potatoes Anywhere
- How to Grow Artichokes in Your Garden
- Growing Tomatoes At Home
- Growing Corn in Your Backyard
- Grow Sweet Potatoes
I love growing strawberries, they are one of my favorite fruits in the garden! My dogs sneak and eat them as well!! LOL!
The birds are the biggest sneaks around here!
My strawberries are growing fine, but the critters are wiping me out! I’m trying a double layer of bird netting tonight. The problem is I don’t think it’s birds. Bunnies? Squirrels? At least I know they’re being enjoyed!
Oh no! I have a couple thoughts. Try a scarecrow, even a mini one made from kids clothing could help. Have you planted marigolds? Or put some garlic or onions in pots around your patch. Let me know if that helps!!
I “donated” the strawberries to the critter food bank this year, lol.
I successfully transferred the strawberries from pots to ground, and then let God’s creatures enjoy them while I battled pests, plant diseases, and weather in the rest of the garden. I also started my first hugelkultur/lasagna bed in a sunlight-filled area of the woods behind my home. Next year I will give the strawberries higher priority.
Over the past five+ years, I’ve been creatively evolving my acre in suburbia and training in the “martial arts” of Homesteading and self-sufficiency. There are millions of homesteading sites out there; I consider it a a blessing that I somehow found yours. It is well-organized, practical, and the most useful I have found. . I come here for a review when it’s time for canning and I often refer to you website when I need information about WHATEVER! Many thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m so glad my site has been a help to you. I’m sorry to hear about your strawberries, but you have a great attitude about it!!!
I hope you come back to share your experience with your lasagna bed.
Strawberries are my favorite fruit! They can be used in so many different desserts/recipes.
That is so true…and they are really their own dessert!