When to Plant Strawberries in Zone 5

By Jacob J. Wright

The long winter in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5 makes spring planting of strawberry plants best. This gives the young plants as long a growing season as possible to establish roots before winter cold sets in again.

Strawberry plants will tolerate mild subfreezing temperatures and frosts. In USDA zone 5, the ideal time to plant strawberries to create a new bed is in early spring -- late March through April. Wait until the frost leaves the ground and the soil is no longer mucky.

Plant all strawberry types and varieties in spring for best establishment. June-bearing strawberries spread by running stems to create a thicket. Everbearing and day-neutral strawberries are maintained as tidy clumps.

After planting, pluck off all flowers on everbearing and day-neutral strawberry varieties until the plants have been in the ground for six weeks. Remove the flowers from June-bearing strawberries the entire first year to prevent berry production. Removing flowers focuses plant energy to create strong root systems and healthy foliage.

Plant the crown of the strawberry, the transitional area where stems united to then become roots, even with the soil. Planting too deeply encourages plant rot while planting too shallowly leads to dehydration.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in Zone 4

By Cheryl Munson

Zone 4 of the USDA hardiness map covers the northern Midwest regions of the United States, which includes the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The University of Iowa Extension recommends planting strawberries in March and April.

June bearing strawberry varieties produce the largest and earliest crops. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends Earliglow for early blooming strawberries, Kent and Mesabi for mid-season blooms, and Winona for a late summer strawberry harvest.

Everbearing strawberry varieties produce two crops in a single season. The first crop will be ready to harvest in late spring or early summer, and the second crop will be ready in the early fall. Fort Laramie and Ogallala varieties grow best in Zone 4 according to the University of Minnesota.

Day-neutral strawberries produce fruit the entire growing season. Zone 4 day-neutral varieties include Tribute and Tristar.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in West Virginia

By Lillian Webster

Strawberries can be grown in most parts of West Virginia. During the winter, the plants should be continually cultivated when possible, and mulch should be applied. New plants can go into the ground in the spring.

Strawberries should be planted before the rainy season begins in West Virginia. The best time to set the plants is between mid-March and mid-April. If you need to store the plants before setting them in the ground, they are best kept in a cool basement.

Strawberries will bear fruit about one month after the first bloom, typically in late May. Berries should be harvested about every other day, for a total of about seven pickings.

Strawberries thrive in a soil with a pH level of at least 5.0 -- ideally, the pH will be between 5.8 and 6.5. The soil should be plowed or tilled as soon as possible after March 1 in preparation for strawberry planting. If applying fertilizer, use a 5-10-10 formula.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in Pots to Get Spring Berries

By Irum Sarfaraz

Strawberries are very hardy perennials that grow with only a little bit of care and attention in limited space. They should be well weeded and pruned to obtain a good harvest. Strawberries grow very well in containers and hanging baskets. There are also special strawberry pots which provide added ease in harvesting the fruit. Strawberries are best planted in raised beds and larger pots as this allows adequate watering without getting the leaves too wet. To get a spring harvest, strawberries need to be planted in pots in September.

Strawberries can be very easily grown in containers and pots as long as they are kept amply watered. When planting in pots plant them in about 6 inches of soil. In order to get berries in spring, plant the strawberries by September. To get an even earlier harvest move the plants indoors in February. Then pollinate them by brushing from flower to flower with a delicate paintbrush, picking and transferring the yellow pollen from one flower to the next. Prepare a good soil for planting strawberries. The roots of strawberry plants are shallow rooted as compared to most other fruit plants and they have to get all their nutrition and moisture from the topsoil.

The soil for planting strawberries needs to be light, slightly acid and well enriched with compost, peat or manure. This helps to hold in moisture during dry weather. The same soil which is good for vegetables is usually optimal for strawberries as well.

Do not plant strawberries in nematode-infested soil. Nematodes are commonly found in soil in warmer climates but can be present in other areas, too. It you suspect nematodes in the soil, it is best to sterilize the soil before planting strawberries.

The best time to plant strawberries is early spring. When planting strawberries in containers, pots and jars plant them in fall and place them in a sheltered area. It is also recommended to mulch them heavily to provide insulation.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in Northeast Ohio

By Kim Kenney

Strawberries are a popular choice for home gardeners because they are easy to plant, use little space and produce fruit quickly. Gardeners can expect to harvest fruit from the same strawberry plants for up to three years. Most of Ohio's commercial strawberry farms are located in Northeast and Central Ohio.

In Northeast Ohio, plant strawberries between April 15 and May 15, according to Integrated Pest Management Centers. The Ohio State University Extension does not recommend planting strawberries in the fall because young plants can be injured by the freeze-thaw cycle.

June-bearing strawberry plants will not produce a full crop of fruit until the season after they are planted, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Day-neutral strawberry plants will produce fruit the first season they are planted. Both types are ready to be harvested in late May or June.

June-bearing strawberry varieties recommended for Ohio include Earliglow, Lateglow, Lester, Redchief, Surecrop, Midway, Guardian, Delite and Kent. Tribute and Tristar day-neutral varieties grow well in Ohio.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in North Carolina

By Lillian Webster

Strawberries can survive in any region throughout North Carolina. The plants thrive in full sunlight; do not plant strawberries in a low-lying area prone to a spring frost.

Strawberries require different planting times for specific regions of North Carolina. Plant strawberry plants during March in the eastern part of the state; in the western part of the state and in the mountains, plant them in late March to April.

In eastern North Carolina, strawberries are ready for harvest starting in April. If you plant in the western part of the state, anticipate growth in early May, while mountain strawberries are ready for harvest at the end of May. Pick strawberries in the morning, while they are still cool.

Test the soil four to six months before planting. Strawberries will thrive in a soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. If the pH balance is low, raise it by treating the soil with dolomitic lime.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com

When to Plant Strawberries in Mississippi

By Cheryl Munson

The best time of year to plant strawberries in Mississippi depends largely on the weather. If you're willing to start the plants indoors, you'll have a little more flexibility with the timing.

Plant strawberries outdoors in Mississippi after all signs of frost to enjoy an early spring harvest. Seedlings from plants sown indoors or purchased from a nursery are typically planted from March through May.

Start outdoor container plantings from seed or seedlings when the nighttime temperatures no longer fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the container in a location that will receive as much full daytime sun as possible and keep the container well watered.

You can grow strawberries indoors in pots and plant the seeds or seedlings whenever you wish. Just keep the soil moist and eliminate exposure to temperatures below freezing. Locate the pot in a spot that will receive full sun throughout the day.

Commercial growers plant in the spring to harvest strawberries for sale in the late summer and early fall months and then again in late summer and early fall months to meet demand for fresh strawberries in the spring.

http://www.howtoplantstrawberries.com