Decide what kind of strawberry is most suitable for planting according to your needs. There are two basic types of strawberry plants, one is strawberries produced in summer and the other is strawberries flowering in all seasons. Strawberries produced in summer can be subdivided into early, middle and late summer plants. There are many strawberry varieties in each group, common varieties include the following:
Strawberry plants throughout the year or all year round: this is the most popular strawberry, because it can maintain continuous growth for five years or more. It blooms and bears fruit all the year round, with rich yield (outdoor is suitable for living in temperate climate conditions, and indoor is suitable for placing in cold areas). If you want to eat strawberries all year round, this type of strawberry is the best choice.
There are many varieties manufacturing in June: the “Strawberry Factory” will manufacture a large number of strawberries in early and middle summer, and the time to set fruits depends on when to plant ( summer crops set fruits two months after planting); day-neutral strawberry plants ( also known as mid-sunshine strawberry and light-sensitive strawberry): it’s similar with those strawberries which manufacture in all seasons but little fruits. If you want to pick strawberries directly and wash them on weekdays, this kind of strawberry is a good choice; Alpine strawberry: a very small strawberry, whose fruit is probably small but full of fragrance, and is suitable for making strawberry jam.
Most horticultural centers or fruit and vegetable companies will store strawberry plants, but if you want to find a specific variety, you may need to check online, or make a special reservation. You can go to the local horticultural center for advice, and find out what type of strawberry grows best in your environment. It is better to make a plan, calculate the time period you plan to plant strawberries, and calculate the exact time to buy strawberry plants. If you don’t transplant it for a long time after buying it, it will grow in the pot you bought, which is very unhealthy for the strawberry plant. When you transplant it later, the strawberry may be dying and have little vitality.
Check plants frequently for signs of disease or poor health. Your strawberry plant should have vibrant green leaves, no spots, no brown leaf margins, and no withered roots. The root should be full and light in color. Consider buying disease-resistant strawberry plants. Although this variety is generally expensive, these plants are famous for their ability to withstand various diseases caused by fungi. Decide where to plant strawberries. Strawberries can grow happily in fabric grow bags or flower bed. Of course, you should also provide the soil and fertilizer it needs immediately. Space and temperature factors should be taken into account. For example, if you want to plant strawberries in a cold climate all year round, you should consider putting them in a container so that they can be placed indoors in cold seasons and outdoors in warm seasons. Strawberries can grow well as long as they are not in a highly hot tropical climate.
Here are some suggestions for taking care of strawberries during the year. You need to make adjustments according to the variety. If you live in the southern hemisphere, you may need to make some changes according to the local seasons.
Early winter (12-1): remove weeds around strawberry plants and remove any factors that may promote the growth of fungi. Check to see if there is any need to add cover for strawberry plants.
At the end of winter (1-2): potted method and indoor planting method are all selected at this time.
Early spring (3-4): prepare for the newly planted strawberry plants and fertilize the existing strawberry plants.
Late spring (4-5): When planting early-bearing strawberry plants, if the weather is still frost, it needs to be protected with mulch. However, in warm days, it is also necessary to remove the mulch in time so that the strawberries can be pollinated. Around the end of April, strawberry plants with medium and late fruit will be planted, then remove the stolon and head flower.
Early summer (6-7): Strawberries are covered with mulch (specifically described above). Water and prevent birds from attacking. Check for diseases for visible plants and discard unhealthy plants. Strawberries that bear early can be harvested now and continue to grow new plants.
Late summer (7-8): continue watering and harvesting. Strawberries with medium and late fruit can be harvested, and fruit jam can be made if necessary.
Early autumn (9-10): trim the redundant old branches. Fertilize the plants for the winter with sufficient nutrition. Pick the ripe strawberries and let them continue to bear fruit (generally only perennial fruit varieties still bear fruit).
Late autumn (10-11): take protective measures to prepare for overwintering of perennial fruit-bearing species.
