What is worth knowing about strawberry cultivation?

Growing strawberries is becoming increasingly popular year after year. Some people plant them in their home gardens, others in allotments, and still others on terraces or balconies. This should not surprise us, as these fruits are characterised by their good taste and numerous nutritional values. What is worth knowing about strawberry cultivation?

Strawberries - what are they really?

Strawberries are nothing more than low herbaceous perennials that can be grown in most gardens. Climbing strawberries, which are gaining popularity, are particularly recommended for pot cultivation. Many people consume these fruits raw, but they are also great as an ingredient in jams, preserves, or frozen products. We must also remember that they are incredibly rich in minerals, vitamins, and pectin, which is the fibre responsible for lowering cholesterol levels and removing toxic substances. All these advantages make strawberry cultivation on an allotment a really great idea. 

What conditions do strawberries require?

The right location for strawberries is something without which our cultivation simply will not survive. It is worth choosing a sunny spot, as strawberries bear fruit best in such conditions. The soil should be fertile, rich in humus, with regulated water relations and sufficient aeration. It is also important to pay attention to the plants we are growing nearby, as strawberries do not like being next to blackberries, raspberries, cabbage vegetables, or cucumbers. On the other hand, onions and garlic are plants that strawberries thrive next to. 

How to prepare the site for strawberry cultivation?

If we plan to start our strawberry cultivation in early spring, it is necessary to prepare the site in the autumn. How? All we need to do is thoroughly turn over the soil along with manure. Before planting the strawberries, the soil must be cleared of all types of weeds. Why? Primarily because controlling them after planting the strawberries is really very difficult.

What does planting strawberries look like?

When planting, it is important to choose seedlings with a very strong root system. They should have no mould or spots on their roots. As mentioned earlier, strawberries should be planted in a sunny position in such a way that the base of the leaves is not covered with soil. The distance between seedlings should be about 45 centimetres, and between rows, it should be 70 centimetres. We must also remember to firm and water the soil after planting, as well as to mulch it with plastic or straw. 

How to care for strawberries?

In late spring, when the strawberries ripen, they should be harvested every day. If we do not do this, they will simply rot. In summer, when the so-called runners grow from the parent plants, we should remove them right at the base of the leaves. During late autumn, it is essential to protect the plants from harsh frost using straw mulch. When spring arrives, it's a good idea to use fertilizer to strengthen our strawberries.

How can strawberries be propagated?

Regardless of the variety, parent strawberry plants produce runners that are 30 to 60 cm long. When this length exceeds 40 cm, we can select the strongest offspring plants and secure them to the ground with clips made from wire. The distance from the parent plant should not exceed 20 cm. When the new plant has rooted, we can detach it from the original.

This article was prepared in collaboration with the gardening online store Sklep Dla Ogrodu, which offers many products for the garden.